Lilypetal's POV

The gorse tunnel was practically a blur as I dashed through it and into ThunderClan camp. The prey I was holding - a mouse and a finch - were hitting my chin against the wind in my run.

Because yes, I was running. Running like I never had before. I had to skid to a halt, resulting in me nearly falling on my face as I arrived at the fresh-kill pile. Almost as soon as I had stopped, I turned around to face the amused gazes of Whitewing, Brackenfur, and Blossomfall, who had been following just a bit behind me.

"Great StarClan, Lilypetal!" Whitewing purred as she padded up to stand beside me. "The fresh-kill pile isn't going anywhere!"

I purred with amusement, finally setting my prey down so that I could catch my breath. "What is it with some cats?" I meowed breathlessly, my tone lighthearted. "Moving quickly is somehow seen as something that should be judged!"

Brackenfur exchanged a humored glance with Whitewing. "Well, I suppose she's not hurting anyone!" the golden brown tabby tom pointed out.

I gave him a sharp nod as I continued to purr. "Precisely!" I exclaimed. "Besides, I've had this pent-up energy inside of me for moons now!"

After my comment, I turned away from the three other cats for the briefest moment just to let out a contemptuous sniff. And being a warrior again is only a portion of it. Some of it is not necessarily good energy...

Quickly pushing down my angry and bitter thoughts, ones that often tried to make their appearance, I then turned back to the hunting patrol to share one last mrrow of laughter before all of us dispersed. Blossomfall padded off to speak with Ivypool, and Whitewing grabbed a squirrel that I assumed she was going to share with her mate, Birchfall, who was already waiting for her near the Highledge.

I was watching the white she-cat pad off when I suddenly felt a tail lightly begin to nuzzle my head. A bit startled, I turned my head slightly to meet the friendly amber gaze of Brackenfur. Once I had glanced at him, he gave me a single nod before trotting towards the nursery.

I couldn't help but feel warmed by the small affectionate gesture from the tom, one who was kin to me, but not by blood. And soon one of his kits will be my apprentice! I thought happily. I then felt my whiskers begin to twitch skeptically and my unsheathed claws sink anxiously into the ground. Well, I hope...

I then screwed my eyes shut, let out a hiss and shook my head quickly. Great StarClan! Lately, every time I think of something that should be exciting, it always has to be followed by a "maybe not" or a "I hope that it happens". Potentially scary things are coming soon, but it's not the end of the world!

I then flicked my ears. ...What if it is?

I let out an annoyed huff immediately after this thought. "For StarClan's sake," I muttered irritably to myself, my teeth bared as I began to pad towards a log near the camp entrance.

Recently, any thought of the Dark Forest, Ashfur, or my dreams that crossed my mind made me feel like my head was turning into a wild river - unable to get out of it very easily, and plunging deeper and deeper into the water the more that I flowed with it, making it harder to escape.

This meant that I needed to keep myself busy. So, I had decided that I would finally take the time to set a nest for Thornclaw and me in the warriors den - I had the time, and he was currently out on patrol.

After the two of us had talked to Wrenpaw, Lightningpaw and Emberpaw about their first day of training - one that had gone exceptionally well, by the way - we'd been too tired, and it had been a bit too late to fix a nest. So, we'd spent one last night in our nest in the nursery. But we can't take up that space anymore, not when Sorreltail needs it now!

I managed to have a little pep in my step as I arrived to log that was the home to much of ThunderClan's needed moss. I grabbed quite a few clumps, having to estimate about how much I'd actually need for an entire nest.

Once I had so much moss that my mouth was full, I began to travel across the camp towards the warriors den. 

I narrowed my eyes and let out a small grunt through my full mouth as a thought crossed my mind. Hm, I wonder what Ashfur thinks of me moving back to the warriors den, or the kits becoming apprentices? I contemplated. I bet he's intimidated that they aren't little kits anymore! He's never going to set a claw near them again.

I then felt a nervous pang in my heart. At least... I don't think he will, I thought nervously. I then let out a quiet hiss. I won't let him. But my kits could shred him to bits on their own, if they wanted to! But I'd want to do it instead. Will I get the chance to? What if-

I was then... thankfully... yanked away from my thoughts as my vision was then overtaken by a flash of black and brown. I let out a startled yelp, the moss falling out of my mouth, and leaped back, to see that I had bumped into Spiderleg in the midst of my angry, anxious thoughts.

I knew that I'd immediately have to apologize, or I'd be left to face Spiderleg's earful of infuriated, snarky comments. Even though I'd probably get them, anyway. "Oh my goodness, I'm sorry, Spiderleg!"

The black and brown tom lashed his tail with a hiss. His teeth were gritted as he muttered, "Still having trouble navigating around this camp?"

I sniffed with amusement. I was practically made of stone when it came to rude comments that cats like Spiderleg would throw at me. "Excuse me?" I meowed, laughter in my voice. "I don't know if running into a cat counts as a navigational error!"

Spiderleg let out another quiet hiss as he began to pad past me. "You taking the path towards ThunderClan territory as a kittypet all of those moons ago was a navigational error."

I tried to suppress another purr of amusement as I watched the tom walk off. "Speaking of that - you were one of the first cats that I met when I joined ThunderClan," I murmured half to myself. "I have to say - my first impression of you has not changed one bit."

I then turned away from the tom and picked up my moss in order to continue my travel towards the warriors den. "Sorry for running into you!" I called back just before crawling through the entrance.

My eyebrows raised as soon as I took a gander at the inside. This den has definitely expanded since I was last here! I realized. Well... so has ThunderClan, I suppose. We're huge, for StarClan's sake!

I trotted over to the first space that caught my eye and dropped my moss down onto the ground. Just as I had begun to spread the moss out, my ears flicked as I heard pawsteps come from the entrance to the den.

I turned my head to see that Squirrelflight had paused at the den and was now making her way inside. "Well, it's about time that you returned to this den!" the dark ginger she-cat purred.

I gave her an eager, friendly nod in greeting as she came to sit down beside me. "Agreed!" I purred back to her. "As much as I'm going to miss my three little furballs, they were getting too big for me to even move half a mouse tail's length in my nest!"

I then raised my eyebrows as Squirrelflight bent down and picked up my moss without hesitation. I then watched as she proceeded to carry it away. "What are you doing?" I asked her, surprised and amused.

Squirrelflight proceeded to drop the moss in another space a couple of tail-lengths away. "I'm putting your nest next to mine and Brambleclaw's, you mouse-brain!" Her green eyes glittered as she spoke.

I let out a mrrow of laughter at the she-cat's answer. "Why, of course! We might as well drive Brambleclaw and Thornclaw crazy once again by how much we whisper to each other when we're supposed to be asleep!" I meowed cheerfully, then letting out a long sigh as I met Squirrelflight's gaze. "It's been a long time coming."

Squirrelflight's eyes were bright, but solemn as she nodded and padded up to me. "It really has."

"I've missed you," I meowed to her.

"I've missed you too."

I couldn't help but feel a small twinge of sadness at this exchange. Yes, Squirrelflight and I had always been close friends, but since I had gone to the nursery expecting my second litter, recovering from my kitting, and then grieving for Mistpelt (one out of those three, I was still doing), and since Squirrelflight had become busier as a senior warrior, we'd had a hard time making time to talk.

I began to shake my head slowly as I looked back at Squirrelflight. "Do you even remember the last time we were on patrol together?"

"Great StarClan, no!" Squirrelflight replied, her eyes wide. "I feel like you were in the nursery forever!"

You and me, both. "For sure!" I replied in place of my thoughts. "Well, I can assure you that Thornclaw and I are back for good!"

Squirrelflight snorted. "He'll probably second-guess that come moonhigh when the two of us don't shut up."

After the two of us shared a moment of laughter, Squirrelflight went on. "Speaking of patrol, I've actually already been assigned to lead a border patrol before dusk," she mewed. "I'm thinking of taking Firestar and Brambleclaw with me - do you want to come along?"

I was immediately overwhelmed with warmth at this prospect. "That's a hypothetical question, right?" I exclaimed teasingly.

Squirrelflight purred with amusement. "Great! I'll see you then!" she meowed cheerfully before standing up and beginning to walk out of the den. I raised my eyebrows as she then paused and looked back at me.

"You're right - this is a long time coming," she meowed, winking. "I should definitely be spending more time with my hero - the cat who practically saved my fur all of those moons ago!"

I then stood still, my eyes wide and staring straight ahead as Squirrelflight disappeared from my sight. The she-cat's words were already echoing in my mind. I should definitely be spending more time with my hero - the cat who practically saved my fur all of those moons ago!

My fur began to tingle, and a shiver ran down my spine. Me saving Squirrelflight's fur, although infinitely worth saving, was how all of this started, wasn't it? Ashfur was going to reveal Jayfeather's, Hollyleaf's and Lionblaze's real parents to make her suffer, but stopped him... I realized. Ashfur's... love for Squirrelflight was what brought him to want to bring harm to others in the first place, and I was the one to keep him from it.

I let out a huff and shook my head as I padded up to my newly set nest. Wow, I thought as I reflected on my latest realization. I wonder if Squirrelflight knows what has happened since then? Is it about time that I tell her?

As soon as one of my paws touched my nest, I practically let myself fall into it. I don't want Squirrelflight to think that anything that Ashfur has inflicted on me is her fault... I thought worriedly. But she might know something about Ashfur that I don't...

I let out a yawn before curling up into a tight ball. Goodness, I don't even know where I'd start...

Then, I let my eyelids slowly fall closed. I had gone to my new nest to simply think for a bit, but I had just now realized how exhausted I was. Anyway, naps hadn't been much of an option when I was in the nursery watching the kits. I was going to take advantage of this free time that I had.

But unfortunately, it didn't look like I was necessarily going to get any "rest".

My eyes almost instantly opened again, and I found that I had fallen into yet another one of my weird, vivid dreams. Dang it.

I felt the sun warming up my shoulders as beams fell onto my back. I could see tall, linked planks and pillars practically towering over me. Beneath me, I could feel the rough, uncomfortable texture of wood.

I was on a porch. One that I recognized very well.

I then nearly let out a surprised yelp as something quickly rolled up to be - what I recalled to be a ball of yarn. I blinked back at it a few times, surprised and weirded-out to see a toy I hadn't thought I'd ever see again.

I then managed to be more surprised as I looked up to see another cat, the one I had expected to, staring back at me. I instantly recognized the cream tabby pelt of one of my kittypet friends - Maddie. She had lived just across the road from me, and I often came down to visit her and play with yarn on her housefolk's front porch.

The familiarity of my old friend gave me the strangest sense of warmth. But for some reason, as I got a better look at her, I became worried as I noticed the alarm in her wide green eyes.

What in the name of the Dark Forest is going on? I wondered nervously. What have I fallen into?

This vision, dream... - I didn't know - almost seemed to answer my questions, as Maddie began to speak. "Wow, Lily-"

Oh my goodness, gross. I had to keep myself from cringing at the sound of my kittypet name.

"You're just joking, right?" Maddie then meowed over my thoughts.

Joking? I repeated to myself. What am I joking about? I can joke, but I'd like to know why I'm joking.

"Nothing good ever comes out of going into those woods," Maddie went on, her usually soft voice actually somewhat sharp.

Ooooh, that's what this is. One of the many attempts I made with my kittypet friends to see what they thought of me going off into the forest... towards what I knew to be Clan territory at the time.

I then my heart practically skip a beat as I began to speak. I hadn't wanted to speak, but it appeared as if I was watching this scene unfold before me from inside of myself. I was myself and in my own body, yet I was simply a spectator at the moment.

"There's more to the woods than just danger and vicious creatures!" I demanded to Maddie as I pushed the yarn back to her. I then let my head fall to the ground as I seemed to be questioning my own comment. "Well... I think."

Maddie rolled her eyes and lashed her tail with annoyance. "See? You don't even know what's out there!" the she-cat insisted. "None of us do."

I almost felt the wave of determination that surely was rushing through my kittypet-self. "What if I were to just take a peek?" I pressed.

"So what?" Maddie replied, her voice raising with fear. "What if you never came back? Your housefolk would be heartbroken!"

I then felt my present-self begin to prickle with irritation as I watched myself seem to pull back. "Yeah..." I breathed, turning away from Maddie briefly. "Well, I was joking... so it wouldn't matter, anyway."

Hm, that's a load of foxdung, Lily - and you know it.

I then watched as Maddie gave a single nod of satisfaction. "Thank gosh," she purred just before a call seemed to come from inside the house, and she urgently stood up. "I gotta go. Dinner's ready!"

My gaze followed the cream she-cat as she trotted excitedly into her house through her cat door. "Bye, Maddie!" I called out to her before standing up myself. I then let out a long, sad sigh as I turned my head towards the Thunderpath and Twoleg nests up ahead.

Just behind this though, were the tall oak trees that made up the forest. Beyond that, I knew now, had been the Clan territories. I had felt a tug towards those trees for as long as I could remember.

Obviously now, I know why - It's where I belong. I realized, not being able to help feeling a twinge of pride and happiness as I reflected on how much I had thrived as a wild cat. I-

My own thoughts were then interrupted as I felt that I was practically physically tugged out of this vision. Everything - the porch, the Twoleg nest, the Thunderpath, the trees - had all instantly disappeared.

Now, I was in completely different surroundings. Unfortunately, surroundings I knew quite well. If any woods do apply to having just danger and vicious creatures, this would be the one.

I almost felt annoyed to realize that I was in the Dark Forest once again. I'd seen it way more times that I'd like, lately. But it didn't take me long to notice that something felt... off.

This didn't feel like a vivid dream as the others had. I knew that I was dreaming, yet it felt as real as if I was awake.

Then suddenly, just as I was staring up at the dark, looming, leafless trees, I felt my fur began to bristle as I felt the strong premonition of a cat standing beside me. Ashfur's horrible stench then began to flood through my nose.

I couldn't see him, yet for some reason, I felt so sure that I could whip myself around and leap at him - end this once and for all, and it would be real this time.

He might as well have been there - his presence felt so incredibly tangible, and the idea of defeating him did too. It was almost like I was staring at the end of a thin tunnel, because it was all that was on my mind.

And just as I felt a wave of determination, wiping away any fear that I'd maybe felt, my eyes flew open, and I was back in my new nest once again. Outside, I could tell that just a bit of time had passed - dusk was approaching.

I nearly wanted to slash at my moss out of frustration. Not again... The same feelings were happening all over again - those horrible feelings of anger, impatience, and disappointment that always lingered after these dreams.

But along with those, this one also came with a strong feeling of uneasiness. This dream, both the flashback and the Dark Forest "visit", had been so vivid.

I had been so sure that Ashfur had been standing right beside me - just as he had when we'd talked in the Dark Forest before, and faced off at the border between StarClan and the Dark Forest.

And I'd practically been pulled from my flashback as a kittypet to be in the Dark Forest. This was usually how it went when this sort-of pattern of dreams occurred, but the switch had felt more forced and abrupt with each time.

Just the fact that there was a pattern in the first place was odd on its own... it almost felt like a message.

I then felt a twinge of alarm. What if Swiftflight is right? I wondered, reflecting on the words of the dark gray tom, who had voiced his opinion on my dreams to me. What if someone is trying to tell me something? What if someone is trying to reach me?