Prologue

Everything was silent throughout the forest. I slipped out of camp, and once out of earshot, I bounded towards the edge of RiverClan territory. I reached the BlackPath, waited for a moment, then bounded across. My icy blue eyes scanned the field.

"Hawkfrost?" I heard a quiet she-cat's voice ask.

I turned to my left, to see a ragged calico she-cat with green-blue eyes. She had a thick rip in her ear, and a long scar down her right side. She was laying down in the tall grass, and a small bundle of dark brown tabby fur slept, curled up to her belly. I was shocked,

"Shard! When-"

"Just earlier today! It's a she-cat. Oh, Hawkfrost, isn't she beautiful?" Shard meowed.

"Of course she is, she's your kit," I purred.

"But she looks like you," Shard purred back.

"I'm so glad I got away from that Twolegplace. My father still believed that cats should rule over that territory, like BloodClan used to. And, well, I just had to get away from it all." Shard sighed.

"Yes. And now you are safe. As our kit will be," I said.

"What should we name her?" I asked.

"I want her to have a warrior name, Hawkfrost. I want her to be a warrior!" Shard said. The small kit stood, eyes closed, and you could see her white underbelly, paws, and ear tips.

"Winterkit." I said.

"Oh, that's perfect. Will you train her when she's big enough?" Shard asked.

"No. But, I know someone who will," I said, "and he can train her in a few moons, instead of six."

Shard looked concerned, "I don't know. . . Do you think she'll be strong enough then?"

I sat down, and looked at my kit proudly, "Definetly. She's my kit too. And that means she is strong enough to be trained sooner than other kits."

Shard still looked unsure, "If you think so . . . I trust you, Hawkfrost. But if she gets too worn out, don't make her go on, okay?"

I nodded, "Don't worry. She'll be fine."

*Three moons later*

Winterpaw's POV:

"Alright, now try that move I showed you last night," Brokenstar ordered.

He turned his back to me, and I climbed onto the tree stump behind him. I leaped down beside him, put my forepaws on his head, and shoved his face down in the dirt. Before I could do the next part of the move, Brokenstar pulled backwards, and raked his claws across my muzzle.

"Push down harder! I told you, the more force you put on my head, the harder it will be for me to escape before you do the next move!" Brokenstar growled. I refused to stumble, because I knew I was in trouble.

"Yes sir," I said.

"Now. Try it again. Try not to mess it up this time!" I shook my head, to clear my mind, and climbed back onto the tree stump.

I leaped down beside Brokenstar, and, with claws unsheathed, pushed Brokenstar's face into the dirt with all my might. While he struggled, I used my left hind leg to sweep Brokenstar's legs out rom beneath him. Once I had him down, I put one paw down on his left shoulder, and the other at his throat. Brokenstar looked up at me, panting, and for the first time ever, he smiled at me.

"Winterpaw. That was great. Finally, you finished the move."

Then his face shifted back to his usual snarl, "But slow! Extremely slow! As soon as you have your opponents face down, you don't make sure they're vulerable! Just keep going! Otherwise, they'll throw you aside like an old mouse!"

"Then how come you didn't throw me aside like an old mouse?" I asked, attitude slipping out accidently.

A look of shock passed over Brokenstar's face, then left just as quick. He bared his teeth, and raised his paw to scratch me. I ducked, and backed up a little bit. Brokenstar leaped at me, and I got low, and ran forward. At the last moment, I bit Brokenstar's right hind leg. He screeched, and fell flat on his face. He got up, and I jumped up onto the tree stump.

"You little brat! You think you can give me attitude, and then attack back when I punish you?" Brokenstar yelled.

I stood straight, and looked Brokenstar in the eye, "Yes. I. Do." He looked at me, questioningly.

"Sir." I added sarcastically. Brokenstar got onto the tree stump, and thrust his muzzle in my face. Then, to my suprise, he smiled.

Brokenstar chuckled, "You've got a lot of spunk, kit. I like your boldness. You know you don't have the power to stand up to your leader, but you're bold enough to do it anyways! Your father would be proud." I was silent. . . I hated when Brokenstar brought up my dad. He died when I was a moon old, and he didn't come to see me when I was in the Dark Forest.

*Winterpaw's Warrior Ceremony*

"Winterpaw, I feel you are ready to become a warrior of the Dark Forest. Hawkfrost, do you agree?" Brokenstar asked from the top of a boulder.

Hawkfrost nodded, "I have watched her train for many moons, here, in the Dark Forest. I believe she is ready." I finally felt proud of myself.

"Tigerstar?" Brokenstar said questioningly.

"As my grand-daughter, I knew she would be a wonderful fighter. But, even I am suprised how well she has done!" Tigerstar praised me.

I sat up straight, and held my head high, looking over the crowd of ragged, scarred, and plain scary-looking cats.

"Then, by my word, I now name Winterpaw, Wintershadow. She is honored for her strength, boldness, cleverness, and her loyalty." Brokenstar said.

"Wintershadow! Wintershadow!"

Everyone cheered my name. I felt great. Until one voice rang out.

"How can she become a warrior if she isn't even a clan cat?" I looked to see who had said that. Breezepelt.

"Breezepelt, you mouse-brain! How dare you question my daughter becoming a warrior!" Hawkfrost growled.

Breezepelt got cocky, "At least I have a mouse brain, you don't have a brain!"

"You stupid little rabbit-chaser! You think my daughter doesn't have the right to be a warrior, because she isn't a clan cat?" Hawkfrost got in his face.

"You're absolutely right. Cats who aren't clan-born shouldn't be warriors. But, Wintershadow is an exception. She is half clan cat, and Brokenstar agreed to train her. If Brokenstar approves, we all do. Understand?"

Breezepelt nodded, relunctantly.

"Good." I jumped down from the boulder, and went up to Breezepelt.

"What's your problem?"

Breezepelt grinned smoothly, "You. Now if you don't mind, I have to go home. See you tomorrow night."

He strutted away, with all the courage of a LionClan warrior.

"You okay, Wintershadow?" my father asked. I shook my head, sighing, "I never understood that tom."

My father chuckled, "All she-cats say that."

"What is that supposed to mean?" My father gave me this sly look, then walked away.

"I never quite understood him either. . . . "