From the land of dead, Silverwhisper watched as the seasons changed. Swamppaw was growing older, and he was going to have to start implementing his plans. He found a comfortable place by the swamp to start the conversation. The apprentice was sleeping, and if he focused hard enough...

He was in. He peered up from under the surface of the water. He would have to wait for Swamppaw's mind to realize that he was there and give her dream direction toward him. It seemed that her dreams were simple. This time she was a kit again, and she was basking in the sun. He supposed this made sense, as her only memories of warmth were from her kittenhood.

The kit suddenly jumped as an insect rudely brushed past a whisker. It hissed angrily at the insect before noticing him. Swamppaw scrambled to the water, form abruptly at the proper age. "Silverwhisper?"

"Yes, it is me."

"Were you in my dream the whole time?"

Silverwhisper nodded, amused at her apparent embarrassment. He moved quickly to more serious conversation. "You are getting good training, no?"

"I am, from Tornfoot. He won't teach me combat though, I feel like I'm missing out on something important."

Silverwhisper's voice lowered in disapproval. "Indeed, combat may become a necessity for you. The clans are currently in an uneasy peace, but I predict that this will change soon."

"Will it?" Swamppaw's ears raised in alarm.

"I shouldn't be telling you very much information, Deadclan has a non-interference policy, but I think I will impart some nonetheless. There is another group of cats nearby, to be frank. They have existed for quite a while, just as long as Swampclan, Bushclan, and Tunnelclan have. They have recently swelled in numbers and are roaming in a swath of territory near the clans. They will want to find new land soon, and this area is a prime location."

"Well why are you telling me this? I can't imagine that I'm that important."

Silverwhisper shrugged. "What I originally made contact with you for is separate from this, I just felt it prudent to make you aware."

"Why did you contact me then?"

"To make sure that you are receiving proper guidance. My overarching goal is to use you to propagate radical changes, but it is best to build the bottom of the pyramid first."

"Your goal? Radical changes? Are you not talking to me on the behalf of Deadclan?"

"For Deadclan? No. For the greater good. As Tornfoot said a few moons ago, cats in Deadclan still hold loyalties to their old clans. I am trying to work above that."

He could see Swamppaw's faith in him wavering as she realized that he was not backed by the ancestors.

"What is it that you want to do?" asked the young she-cat.

"A simple yet somehow difficult change- I want to implement a Warrior Code."

"Warrior Code... Where have I heard that term before?"

"Perhaps from an elder. Long ago, the three clans were one group of cats. We travelled the land and met with a group of four clans in our journey. We learned many concepts from them, and keeping these concepts in mind we found a swath of habitable territory. We divided ourselves into three clans based on what prey we liked, and from there developed the system that we have now. Something we did not take from those four clans was the Warrior Code, and I am thinking that we need it."

"Do we? I haven't seen any awful warriors yet. I think our current rules work fine."

"You haven't lived long enough to see violence. Leaf-bare keeps conflict away, and Specklestar hasn't let you attend the gatherings, has she?"

"No, she hasn't," admitted Swamppaw. "She says that it would be unsafe for me to meet with any other clans, and Fishheart backed her opinion. Tornfoot's stayed behind with me to guard the camp every-time."

Silverwhisper's ears flicked in annoyance at another mention of Tornfoot. The meddling mentor was getting on his nerves. Sensing that Swamppaw was growing close to waking, he concluded the conversation, "Anyways, we need to get you some combat training. I will attend your dreams occasionally to mentor you myself. In the meantime, think about what I have told you. Do not tell any other cats about the nearby group, I can't have other Deadclan cats on my tail about telling you."

Before Swamppaw could speak, she woke up, forcibly pushing Silverwhisper out of her dream in the process. He himself felt a sense of waking, as he was back in the Deadclan realm by the twin swamp of the living realm's. Water was the easiest way to discreetly contact the living, but he supposed he would have to find way of more physically manifesting himself.

As he pondered this, he caught movement in the edge of his vision. Another Deadclan cat had seen him. They bounded away, but before they could get far he sprinted up the them. Luckily they were not too fast, and he was able to pin them down. They yowled in protest and swiped desperately at his belly. Silverwhisper avoided this as well as he could and bit into the skin of their back, forcing them further into the ground.

"I'm sorry," he growled through a mouthful of fur, "but I can't have you telling any-cat about this."

"You can't-"

He brought his jaws to their neck and clamped down, ending them. After the deed was done, he waded into the swamp to wash off the blood, before fleeing the scene. His plans came first, his conscience second.