"Lilypaw, Hawkpaw, do you promise to protect the clan even at the cost of your life?" Mothstar says to the gathered clan, the newleaf air warm and humid.

The two cats look at each other, and say in perfect unison, "I do."

I watch on, smiling for both of them. The good thing about being a mother- you have a lot less time to hate people. Really, most people. I think of Bonekit for a split second, his bloody fangs bared in a grimace.

Snowkit, huddled by my side as always, sits far away from me and her siblings. Ravenwing is watching from a distance, glaring at me from the entrance to the elder's den. If I wasn't watching a ceremony, I think bitterly, I'd push her in. That's where she belongs.

I look back up slowly, turning to see Lilypaw and Hawkpaw get their warrior names. "Lilypaw, for your empathy and bravery, I name you Lilyfrost. May the clan become your true home. Hawkpaw, for your skill and wit, I name you Hawktalon. May you fight like a true warrior."

Empathy? Fox dung. Absolutely not. The cows in the high fields of wheat are more empathetic than that miserable excuse for a warrior.

"Hawktalon! Lilyfrost! Hawktalon! Lilyfrost! Hawktalon! Lilyfrost!" The clan chants enthusiastically, and I join in, forcing a smile.

They head off, tail in tail, probably to go perform their vigil. After all, it is quite late.

I decide I'll put the kits to bed, then maybe go hunting. I haven't been out of camp for half a moon. I head off to the nursery, Snowkit behind me, when suddenly Mothstar taps my shoulder with her tail. I turn around, and say drearily, "Having a nice sundown?"

"I need to talk to you in my den."

"Can I put the kits to sleep first? They're really tired."

"I've already told Ravenwing to take care of it. Listen, you need to come with me. Now."

I lick Snowkit on the head and whisper, "If that fox does anything to you, tell me and she won't sleep right for a week."

Snowkit nods, the ghost of a smile on her face. She speeds off to catch up with the other kits, where Flarekit and Sunkit are complaining about not being apprentices yet, and Brightkit is trying to reassure them. I notice, with a pang of pride and regret, that Rabbitkit is sitting alone. He actually feels guilty about what Bonekit did, and I'm proud of him for realizing that kit was nothing but trouble.

Mothstar leads me into her den, and then gestures for me to sit down.

Volcanoheart is in the den too, and he looks nothing short of mortified.

"We need you to repeat the prophecy." Mothstar says.

"Ice will freeze the storm of souls." I repeat the words I know by heart.

"Well, obviously ice means you, and 'storm of souls'... DarkClan, or maybe 'StoneClan'. Possibly a new threat on the horizon." She looks down at her feet, and back up again. "Listen, Icestorm, if you have any... dreams, omens..."

"Nightmares." Volcanoheart interjects.

"Yes, that too. You need to tell us immediately. Just... be careful. Please. Oh, and I'm going to need you to do something for me in about a moon. Do you mind letting someone else care for your kits while you assess Dawnpaw? I know you want to care for them, but Dawnpaw really looks up to you and she specially requested I grant her this wish."

I nod. "Anything for her."

Mothstar gives us both a stern look. "I'll leave you to discuss it by yourselves."

Volcanoheart sighs, turning to me, looking almost terrified. What's wrong with him?!

"I need to tell you something. You can't tell Mothstar. We could both be exiled from the clan."

"What... what are you talking about?" I think about my kits, Dawnpaw, my brother, Firepool. What could be so bad that I would lose them all?

"That prophecy didn't come from StarClan. I heard it in a nightmare, and I gave it to you for nothing more than self-esteem. Once I told you... I've had nightmares every night. I can't see my daughter in StarClan anymore, and I saw her corpse in my dreams."

"Who killed her?" I ask, trying to comprehend what he's saying. "You- you're lying. No. Owlfeather is safe in StarClan."

"Listen... She's coming. I don't know who, but... There are things much worse than Cinderstar at work here."

I nod, and then say slowly and calmly, "I'm going to put the kits to sleep. They must be exhausted by now."

Volcanoheart watches after me, and whispers, "Stay safe."

I walk into my den, where all my kits are already asleep. I hum them a lullaby, licking each one of them to check they are all asleep. I know that no nightmares await them- and I am happy. Even though I know what awaits me tonight.

I close my eyes, my heartbeat whirring against my chest.

I wake up in the black fields, the same silhouetted world against a red sky. Was it red before? I don't know.

The same cat is there, the slitted green eyes peering into my soul. She's purring gently, her grin still so wide it cuts into her cheeks.

I feel the fear tingle up my spine, spreading into panic like a flower rapidly blooming. I step backwards over a bone, and then exhale, forcing myself to focus on something. Anything. I close my eyes and think of Firepool, and how much I want to be with him. The two of us. Together. Safe and sound.

"You don't even know where you are, do you?" asks the cat.

"No." I gulp. "I don't know." I flatten my ears, fur prickling as it stands on end.

"You're in my nightmares." she cooes, "Such a pretty little soul. You know, in old DragonClan, they compared souls to a bright fire." Suddenly, I see it dancing between us. A bright blue flame.

"Such a shame if a fire was to be... snuffed out." She pounces on it, smiling as the wisps of energy dissipate on the ground, fading and spiraling into the air.

"Who- what did you?"

"You'll find out soon. I'll spare a few if you want- just do me a favor." The cat purrs. "Keep me interested."

"Why..."

"It's nothing personal, dear. Just a job."

"Cinderstar... and you.."

"Oh no, she wouldn't dare call upon me. There's only one cat who remembers who I am, and she was a kittypet. Lovely lost soul. Died a while back. However, first, she told the secret to her mate."

"No..."

"Your grandfather, dear Icestorm, has been planning this for years."