Almondstar's den was larger than Brinepaw remembered. It was dark and shadowed, except for the light that came pooling in from the entrance to form a golden puddle on the floor. There was a moss-woven nest sitting against the back wall, but it was empty. Brinepaw followed Covestorm tentatively, his gaze scanning the darkness for any sign of their leader. He nearly leapt out of his fur when a pair of sharp cyan eyes appeared in the far corner of the den.

          "Covestorm, Brinepaw," Almondstar purred.

          Her head was turned towards them, but her body was facing away. She was crouched over a morsel of fresh-kill that sat on the cool floor. Brinepaw peeked over his mentor's shoulder and saw that it was a sparrow.

          "Well?" Almondstar queried, looking back and forth between them, "What can I do for you?"

          Covestorm was hesitant. He glanced at Brinepaw, who was still standing sheepishly behind him. Then he looked back at Almondstar and spoke, "There was a WaveClan patrol at the border this morning. They were asking for Brinepaw."

          Almondstar turned to face them. Her shining cyan irises were inquisitive. "Go on," she said.

          "Well," sighed Covestorm, "When Brinepaw got there, they were saying a lot of ridiculous things. Something about a run-in Brinepaw had with one of their apprentices... Nightpaw, I think it was. Nightpaw claimed that Brinepaw used powers to drive him and two other WaveClan cats off of our territory."

          "Powers?" Almondstar tilted her head, "What kind of powers?"

          Brinepaw could tell she was trying to suppress the shock in her voice, but her words        shook like a leaf rattling in the wind. She was no longer looking at Covestorm; now her eyes bore into Brinepaw's like a raging fire.

          The large apprentice gave up hiding behind his mentor and stepped forward. "It's true, Almondstar. The day after the gathering, I found Nightpaw and some other apprentices on our land. I fought them and... well, I guess I should just show you the rest."

          He turned and left the den. Covestorm and Almondstar followed slowly behind. Brinepaw headed for the beach. Each time he glimpsed over his shoulder, Almondstar wore the same placid expression. But beyond her apparent indifference, Brinepaw saw confusion and fear. Even just the implication that one of her apprentices had powers threatened her entire way of life. Everything she had ever known to be true was now at stake. The world was changing.

          Brinepaw paused at the edge of the lapping water. The fog was gone now. The ocean was rippled slightly by the breeze, but there were no big waves today. The sky was clear and blue, only a few clouds floating lazily across the horizon. It was warm with the sun above them. The sand felt soft and pleasant underneath Brinepaw's pads. He waited patiently, taking in the natural beauty that lay in front of him.

          When Almondstar arrived at the water's edge a few moments later, Brinepaw could sense her apprehension. "Okay," she mewed nervously, "Now what's all this about?"

          "You'll see." Brinepaw's reply was flat. Covestorm shot him a warning glance, but Brinepaw shrugged and focused his attention on the water.

          He felt rather pleased with himself. It was as if all of the strangeness he'd felt before was fading away. He understood his abilities now. He could feel the water moving in front of him. It was there for him to control.

          He summoned a gigantic wave from the depths below. It rolled into itself and roared onto the shore, foam bubbling at its crest. When he saw Almondstar's look of dismay, Brinepaw felt a smug smile creep across his lips. He brought forth another wave, then another, allowing them to spray the entire beach with little drops of saltwater.

          Covestorm shook out his coat and cuffed Brinepaw over the ear. "Stop that!" he scolded.

          Brinepaw snapped out of his daze. "S-Sorry," he apologized, letting the waves flatten out again. He remembered where he was. The feeling of euphoria vanished. He was empty suddenly, just like before.

          Almondstar blinked her bright teal eyes. The look of dismay was gone from her face. She appeared very calm. "That was quite impressive, young Brinepaw."

          Something about how even her voice was made Brinepaw's blood run cold. "You're not surprised?" he asked, a little disappointed.

          "I'm very surprised," Almondstar assured him, flicking her white and russet tail, "It's not every day that an apprentice shows you he can control water with his mind. Who gave you this gift? Was it StarClan?"

          "How should I know?" Brinepaw scoffed, ignoring another disapproving look from Covestorm, "It just kind of... happened."

          Almondstar was unamused. "Things like this don't just happen, Brinepaw," she said, "There's got to be a reason."

          They stood there, face to face. Almondstar's thick fur billowed in the coastal wind. Her eyes were narrowed to slits. They looked steel blue in the muted light; one of the few clouds in the sky was blocking the sun with its white, vaporous body. Her critical expression reminded Brinepaw of how Milkpaw looked at him. She was waiting for him to say something more.

          "I don't know anything," insisted Brinepaw. It wasn't exactly true. He knew about Ghost and the vision and how perhaps it was all connected under some greater purpose. But Almondstar was his leader, not his friend. He held her gaze defiantly.

          Covestorm was appalled. Brinepaw could see his mentor's horrified face out of the corner of his eye.

          "Almondstar," Covestorm interjected, trying to break the tension, "There's something more you should know."

          Almondstar looked away from Brinepaw and nodded, "Very well, what is it?"

          "There was a battle, at the border. A lot of our cats got hurt. In fact, as ashamed as I am to admit it, I nearly died. The only reason I am standing before you now is because of Brinepaw," Covestorm paused to blink gratefully at his apprentice, "He saved my life."

          "What caused the battle to break out?" asked Almondstar, studying the scratches on either of their pelts.

          Brinepaw spoke up, "It was because of me, Almondstar. I lied about my abilities, and Nightpaw got upset."

          The leader sighed. "I see," she mewed dejectedly, "That is troubling news, indeed. Was Adderstar there?"

          Covestorm shook his head, "No, but his deputy Duskwing was."

          "Then I'm sure Adderstar will be hearing about this," Almondstar raised her head into the air and stared out across the sea. She seemed far away, like she'd forgotten where she was standing. She took a sharp breath in, "And that means we must be prepared for war."

          A gasp escaped Covestorm's mouth. "What? But why? It was only a border skirmish."

          "Don't be stupid, Covestorm," Almondstar retorted, "They know Brinepaw is able to wield water as a weapon."

           "But that doesn't mean that he will," Covestorm pointed out.

           "He just did! Don't you see what this means? Adderstar will see Brinepaw as a threat to his clan. He's always been the delicate sort, never feeling secure in his own home. That's what makes it so hard to govern in these times. He's unhinged, Covestorm. He's impulsive. There's no doubt in my mind that he will wage war against us. There's no doubt in my mind that he wants Brinepaw dead."

           Brinepaw was spinning. All of the colors around him had faded to shades of gray. He felt sick.

          "You don't know that," Covestorm growled.

          "I do," said Almondstar, "I know Adderstar better than any other cat in our clan."

          "But how can you be so sure?" Covestorm challenged, taking a few daring steps towards the she-cat, "What makes you think you know him so well?"

          Brinepaw backed away. He flinched a little when his paws touched water, but he kept going, wading backwards into the shallows. His crisp bronze eyes widened at the scene unfolding in front of him.

          Almondstar had lost all self-control. "Why can't you just trust me?" she yowled, "You never can just trust me, Covestorm! And still you wonder why I chose Rainflight as deputy over you!"

          Covestorm grew nearer. He was still managing to remain calm, but Brinepaw could see agitation brewing beneath his stony exterior.

          "Why do you think it was?" Almondstar continued frantically, "Because he's a better warrior than you? Of course not! I know better than that. But Rainflight believes in me. He believes in my leadership. That's the difference, Covestorm."

          Brinepaw wanted to run. The pain in Covestorm's eyes was almost too much to bare. He crouched down, withdrawing into the water and pleading for it to swallow him whole.

          "I just..." Covestorm's voice was barely a whisper. He glanced over at Brinepaw, then back at Almondstar. He closed his eyes and bent his head sadly. "I just thought we had something."

          There was a silence. Not the good kind of silence where everything is very still. The raw, heavy silence where a million words go unsaid. Disappointment hangs in the air like moisture. There is no joy.

          After a moment, Almondstar let out a breath. Her prickling fur settled onto her back. "We did," she mewed softly, "We did have something. But things change, Covestorm. Lives go away and reunite to find that they've lost everything they once had in common."

          The tabby warrior lifted his chin and stared at her. He swallowed. "I know." His voice was raspy and broken.

          Almondstar nodded slowly.

          "But how can you be sure about the war?" Covestorm questioned.

          The big she-cat hesitated. "There's no use in lying to you, Covestorm," she said at last, "The reason I know Adderstar so well is because I was mated to him."

          Covestorm was quiet.

          "I'm sorry."

          "And the kits?"

          "They're his."

          "You're telling me that my children, Aspenkit, Beechkit, and Heatherkit, are not actually mine?" Covestorm was standing rigid with his tail held high.

          "Yes."

          "And Dawnwind?"

          Almondstar plodded over to him solemnly and looked him in the eye. "I do love her," she meowed truthfully, "And she does think that the kits are yours. But it's not true. Adderstar is their father."

          "You told the clan that you found them in the woods."

          "I did," Almondstar admitted, "But I was wrong to do so. And when you came to me asking if they were yours... I just had to say yes. I couldn't hurt you again."

          Covestorm laughed sarcastically, "Oh, I see. Thank you so very much for sparing my feelings."

         "I'm sorry."

         "You said that already."

          By now the cloud had drifted away from the sun. It was hot again. Brinepaw pulled himself up and allowed the water to drip off his chest fur. His legs, still submerged, were cool and shivery. He squinted against the harsh sunlight. The figures of Almondstar and Covestorm were blurry in the brightness.

          Suddenly Covestorm was turning away. "Come on, Brinepaw," he called, "Let's go back to camp."

          Brinepaw bounded out of the water. He brushed past Almondstar and joined his mentor. They left her behind as they started back to TideClan camp.

          "Brinepaw!"

          He stopped and turned around. Almondstar was sitting with her paws mashed into the sand.

          "Tomorrow, we prepare for war."

          Covestorm snorted indignantly and swept Brinepaw along with his tail. They picked up speed, trotting away from the she-cat and everything that had happened on the beach.

          They ran side by side. Brinepaw kept peering over at Covestorm, but Covestorm kept his eyes locked on the terrain ahead. The land sloped upwards into camp. Brinepaw could see Burnetpaw standing with the other apprentices, who had apparently returned from training. He thought about everything he needed to explain to his best friend. Everything that had changed in the matter of a single day.

          He hardly registered it when Covestorm halted abruptly and stood at the edge of camp. Brinepaw paused a few steps ahead, then padded back to meet him. "What's wrong?"

          "Please don't say anything, Brinepaw. Not about me, not about Almondstar, and certainly not about Adderstar. Yes, she broke the warrior code. And yes, she lied to me about the kits. But there's no reason for the clan to know that. As far as they know, those kits are orphans abandoned in the middle of the forest. The truth isn't relevant right now. It's not going to help anything."

          Brinepaw flicked a brown ear, "Don't worry, Covestorm," he meowed, "I'm not going to tell anyone."

          Relief flooded his mentor's orange eyes like a waterfall flooding a pool. "Good," he replied, "Thank you."

          "Of course." Brinepaw observed the tom. His whiskers were long and white, jutting off his fuzzy gray muzzle and filling the space around the defined shape of his face. He was bulky and strong, but he also appeared somewhat defeated. He was the afterthought. The brave and skillful warrior that had almost been made deputy. Almost. The handsome and charming tabby that had almost been with the one he loved. Almost. It seemed that his whole life had been spent chasing hopelessly after what he could not have.

           Brinepaw saw that now. He saw where his wisdom and his guidance and his somber kindness had come from. His entire personality was wrapped up in his past. All of his behaviors could be described by what he'd gone through. Brinepaw guessed that was true of most cats.

          Covestorm looked meaningfully at his apprentice. "Brinepaw," he said, "Almondstar may be right. There is a war coming. She means to train you for battle. And now that she's seen what you can do, I'm certain that she will want to use you."

          "I understand."

          "But I will protect you," Covestorm promised earnestly, his eyes glowing with something unrecognizable, "I don't care what Almondstar wants. I will protect you, Brinepaw. Always."