Only a moon had passed, and Rain's injuries had healed smoothly. He and FogWhisper had not spoken since the incident, but Ripplepaw who had become an apprentice later then the other kits, had kept a close eye on him.

Rain had heard Ripplepaw speaking to other apprentices about Winter, and it made him furious. What gives this cat the right to say what....what happened to MY kin!? He sunk his claws into the earth, before looking up at the sun above.

He had finally been able to go back to doing his favorite activity, patrols!

As he padded beside MintTail and Ripplepaw, he heard MintTail meow from the left. "We'll split up and meet back here, alright?"

Ripplepaw nodded and Rain purred before trotting into the thick lush forest, his paw placement precise and careful. As he opened his jaws, a scent of shrew caught in his senses. He stalked forward carefully, as he made sure to get close enough.

With the squeaks at motions of the shrew, Rain pushed himself onto the ground, making sure the shrew couldn't see him. As he crept closer to the shrew, he felt his tail twitch in admiration.

He leaped onto the shrew and and
With a swift bite to the neck picking it up. He took it over to a nearby tree, burying it carefully.

As quickly as he could, he decided to hunt closer to the raging river, because prey was always close by there. As he padded from the trees he noticed Ripplepaw, stalking for prey.

With a snarl the same cat appeared Infront of rain, and rain growled. Even though he tried to get a response and a fight out of the other cat, he knew it wouldn't work.

"You know what you have to do." The cat meowed, slowly morphing into rain again. "What..? What do you..."

Suddenly, he felt a flash of hot rage and fury pulse through him as he stalked towards Ripplepaw. "So, you want to talk about winter, huh? You want to act all high and mighty towards me. Well I'll tell you what. Your. Just. A. Failure." Rain snarled, eyes narrowing.

"L-leave me alone, freak!" Ripplepaw hissed, his fur fluffing up twice his size as he swatted at Rain's face with sheathed claws. "Don't worry, Ripplepaw. You'll be all alone soon."

Before Ripplepaw could respond, Rain grabbed his scruff and bit down lifting him up. Ripplepaw tried to screech in terror, but he couldn't. Easily, Rain tossed him into the raging river and licked his fangs free of blood.

He watched Ripplepaw fight against the current helplessly, clawing at the water to get a grip on something. He let out a gurgled screech that Rain could only make out to have said 'FallenScratch!'

Suddenly, Ripplepaw was pulled under the water, and didn't come up. Rain chuckled, and then turned around to see the cat behind him, morphing into itself again and dissolving.

"No...no no no..what have you done!?" Rain whisper shouted, careful not to alarm any other cat. When there was no response, Rain felt a lump in his throat, and his eyes burned. "Ripplepaw!?" He barely whispered, pinning his ears down and burying his nose against his paws.

I have to make sure no one finds out.. he said, and stood up slowly, walking away and back into the trees. He unburied the prey he had in the specific area, and walked over to where MintTail said to meet up. Agony, grief, fear, and guilt prickled up Rains fur like an icy claw, and he wanted to collapse on the forest floor.

It took a few moments before MintTail made it back, she held a fat squirrel in her jaws. "Where is Ripplepaw?" She meowed through the squirrels fur.

Rain tried to act nonchalant, and looked around. "I could ask the same question, he went near the direction of the river I'm pretty sure."

"Oh nevermind, lets get this prey back to camp first and then I'll find him." MintTail rolled her eyes and mewed, padding off towards the direction of camp.

NO! NO! NO! this cat made me kill Ripplepaw!! What am I supposed to do!? I didn't mean to!! He was just protective of the medicine cat he was never rude towards me, why!? Rain's thoughts raced and he wanted to tell MintTail everything, yet he couldn't.

He was overcome with confusion and sadness as they padded back to camp. His ears pinned back as the images of the event flashed through his mind.

I'm so sorry, Ripplepaw, I didn't mean to I promise. Please forgive me.