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Everything was dark, a sky forbidden of stars and the glow of moonlight. Black devoured everything in sight, colors banished from the vision of the unfortunate ones who stood amongst the terrorized area. It was an area structured out of the worst fears of the only presence that stood amongst it: pure darkness and the overwhelming sense of utter solitude.

Within the empty area stood a she-cat, her pelt bristled along her spine. Her green eyes were wide with terror yet she was still the most humane and alive thing amongst the darkness. Her delicate, brown pelt was littered in darker spots like cut, molded paw prints against her fur. Her whiskers twitched despite the fact that there was nothing to be sensed or even wind to flit them. She did not dare to take a step into the darkness, raising one paw only to freeze and shiver as if a brutal, chilling breeze had roamed over her.

She was oblivious to where she stood. All she understood was that she was asleep but never had the she-cat had even a nightmare that was so diminished of color and expression. Her muzzle then wrinkled when a putrid smell washed over her. It didn't smell like blood nor dirt, but instead it smelled like rotten prey bathed in mud and the flesh of a beached, dead fish. The she-cat hesitantly turned around to face the source of the smell, bile rising in her throat stimulated by the grotesque smell and the fear boiling inside of her guts.

A mouse was rising from the black surface beneath the area in front of her, its eyes mirroring the dark area. It rose completely from the earth, its petrifying gaze locking with her's. Foam bubbled from the corner of its mouth and its fur was matted with dirt and blood. Its nose wrinkled and its ears flicked, its movements too realistic that the she-cat nearly forgot she was trapped in a horrific nightmare.

Thorns knotted her throat and anxiety gauged at her stomach as the mouse suddenly began to move forward. Its movement was slow, its tail writhing behind it and its gaze still plastered to the she-cat. Drops of the foam from its mouth landed on the colorless surface below them and diminished to nothingness like a root conquered by flames. She found it impossible to move, her body tense and still. She was frozen in trepidation.

Suddenly, the mouse's legs gave out beneath it and it crumbled to the ground. Its nose ceased its twitching and its chest rose with one, final breath. It was snatched from life in a heartbeat, yet foam still drained from its mouth and its black eyes seemed to remain watching her.

"Lynxpaw!"

The darkness around her vanished and a familiar sensation of color filled her gaze. Her mouth was gaped as her breathing escaped her in raspy, quick exhales, terror still reigning over her. She turned towards the source of the voice when a paw prodded her shoulder, nearly making her leap out of her pelt.

"You look like you spent a rough night in the depths of the Dark Realm," the tom that stood before her chuckled.

Lynxpaw's glance was practically glued to him the moment she spotted what hung loosely from his jaws. The tom held a deceased mouse from its tail, its form lightly swinging to and fro in his grasp. She swallowed the barricade of anxiety that rose in her throat at the sight and shook her head.

"Just a little nightmare, that's all," Lynxpaw explained to dismiss his statement.

The she-cat rose to her paws, glancing swiftly away from the mouse the tom had. Her ears twitched and glanced beneath her to eye her nest crafted of feathers and moss. Bits of moss were torn and tattered, scratch marks ruining their organized stature. Feathers were scattered from her nest and she lifted a paw, shocked at the realization that her claws were unsheathed. Moss was webbed across her claws, showcasing that she had been so petrified by her dream that she shredded her nest in her sleep.

"Little nightmare, huh?" The tom scoffed, following Lynxpaw's gaze to the predicament she caused. "Looks like you'll be making yourself a new nest once you return from the Moon Realm."

Lynxpaw huffed at the tom, picking the moss from her claws before she sheathed them. "Is Nightfrost prepared to go? Is that why you woke me, Hawkpaw?" Lynxpaw questioned.

"He's actually waiting for you outside the medicine cat den as we speak," Hawkpaw retorted. "Looks like someone may be late!"

Lynxpaw growled, vexed by the fellow apprentice. He was her brother and perhaps the most rowdy presence in the Clan. Irresponsible, quirky, yet humorous as the senior warriors described him. She flicked her tail over his muzzle to silence his remarks as they padded outside of the apprentice den.

The she-cat felt a shiver travel down her spine when she glanced to her side at Hawkpaw. Lynxpaw's gaze scanned over the mouse again, nervousness gnawing at her insides. "Are you planning on eating that or what?" She asked him, wishing he would entirely rid of its presence.

"I was just about to bring it to Marshleap but then Nightfrost asked me to fetch you first," Hawkpaw replied with a roll of his eyes. "Marshleap sprained his paw while we were training this morning so I figured I would bring him a quick meal."

Lynxpaw only curtly nodded at her brother's reply. She watched as he flicked his tail and bounded off towards the warriors' den, the mouse swinging wildly from his grasp. The medicine cat apprentice clenched her teeth and she glanced away instantly, her gaze instead directed towards Nightfrost.

She stepped over to her mentor, who observed her with the steady, focused gaze of a hawk. Lynxpaw cursed at herself in her head for taking advantage of her time to nap which caused them to be running late. Nightfrost's gaze scanned over her appearance as she halted before him, the medicine cat sighing and standing to his paws.

"You look... presentable," Nightfrost mumbled, sarcasm laced in his tone.

Lynxpaw blinked and glanced back at her pelt. It was matted or spiked in specific sections, as if she was a porcupine without several of its needles. A growl boiled in her throat at the sight and the urge to groom her coat overwhelmed her. Nightfrost nudged the she-cat and gestured her forward though, knowing they had little time to tend to her messy display.

"Don't bother, we can't be too late," Nightfrost stated as he lead the way outside the camp. "Robinwing will have bees buzzing about his brain if he's stuck at the Moon Realm alone for too long."

Lynxpaw grinned at her mentor's statement as they exited the cavern. At this time of day, the sight from their camp was delightful and magnificent. They stared out across a forest blanketed in fog below, the small shadows of bats lurking amongst the trees. The moon casted a silver glow down on the land, practically enchanting its every aspect. Stars freckled the night sky and seemed to blink and flicker whenever Lynxpaw glanced at one for too long. They were not too high above the surface for the sight to be one to rile anxiety, but instead for it to be a scenery even a mother would show her kits.

Off to their left was a narrow, steep path in the rock that led further down the mountain. Nightfrost glanced out over the scenery for a few more tail flicks until he stepped over to the path. Lynxpaw followed after him, still glancing over at the forest from the corner of her gaze. She was thankful to the Star Realm for granting her a life within RidgeClan. Never did she despise a moment spent with her Clan and the vivacious sights that accompanied it.

The Moon Realm was not too far from RidgeClan so Lynxpaw doubted they would be late. The moon was slowly approaching its peak so the she-cat was sure they would be right on time. It was more so the matter of Robinwing; the curly-eared tom was known to leave extra early despite the anxiety he had to stomach when he would have to wait at the Moon Realm alone. He was younger compared to Nightfrost, only made medicine cat two Moon Realms ago yet he was incredibly experienced.

Lynxpaw smirked to herself at the thought of the medicine cat. She was tugged free from her thoughts though when Nightfrost leaped to the left onto a smaller, more narrow path. She noticed how Nightfrost grimaced and cursed to himself when he nearly slipped on his landing. Unlike her, Nightfrost wasn't a fan of climbing or any physical activities. Lynxpaw felt the urge to chuckle at her mentor but she instead followed silently after him.

"One of these days I'm going to fall and I'll be a fox families little snack," Nightfrost snorted, glancing over his shoulder to eye Lynxpaw as they continued forward. "You're lucky you've always had Hawkpaw and your mother to teach you this. If not, I'm pretty sure we'd both die."

Lynxpaw only snickered at his remark. Hawkpaw and her mother, Fawnleap, had always taught her climbing and more. She was thankful for them, but the sorrowful look in Nightfrost's eyes before he turned away after his statement clawed at her heart. Nightfrost had no kin left amongst the Clan. His last of kin, Beetleclaw, had passed last leafbare and ever since Nightfrost wasn't necessarily himself.

Eventually, the two cats managed to breach the bottom of the mountain. They skidded down the short, rocky slope and were now amongst the foggy, dark presence of the forest. Nightfrost grinned at their new destination though, clearly satisfied with no longer having to pad across a rocky, rugged surface. Lynxpaw watched her mentor as he began to step off into the forest, the apprentice bounding after him.

The darkness around them sent shivers down Lynxpaw's spine but she managed to keep her fur flat. The trees were situated close together, their branches intertwined and blocking out the night sky. They towered over her and crafted shadows even in the smallest break of light, making Lynxpaw uneasy and tense. The screeches of bats echoed in the distance and the songs of crickets were distorted and softer than usual. Everything about the scenery was perilous and eerie in her eyes.

"Finally!"

She blinked at her mentor who suddenly spoke up before he raced forward. Lynxpaw spat under her breath before she darted after him, easing herself carefully through the undergrowth and weaving between trees. She froze in her path once she managed to reach her mentor's side, the display of the Moon Realm before them catching her gaze.

The trees were cleared and no branches hung over the tall pillar of stone. Claw marks were scored through its rocky surface and the flowers around it were tilted towards the earth. The moon's silver glare tinted the surface of the pillar and allowed every mark to appear like a star in a gray, dim sky. The fog still hung over the area though, lightly distorting the sight of the Moon Realm.

"Wow, actually here at the same time as me," a voice spoke from Lynxpaw's left.

She glanced over to eye Robinwing approaching from the underbrush, his curled ears twitching. Nightfrost and the fellow medicine cat pressed their muzzles to one anothers' cheeks in a light greeting before Robinwing turned to eye Lynxpaw. She forced a welcoming grin onto her face towards the tom who dipped his head to her.

"The fog is rough, but at least we are all on time!" Robinwing chirped. "How has RidgeClan been?"

Lynxpaw desperately wanted to speak on the behalf of her Clan but she knew Nightfrost adored sharing the news of RidgeClan with Robinwing. She clenched her teeth and only remained silent as the two older toms shared tongues.

"Everything has been great! Marshleap is finally settled in with a nice molly and they are expecting their first litter," Nightfrost replied with a purr rumbling in his throat.

Robinwing's lips curled into a smile at the news. "That is lovely!" He exclaimed. "Appearantly, one of Fernbite's kits seems to have an interest in the medicine cat role. Hopefully by the next Moon Realm, I'll have my own apprentice as well!"

Lynxpaw held back the urge to scoff in irritation at the two toms. They could chat for moons if their duties didn't halt them from doing so. She glanced away into the depths of the forest as they continued to talk amongst one another, her eyes narrowed. She swore she could've seen movement at some point of her staring contest with the undergrowth, but Nightfrost's voice broke her out of her thoughts.

"Alright, the moon has reached its peak and I don't want to keep our ancestors waiting," Nightfrost spoke up, glancing towards Lynxpaw and meeting her gaze. "Are you ready?"

Lynxpaw nodded and followed the two toms as they padded towards the pillar. She stepped cautiously over the flowers, wishing not to prod any with her paws. She had been to the Moon Realm before, never was it her favorite occasion. The only thing that made up for tedious event was the sight of her old clanmates when she visited the Star Realm.

She glanced to Nightfrost and Robinwing as they crouched before the pillar and buried their faces in their paws. Lynxpaw inhaled a sharp intake of air as she crouched, eyeing the scratches embedded in the surface of the pillar. The she-cat remembered her nightmare within that moment, apprehending the possibilities of what awaited her when she shut her eyes. Hopefully, she would only open her eyes and spot her Clanmates awaiting her.

Finally, the she-cat buried her face in her paws and shut her eyes. She felt the wind lightly tug and rustle her pelt and her teeth grazed the surface of her lip. Lynxpaw was anxious to lift her head, frightened by the possibilities of what sights would capture her gaze. Her breath hitched and eventually she managed to build up enough confidence, slowly lifting her head and opening her eyes.

Standing to her paws, she glanced around at the starry scenery before her. She stood amongst a moor of the Star Realm, every grass blade littered in a million stars as it swayed with the light breeze. Dandelions and sunflowers specked the moor and Lynxpaw felt serenity wash over her. Glancing around though, she could not manage to spot any familiar faces at all. Instead as she turned on her paws, the sight of a starry she-cat standing before her caught her eyes.

She was a pale brown she-cat littered in an array of stars. Her light amber eyes resembled the sparks of an ignited flame and her expression was blank and dull. Cowered behind her was two kits that glanced towards Lynxpaw as if she was a badger with bared fangs and bristled fur. Lynxpaw met the starry she-cat's gaze, her ears pinned against the back of her head as she spoke up.

"Who are you? Are you a HeathClanner?" Lynxpaw demanded.

The molly held a blank expression as she answered Lynxpaw in a soft voice wielded of honey. "My name is Galeflower. I was sent to speak to you instead of your fellow RidgeClanners today."

Lynxpaw's eyes narrowed and her gaze scanned over the starry she-cat. "Why would the Star Realm send you instead of my old Clanmates?" Lynxpaw questioned, a defensive growl lurking in her throat. "I don't even know you!"

"The Star Realm understands that I am knowledgeable, yet gentle. They have warnings they must deliver but not just any cat can speak them to someone so young and delicate," Galeflower pointed out.

Warnings? Galeflower's words stimulated Lynxpaw's head to spin. Her thoughts spiraled loosely and the perplexed apprentice stared blankly at the she-cat as if she was spewing nonsense. Lynxpaw felt anxiety tug at her nerves and she held her breath for the flick of a tail until she spoke up again.

"What warning is there for you to give me?" Lynxpaw asked, her posture slumped as hopelessness and consternation built up on her shoulders.

"The world isn't always so stable and balanced. Sometimes, there are cats that feel as if they have some justice to serve, even if it is morally wrong and ambitious. Their actions cause instability and madness," Galeflower instructed, meeting Lynxpaw's gaze. "This darkness is reigning over HeathClan and RidgeClan. I know you can feel it, young one."

Lynxpaw winced at her words and she felt as if he throat was tied by a tight, knotted vine. She was at loss for words for a few moments, dazed and alarmed by the sudden events. Finally, the molly nodded her head frantically and managed to spit out a reply.

"Ever since my nightmare earlier, I feel as if nothing is right. Everything seems strange and unfamiliar," Lynxpaw muttered, loud enough to be audible. "Is something going to attack the Clans?"

In that moment, Galeflower's expression was no longer blank. Her lips folded into a deep frown molded of melancholy and sympathy. The she-cat glanced back at her kits then back to Lynxpaw, almost as if she didn't know what to say. A sigh escaped the depths of her throat and she shook her head lightly.

The starry scenery around Lynxpaw grew dimmer, the dandelions and sunflowers rotting away like bark conquered by flames. The area around her began to sink into darkness and she was frozen out of complete fear, her eyes wide and her heart drumming wildly in her chest. Darkness surrounded her yet a starry path remained standing between her and Galeflower, the queen's expression shattering Lynxpaw to shreds.

Her eyes were glossy, her sorrow stinging at her heart. She cowered back with her kits, all of them now gazing towards Lynxpaw as if she was a snake viciously steering towards them. Galeflower's expression held the look of utter trepidation, her honey soothed voice now distorted into a frantic, low cry.

"You see what no others can see. You see the darkness that seeps into the blood of those you trust," Galeflower cried out. "Your dreams are not dreams, it is reality crying for your help."

In that moment as the starry path between them began to crumble, Lynxpaw's eyes resembled the full moon and realization flooded over her. She remembered the putrid, blood matted mouse that emerged from the earth with foam dripping from its mouth. She remembered how Hawkpaw woke her, a limp mouse swinging from his jaws. It swung so slowly to and fro, resembling the simplistic flick of a cat's tail. It hung from his mouth, toxic and rotten, its eyes as empty as the mouse's from Lynxpaw's dream.

Reality had cried for help and she failed to realize. Now, Marshleap was feasting off a vile, poisoned mouse and his fate fell from her paws and landed in the depths of darkness below her.

Lynxpaw cried out as darkness devoured her, reality grasping her.

Reality relying on her.