City of the Adrift // A Warrior Cats Tale

Chapter Four

Amber's eyes flicked open. The moment she felt the cold, murky atmosphere around her, she realized she was in the midst of dark pine trees encircling her. Her claws gripped the damp earth below her, looking around frantically. "Is anybody around?"

A mad mrow of amusement surrounded her. The she-cat's eyes widened as she felt claws delve into her legs and pelt, ripping her fur apart as if she was prey. She shrieked with agony as her own blood pooled out beside her in puddles. Claws dug into her head over her eyes, and her vision was suddenly cut short. The pain increased as the claws advanced their way down her muzzle and neck, and suddenly, it all ended as she felt a slice of pain piercing through her heart.

Silence ensued, and Amber knew she was dead.

Through the darkness of her absent sight, glowing, amber eyes appeared before her. The she-cat couldn't move or speak; it was as if her body was suspended in place. The eyes illuminated before her then turned into two golden flames, and soon the whole of Amber's vision was set ablaze. She stood in the midst of the fire, her pelt burning up and her chest heaving as smog entered her lungs. What is this? She thought frantically, lashing her head around and noticing no sign of any cat. Why am I here?

Out of nowhere, the she-cat began hearing cries of help. Her ears immediately perked, and she began frantically pacing around the veil of fire, trying to see beyond the flames. "Don't leave me!" a shrill screech sounded, and Amber could tell it was a young tom. The she-cat then detected more screeches afar, each sounding diverse than the other. What is going on?

A pearly white and black pelt appeared behind the she-cat, moving up beside her with warm, amber eyes, "Music to my ears," she hummed.

Amber flung back, gazing at the she-cat wide-eyed. "Who are you?" She yowled, her claws gouging into the earth beneath her. The black and white she-cat purred, padding forward. Her tail stroked Amber's jaw-line, and the young she-cat growled, shifting her head away.

"Come now," she murmured, her voice faint but distinct through the flames. "Have you forgotten me so soon?"

Amber immediately grew bewildered. Do I know this she-cat?

Another screech of fear penetrated the sky, and the black and white she-cat smirked, her whiskers twitching. "Fire is such a beautiful part of nature, is it not?" She stretched forward, eying Amber with yearning. "Don't you agree, Amber?"

Amber flinched when the she-cat used her name. She was too anxious to answer the question. "Where am I?" she asked. "Why am I here?"

The black and white she-cat sneered, her amber eyes shifting into slits. "If only you remembered..." she whispered, and it was as if everything around the older she-cat began to disperse. The flames lingered around her, however, and it left her to say her last two words until the flames consume her whole.

"...If only."

The she-cat's amber eyes snapped wide open.

For several moments, Amber scrambled her legs in her nest, her chest heaving up and down as she fought for fresh air in the exhaust of the fire. Then, her eyes centered onto the golden tom before her looking at her, astonished.

A prolonged silence passed as Amber calmed down and gazed at Wren. His ear flicked.

"Fern told me to wake you up. She has some stuff she wants you to do." And just like that, the tom retreated, his tail moving back and forth stiffly.

Just a dream, Amber recalled, shuddering. A very realistic dream. The she-cat heaved herself up from the moss and feather nest below her, extending her back so far it brushed the top of the box.