Authors Note: Thanks, Shadowdawn! Lacekit wouldn't really be used for a wild cat, but maybe later on there can be a kittypet named Lacey who happens to cross paths with Woodpaw...;D Thanks to all of you, too, for the support!

Woodpaw awoke to one warm paw on her front left paw, and two paws rubbing some thick wet substance along her back.

"Woodpaw," murmured a voice. Goldensun? What was he doing here? And why was his paw on hers?

"Unh," She groaned, her mouth parched as she slowly pulled her paw away. She opened her eyes all the way and looked at Goldensun, who blushed. "Oh, um, you're awake, that's great, I--" He ran off. Woodpaw tried to turn to look at the cat behind her but a soft voice stopped her from doing so. "Don't. You're pretty bruised, Woodpaw."

Jadepaw.

"Where am I? What happened?" She asked, feeling stronger knowing that she was being taken care of. "The medicine den, I--" Jadepaw was cut off by a newcomer's voice.

"We would like to know that too," A feminine voice. Woodpaw looked up and saw a fluffy gray she-cat with bright green eyes looking at her. Jadepaw leaned down by her ear and murmured, "Willowbreeze. The medicine cat. I am only her apprentice,"

"What did the rogue say to you?" Willowbreeze asked. Woodpaw racked her brain for the answer. "That a kit like me shouldn't be out in the forest alone." She burned with rage. "I'm no kit!"

"Okay, hold on," Willowbreeze's voice calmed her, soothing in a way, like her mother's voice. "Anything else?

"Um..." Woodpaw thought she had heard the harsh voice of the rogue tom whilst she was fading. "He said, The rogues will rise again,"

Willowbreeze sucked in a breath, her eyes wide. "What did he look like?"

"I did not see him. He snuck up behind me, and I was downwind." Woodpaw said sadly.

"How did you even know downwind? You haven't even trained yet!" Jadepaw cut in.

Woodpaw heard a harsh voice. "I taught you."

"What, who's there?" Woodpaw screeched, alarmed by the voice.

"Woodpaw, calm down. It's just me and Willowbreeze!" Jadepaw murmured, looking a little weirded out by her exclaimations. Woodpaw heard the voice again. "Do not make my prescence known, or I can rip your mind to shreds."

Woodpaw gulped. "Uhh, nothing, nevermind."

"Good, quick little learner, aren't you?"

"You can go, then." Willowbreeze muttered. "Just be careful, and no training." Woodpaw stood up, her muscles screaming in protest. However, as she stretched, it felt much better.

"Oh, and go and see Shiningstar, she wanted you. She's in the nursery." Jadepaw said.

Woodpaw remembered Shiningstar entering labor on the CliffRock, before she had run out. A wave of relief washed over her as she knew her leader was safe.

Woodpaw padded into the nursery, seeing a white shape curled up in a nest, purring. Two black forms stood over her.

"Ah, Woodpaw. These are my parents, Blackice and Darkstorm." Shiningstar's voice rang out, she sounded bright and happy. "My kits are fine."

Woodpaw noticed the nursery was small, and it was too dark for her to see, and at the same time she couldn't go deeper to see the kits, or she'd be intruding on their space. In fact, she could barely see Shiningstar's face and the two black forms only stood out because of their crystalline blue eyes. It was nightfall out, so there was no light.

"What do they look like? What are their names?" Woodpaw smiled, her voice soft.

"A tawny she-cat with some darker patches and big amber eyes, named Leafkit, a dark gray tom with one black ear and some gray tabby marks shaped like shards of glass, named Shardkit. His eyes are blue. Oh..." Shiningstar's voice deepened with sadness. "One didn't live, an orange tom. I still named him...Hopekit. He was so small..."

Woodpaw frowned, feeling sorry for her leader. "Their eyes have already changed colour?"

Shiningstar looked up. "Woodpaw, you've been gone for a while. We found you near Snake Hollow, where barely any cat goes. Jadepaw found you there, because a stock of horsetail grows nearby."

"Oh." So Jadepaw found her?

"Snake Hollow...such sweet memories, such great times. There, I made most of my killings."

The voice. Woodpaw was alarmed she almost screamed, but she didn't. The moon had to have shifted, because a ray of moonlight cast over Woodpaw's face. "Oh, my..." Shiningstar murmured, her pupils small. "Jadepaw told me your injuries were bad, but..."

"What? What happened? What's going on!?" Woodpaw squealed, swatting at her face. Shiningstar looked at a pool of water and motioned for her to look. Woodpaw went over, afraid.

"Ohh...oh, no..." Woodpaw gasped, looking at her reflection. A part of her ear was missing, and there was a long scar up one side of her face.

"Yes, my dear. You look like a killer. Wonderful, we have already made progress..."

"No," Woodpaw murmured. She ran outside, letting out a yowl. Goldensun looked at her, emotions flashing in his eyes. Pity. Sadness. Longing? Iceheart, sitting next to him, shot him a desperate look and glared hatefully at Woodpaw. The moonlight shone over her smooth, thick pelt, laced with golden dappling and black. She never felt so alone. She looked like a freak! If Silver was still alive, he would never recognize her now...

Silver.

"Forget him. Do not show weakness. I will train you, make you a mold of me. You will rule, and the cats who oppose you will die,"

"No," Woodpaw whispered.

"Do not disobey me. Soon you will appreciate my teachings. I will make you a killer. You will be respected by all. Iceheart will die for hurting you. She will be the first you kill."

An ember of ambition sparked inside her. "Die?"

"Yes. Yes...we have made progress again today. Mark this as day one, Woodpaw. Day one of the killing time."