Whiskerface hurtled at his opponent, knocking the apprentice off his paws.

"Woah!" The small white cat exclaimed as he fell over with a muffled "Oph!"

"Get up." Whiskerface growled. "A warrior never stays on the ground when he has fallen. First rule of fighting."

The small white Tom picked himself up off the ground. "I thought the first rule was never kill unless your opponent is trying to kill you?"

Whiskerface huffed. "You know what I mean, Frozenpaw."

Frozenpaw smiled and took a step forward, prepared to attack his mentor, until a pain in his shoulder stopped him. He let out a hiss of pain and Whiskerface bounded over.

"You should go see Flutterwing about that. It might end up being a serious sprain that could alter your future."

Frozenpaw nodded. "I'll go." He mewed before limping away.

XXX

"… No, Flutterwing. I'm sure that it was him…"

"Not everything…. Saw wrong, Dimstar?"

"I know what I saw…"

Frozenpaw stirred from his nest as he heard voices coming from outside the apprentices den. He lifted his head slowly and stifled a yawn. He got up and padded to his den entrance quietly, stepping over a snoring Quietpaw who did not hold true to his name, so he could listen to the voices a bit better.

"Dimstar, listen to me-"

"No, you listen to me, Flutterwing. I saw it happen with my own two eyes. Wiskerface killed Shadowpelt."

Frozenpaw held back a gasp. He couldn't have! Whiskerface would never kill a cat! He just… wouldn't! Dimstar must ne mistaken.

The white tom spotted the body of Shadowpelt, her light gray and white fur a glowing beacon under the almost full moon. Mother… Frozenpaw thought sadly. He shook his head before he stepped out of his den.

Immediately, Dimstar's head spun around to face the apprentice. "What are you doing up?" he growled. Flutterwing shot him a glare before padding away to her den.

"I… uh… came out on my way to the dirt place. Theres only one way to get there from the apprentices den, after… Shadowpelt?" Frozenpaw asked, acting dumb. "Are you okay…?" He padded forward and let in an intake of breath as he caught sight of the she-cat. "Shadowpelt!" he cried. The white Tom ran forward to his mother, almost stopping as he caught Dimstars scent.

It wasn't the scent of an ungroomed cat, but the scent of rotting leaves. Frozenpaw would have passed it off as normal, that Dimstar liked to roll around in leaves. So what? But it was the fact that the same smell was also coming off of Shadowpelt's unheated claws.

Fury welled up inside of Frozenpaw, but he forced it down. You killed my mother, and then you blame the murder on my mentor, and you think that you can get away with it? Oh no, Dimstar. Think again. Soon, my leader, I will have my revenge, and you will be sorry that you ever looked at my mom.