Sunpaw gasped for air, desperately trying to keep his head above he water. He coughed and spluttered, the acrid taste of muddy water filling his nose and mouth. His wet fur clung to his body as more water leaked through, and Sunpaw could feel icy cold licks of water beginning to burn his skin. He tried to cry out for help, but every time he opened his mouth, water rushed in. He paddled furiously, scrabbling at the water all around him but slowly losing strength. The fight in him was washing away, and soon he knew that he would have to give up. Just as Sunpaw kicked out one more time, finally resigning himself to his fate, he felt strong jaws grip his neck, and he could feel the water rushing away as he was lifted clear of the raging, boiling river.

Sunpaw gurgled and snuffled, trying to clear the water from his nose so he could breath. Quite unexpectedly, a large paw smacked him none too gently on the back, and water dribbled from Sunpaw's mouth until he could suck in a large gulp of air. After he caught his breath, Sunpaw finally looked up to lay eyes on his rescuer. He almost choked.

"Cobaltfang? You? I – I thought – everybody thinks you're dead!" Above him, a large, dark brown tabby tom was standing, his midnight blue eyes unreadable. "Aye, and I'm glad. I've lived out here as a rogue for these past seasons. Isn' such a bad life, me young tom. Now fer my questions. What are ye doin' here? Is' not every day I get the honor of pullin' a pretty young lad like you out of a winter-full river, now is it?"

Sunpaw couldn't think of anything to say. Cobaltfang was Ripstar's only brother. Many years ago, before Sunpaw was born, when Ripclaw (Ripstar) was still a warrior, Cobaltfang was deputy under Nightstar. Being the ambitious, cold hearted monster hat he was, Ripstar had murdered his own brother and so became deputy. After that, Nightstar had disappeared. Everyone had his or her suspicions as to who did it. But if Cobaltfang was alive…that meant he should be Cobaltstar, in Ripstar's stead. The possibilities were incomprehensible.

"Then he lied. He didn't kill you. What did happen?" asked Sunpaw, his brain working furiously. If there was any hope of freeing the cats from Ripstar's rule, any hope of returning to the way things should be, with four Clans in the forest instead of one, Sunpaw would find it and expand it.

"He followed me hunting. But Ripclaw was never a very good stalker, and I heard him behind me. I didn't let on, so that I could turn and catch him at the right moment. I did exactly that, and was about to destroy 'im with one fell stroke, when one of his cronies leaped at me from the bush. Apparently, Ripclaw had many supporters, and he was paranoid of an attack. Cats like him never play fair. This fellow happened to be a large tom with fur similar to mine-"

"Crowclaw," interrupted Sunpaw, his amber eyes darkening.

"So ye know him then. Well this fellow knocked me unconscious, and left me here for dead. Sloppy work, if I do say so. I'm still here, and since then I have truly longed to meet my brother again, and show him how to fight proper."

Sunpaw nodded. He sat there, staring at the muddy riverbank for a long time, going over ideas in his head. He so desperately wanted to change things, to end the madness that Ripstar called The True Way, and bring back the life that he heard in stories.

"Cobaltfang, do you think there is any way that we can arrange your little meeting, you know, with Ripstar? I too have a bone to pick with him." Sunpaw remember Crowclaw's last words: Ripstar doesn't like you…he hissed.

"Hm. Have somethin' on your mind, lad?" asked Cobaltfang quietly, leaning in to listen to Sunpaw's words. As if on second thought, the tom drew back, and meowed, "Who are ye anyway? Somethin' about yer fur, me lad, that makes me wonder. Who's yer mother and father?"

"My name is Sunpaw. As for my fur, I've always been teased about it. All my brothers and sisters and friends, not that I have any friends, are dark colored. Most cats in TigerClan are."

"I see. But answer me second question. Yer parents?"

Sunpaw scowled. He had hoped Cobaltfang would never ask. Somehow he didn't think the big tom would have much patience for his traitor brother's outcast son. Cobaltfang's eyes became icy, and he let out a soft hiss, which Sunpaw interpreted as 'get a move on, or I'll gut you right here and now'. The apprentice gulped.

"My mother is Smalltail," he murmured. Cobaltfang nodded.

"I remember her," he said. "Pretty young lass. But yer father, son."

"My father is…my father is Ripstar." Sunpaw braced himself, preparing for the deathblow that no doubt awaited him. But it never came. To his surprise, Cobaltfang began to laugh.

"I thought it might be. I could tell laddy, when ye said ye had a bone to pick with him. I know that look. It's a look of utter hatred. None other than the leader's son could truly feel that much." Cobaltfang's eyes glittered mischievously. And Sunpaw couldn't help but lower his gaze.

"So, Sunpaw, what do ye have in mind, fer this little revenge plan of yer's?