DARKNESS.

Darkness was all that lay ahead of her. At least, that's what it felt like. It was quiet and dark, yet her thoughts were spinning out of control. She could find no scents or sensations. So it was a dream, wasn't it? If it was, it was a dream like one she never had before. In dreams, it was difficult to know what was going on. But in this dream, nothing was happening. At least, that's what it felt like. There was no other cat around. Not a sound was heard.

Suddenly, images filled her mind, some calm, some chaotic, and most making her flinch as if she had been clawed in the muzzle. Quick, detailed images of cats filled the air around her. A rush of emotions filled her. Her heart ached with many feelings, and she began to feel lightheaded. She stumbled back, desperate to get away. But when she did, she tripped over something and fell into an even darker darkness.

Dovesong's eyes shot open, heat washing her pelt. Her heart raced and pounded against her ribs, threatening to burst. She looked around to see a blurry shape of a cat standing in front of her. The cat was holding a wet piece of moss on Dovesong's head in an attempt to cool her off. Dovesong was particularly calmed by the cool moss on her fur. She settled deeper into the nest and closed her eyes again.

The cat had another cat hold the piece of moss while he left to another corner of the den. The cat who was now holding the moss murmured something that sounded worried, but also relieved.

Dovesong quickly slipped back into sleep, but it came to an abrupt end when she heard cats all around her. She opened her eyes and looked around, extremely confused. The cats were all looking at her. "What's happening?" she managed to say. Her double vision quickly faded and she realized that she recognized most of the cats. "Wait-where am I?"

"The same place you've been for three days," the yellow she-cat, Goldenheart, responded. "You've been unconscious for two days."

Ivorystream shot a glare at her as if Goldenheart wasn't supposed to say anything. "Our camp," she corrected, her voice terse.

"Who's camp?"

"Great StarClan," Moonclaw muttered.

Ivorystream shot her a look too. Then she looked at Dovesong, lowering herself a crouch to be at the level of the nest. "Do you have any idea what happened?"

"No," Dovesong answered. "At least, not now. What did you see happen?"

Ivorystream and Goldenheart exchanged glances. "We were just talking about what happened before this journey, and then you just collapsed. We're not sure why. Not even Flowerdawn or Aspenleaf know why. But I came to a conclusion, and I've been waiting to ask: do you remember anything from before this journey?"

"Obviously," Dovesong responded, thinking that was a ridiculous question.

The four cats' eyes widened. "How much?" Goldenheart asked.

"Everything?" Dovesong replied as if it was a question. She wasn't sure what they were getting to. Why would she just forget everything just because she was unconscious for a few days? "What-what happened?"

"So you don't remember the flood? Or coming here?" Ivorystream asked, her voice taking up a happier tone. Her eyes glittered with elatedness.

"I remember the flood, but that's the last thing I remember," Dovesong admitted. "And why do you keep asking these questions?"

The three she-cats exchanged looks. "After the flood, you forgot everything, and we knew-er, thought-that you wouldn't be able to get your memories back," Moonclaw explained.

Dovesong felt her jaw drop. "What? What did you have to do?"

"Not a lot," Goldenheart answered. "We just stressed out mostly. Flowerdawn was supposed to go to the Moon Springs to ask StarClan if we could try this technique that a loner called Luna told us about. But she didn't have to go because you-well, you passed out."

"Flowerdawn?" The name was extremely familiar, but only a name that Dovesong heard a long time ago, when she was a kit. Before they left their territory. "Are we . . ." Then she caught Ivorystream's gaze and understood. "We found them."

A white tom crashed through the bramble entrance of the den. Dovesong's heart leaped when she realized it was her father, Blizzardpelt. Even though she never had the closest relationship with him, he still was her father. The three she-cats moved aside for him to embrace his daughter in a welcoming nuzzle. "Thank StarClan you're okay," he meowed when he stepped back. "You had me worried for a moment."

Then a brown tom came in, followed by a tortoiseshell she-cat with amber eyes that was mistaken for Spottedsong by Dovesong, but then realized that she was Flowerdawn. "So you're all here? Does that mean our quest is completed?" she asked eagerly.

Goldenheart, Moonclaw, and Blizzardpelt exchanged confused glances. "I guess so," Goldenheart answered, sounded particularly unsure of herself.

"No, we're not done," Moonclaw mewed. "This is only the first step. We need to bring everyone back in one piece, and then we can start."

"Start what?" Ivorystream asked.

"We'll just have to let StarClan guide our paws," Moonclaw answered solemnly.

"Very wise," the brown tom muttered.

"Give her credit, Aspenleaf," Flowerdawn told him. "Do you know why they were even coming here in the first place?"

Aspenleaf gave her a blank stare, then shook his head. "No. Sorry. So, does this mean we went to the Moon Springs for no reason? Or do we still have to bring her there?"

"There's no reason to go back, but going there was helpful," Ivorystream meowed matter-of-factly.

"Great," Aspenleaf sighed.

He's going to be great to work with, Dovesong thought sarcastically. Aspenleaf was definitely the medicine cat here, so when they came back home, he would be working with her and Badgertooth. I can't wait to get back home, Dovesong realized. Even if things aren't going well there, it'll be nice to see everyone again. Maybe Mousetail had her kits by now. She was almost due when we left. I can't wait to meet them! Suddenly, she felt a burst of energy, and she sat up in her nest. "Is there a day we're going to start going back home?"

The corners of Goldenheart's mouth twitched with amusement. "Someone's ready to go back. What gives?"

"I don't know. I mean, aren't you ready to go back?"

"I don't think any of us are thrilled to be going back. It's been nice without all the drama and danger and stuff," Moonclaw chipped in. "Dovesong,, you should get some rest while we find out what we plan to do next."

Frustration sparked in Dovesong's chest, but then she nodded reluctantly. "Fine. But I want to know what you plan on doing."

"I promise I'll tell you," Goldenheart meowed as she followed the other cats out. When Aspenleaf didn't follow, Flowerdawn called him and he hurried after them. Dovesong sighed as she watched the cats leave. She curled up in her nest, unable to quiet her whirling thoughts and go to sleep. It was impossible when she knew that her kin and friends were all waiting for her back home. What if things had intensified while she was gone? Would they come back to an even smaller Clan and even more fighting? What if MoonClan was just waiting to strike when they came home?

Oh, I really hope not, Dovesong thought. The single thought sent wakefulness raging through her. So they really expect me to rest when I could be doing something productive? Yeah, right. She slipped out of her nest and stood up, looking out at the camp thinking she could just eavesdrop on the other cats' conversation. But when she took a step forward, the world began to spin out of control and she stumbled back, unable to keep her balance. She angrily sat on her nest again. Fox dung, she cursed. I guess I have no choice. . . . She curled up and closed her eyes.

***

Dovesong opened her eyes in a dense forest, and she sighed. Not now! Despite her disappointment, she ventured farther into the forest for a couple paw steps before she heard a voice behind her. The voice sounded overjoyed but also . . . scared? "Look what we have here."

Dovesong immediately recognized that voice with a thrill of excitement. She turned around and dashed toward Foxclaw and eagerly touched noses with him and rubbed her muzzle against his, purring too hard to speak. She felt a faint longing to feel his fur and smell his scent for real. He was a spirit now, not a living, breathing cat. "It's been too long," she said.

Foxclaw pulled back, looking into her eyes with an expression of relief. "So you do remember me?"

"Of course! What did you think, silly?" Dovesong teased him.

Foxclaw's expression turned from relieved to serious. "I was terrified when I saw what happened. You can't just act like it didn't happen. I did everything I could to bring your memories back!"

"W-well, I . . ." Dovesong's voice trailed away, and she looked down at the ground. "I'm sorry. I understand how scared you must have been. I just don't remember anything from when I didn't remember, and everyone else seems so shocked about what happened, and it's just-I can't relate, if you know what I mean. I'm just glad to be back."

Foxclaw loosened his tense muscles. "Sorry. We are all glad to have you back." He touched her ear with his nose in a comforting way. "Look, I-I don't think I'm supposed to be here. I just wanted to check in on you. I hope the rest of your journey goes well. I'll see you soon, all right?"

"Oh, fine. See you soon." Dovesong touched noses with him and he began to fade away into the starry night. As the dream faded as well, Dovesong felt a sudden deep aching in her heart. All of a sudden, she didn't want to go back home. She felt more at home and safe where she was, even if she had just regained all her memories.

The darkness in front of her faded again and she reappeared in another dream. She was in a wide, snowy field with a dark, cloudy, star-filled sky above her. Tiny snowflakes fell from the clouds. Everything was peaceful. That is, until the stars fell. They fell all around Dovesong, and she had to quickly dart out of the way of each of them so she didn't get hit. The stars fell and fell until there were no more stars. Clouds covered the moon. It was pitch black. But then dark shadows in the shape of cats outlined in light appeared and picked up the stars, putting them back in place. The dream disappeared.

Dovesong woke with a start, heat caused by her fear and panic pulsing through her. Aspenleaf was next to her nest, and she looked at him, confused as to why he was staring at her like that. "What?"

"Bad dream?" he asked.

"Yeah, something like that," Dovesong answered. "Can I tell you about it?"

Aspenleaf glanced at the den entrance. "Uh, sure. I have nothing else to do right now." He sat down next to Dovesong and pricked his ears, ready to listen.

"Well, I woke up, in the dream, in the middle of a snowy field, and the sky was full of stars. Suddenly, the stars started falling. They fell until the night was darker than ever. Then the dream ended. I don't know how or why I would be dreaming that, so what if it was a vision from StarClan? What if it's a sign that the end is near, or StarClan is going to abandon us?" Panic and fear went to war within her when she finished explaining. "What if it happens back at home and we're too late, and everyone dies or gets hurt?" Her voice was a whisper now.

Aspenleaf was silent for a good few heartbeats. "I'm sure that's not what it is. But you can't jump straight to thinking it's a sign from StarClan. Sometimes dreams are just weird like that. And even if it was a sign from StarClan, I'm sure the medicine cats back where you live will get the sign as well."

"Then we have to go now! I don't want to take my chances," Dovesong meowed determinedly.

"Then you're in luck." A golden tabby tom padded into the den. "Flowerdawn sent me to tell you, Aspenleaf, that she's come to the decision that we're leaving first thing in two sunrises."