You have a killer instinct. That doesn't belong here at Everwinter nor anywhere else in Frosthaven. Prisma's words echoed through Frost's mind as he slumped onto his bed, closing his eyes. It had been a long and eventful first day at Everwinter. Was this the beginning or the end of his journey? He wasn't sure.

Five, what was he supposed to do? Just sit there and take a beating from the school bully? Halorax deserved what he got. Probably no one had stood up to him before.

Five, there was something wrong with the overall level of pacificism in this place. These people wouldn't stand up and fight. Prisma's words struck chord. A killer instinct doesn't belong in Frosthaven.

Quartus had been the same way. The king of the country had offered his own life in exchange for what? His enemies?

Only Frost and Frolick's brashness had saved the good king's life.

Five, probably the only person in Frosthaven who did have good instincts was Halorax. The person Frost had just disabled. Permanently.

Great. So now he'd be ostracized. If they even let him stay here. Would he ever get the training he wanted? What would his classmates think of him? Probably they'd see him as a foreigner with all the wrong ideas. The one person who'd welcomed him, Prisma, had now pushed him away. Because of what? A broken ideology?

The door to Frostilicus' room abruptly swung open, slamming against the wall.

"I think what you did was downright exceptional," Frolick said. His gait was chipper and confident as usual.

"The problem is I doubt the Masters will see it that way," Frostilicus said. "They'll kick me out for sure. This isn't Capscatia."

"Nah," Frolick said. "Alex says you'll get a pass."

Frost sat up in his bed. "What?"

"There are laws and such," Frolick said. "I don't pretend to understand it. But self-defense is valid reason for a fight. Even here in Everwinter. Between you and me, I think more people than you know appreciate what you done. Showing Hal what he got coming to him. Not a popular sort except amongst a few spoiled elites anyway."

"That's interesting," Frolick said, scratching his head.

"Sides," Frolick said. "It was his own spear that pierced his shoulder. His own frost magic forced it in. Alex says that's the most important point. Even if you may have tweaked it a bit, it was him that done it."

"True," Frostilicus said, stroking his chin. Frolick did raise a good point.

"But it will have to go to a court and such according to Alex," Frolick said. "Point is you are better off than you think. Even if the folks in this place can be a little...different in how they think."

"It's this pacificism," Frost said. "I don't understand it at all."

"I don't know if it's pacifism," Frolick said. "You should chat with Alex. He says it has more to do with reticence than philosophy. Uses big words like when he talks so I know he's smart."

"I don't think he likes me very much," Frostilicus said.

"Ah don't worry about that," Frolick said. "He's just a little anti-social, that's all. But very smart. And he's got a newfound respect for you after what you done."

"Really?" Frost said. That was surprising. So maybe not everyone though the same way in Frosthaven. "Sounds like you have a new best friend?"

"I is friends with anyone who's friends with me," Frolick said. "You, on the other hand, seem to have a good way of getting on everyone's bad side. Then I have to clean it up for you."

"It's not my fault," Frostilicus said. "She just doesn't understand."

"Understanding requires patience, Frost," Frolick said. "Putting in time with someone. Patting her on the back. Scratching her behind the ears."

What? Frost raised an eye. "Scratching behind the ears?"

"Definitely," Frolick said. "Animals love it when you scratch them behind the ears. Mammals anyway. Birds and reptiles are a bit different."

"People don't work like animals, Frolick," Frost said.

"Well, I don't know about that," Frolick said. "They do more than you think. We're all part of nature, and we are mammals. Maybe that's why you have trouble with relationships? You don't know how to scratch behind the ears."

Frost sighed, considering his comment. It actually made some sense. And Frolick was skilled with animals, and people, and babies too. Maybe Frost should take his advice and scratch behind the ears?

"Well, I managed to offend the one person who was welcoming on day one," Frost said. "I don't have a great track record. Maybe you have a point about scratching behind the ears. In the figurative sense."

"Figurative?" Frolick said. "Why I meant it literally."

Frost's jaw dropped. Then he shook his head and deadpanned, "You are saying you literally want me to scratch her behind the ears?" His brother made no sense.

"Yes, she'll love it, Frolick said in an upbeat tone. His lips curled upward, and his cheeks wrinkled around his eyes.

"You are crazy," Frost said, sighing. Maybe he shouldn't take his brother's advice after all.

Frolick scratched his head. "Wait a minute. Who are you talking about?"

"Prisma," Frost said, emphatically. "She hates me. Says I have a killer instinct."

"Five," Frolick said. "You made her hate you? I didn't know that. You do have real problems then, brother. Alex says his sister is the kindest person in Hailstone. If you made her hate you after just one day, then you are hopeless. Nothing I can do for you there."

Frost let out a long breath. Then he raised a brow. "Who is it you are talking about?"

Frolick tilted his head. "Why, Molly, of course."