𝐿𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃 𝐼𝙽 𝒯𝙷𝙴 𝒮𝙷𝙰𝙳𝙾𝚆𝚂 ─── 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘯 4.

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍

Darkness.

Darkness was all that lay ahead of her. At least, that's what it felt like. It was quiet and dark, yet her thoughts were spinning out of control. She could find no scents or sensations. So it was a dream, wasn't it? If it was, it was a dream like one she never had before. In dreams, it was difficult to know what was going on. But in this dream, nothing was happening. At least, that's what it felt like. There was no other cat around. Not a sound was heard.

Suddenly, images filled her mind, some calm, some chaotic, and most making her flinch as if she had been clawed in the muzzle. Quick, detailed images of cats filled the air around her. A rush of emotions filled her. Her heart ached with many feelings, and she began to feel lightheaded. She stumbled back, desperate to get away. But when she did, she tripped over something and fell into an even darker darkness.

Dovesong's eyes shot open, heat washing her pelt. Her heart raced and pounded against her ribs, threatening to burst. She looked around to see a blurry shape of a cat standing in front of her. The cat was holding a wet piece of moss on Dovesong's head in an attempt to cool her off. Dovesong was particularly calmed by the cool moss on her fur. She settled deeper into the nest and closed her eyes again.

The cat had another cat hold the piece of moss while he left to another corner of the den. The cat who was now holding the moss murmured something that sounded worried, but also relieved.

Dovesong quickly slipped back into sleep, but it came to an abrupt end when she heard cats all around her. She opened her eyes and looked around, extremely confused. The cats were all looking at her. "What's happening?" she managed to say. Her double vision quickly faded and she realized that she recognized most of the cats. "Wait-where am I?"

"The same place you've been for three days," the yellow she-cat, Goldenheart, responded. "You've been unconscious for two days."

Ivorystream shot a glare at her as if Goldenheart wasn't supposed to say anything. "Our camp," she corrected, her voice terse.

"Who's camp?"

"Great StarClan," Moonclaw muttered.

Ivorystream shot her a look too. Then she looked at Dovesong, lowering herself a crouch to be at the level of the nest. "Do you have any idea what happened?"

"No," Dovesong answered. "At least, not now. What did you see happen?"

Ivorystream and Goldenheart exchanged glances. "We were just talking about what happened before this journey, and then you just collapsed. We're not sure why. Not even Flowerdawn or Aspenleaf know why. But I came to a conclusion, and I've been waiting to ask: do you remember anything from before this journey?"

"Obviously," Dovesong responded, thinking that was a ridiculous question.

The four cats' eyes widened. "How much?" Goldenheart asked.