Badseed's POV

Dusk had settled in, and our leader was still out of the camp. I was worried that the snakes might have bitten her. It was winter, and that means we saw less of them, but they were still around. I was sitting in the medicine cats den quietly, waiting for Small-leaf to let me leave. He had applied a poultice to a deep scratch on my shoulder and said I had to stay until it soaked in.

I perked my ears and watched as Sunfire poked through the tunnel leading to the medicine cats' den. Mistpaw was stumbling after him, the young toms eyes dull and distant.

Sunfire urged him gently, "Why don't you go find a nest, and I will send Littlewing to see you in a moment?"

Mistpaw bowed his head and trailed a few fox lengths to the east, flopping into some bracken.

Littlewing had been on her way to come see me, but she stopped when she heard her name. Sunfire bounded over to her and quietly explained. "He's taking the loss extremely hard. He hasn't' said a word to anyone, not even Polarfur. Do you have anything for him?"

Cinderstorm was young Mistpaw's mentor. Both of them were friendly cats, so it isn't surprising they had an un-naturally strong bond with each other. The poor thing.

Littlewing whispered sadly, "I'll make something that will help him, don't worry Sunfire."

Our deputy flicked his tail against her shoulder in a silent thanks then padded back into the main camp.

Littlewing sighed before padding over to me. "How's the shoulder?"

I answered honestly, "It's still throbbing."

She decided, "I'm going to get you a poppy seed then. Don't' go anywhere."

I snorted, "Small-leaf would just drag me back here."

Littlewing laughed as she returned to her den.

The bramble tunnel rustled as Mothpaw came bundling through it. He stumbled over to me and demanded, "Are you alright, Badseed?"

I licked my son between the ears and promised, "I'm perfectly alright, Mothpaw."

He visible relaxed and then flopped in front of me, curling up against my chest. Of my kits, he's always been the most affectionate.

His mentor, my closest friend, Cricketeye stalked over to me a moment later. She sat down and curled her tail over her paws. She said nothing, and neither did I.

What was there to say?

Littlewing made a stop at Mistpaw, and then returned with my poppy seed. I swallowed it and Mothpaw asked suddenly, "Is this ice, Cricketeye?"

His paw was on top of a sheet of frozen grass.

Cricketeye smiled, "No, that's frost. Ice is completely solid and only melts when the weather is warm. Watch this."

She struck her paw onto the patch of frost, removing it a while later. Her paw print was very visible because she had melted right through. "See? When you get it warm, it melts into a little pool."

Littlewing snorted unhappily, "Yes, and as soon as night falls, that pool of frost will freeze into ice, and we'll all be slipping around the glade."

I snapped my head up suddenly and felt my eyes widening.

"Seed of the apple must rise to drain the pond of ice. If winter lives, the clan shall fall."

I sprang to my feet and Mothpaw hissed, startled, as he fell into his side.

Cricketeye asked, "What's the matter? Did you hear something?"

The pond of ice! How did I miss it before? It's so obvious!

What is another name for a pond?

Where does ice come from during the winter?

I locked eyes with Littlewing, "We need to talk."

For a moment she looked confused, but then she seemed to understand. She nodded and led me into a private, sheltered, area of the forest near the glade.

As soon as we were alone she asked, "What's on your mind?"

I felt a bitter dread clutching at me. "I think I figured out the prophecy, Littlewing!"

It was her that I told once I received it. I hadn't wanted Small-leaf to know. I hadn't even wanted Toadspore to know.

Littlewing's eyes widened and she asked quietly, "And?"

I meowed, "I think it's about Frostpool. She's the pond of ice that needs to be drained! It means somebody has to stop her from whatever she'd doing."

Littlewing nodded, and we were both silent for a few seconds.

After a while she confidently announced, "You have to stop her."

Me?

I flattened my ears in surprise, "Why me?"

Why not a good warrior like Phantomstar or Sunfire?

Littlewing shrugged, "You, Badseed, are the daughter of Bad Apple."

My body went completely numb and I crouched down. I had to stop my sister? I didn't even know what she was doing! How could I stop her?

I shivered when a voice from Starclan, my lost mate Toadspore's voice, growled into my ear. "Stop her, Badseed. Stop her at all costs…"

His voice grew weaker and faded away completely.

Frostpool was the winter.

I whispered, shocked, "I have to kill her."

Littlewing's eyes were as wide as my own. She asked, "Are you sure?"

I nodded confidently. After a while she meowed, "I think Phantomstar should know about this, Badseed."

I swallowed hard and agreed, "We can tell her." After a seconds consideration I added, "After Cinderstorm's vigil. We don't need to add anymore stress into her life tonight."

Littlewing agreed and we headed back to the camp.

Phantomstar arrived shortly after. She shook the clan members that tried to talk to her off and bounded over to Redclaw, Littlewing, Cricketeye, and me.

She asked, "Badseed, will you do something for me?"

I was surprised, but I answered, "Anything. What do you need?"

"Will you mentor Mistpaw? He needs someone like you right now."

After the shock, I felt myself swelling with pride. My first apprentice!

I never thought I would have one, actually. I barely thought I would become a warrior, let alone train a younger cat.

And Phantomstar though I was the best one for the job, even though there are plenty of older cats that could do it. Cats with experience.

I smiled and dipped my head, "Of course, Phantomstar."

She forced a smile, "Good." Bounding on top of the boulder we used as a high-rock she yowled, "All cats of Swampclan, gather for a clan meeting."

Littlewing helped Redclaw make her way over and I sat nest the front of the clan. Once we were all here Phantomstar began to speak.

"Today, we have all suffered a horrible loss. Cinderstorm was carelessly slain by the Frostclan rogues." Phantomstar's fur bristled but she kept herself from showing too much anger.

"Cinderstorm was a friend to all. She was a loving mother and mate, and she was a caring mentor. She will be dearly missed."

Most of us yowled out approval, because the words were very true. Phantomstar sighed and lifted her head. "May Starclan watch over her on her journey to the silverpelt."

After a moment of silence she flicked her tail, summoning Mistpaw forward. The young tom slowly wandered to the front of the clan.

Phantomstar meowed, "Badseed, you have proven to be a cat of great patience and persistence. You are ready for your first apprentice, and you will mentor Mistpaw."

I padded forward and Mistpaw gently poked his nose against mine. I licked his ear and purred lightly, trying to cheer the poor creature up.

Together we walked over to Cinderstorm's body to sit vigil. Deerleap pressed against me and Moosepelt sat near us as we waited for dawn to come.