The Prophecy

Crowfeather snorted in his sleep, his paws twitching every second or so. He was dreaming.

In his dream, he was standing on top of a cliff, right next to a roaring waterfall. He knew he wasn't in the tribe's territory, mainly because when he gazed down, he saw lushess green grass and trees. Past the grand forest was a clear lake. A plain met the bottom of the waterfall. Everything was so beautiful.

Crowfeather knew he wasn't alone, because when he turned around, he saw another cat. And he instantly recongized her.

"Feathertail!" he yowled as he ran towards his dead love.

Feathertail and Crowfeather brushed pelts together and purred happily. Crowfeather didn't want to ruin the moment. All he wanted was to stay here and live with --

"Crowfeather," Feathertail purred gently, interrupting his chain of thoughts.

Crowfeather looked up curiously.

"Keep your eyes on the living."

"Why are you here?" Crowfeather questioned, feeling a little hurt. "Why did you call me?"

Feathertail purred in laughter and replied, "I'm not really Feathertail. I am only the memory of her in your mind."

That caught Crowfeather off guard.

"Wait, you're not Feathertail? Then how . . . why?"

"The whole time you have seen me was merely your memory reminding you of something important."

"Then what is it?! Feathertail, err, memory of Feathertail, what are you trying to tell me?"

Feathertail, or Dream Feathertail, gazed up at the sky. Then she brought her gaze back to Crowfeather.

She flicked her tail towards the waterfall and asked, "What do you see?"

Crowfeather gazed back and forth around him. "I see numerous trees and clear skies."

"Not just that, what else to you see?" Crowfeather had turned back to Dream Feathertail with confusion. What was she trying to get at? But as soon as he turned back towards the scenery, he noticed that the waterfall, the skies, the cliff, everything had disappeared.

Crowfeather realized he was now standing in a dark cave, with very little light in it.

He turned back towards Dream Feathertail, but she was gone too. Now he was really confused.

"What do you see?" her voice pondered.

Crowfeather looked around, trying to locate the sound.

It was coming from behind him.

He whirled around to see Dream Feathertail was sitting next to a pool of water. In her mouth was a crow's feather.

He padded over to her with great curiousity. What was she trying to tell him?

As soon as he got there, Dream Feathertail dropped the feather in her mouth. Then in a gentle song, she meowed, "A pool of leaves and a crow's feather. Together they will drive to become one. When they do, a crescent moon will rise to set fire to the heart of the tiger."

If Crowfeather had been confused before, now he was bewildered by this. What did she mean, 'set fire to the heart of the tiger'?

But Dream Feathertail wasn't through yet.

"A small leaf will be the roots of the clan. A feather will gain her spots. Water will drowned the clan's beliefs. And thunder will save the clan."

"What? What do you mean -" again Crowfeather was cut off. Dream Feathertail lashed her tail at the pool, stopping Crowfeather in midsentence.

The pool of water was full of leaves. And when the crow's feather touched it, the whole cave was drowning in pure light.

Four images appeared before Crowfeather.

A spotted feather. A tear that blazed like fire. A crescent moon in a storm. A small leaf.

Then he woke up.

Crowfeather gasped and quickly took a glance at his surroundings. He was in WindClan's camp. He was home.

Crowfeather sighed with frustration. What was Dream Feathertail trying to tell him? What was the reason for it?

Crowfeather didn't get any answers.

But one question haunted him like a ghost.

If Feathertail was only a memory of the past, did StarClan really exist?