"Look!" Featherkit trotted across the snowy clearing and tossed a moss ball at Splashkit. "I found another one!"
Splashkit crouched, ready to pounce, but Riverkit and Robinkit scooted past her and pawed the ball to each other.
Lakekit, Dovekit, and Berrykit sat like three baby owls outside the nursery, their eyes fixed on the moss as the older kits tossed it back and forth.

Poolpelt purred as it rolled to her black paws. She hooked it up and held it high, making the kits jump for it.

Ashfall and Swiftfur lay dozing in the pale leaf-bare sun. Ashfall opened one eye. "Thanks for keeping them busy, Poolpelt."
"I enjoy it!" She tossed the moss ball into the air and watched the kits scramble for it.

It was easier to play with Featherkit now that Blackfrost was out with Shadowpaw so much.
He was working his apprentice hard, waking him before dawn and drilling him in the cold hollow any time they weren't patrolling or hunting.
Shadowpaw had grown so quickly that he looked like a warrior after only a moon of training.
Poolpelt wished he didn't have to show off his battle skills in the camp quite so much.

"Teach me a battle move!" Featherkit begged her daily.
"You're not old enough," she would tell her.
She was going to make sure she made it to a warrior without any serious injuries.
She owed it to her and Feathershine.

"Throw it again! Throw it again!" Splashkit came bouncing back, the moss ball jiggling from her jaws.
She dropped it at Poolpelt's paws and looked up pleadingly. "Please."
Poolpelt scooped it up and dangled it from a claw, her whiskers twitching as she watched the kits stare intently at the jerking clump of moss.
Then she tossed it to the other side of the snowy clearing and the kits hared away, kicking up snow.

"Poolpelt?" Icestar was padding toward her. "I want you to find Blackfrost and Shadowpaw in the cold hollow." She glanced at the sun, rising high in the milky blue sky.
Poolpelt cocked her head. "Why?"
Icestar looked solemn. "I've been getting reports of kittypets crossing the border, and I want you go with them to investigate."

Poolpelt knew exactly who'd made the reports.
Blackfrost had been spoiling for a fight with kittypets for moons.
Even more so since he'd become Shadowpaw's mentor, as if he wanted to make sure Shadowpaw understood that kittypets were their enemies.

Poolpelt dipped her head to the IceClan leader and headed toward the camp entrance.
Featherkit pounded after her. "Where are you going?"
"Just to check the border," she explained.
"Is DawnClan invading again? Or SmokeClan?" Featherkit reared onto his hind legs and swiped at the air.
Poolpelt wondered whether he had learned that battle move from Shadowpaw.

"Just some kittypets sniffing around."
"Are you going to shred them to pieces?"
"They're just kittypets," Poolpelt told her. "A hiss should be enough to send them running."

Featherkit sighed. "I wish I could come with you."
"Another few moons and you will," Poolpelt promised. "Now run back and play with your denmates so Ashfall and Swiftfur can rest."
Featherkit charged away, and Poolpelt headed for the cold hollow.

"Now lunge at me," Blackfrost commanded.
Poolpelt could see the pair through the frozen bushes just ahead of her.

Baring his teeth, Shadowpaw rushed at Blackfrost, slamming into his flank.
Blackfrost turned and flung his apprentice away with a hefty blow that left Shadowpaw staggering.
"Frost-brain!" Blackfrost growled. "You should have seen that coming."
Shadowpaw shook his head, looking dazed. "Let me try it again," he begged.

Poolpelt hurried forward to interrupt.
She couldn't watch such brutal training.
She was sure Duskwing had no idea that Shadowpaw's mentor was so rough with her kit.
Should she warn the IceClan leader what was going on?

She shivered, thankful that Blackfrost wouldn't be able to train Featherkit.

"Blackfrost!" she called before Shadowpaw could take another lunge at his mentor.
Both cats swung around, their eyes narrowing when they saw her.
"What is it?" Blackfrost demanded.

"Icestar wants us to check the border for kittypets," she told him.
His dark gaze brightened. "At last!" He bounded into the snowy trees. "Come on, Shadowpaw," he called over his shoulder. "Let's try out some of those battle moves for real."
Paws heavy, Poolpelt followed.

As they neared Twolegplace, Blackfrost signaled to Shadowpaw. "Run up ahead and check for scents," he ordered.
Shadowpaw rushed off, leaving Blackfrost and Poolpelt alone.

"I know what you're doing," Blackfrost growled.
Poolpelt was alarmed by the ferocity of his mew. "What?"
"Playing with Featherkit every time my tail's turned."
"She's my kin!" She meowed in horror.

"She's my kit!" He retorted. "Just remember that! I can stop your dumb games anytime I want."
"How?" Poolpelt glared at him, trying to hide her fear.
Blackfrost flashed her a menacing look. "Right now, I'm letting you play with her. But the moment I think you're turning her soft, the games will stop, get it?"
He went on, "She's my daughter, not yours!"
Stung, Poolpelt opened her mouth to tell him exactly what she thought about kit-rearing methods.

"Kittypet scent!" Shadowpaw came tearing back. "Come on!"
The young tom led them to a sparse stip of snowy woodland not far from a row of bright red Twoleg nests.
Light filtered through the snow-filled branches, striping the snowy floor.
Shadowpaw started sniffing the snow. "The trail leads this way."

Poolpelt could smell a faint trace of kittypet. Not strong enough to be a full-grown cat. "It's just a kit," she meowed. "Not worth following."
"I forgot you had a soft spot for kittypets," Blackfrost growled.
He followed his apprentice along the scent trail as it led through the biggest snow at the edge of Twolegplace.

They pushed through the snow and emerged in a cold patch of frozen scrub beside a fence.
A black-and-white kit was snuffling the snow.
As the three Clan cats advanced, he spun around, eyes wide.

"Hello." He blinked happily, tail high.
Shadowpaw bristled, and Blackfrost had already unsheathed his claws.
Poolpelt tensed, willing the tom to run. The fence wasn't far. There was a chance it might escape.

A growl rumbled in Blackfrost's throat. "What are you doing here? This is IceClan territory!"

"Blackfrost, he's only a kit. He's no threat," Poolpelt pleaded.
"An intruder is an intruder, Poolpelt! You've always been too soft on them."

Poolpelt felt sick as Blackfrost turned to his apprentice. "Here, let's put it to my apprentice. What do you think, Shadowpaw? How should we handle this?"
"I think the kittypet should be taught a lesson," Shadowpaw hissed. "One it'll remember."

Poolpelt stepped forward. "Now, hold on, there's no need for this—!"
Blackfrost turned on her, arching his back. "Shut up!"

Shadowpaw lunged at the kit, sending it flying like piece of prey. The kit skidded across the soft snow and landed, gasping for breath.
Get up!

Tail bushed in terror, the kit tried to scramble to its paws. But Shadowpaw pounced again.
The white apprentice pinned the kit to the snow.
With claws unsheathed, he swiped at its muzzle, then raked its flank.
The kit squealed in agony.

"Show it your teeth, Shadowpaw," Blackfrost goaded.
Shadowpaw sunk his teeth into the kit's shoulder and hauled it to its paws.
The kit yowled and struggled, its paws scrabbling helplessly on the snow until Shadowpaw, his eyes gleaming, flung him away.

No!

Blood welling scarlet along his wounds, the kit pressed his belly to the snow as though he wished he could just vanish.
Shadowpaw padded grimly toward it.

"No!" Poolpelt pelted past him and stood in front of the kit and glared at Shadowpaw with the all the power of ThunderClan running through her veins. "Stop. Shadowpaw."
Shadowpaw halted and glared at her. "I was just defending our territory!"
"You don't need to hurt them though!" She reasoned. "They've learned their lesson. Leave them alone. NOW."
She bared her teeth, ready to fight.

The kit stood up on shaking paws and gazed at Shadowpaw with terror in its eyes.
"Yeah," Shadowpaw agreed. He leered at the kit. "You'll never forget me!"

Poolpelt held her ground while the kit fled. "If I ever see you do something like that again—!" Her eyes flashed from mentor to apprentice— "I'll report you to Icestar!"

She then glared coldy at Shadowpaw. "What is wrong with you!?"
Shadowpaw snorted as he rolled his eyes.

"We were only defending IceClan territory from invaders," Blackfrost snarled.
"That so-called invader was a kit!"
He turned and stalked away between the snowy trees, his black pelt swallowed in the distance.
Shadowpaw trotted after him with his tail up, proud of his brave victory.

Rage and horror throbbed in Poolpelt's black paws as she stared after them.
What has ever happened to you, Blackfrost?