Chapter 1
Brilliant sunlight from the setting sun glittered off the lake as its waters reflected hues of red and orange and violet. The yelling and screaming echoed off into the forest as two young boys splashed in the wake of the water, sending ripples through the reflection and making the world around the lake seem blurry.
A young girl leaned against a large spruce tree watching her family from afar unwilling to demote herself to the nonsense her parents tried to push onto her. She was a little way off from the family, at the edge of the clearing where the picnic spot had been picked out by her parents.
She could hear her brothers laughing and enjoying what little time they had left at the lake. Not so long ago she would have joined them in their fun but she had been banned from it, by no others but her own parents. Her parents were a bit too strict believers that girls should all be lady like and proper, spending more time on looking pretty than "horse play" as they had called it.
Her parents sat along the lush grass that was sprouting up from the ground a picnic blanket lay perfectly wrinkle-free as her parents unloaded the food onto it, and in between each time checking to make sure it was in the right place. She cringed away from the sight, everyone was enjoying themselves, except her. There was something strange about this place something that was calling her deeper into it and if she closed her eyes it would call her name beckoning for her to come.
"Irina, aren't you bored up there?" Her mother's voice rang through her thoughts.
She wrinkled her nose in annoyance at her name and a growl rose in her throat. She wished her mother would stop calling her that, they had been over this a thousand, no, a million times, her name was Ivy not Irina. The prissiness of the name disgusted her, it was too girly for her, she preferred a name closer to nature so she had adopted Ivy.
She went on glaring into space and not answering her mother's question. She heard her mother sigh all the way from where she sat on the blanket. "Fine, I refuse to let you dampen my good mood." Her mother said calmly and much to her annoyance, "So Ivy?"
Ivy stared off into space the other direction from her mother. "No, I'm perfectly happy up here." Ivy spat back bitterly and trying to make this seem what was rightfully her mother's fault. The even clouds were turning darker giving way to dusk as Ivy watched the sky. She loved the sky especially while it was setting. The dusk sky had always seemed so mysterious to her but, never like this before, the water made it seem as if the water along the dusk sky were hiding a great secret from the rest of the world a secret she wanted to know. She felt as if the water and lake and her were alike, linked in some way, for she thought she held a grand secret too, one even she didn't know. She sighed shaking the crazy thought what secret could she hide from herself, you couldn't have secrets from yourself how silly!
Ivy did little with anyone outside her family, she needed a friend, mainly because anyone she wanted to hang out with her parents hated and refused to allow in the house calling them misfits and shooing them off their property. So she would often pull into the corners of her mind searching for something. She didn't know what she was searching for she just knew there was something more to her. This life of picnics and the attempt her parents made at perfection didn't appeal to her and didn't seem like it was meant for her.
She looked up towards the top of the large tree that seemed to stretch up to the sky forever she wanted to climb it, she would've given anything to all the way to the top of it but, her parents didn't approve of her adventurous spirit. They wanted her to become a proper young woman as they believed was right. The problem was Ivy didn't agree with that and this was the root of many fights she and her parents had had. Her adventurous and troublesome ways were just too much fun to give up in order, to learn the manners her parents wanted her to or how to walk in high heels, which she hated more than anything else. She always tripped and fell when she tried to walk in them and you couldn't run in them.
She closed her eyes and thought about amazing adventures and distant lands that she longed to go to in real life. The breeze whipped her around her face sending her hair flying in odd ways as she turned her face in the direction of the wind eyes still closed. She thought about her parent's silly obsession with perfection, dreams were perfect, life was not. That's how it always is dreams seem so perfect that reality never really can be. Ivy's dreams and her reality were so different that they had come to be two different realities to her, not a false hope and a truth. "Dear, why don't you come down and help us set the blanket, you look like you need something to do, you seem so depressed lately." Her mother's cheerful voice called out to her.
She growled under her breath and grouchily opened her eyes from her dream world. Not depressed just thinking and that's thanks to you, Mom! Hesitantly she stood up from leaning against the tree trunk she didn't want to go help out her mother like a well manner "young lady" as her mother wanted her to be. It disgusted her that her mother would even ask her to do the chores, like that would cheer her up setting out dishes and food! Taking a deep breath she pulled out her happy "well mannered young lady" face and waived her arm cheerfully towards her parents. "Actually Mom I was just getting ready to leave," she called while waving her hand feeling like an idiot "I saw a beautiful field of wildflowers a little way off and I want to go and pick some!"
From where she stood she could see her mother's face beam and lighten up with happiness her daughter was acting like she hoped. Ivy just smiled, she had no intent on picking flowers and she had seen no field of them. She had made it up as an excuse to go exploring around the lake and thought about how easily it was to trick her mother if she said the right words and acting "perfectly". The thought almost made her burst out laughing so stifling a giggle she put her hand over her mouth as though she was yawning. "Okay dear, have fun. Do you want someone to go with you?" Her mom asked.
She jumped back caught off guard at the question, and slipped on a rock crashing to ground making her mother even more worried about her daughter going alone. "Um no" She called out hoping her mother wouldn't catch the guilt in her voice and send one of her brothers with her, that would put a damper on her plans.
Her brothers were such tattles; if one of them went with her they would tell their parents and she would never be allowed by herself again. Besides she hated people like that, people who didn't mind their own business, almost as bad as high heeled shoes, almost.
Her mother didn't like sending her only daughter out alone into the woods; who knows what creatures were out there. Besides she should have one of her brothers with her, to protect her from harm. However, her mother was happy that her daughter was doing something lady-like and she didn't want to ruin it so she abided by her daughter's wishes it was the right thing to do as she believed. "Oh, well, ok dear but, please do be careful!" Her mother called.
"I will Mom, don't worry!" Ivy yelled back idly.
She didn't understand her mom's stupidity did her mother really believe she wouldn't do something crazy and adventurous? Did her mother really not know her that well or was she a better actress than she thought? Ivy turned around towards the woods and started walking into the woods at a leisurely pace to keep her mother believing in her ruse. As soon as her family was out of sight and she was sure they could see her she pulled her hair into a ponytail and tied it securely behind her head to keep her hair from getting caught or tangled in the brush. How glad she was that she had refused to wear the blue sundress her mother had wanted her to wear. She refused to wear a dress and had made that quite clear to her mother who had almost cried when she had thrown the dress on the floor, she hadn't felt bad afterwards, she wasn't going to wear a dress, period!
After a few minutes of jogging she saw the marshy woods beginning to thin down and become open moorland. She spotted a small island by the lake and a tree connecting it to the main land like a bridge. She wondered what was on the island and couldn't resist the urge to find out. As she walked out of the cover of the woods she caught sight of her family on the lake shore she jumped back into the cover of the trees. If she was seen her parents would come to see what she was doing and she didn't have a clue where a field of wildflowers was so she couldn't be seen. She watched from her cover and suddenly burst out of the cover and sprinted to the log-bridge. She hid on the other side of log-bridge unseen by her parents. Her heart was beating uncontrollably from the excitement of hiding from her parents had caused, not that it was rare she went behind her parents back regularly and hadn't gotten caught yet!
When her heartbeat returned to normal she hopped up onto the log-bridge and spreading her arms wide slowly made her way across the log keeping her head up so as not to confuse herself. About halfway across the bridge she overstepped the log that she hadn't noticed getting smaller and smaller so she ended up calf-deep in the water. Worried about her parents hearing the splash she dashed through the water sending water flying up behind her. Once on the dry land of the island she emptied the water out of her tennis shoes and walked around the muddy island.
In the center of the island was a great trees with branches low enough for her to see over. The branches were full of scratch marks of some kind of animals. She traced the marks with her fingers wishing she was one of them to be free in her own domain but, that was impossible she was human. Along the ground there were numerous prints of the same animal of different sizes it was funny the prints looked so much like the prints of the neighbor's cat but, they couldn't be there couldn't be that many cats in one place or maybe they were there at different times. She didn't know but, she loved mysteries and this was just another. After a few minutes of tracing the prints which brought her walking around in circles when she got confused between tracks and feeling dizzy she left the track-filled island. She turned to leave she had a deep feeling that somehow those animal tracks were connected with her. How crazy I am to believe that I'm linked to cat tracks! She was annoyed with herself.
Being wiser this time she set her foot out each time to test the log before firmly stepping on it and this time managed not to fall into the water, she still was wet from last time and didn't want to get any wetter.
When she was on the main land she continued walking through the thinning forest until there was nothing left but open moor and there was no place that would provide cover to hide her from her family's view. She wanted to cross the moor though, the strange feeling of destiny she had felt when she saw the queer cat-like tracks was pulling across the moorland as if rope was tied to her very soul forcing her to continue on and she did. Slowly at first and scared out of her mind as the feeling grew stronger and stronger with every step she took onward. She was taking deepening breaths as the feeling mixed with fear grew. My destiny this is it I know it! Where am I going though? The answer was clear in her mind she didn't know the exact location but she knew where. Onward!
The feeling had covered up her wits but, they returned to her with a sharp pang in her stomach. My parents will see me there is no cover here! She franticly looked around for something to hide herself. There was nothing anywhere no bush, no tree, no long not even a rock that would hide her. Panic was taking over as she flung her head quickly left and right to find something, still finding nothing she made a mad dash to the forest she could see a little way off. She ran until she was confronted by a creek which she easily hopped over and then ran again until she was deep into the woods only then did she slow down.
When she finally slowed down she had lost all sense of direction. The pulling feeling was subdued and spinning around and around in her head making her dizzy even more so than following the tracks around in circles at the strange island. She was lost. She couldn't think and she could barely breathe. She was afraid more than she had ever been before and tears were streaming down her cheeks as panic took hold of her and she shook as though she was cold.
Eventually she was able to gain control over her emotions again and the panic let go of its terrible hold over her and her breathing was returned to normal again and her mind cleared up. She didn't know where she was or where the pull was or where she was supposed to go but, at least now she could think. Clearing her mind of all thoughts she closed her bright green eyes and focused only on the pull, the pull of destiny.
It returned like a gentle breeze that could barely be felt unless it is concentrated on completely and even then it only tickles the skin. With her whole being Ivy concentrated on the tiny feeling that tickled her inner mind with eyes still closed she walked toward the pull. Slowly she took small steps to assure herself this was the correct direction the pull was bringing her.
With each step the feeling sparked up inside her just a little but enough for her to know that this was indeed the right direction. She continued on with her eyes closed and as the feeling sparked once more she stubbed her toe on a small rock. Cursing under her breath she hopped up on one foot and grabbed her hurt one with her hand still cursing. She squeezed her toe through her shoe putting pressure on the throbbing toe to stop the pain. After what seem like an agonizing long time the pain stopped and this time she knew walking with her eyes closed with no clue where she was going was stupid idea.
The pull was dazed and subdued again so she closed her eyes and focused on the feeling this time it took a much smaller amount time as she was more familiar with the feeling bringer her to realize the feeling as soon as she felt its pull. When the pull was taking its hold she gently stepped forward and opened her eyes into small slits to see out of and continued on in a half dream like state towards the destiny she knew was coming.
The pulling feeling brought her out of the woods and into a clear area, there were tall enough hills to hide her so her parents couldn't see her but, even if they could she would have been unaware the only thing her outside mind was aware of was watching the ground so she didn't notice any of her surrounds but the ground and only in a unconscious way. The only thing that mattered at the moment was the pull, the pulling feeling that compelled her to move on towards where it wanted her to go.
She was taken up on a rocky outcrop path that at times grew steep and at times was flat. The loose stones made her slip continually as she walked past. At the top of the path the pull suddenly let go and her thoughts spun in her head at the sudden emptiness the feeling had left. What happened? Where am I? She looked around panic stricken but the place was too peaceful to be crazed for long and eventually she settled for looking around. The top of the path was in a small valley where silvery stones surrounded a small pool. Crystal Pool isn't that what this is called? All around her where the cat-like prints imprinted all around, on the rocks on the ground, everywhere.
She couldn't the feeling of disappointment that her seemingly magical feeling had led her to a little pool instead of the adventure she had hoped for.
She licked her lips they were chapped and cracking and her mouth wasn't much better off it was dry and sticking together. She sighed, she was here at the sparkling pool and it was much clearer than the mucky lake. She knew her parents would frown on her drinking from the "dirty" pool even if it was sparkling clear. She was too thirsty to wait until she got back to the family's picnic site and the chance to do something adventurous like drinking out of a pond was too much for her. So she kneeled down by the beautiful pool and cupped her hands. She dipped them into the pool and brought out a handful of water she lifted it up to her lips and drank deeply. She had expected to drink two or three times before quenching her thirst but, the cool water was so refreshing she felt as though she had drunk too much.
Her head was spinning and she was getting dizzy. Ivy slumped down onto the rocky path and put her hand to her head as it spun round and round until finally she fell hitting her head against the ground and unconscious. There the girl lay unconscious from the effect the water had on her.
She awoke next to the dazzling pool surrounded by lightened figures of cats. The cats shone with the stars that were overhead. She looked at them they seemed the same size as her. One of the cats flicked its tail towards the pool, motioning for Ivy to come over to the pool. She stalked over silently the rocks didn't even rustle. She peered into the water and beautiful calico colored cat with thrilling green eyes looked up at her. How can I see my reflection as though I'm a cat? I must have hit my head pretty hard.
Ivy was mystified by the strange cat and reached her paw out to touch the water. Wait, paw! She spun around and a tail spun around with her. She stopped and sat down, she looked down and instead of hands and feet there were white paws. Ivy dashed over to the pool and looked into it again fully understanding now that the cat in the water was her own reflection.
One of the star cats walked toward her. "Greetings young one, and welcome to the life of a warrior cat. I am Tallstar, former leader of Windclan." The cat spoke out to her kindly.
"You-you're a cat. And you're talking! Now I know I'm dreaming." Ivy whispered shaking her head as if it all made sense now.
"You are only half dreaming, Ivy." Said Tallstar, "This is what you are now, one of us. You have the soul of a cat and so a cat you are and we are not talking the same language you are used to you can understand us because you are one of us."
She shook her head unbelieving yet, she hoped with all her heart that it was true, for what better adventure than being a warrior cat as Tallstar had so aptly put it. "Do not give me false hopes," she whispered "when I awake I will be human again and forced to return to my bland life of it."
"I know this is odd but, you must understand that this is your destiny! And I am from Starclan, clan of the living's ancestors and we do not spread false hopes!" Boomed Tallstar.
Ivy bristled at the word destiny. Could it be? Then she sighed, of course not. If it wasn't enough to be talking with cats she was talking to dead cats, she was completely crazy.
Tallstar's eyes went white and unseeing and he spoke out in an icy voice that made Ivy tremble. "Sometimes a true cat's heartbeat beats in something other than a cat, we have given you your right." He said and then continued "The clans will fight, allies will change by the sun and moon and you clan will be threatened to be pushed out and the lake will belong to only three. Only you can save them." After the message a breeze whipped up and Tallstar's form disintegrated.
Ivy woke with a jolt. It was just a dream. She thought sadly she had so hoped it was real yet how could it be! She couldn't be turned into a cat that would be impossible. She sighed and paced over to the pool. She was afraid to look at her reflection scared of what she'd see even though she already knew. She would see a girl, herself not the beautiful calico. Yet, something compelled her to do so. She peered into the water and the sight shocked her. Instead of the girl she saw the calico, she was really a cat! She didn't know how this could happen and didn't care she was too happy to be a part of something big and amazing! She had always known she was meant for greater things but, this was past her wildest dreams.
Where will I go? The question hit her as if rain had suddenly poured down on the perfect day. She would know, wouldn't she? If she just concentrated maybe the feeling would return. So she sat down and closed her eyes.