After the forest ambush, I noticed that the mocking she-wolves never bothered me again. I actually saw them leave me a gift outside my heather bush as a way of saying sorry. The gift was a pile of raspberries and I was grateful for their apology. But even if they hadn't apologised it wouldn't have mattered anyway - I was promoted! Fanfare was impressed at how I'd fared in the ferret ambush and put me into a patrol going through a place which was attacked more frequently. And this patrol was led by her! Finally, I was actually useful to this army. Life in the forest was great. But then an unexpected guest arrived.

I had my bow in my hand and was going to the target tree to practice when he arrived. I got into position and heard a rustling of leaves. Surprised, I looked around me. Nothing except trees and small shrubs. I ignored the rustling and focused on my archery. I lifted my bow and heard the rustling again. I checked around me and decided it was probably the wind. I put an arrow in my bow, pulling back the string. Slowly, I drew back the string until it touched my nose. Every time I did that, it felt scary, like the string would smack my face if I let go. But I had bigger problems. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted something white, furry, dashing out of a bilberry bush. With a shriek I spun round, let go of the string. The arrow whizzed over to the ferret, who only just dodged it. The ferret screamed and leapt backwards, ratty eyes indicating he was terrified. The arrow stuck into the mossy ground beside him. For a moment the ferret and I stood there, breathing heavily. But soon I reloaded my bow and held it up, ready to shoot him if needed.
"What is your business here, ferret warrior?" I asked him, trying to sound fierce. The ferret replied in a surprisingly non-high-pitch voice,
"Nothing, Snowdrop patroller. Didn't want to hurt you." He then said to me, "If you put down your bow, Miss, I'll explain why I'm here." The ferret looked serious as he said this, like he meant it, so I lowered my bow. But I still held onto it, just in case he was fooling me. The white, albino ferret walked over to me in a jumpy ferrety way and lowered his head. He admitted, "I am no longer a Nightstar warrior. The truth is, I overheard a future-seeing black cat from Snowdrop army on a patrol a long time ago. When she left a bush, I ambushed her and she told me that one day you'd be responsible for letting her team win. I was worried as previously she'd told the truth and it had come true."
"Go on." I prompted, relaxing a little.
"So I told Nightstar army and they didn't believe me. Then when I saw you on patrol I remembered that and warned the others. They ignored me and I fled. It was only then that I realised for the first time that the Nightstar armys plans were not good. And with humans nearby, their plans were not going to be taken out nicely... so I left them. Now I want to beat the bullies that disrespect everyone. I want to be a Snowdrop warrior, human."
The ferret was honest and I just knew that he wasn't deceiving me. But just to be on the safe side, I grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and picked him up.
"I'm still going to have to treat you like a prisoner, ferret." I told him apologetically. "The rest of Snowdrop army will not be so friendly to you."
Then I left the archery training area to walk back to camp with the ferret.

Back at camp, still holding the ferret firmly, I called out loudly,
"I caught a prisoner!"
As soon as everyone heard that, they routinely stopped what they were doing and gathered round me, eager to see the prisoner. Since coming here, one of the things I'd learned was that in Snowdrop army, prisoner capturings were very important. As various black cats, bears, eagles and wolves approached me, some tried to swipe at the ferret and the ferret would hiss and claw back. After a little while, the animals stepped back and made way for Moonlightgrowl and Brindlemark. The animals went back and formed a circular position, so the ferret had no escape route, completely surrounded. Growler shook his charcoal black head and ordered,
"Lower the ferret warrior, Skye."
I obeyed and presently told him how I'd found the ferret. Moonlightgrowl nodded.
"You've done your bit, Skye. Now join the audience." Brindlemark ordered. I did so and watched as the ferret looked around anxiously, scared. I couldn't blame him. The gaze of 37 carnivorous, angry animals strikes terror into anyones heart. Brindlemark, circled the ferret and snarled. "Ambushing a Snowdrop warrior is wrong. You must now be punished." Brindlemark bared his teeth, hackles raised. Then, with the ferret weaving his way round the circle, chased him. I watched, horrified, as Brindlemarks snapping jaws closed on the ferrets tail. I heard the ferrets pitiful, desperate screams. What were they doing? This ferret was useful and they were going to kill him! You know that feeling where you mysteriously know something? It's called instinct. And right now, my instincts were telling me something.
"STOP!" I shrieked, bursting through the circle and pushing Brindlemark away from the ferret. I heard shocked gasps from the audience as they looked at me. Brindlemark whined, legs flailing, before standing up again. Brindlemark and I looked at each other. There was a very, very long pause. One of the black cats needlessly told me,
"You shouldn't have done that..."
Growler looked puzzled. He stared at me, asked me carefully,
"Why did you do that?"
For a split second that remark chilled me to the bone and I struggled to answer. But then I told him,
"This ferret isn't a nightstar warrior anymore. He wants to do good and join this army. Don't kill him - he knows things we don't and is honest."
Growler got the ferret to talk to him and turned to face me.
"If you were any other ordinary creature, Skye, you would be severely punished. But as I've heard a lot about human instinct saving the day, I'll accept the ferret into this army." I nodded modestly. Talk about being lucky! Growler continued, "But if you believe in this ferret, you'll have to train him yourself."
But at that moment, the ferret did a perfect backflip and produced a tiny sword and shield. He cried,
"You won't have to impose that on Skye, Growler, for I am already trained and quick with a sword."
The ferret left the crowd and several sword swipes later, an intricate pattern had been carved into a large bush. "Call me Franky." chirped the ferret to the impressed Snowdrop army.

From then on, Franky the ferret became a Snowdrop warrior, much appreciated, respected like anyone else.