Frostpool's POV

I raced across the border of Swampclan and Frostclan, skidding over the frozen ground until I was positive we were not being pursued.

I forced my fur flat and sat down, licking a wicked scratch on my shoulder that one of the Swampclan cats had given me.

Battleheart and Shadowclaw flanked me naturally. A quarter moon ago, when Zander and I were hunting alone near the border, we were jumped by a hostile Swampclan patrol. There were four of them, and just two of us. Honestly, we barely made it out with our fur on.

I was still missing a patch on my hing leg.

Anyway, after that happened, Zander absolutely insisted I not leave the camp without at least one of our large warriors with me. To calm him down I agreed to the ridiculous demand.

"Leafpool?" I glanced to the side, to where Nightheart was speaking to me from.

He flexed his claws and asked, "What was the point in all that? We just got ourselves shredded for one cat?"

Thunderpaw narrowed his eyes and spat, "Yeah! It's going to take forever to get this blood out of my coat."

I rolled my eyes and meowed sarcastically, "Oh dear Starclan, your fur is stained? Alert the medicine cat!"

Thunderpaw snarled at me and stalked a few yards away. Stupid furball, he never stops complaining.

I still like him, though.

All eyes were still on me, waiting for some answers.

I flattened my ears angrily and growled, "The reinforcements were not supposed to show up. I wanted to pick off at least three cats."

Hellfire asked, "Why? They never bother us unless we start trouble."

I couldn't answer that question. Nobody except for Zander and Battleheart knew about my plans for the forest. I will own it, one day. I will be Froststar, the leader of all cats. Then Starclan will see what a mistake they made.

Battleheart cuffed Hellfire over the ear and smirked, "Are you going kitty pet on us, Hellfire? I thought you liked causing trouble!"

My brother growled and flung himself at Battleheart. They rolled around somewhere to the left.

The longer we live in this forest, the more relaxed the clan is becoming. They play like kits now. I'm happy to see that. It's good to know we don't have to be serious and tense every moment of our lives.

Clan life is good for all of us, and we all are committed to it. I don't see why Starclan is blind to that!

I started walking back towards the camp, and after a few strides everyone was gathered around me again.

Battleheart glanced at them and ordered, "Go and hunt, we need to stock up on fresh kill before the snow."

Nightheart took natural charge as he bolted into the forest, followed closely by all of the others.

As soon as they were gone I turned to Battleheart, "I think Thunderpaw is ready for his final assessment. Darkpaw, Snowpaw, and Redpaw should have their first hunting assessment, though."

My deputy decided, "I will ask Ambercloud and Flamepatch to watch them hunt, and I can take Thunderpaw later today."

We entered the camp and I decided, "Go and do that."

He stalked over to Ambercloud, who was sharing a squirrel with Gentlepaw.

Zander loped over to me, his eyes shining with concern. "You're hurt."

I narrowed my eyes and sighed, "It's just a scratch, Zander. Snowpaw's having her assesment today."

My attempt at a distraction worked. He beamed, "He's doing great."

I heard laughter and turned my attention to the side. Wetkit and Hollowkit were playing with Brownstripe.

I noticed, "The nursery is a little thin. We should reinforce it before the storm."

Zander licked my ear a few times and purred, "You should rest, Frostpool, you haven't slept since yesterday. I'll take Vileheart and do it."

I went into the den, flopping over on my nest. Curling into a ball I eventually drifted to sleep.

As I expected, I woke up in the Dark Forest.

Wolfstar was sitting on the usual tree stump, waiting for me.

The instant my eyes opened he praised, "You did well today, Frostpool."

I growled, "Well? Our goal was not accomplished, Wolfstar. We agreed that three was the target number."

Wolfstar sprang lightly down from his perch and stood beside me. He flicked me with his extremely plumy tail and laughed, "Things do not always go as planned, don't you know that by now?"

After a tense silence Wolfstar asked me, "Are you going to start gatherings again?"

I blinked at him and asked, "Do what?"

He patiently explained, "The gatherings, Frostpool. On the full moon the two clans are supposed to meet in peace and discuss their needs and stuff."

I scoffed, "And how do you suppose I go about that? Waltz into Swampclan's camp and propose the idea to Phantomstar? I'll be mousedust in a second."

Wolfstar shrugged, "A patrol is bound to pass by the borders eventually."

I flicked my tail irritably, "Why should I? Starclan wants gathers, and I don't care what they want."

They didn't care about me.

A vicious smile curled across Wolfstar's muzzle and he leaned in close to me. His dark brown eyes were as cold as the harshest ice and he hissed, "That's exactly why you should do it, Frostpool. If there is one time no cat will expect you to cause trouble, it's at a gathering."

His evil plan clicked in my mind and I purred, "And that would be the perfect time to eliminate Swampclan's warriors."

The perfect time to kill Phantomstar, and forcibly take over her clan. The perfect time to make my brutal strike.

Hah, brilliant!

Wolfstar was fading away into darkness as he growled, "Precisely."

"Frostpool!"

Somebody cuffed me in the ear and I growled, "What?"

Zander nudged my shoulder and hissed, "We need you now."

That yanked me into awareness. I bounced onto my feet and asked, "What's going on?"

His eyes were wild and he had fur torn right off of his shoulder. He hissed, "We were attacked by stoats. There's a little pack of them by the training hollow."

I snarled and bolted out of the den, into the center of the camp. All of the warriors were clustered around Battleheart, who was the only cat that looked relatively calm.

I instantly decided we had to fight them off. This was our home, and will remain out home no matter what!

I lashed my tail as I decided, "Battleheart, take Ninjafruit, Desertfang, Ambercloud, and Thunderpaw to hold them off."

The five chosen cats bolted out of the camp. They would be a large enough force to hold off the fierce weasel-like animals until the rest of us arrived.

I took precaution, just incase some of them made it to the camp. "Shadowclaw, Rockclaw, guard the nursery."

Zander, Patchtail, Nightheart, and Vileheart were all injured, so they would stay home.

I decided, "Flamepatch and Brownstripe, you two sweep the area around the camp. The rest of you, come with me."

I ran out of the camp, followed be Hellfire, Snowpaw, and Redpaw.

We arrived in the end of the battle, having missed the burst of the fighting. There were only two stoats left. When they saw the rest of us coming they turned and disappeared. Hellfire charged right after them, and the two young apprentices were hot on his heels.

Thunderpaw was licking a deep gash on Ambercloud's leg, but the rest of them only had slight damage.

I asked, worried, "Is everyone okay?"

Desertfang snorted, "That thing almost took my ear off!"

Battleheart asked, "Do you have both of them still?"

He answered, "Yes."

Smirking my deputy announced, "Then you're okay."

Desertfang rolled his eyes and padded over to Ninjafruit, nudging him to his paws.

I asked Battleheart, "How many were there?"

He growled, "Six. Thunderpaw took one out before the rest of us even got down the hill!"

He smiled at me, and Ninjafruit flicked his ears proudly.

I turned to my brother and announced, "I think it's time you become a warrior, Thunderpaw."

He lifted his chin in pride and I flicked my tail. "You guys go back to the camp."

I darted after my brother and the young apprentices to make sure they weren't having trouble flushing the irritating beasts out of the territory.