𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗜𝗢𝗥𝗦ᶠᵃⁿᶠⁱᶜᵗⁱᵒⁿ 一 𝔅𝔩𝔞𝔷𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔓𝔞𝔰𝔱 [𝟑]

❆☾𑁍𓆱ᥴhᥲρtᥱr 𝟺𝟻𓆱𑁍☽❆

"Get up!" The echoing, asynchronous chorus of voices was deafening. "Look at what's going to happen!"

Without warning, a terrible pain shot through Larkwing from her chest to the tip of her tail, as if someone had rammed a stick through her body. She threw her head back, wanting to scream, but instead could only produce a croaking wheeze.

What's going on? How long have I been here? Lakepelt was gone. Her nest was gone. She was alone in a dark environment, too gloomy for her to see anything.

"Hello? Is anyone there?" she called timidly. Reflexively, she unsheathed her claws and tensed her hind legs, ready to dodge if something lunged at her.

Numerous pairs of glowing yellow eyes flashed one after the other, above her, beside her, even below her, until the tortico cat seemed to be trapped by them. A tingling sensation made the pelt along her spine stand on end.

"Is this a dream?" Her question echoed in the rushing silence of this strange place.

Until the eyes seemed to come closer. Her heart skipped a beat in fright. Blindly, she felt behind her with her hind paws and slowly backed away.

Faint silhouettes, barely distinguishable from their surroundings, appeared around some of the pairs of eyes. There were three cats, their bodies dark grey and swirling, as if they were made of clouds and mist and could be blown away by a breath of air.

At the same time, they opened their mouths, revealing their white fangs, the only thing about them that looked real. "The prophecy is coming true," they said with one voice.

Larkwing pressed her ears to her head. "Prophecy?" she repeated. "What are you? Are you StarClan? What do you want from me?"

Gradually, her fear disappeared and was replaced by anger. She stepped up to the mist cats and hissed at them. How dare you bring me here? I know myself that I am tainted!

"Look at what will happen," they repeated. "Look at your future, Shadowless."

A growl formed deep in Larkwing's throat. "Why—"

The rest of her question was lost in a shrill scream as she was pulled into the abyss beneath her. She fell faster and faster, spun around as if she were as light and fragile as a leaf. In a pitiful attempt to regain control, she paddled with all four legs, but that only made her even more disoriented than before.

And then she came down hard on something cracking. She lay still for a moment, her face contorted in pain. If this is a dream, why does it feel so real?