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Raging, foaming masses of water as far as the eye could see tugged at Larkwing's fur, wanting to pull her down into the depths. Panicked, she flapped her paws indiscriminately. Drops landed in her throat and nose and she had to cough violently.
"Help!" Her throat was burning. Doggedly, she stretched her head as high as she could and continued to scream, even though she had long known that her pathetic cries would never reach anyone's ears. She was abandoned and alone in this icy cold.
The water changed. Whereas it had been black at first, bright red swirls were now appearing on the surface and getting bigger and bigger. Is that blood? Horror crawled through Larkwing's body like innumerable poisonous spiders. She kicked her legs even more panicked than before, her eyes squeezed shut.
I have to reach the shore! This single thought whirled round and round in her head. Larkwing kept moving her paws, but the masses of blood sticking to her fur made it almost impossible for her to swim away.
Out of nowhere, a dark brown pile suddenly appeared, swept directly towards her by the current. She realised too late that it was a cat — a dead cat.
Larkwing opened her jaws wide in a shriek of horror that would never be heard. Thick black clouds gathered above her, darkening the sky even more, only for a dazzling bolt of lightning to flash a moment later.
"Martial!" In the ensuing rumble of thunder, a voice seemed to resound, deep and cold and accusing. "There will be no place in StarClan for cats who have stained their claws with the lifeblood of others. Your heart is black, Larkwing. The Dark Forest is already waiting for you."
An irrepressible pain pierced Larkwing's chest. No! Her lungs seemed to be crushed by an invisible force. She could barely breathe. Something has taken possession of me! I didn't want this to happen!
"Don't lie to yourself!" the strange voice in the sky commanded.
With her ears flattened, Larkwing paddled through the red waves. She would not listen. She must not listen.
Startled, she mewed as she felt something drifting beneath her. The something grabbed her by the paws and pulled her under the surface.
I cannot die here! Larkwing wriggled wildly to and fro as she was pulled further and further into the depths. All around her was darkness — and the silhouettes of numerous dead cats drifting by.
Slowly but surely, Larkwing's limbs felt as heavy as stones. Every movement was an unspeakable agony for her. Her chest felt as if it would burst at any moment if she didn't catch her breath soon.
"This will be your future." The voice sounded like a breeze in the leafy greenery. "Dark. Frigid. Dead."
Larkwing gathered her strength one last time and reared up. This will never happen! This is all just a manifestation of my worst fears, nothing more. It is not real! Suddenly a fire seemed to blaze inside her, giving her new confidence.
