𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗜𝗢𝗥𝗦ᶠᵃⁿᶠⁱᶜᵗⁱᵒⁿ 一 𝔅𝔩𝔞𝔷𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔓𝔞𝔰𝔱 [𝟑]

❆☾𑁍𓆱ᥴhᥲρtᥱr 𝟸𝟽𓆱𑁍☽❆

Larkwing simply had to follow this voice. Although, to be precise, it could hardly be described as a single voice. Rather, it was a choir of a bright, feminine-sounding, synchronised singsong that rippled through her body like a small yet powerful wave, taking control of her paws.

Completely out of breath and with lungs that seemed to be on fire, Larkwing plunged into the cave of the Ancient Stone. Half expecting to meet other cats here - perhaps the ones whose whispers had lured her here — she let her gaze wander through the darkness.

A little disappointed, she let her bushy tail hang down. There was no one there but her. I could have guessed that! Annoyed with herself, she bit her lower flew. Listening to a voice in my head has never ended well, as we all know.

Nevertheless, something was different, she could feel it. She couldn't explain it and yet she was convinced that there would be no negative incidents this time. The voices just sounded too honest, too friendly for that.

As always, the stone glowed faintly purple in the pale light. Larkwing looked at it indecisively. Would it really do any good to touch it? She lowered her head and brought her nose very close to it. In all this time, the thought had never occurred to her.

Touch the stone, the voices urged again.

Larkwing whirled around reflexively. Again, there was still no one there. "Touch the stone," she repeated, tilting her head confusedly, "why would I do that?"

When she received no answer, she snorted contemptuously. Nevertheless, her curiosity was now piqued. Surely nothing bad would happen if she gave the stone one quick nudge.

The dark mottled warrior narrowed her eyes, sent a final prayer to StarClan and touched the stone with her nose.

Immediately she was overcome by an indescribable pain. Her body seemed to burn, to freeze, to be torn apart and pierced by spikes. Full of panic, Larkwing opened her mouth, but before she could scream, she fell into an eternal darkness.

***

When she regained consciousness, she was strangely dazed. All the pain was gone, as if swallowed up by air. She no longer felt anything.

Nothing at all.

For she was floating — above a deep crevice from which faint, light violet rays were rising.

What... what just happened here? Caught up in her bewilderment, Larkwing couldn't move. Where had she landed? Was she dreaming?

Questions upon questions swirled around in her head, so that she almost missed the bubbles drifting upwards between the beams of light.

As if controlled by an external force, Larkwing floated towards. She paddled with her paws as if she were swimming, even though she had never done that. Nevertheless, she moved about in this strange world as naturally as if she had never done anything else.