Silentpaw followed the big tom into the undergrowth, heart thumping. Froststar stops at a relatively clear space in between all the trees. "This will do," he said. He turned to face her, blinking his lime-green eyes. "Now, you must do everything I say, if you want to become as strong and as skilled as I am," he told her. Silentpaw nodded vigorously. I'll do anything you want! I want to become great, just like you. "I might not know what it's like to be parentless, but I lost my father at a young age, and my mother took a new mate. I had kin, one sister, but she was from my mother's first litter, while I was from her second. She was older than me, and didn't really want anything to do with me. Do you know who my sister is?" he asked. Silentpaw slowly shook her head, as Froststar began to pace in a circle.

"Her name was Ivyclaw. She's dead now. Do you want to how she died?" he asked slowly. A chill went down Silentpaw's spine.

"How did she die?" Silentpaw asked. Froststar whipped her head back around to stare at her with his piercing gaze, making her jump.

"I killed her," he hissed. Silentpaw stared at him, shocked. Froststar turned his head away and spat onto the ground. "Do you want to know why, Silentpaw? Because she tried to kill me." Silentpaw's head was spinning. Ivyclaw tried to kill her own brother? Why would she do that? Froststar answered that question for her. "She was unhappy with my rule. She thought she could be a better leader. She convinced other cats she would be better, and made them attack me. But they failed, because after all, I am Froststar."

He stepped closer, and stood right in front of Silentpaw. He dipped his head down, and she could feel his breath on her muzzle. "Don't you see, Silentpaw? You can't trust anyone. You need to be ruthless. That's why I need your help. I need you to befriend all the apprentices, and find out who is loyal to me, and who is not. And when you become a warrior, you will find out what warriors are loyal to me, and which ones are not. Can you do that for me?" he asked.

Silentpaw stood up straight. "Yes, Froststar. I'll find out who's loyal, and I'll kill anyone who's not." The ThunderClan leader purred.

"Perfect. Now, I'm going to teach you exactly how to do that. Crouch," he commanded. As Silentpaw crouched, she thought about Oneflower. The queen might not have been her biological mother, but she had been fair, never treating Birchpaw or Heatherpaw like they were better than her, at least not when Silentpaw was around. But Seedpod was different, always claiming he didn't have time to play with her, despite always making time for his kits. Who needs a father like Seedpod, she thought. When I have Froststar.

*******

Froststar watched the little she-cat limp away. She was covered in scratched and had twisted her paw, but Froststar knew she would return to train with him again. The fact that he didn't actually kill Ivyclaw was irrelevant. Or, the fact that he wasn't even the one who had fought her off, that she had indeed been very close to killing him. The gray tabby had shown great promise. Once fully disciplined, she would be Froststar's to control. Froststar chuckled to himself. Here I have, Coldrose's daughter, the one who betrayed me, at my mercy. Froststar had seen the same behavior that Silentpaw demonstrated back when he had killed Splashstar and Hopelight. Their two kits, Quickpaw and Silverpaw, had found themselves orphans, and needed someone to latch on to. Froststar had been there, and turned them into loyal warriors, Quickflash and Silverspark. He would do the same thing to that treacherous cat's daughter. And oh, Dark Forest, did that feel good.

*******

Silentpaw finished licking the last tuft of fur into place. She had cleaned out the scratches that Froststar had made, and had tried her best to spread out her fur so that it covered the scratches. I hope Bloodfang doesn't notice. She'll be so mad at me. She can't know that I'm training with Froststar now. A shiver of excitement traveled down her spine just thinking about it. Me, an apprentice, training with the leader of ThunderClan! Silentpaw sniffed the air, parting her mouth to draw in the scents around her. Is the patrol back yet? Everything smelled like ThunderClan, it was hard to distinguish the scent of an individual cat.

Silentpaw lay her head on her paws, accidentally pressing on the twisted one. Ouch! Silentpaw bit back a yelp of pain. Out of the corner of her eye, Silentpaw spotted a gray and white she-cat and a brown tom bounding towards her. Of course. Heatherpaw and Birchpaw's mentors are Fiercefire and Marshfrog. They went on the patrol with Bloodfang, so they must have been by themselves today.

"Hey, Silentpaw!" Heatherpaw yowled, skidding to a stop next to her. Birchpaw did the same. "We were looking for you after the fight with Swallowpaw. Are you okay? Are you hurt?" she asked, sniffing her fur.

"I am not," Silentpaw snapped. "Why did you always ask that? Warriors are supposed to be tough."

"Yes, I know, sorry," Heatherpaw apologized, then changed the subject. "Isn't it great we have the best mentors? You have Bloodfang, I have Marshfrog, and Birchpaw has Fiercefire! The toughest cats in the Clan! I bet from both ThunderClan and ShadowClan combined!" she exclaimed.

"Well, our mentors were originally from ShadowClan," Birchpaw added, but Heatherpaw swept on like she didn't hear him.

"Except Froststar and his kits. Well, not Spruceheart, because he's a medicine cat, but I bet he has epic fighting skills too! He just doesn't need to use them. But imagine that! A medicine cat, ripping out the throat of another cat!" Heatherpaw chattered on, Birchpaw occasionally adding his own comment. Silentpaw rested her head on the ground, only half-listening to Heatherpaw. She was exhausted, from fighting with Swallowpaw and training with Froststar.

Ever since they were kits growing up in the nursery, Heatherpaw was always the chatter mouse. She was energetic and excited about everything. Games, being an apprentice, battle moves, blood, killing ThunderClan's enemies, all of it. Birchpaw was a little quieter, but you could always see the spark of excitement in his eyes. Silentpaw almost dozed off listening to Heatherpaw talk, but her head snapped up at the sound of the thorn barrier rustling. It was only Froststar, so she relaxed. Silentpaw admired the way that her clan mates immediately parted to let him past. Imagine having that much respect. Maybe that'll be me some day.

Silentpaw envisioned herself, standing on high rock, the blood of her enemies staining the ground beneath her. "You've saved us, Silentstar!" her clan mates cheered. "We will forever remember you! You, and the great Froststar!"

The thorn barrier rustled again, and this time Bloodfang and the rest of the Inner Circle slipped through. Silentpaw stood up, making sure not to use her twisted paw. "Oh, they're back!" Heatherpaw breathed. Bloodfang was grinning, displaying her fangs. Silentpaw could see where her fur was matted together with blood. Her mentor sauntered over to her. "Smell this," she hissed, shoving her claws under her nose. Silentpaw sniffed the sticky red liquid on her mentor's claws. "What is it?" Bloodfang asked.

"Blood," Silentpaw responded.

"Yes," Bloodfang hissed. "It's not just any blood, it's kittypet blood. Taste it, Silentpaw!" Silentpaw licked her mentor's claws, the tang of blood now on her tongue. She'd tasted her own blood before, and squirrel, mouse, vole, and bird blood, but this was different. "Now close your eyes. Imagine yourself, Silentpaw, out in the twolegplace, cutting down any cat in your path! May it be kittypet or rogue! You are invincible," she hissed. Silentpaw could see it. "I hope to bring you next time."

Silentpaw opened her eyes. "Really? You mean it?" she asked.

"Yes. As soon as you can defeat five different apprentices, I will take you," her mentor meowed. Yes! I can do that! Suddenly, Bloodfang narrowed her eyes.

Silentpaw held her breath as her mentor looked her up and down. "What happened to your paw, Silentpaw?" she asked.

"Um, I was running, and twisted my paw in a rabbit hole," she lied quickly. No way am I telling her about training with Froststar. Or how I lost to Swallowpaw, after what she just told me!

"And why are you covered in scratches, Silentpaw?" she questioned.

"I, uh, also fell into a thistle bush." Bloodfang studied her, silent for a few heartbeats.

"I don't like when you lie to me, Silentpaw," Bloodfang began slowly. "If you fought with a cat today, that's okay. I will not invade your privacy by pressing for more information, although it is my right to, as your mentor. You better just be able to train tomorrow." Then she turned away, heading to the well-stocked fresh-kill pile.

********

Froststar sprang at the enemy cat's throat, claws scoring along their flesh. Blood sprayed from the wound and the cat fell with a thump, light dying from their eyes. A battle raged around him. Froststar didn't know who he was fighting, and he didn't care. He swiped at an orange tabby, and they fell, sprawling in a pool of blood. Suddenly the battle disappeared, and Froststar found himself in a quiet forest. He recognized the place. It was the place where he killed Coldrose. Froststar stepped forward, and looked around. Yes, the log she was dragged out of was there. But Coldrose wasn't, and neither were his supporters. A wave of dread swamped over Froststar.

A stick snapped, and Froststar spun around. Behind him was a pale gray she-cat, with pale yellow eyes. "Fffrroossstt sssttaaarrrr," she yowled. There was a slash on her neck that was dripping with blood, and her stomach was soaked in red, too. "Where are my kits, Froststar?"

Froststar turned an ran, icy fear flooding through his veins. She's dead! She's supposed to be dead! I killed her! "Frrroosstt stttaarrrr," Coldrose called. Froststar looked behind him. No matter how hard he ran, she was always a few fox-lengths behind him, despite the fact that she was walking. She made lurching steps, stepping and stumbling, like a kit who was just walking for the first time. "Where are my kits, Froststar?" she yowled. Suddenly Froststar's paws stuck. He looked down, to see them submerged in a pool of blood. The blood stuck to his paws and legs like mud, preventing him from running. Coldrose crept closer, almost upon him. "Where are my kits, Froststar? Where are they?"

Froststar yowled in horror as she stumbled to the edge of the pool of blood, and her eyes rolled back in her head. "WHERE. ARE. MY. KITS?"

Froststar gasped as he awoke. Blinking frantically, he looked around. He was surrounded by stone walls, and he was sitting in a moss nest, Mistfeather sleeping beside him. Just a dream. It was just a dream. Letting out a shaky breath, Froststar spun in a circle, curling back up in his nest. I killed her. Coldrose is dead. It was just a dream.