A familiar, woodsy scent in my nose made me wake up. I lifted my head to see Wolfstar sitting in front of me.

Pushing myself to my paws I smiled. "Thank you for leading us to the shelter, Wolfstar."

Thinking about Zander dying because I had let us wander too far away from the camp… it was a horrible thought.

A smile spread across his face. "I could not watch you die, dear one. You are far too special to me."

I ignored his affection and asked, "What are we doing tonight? More battle training?"

Because I was so small, and he was so very large, we've been working together to make my fighting skills more proficient against bigger enemies. He was still ten times better then me, being so experienced, but I have greatly improved.

Wolfstar shook his head. "No, we have something much more important to talk about. First, tell me, what are our exact plans for your future?"

I perked my ears and reported immediately, "I will gain the trust of Phantomstar through gatherings, while sending some warriors to mess with her clan the rest of the time. We need the whole of Swampclan ready to break with anxiety before we attack."

He nodded for me to continue.

I smiled. "I will take my most elite of fighters to the gathering when the time comes. We will mingle; we will make sure we are evenly spread among the enemy warrior. When the moon reaches the highest point in the sky, when all of Starclan is watching, we will strike down the Swampclan cats.

"That will leave the camp with no reinforcements, and no strong protectors. I will rally the remainder of my clan and we will force Swampclan to submit to my rule. I will prove to Starclan that I have the support and the skill to be the leader they never wanted me to be."

That last sentence was spoken through a growl. I had been willing to commit to the code. I wanted to be loyal, and to make all of my friends loyal as well.

It's not my fault the dead ancestors of the forest cannot look at me without seeing my father.

Well, if Bad Apple is what they want- it's what I will give him. Daddy taught his little Frost the best. I was inside his head. I could be just like him if I wanted to- and I did.

Wolfstar purred, his warm brown eyes glowing with satisfaction. He was proud of me, and I could tell.

"Very good, Frostpool." He praised. "You have the same blackness in your heart that I had. The same power to become a great leader."

I lowered my head, uncertain. "You were a leader, Wolfstar. Despite what you did within your clan, Starclan still gave you your nine lives. I will never get mine."

His fluffy tail swept under my chin, making me look at him again. He smiled kindly at me. "The day I received my lives was the day I was punished for those 'crimes'. The cats that supported me- despite what I did in my clan- all lived lives of hate, fear, and pain. I had to experience that nine times during my ceremony."

I blinked in surprise. He had warned me that you could feel the memories, the essence; of the gift our ancestors gave. I knew that, but I never considered the fact that they could actually hurt.

Wolfstar reached forward and gave me one gentle lick between the ears. I felt my body stiffen, even though I did not move away. I was not accustomed to such a feeling. To someone treating me in a fatherly manner. It was a very foreign emotion.

Wolfstar purred, "Do not fret, dear Frostpool. I will make you a promise."

I glanced at him again and tilted my head slightly.

His eyes burned with intensity and he growled, "If you give me what I want, I will give you what you want."

He would give me my true leadership? How was that even possible?

I asked, stunned, "What is it you want, Wolfstar?"

Better question, how did I get it for him?

The great toms eyes fogged over and he spoke quietly. "I want to feel the wind running through my fur. I want to taste the warmth of fresh kill. I want to let my veins pump with the aggression and adrenaline a warrior gets when he is defending a clan to call his own."

He flexed his claws and whispered, "I want to live again."

I stretched forward and gently pressed my shoulder against his chest. I demanded, "Then tell me what to do, Wolfstar. Tell me how I can help you!"

He was my friend. He was my teacher. He has gained my trust and respect. He deserved my help if I could give it to him.

The great tom began to fade as the dream came to an end. A deep, rich laugh escaped him and filled my ears. He promised, "You will know when the time is right, my dear. Be patient, and we can both have the thing we most desire."

"Frostpool!" I felt my shoulder nudged roughly, and I snapped my head up.

My mind was foggy, swirling with confusion and excitement from the meeting that just took place. I was thrilled with everything that just exchanged between my Dark Forest friend and myself.

However, I did not have time to dwell on it, as Zander nudged me again.

I blinked, clearing my mind, and glanced at him. He smiled hugely and nodded towards the exit of the cave.

It was completely snowed over. I didn't worry though, for the same reason he was smiling. On the other side I could hear the muffled voices of some of our clan mates.

Thundertail insisted, "I'm positive this is where they are."

Snowpaw demanded to know, "Then they didn't they answer us?"

My brother growled, "Can I read minds, Snowpaw?"

A firm, soft voice stopped them from arguing. "The faster you dig, the faster we will find out who is right."

Gentlepaw, the medicine cat apprentice, was with them.

Zander reported, "I tried to call to them. The sound just bounces off the snow and is muffled."

We sat in the back of the den and waited patiently. Soon, my brother's large shoulder busted through the hard-packed snow and thin layer of ice sealing us inside. With a grunt, Snowpaw tumbled through the little opening and landed right onto the ground.

Zander purred, "Hey, Snowpaw."

The boy's ears perked and he sprang to his feet. His eyes blazed with happiness when he looked upon his mentor, "Zander! You're alive!"

He darted over to us and head butted Zander's chest. My mate purred and affectionately cuffed his ear.

Thundertail stuck his head inside the hole and smiled at me. "I knew I was following the right scent."

I have never been so happy to see my annoying little brother's face. Smiling I pushed out of the den, finding myself met by a startling new world.

No matter what direction I looked, there was white. Huge drifts of snow this way, that way, every way you could go.

I asked, incredulous, "How long was it snowing?"

Gentlepaw answered, "The blizzard lasted for three days. We were all skeptical when Thundertail said he had your trail, but he was so positive. Snowpaw and I volunteered to come help him look for you guys."

Three days?

Zander saw my shock and smiled at me. "You were asleep the whole time. I've told you that you have been working too hard!"

I shook my head, not caring about my self-induced exhaustion. "I have to get back to the camp. Is everyone alright?"

I started bounding through the path that Thundertail's large chest had plowed on his way over to our refuge. It was a lot easier then breaking my way through the unmarred drifts.

I heard the others following me. Thundertail was at my flank and he reported, "We're all fine. Just before the storm hit Battleheart went out the made everyone at the training hollow return home. He was about to look for you two when the blizzard came. Whisperleaf made him stay in the camp."

Gentlepaw defended her mentor, "She had to! We couldn't lose anyone else while you were gone, especially not our deputy."

I heard Snowpaw laugh. "The blizzard stopped just last night, and he sent out the hunting patrols. He and Hellfire were trying to find you two. They thought maybe Swampclan had you."

The snow thinned out considerable once we were off the marsh. Our straight line bunched into more of a pack formation. Zander at my right, the apprentices behind us, and Thundertail keeping lookout in the back.

We raced across the frozen territory in silence for a while. When we were almost to the camp I glanced at Thundertail. "Why don't you run ahead and tell them you found us?"

He nodded and sprang out of sight. Snowpaw, ever eager to learn, asked, "When are we training again, Zander? You're going to let Redpaw and Darkpaw get ahead of me!"

Gentlepaw coolly announced, "Redpaw is already ahead of you."

The young tom growled at his sister, and she widened her eyes with playful innocence.

I could tell that Zander had been left weak from three days of no food, water, and probably little sleep. I felt weak, too. My muscles were protesting just running home.

I was the one who answered Redpaw, "Nightheart can take over your training for a few days, Redpaw. Find him and tell him."

The energetic young tom beamed and barreled through the tunnel into the camp. Gentlepaw was hot on her brother's heels.

Zander's tail twined with mine and the two of us entered the camp side by side.