The cold and darkness weighed in on the injured cat. His heart was pierced with horror and cold disappointment. Dark shadows loomed over him as he attempted to find his way to the border. He would spend every breath trying to find his mercy.

"If you try long enough, you'll disappear."

The cat jumped. He turned around, slowly. A tortoise-shell-and-white she-cat stood calmly behind him. He stuttered, "Who-who are you?"

"I am Mapleshade." She paced around the cat. "What did you do?"

"I-I don't-"

"Oh, I know. Every cat who StarClan doesn't trust ends up here. But I know how to get out."

The cat pricked his ears. "You do?"

"Of course. Follow me."

That was the last thing he remembered.

.

He had never felt so cold in his life. He felt as if he had become one of ice.

"Hush, young one. I still believe in you." He tried to open his eyes. He felt his eyelids slide open.

"I can't see!!!" he yelped. A sharp spasm of pain enclosed his pelt.

"Be still! It's going to be alright," the sweet voice said again. "StarClan did not trust you. We have been forced to bring you here. I am Spottedleaf. I will watch you still..."

.

"Oh, you poor thing!"

He awoke as one eye opened. The other stayed closed. Half of his eyesight had been taken away.

The queen helped him choose a clan. "LeafClan," he decided.

His vision faded as the queen headed back towards her clan, RippleClan.

He could hear Mapleshade's voice in his ear. "I will help you. You will do great things."