It had been exactly seven sunrises since Snowfeather had taken on the role of WeedClan leader. It had been seven sunrises since she had been dragged away from her home and had been held captive. As each day passed, another claw mark was added to the wall of the den. She knew her kits would be born at the end of the moon, and she only had so much time left.

            She awoke bright and early, fog rolling in over the forest. The magical border and large amount of guards still stood by her side. She wondered if Rabbitfur would ever gain her trust and get rid of it.

            She stretched and yawned, looking at her stomach. It was certainly getting bigger. How had Rabbitfur not noticed? Perhaps he already knew...Snowfeather shook the thought away, waiting at the entrance of the den for Rabbitfur to come get her like he did every morning.

            Moments later, the tom arrived, a smile on his face. "Snowstar, good morning!"

            "A good morning indeed," Snowfeather agreed. "I see it might snow today."

            "Nothing big," Rabbitfur told her. "Come on, let us go share a meal."

            Snowfeather nodded, following him out of the den. Rabbitfur issued something to the guards she couldn't quite catch, and then suddenly two guards moved away. It seemed he was slowly taking away the guarding.

            "May I ask what that was for?" Snowfeather asked.

            "I don't believe you need eight guards surrounding you anymore," Rabbitfur told her. "Six will do."

            "I see," Snowfeather said, sitting down next to him at the fresh-kill pile. Immediately, a cat came to her with a large robin. She was amazed how they could find this good of prey in the middle of leaf-bare.

            She bit into the robin, smiling at Rabbitfur. Her smile was fake, and her eyes seemed to stare deep inside him, as if she were wondering what his plan was.

            "You are leading patrol today, correct?" she asked.

            Rabbitfur nodded. "Yes, I will. Tomorrow you will lead patrol. Let me tell you this, Snowstar, the cats love you. You're the best leader we've had."

            "Why, thank you, I'm flattered," Snowfeather told him. She wanted to gag on her own words. All she wanted to do was escape this prison.

            "Have you finished your robin?" he asked.

            Snowfeather nodded. "Oh yes, it was delicious, Rabbitfur. Please give my gratitude to whichever cat caught this."

            "I will, Snowstar," Rabbitfur said, standing up. Snowfeather stood up beside him. He towered over her, and she remembered back how he had zapped her in the den only so little ago. Would he do that now?

            "I must be off. Guards, let her stay outside her den today," Rabbitfur told them.

            The guards nodded, and Snowfeather waved good-bye to Rabbitfur. They stopped near her den, allowing her to stay outside. She licked her paws and tail. Her fur had been terribly dirty ever since she arrived.

            The snow felt soft under her, and she scooped some up with her paw, remembering back to the woods in leaf-bare with Stonecloud and Silverwhisker. She wished she was there in her little log now.

            She stretched, looking at her stomach. Was it possible any cat noticed she was pregnant? Did Lionstripe know?

            The thought of her mate made her want to cry. He probably was doleful back in FoxClan, wishing her to return home.

            "I will return home. Don't worry," she whispered, hoping maybe Lionstripe would hear her.

            "Is everything all right, Snowstar?" one of the guards asked.

            "Oh, yes, just fine," Snowfeather told him. "Tell me, how long has WeedClan been here?"

            "Too many moons to count, Snowstar," a large ginger tom replied.

            "I see. How does one come to WeedClan?" she asked.

            "Stumbling into WeedClan's borders is very rare, Snowstar. Usually only a cat of magic can find it, like yourself. We are far concealed in," a gray tom said.

            "How is it you have faced many threats?" Snowfeather asked.

            "Cats with other powers have found us. They created powers, trying to bring us down and claim this land for themselves," the same ginger tom said.

            "How terrible," Snowfeather told them. "Were they killed off?"

            "Some were killed off, some left," a white tom with a large scar running down his eye said.

            "How is it they were able to leave? This forest must be hard to get out of it is hard to get into," Snowfeather said.

            "They are clever cats, Snowstar. Usually magical powers allow them to leave. Some rely on StarClan's power. It is a long journey. There have been tales of a magical whirlpool that transports you back to where you wish to go," the gray tom said.

            "How fascinating. I simply love WeedClan's culture. This whirlpool, where is it located? For story telling, of course," Snowfeather asked.

            "No cat knows," the ginger tom said. "It is only a kit's tale spoken by nursery queens. It was said that only StarClan's light could lead the cat to the place. Only those who believed in StarClan and practiced their teachings could find it."

            "Well, it would be wonderful if it were real. WeedClan is so wonderful and fascinating. I am thrilled to be your leader," Snowfeather told them.

            "We are thrilled to serve you," a brown tabby tom said, bowing to the leader. The guards bowed one by one before standing up again.

            "I am ready to go back inside," Snowfeather told them.

            "Are you sure you do not want to stay out here in the lovely weather, Snowfeather?" a guard asked.

            "I'm a bit tired, if you don't mind. A nap will do me well. I'll be back outside once I have woken," Snowfeather told him.

            "Very well," the white tom with the scar said.

            She was led back inside where she curled up in her nest. Once the guards stood outside, she moved to the back of the den, remembering the words. Only those who believed in StarClan and practiced their teachings could find it...

            The whirlpool had to be real. It had to lead her home. It was no wonder it could not be found. These cats did not practice StarClan's teachings at all, they only believed they did. Once all these guards were removed, into the forest she would go. She would go home.

            The thought of returning filled hope through her. She would have her kits safely in FoxClan, she would be back with Lionstripe. Everything would be perfect...

            She curled up in her nest, wondering if napping would actually do her some good. She didn't do much in WeedClan, and sleeping seemed to be the only thing she could do. She closed her eyes, drifting off.

Snowfeather opened her eyes, seeing the sky had darkened over. Tiny snowflakes fell from the sky in swirls. How long had she been asleep?

            "Snowstar," the familiar voice of one of the guards rang through the camp.

            "It seems I've woken from my nap," Snowfeather said, rising from her nest. "How long was I asleep?"

            "Quite awhile. I was only checking if you were all right. I'm not so sure you would like to come outside in this snowfall now."

            "No, I love the snow. I will come outside," she said, stepping outside. The snow lightly fell on her pelt, and she smiled, beginning to twirl around in the snow.

            "Snowstar, are you all right?" the guard asked.

            "Fine," she said, looking up at the twirling snow. She swore she could see her mother in it, her brother, her sister, her father, Lionstripe...This was a special snowfall, a snowfall from StarClan.

            "Snowstar!" a familiar cry came.

            She turned, seeing Rabbitfur marching towards her. "Come inside the den. There is a matter we need to discuss."

            "Oh, yes, Rabbitfur," she said, following him back into her den. She longed to go back outside in the snow and smile like she did so shortly ago. She had to gain Rabbitfur's trust though.

            "What is the matter, Rabbitfur?" Snowfeather asked. "Tell me how your patrol went first."

            "It went fine," Rabbitfur told her. "I noticed a few plants struggling to grow back. I'm sure once your powers kick in the forest will be alive."

            "Yes, of course," Snowfeather said.

            "The matter I wanted to discuss is an important one that has been on my mind ever since you arrived," Rabbitfur began, pacing around the den. "You must know that this decision must be respected, and I would not do the same with other cats."

            "What is it, Rabbitfur?" Snowfeather asked.

            "Snowstar, I have decided to take away the guards and the magical border," Rabbitfur told her.