Hollyleaf was stalking some prey. A vole. Its scent drifted into her nose, but Hollyleaf waited. The vole drew nearer. Hollyleaf carefully timed her jump. She jumped and hit her target. Hollyleaf picked up the vole and, with her fluffy tail held high, headed to ThunderClan's camp.
She crawled through the gorse tunnel and put her prey on the fresh-kill pile. Brackenfur, Hollyleaf's former mentor, nodded approvingly. Hollyleaf smiled at her old mentor and headed for the warriors' den, exhausted.
Ashfur, Squirrelflight, Poppyfrost, and Honeyfern were there. At first, Hollyleaf was happy to see her mother, friend, and her brother's former mentor there, and then she saw Honeyfern. Honeyfern seemed very excited. Poppyfrost was next to her, looking tired.
"…And he liked my demonstration!" Honeyfern was saying. "And tomorrow we're going on a hunting patrol together." Honeyfern sighed dreamily. "Berrynose is so handsome." Hollyleaf choose a bed of moss between Squirrelflight and Poppyfrost.
"Hi Hollyleaf." Poppyfrost mewed, clearly exhausted. "I'm afraid you won't get much sleep here with Honeyfern going on and on about Berrynose's latest and greatest activities. From wiping a piece of vole fur from his nose to marking the territory." Hollyleaf glared at Honeyfern then, feeling guilty, snuggled down into her bed of moss. She just wanted to escape into the world of sleep where she could freely dream. She didn't have to wait long, though as she drifted off.
Hollyleaf opened her eyes. She was in the ThunderClan camp, near the nursery? Why? She wondered. Kits were playing the morning sun and queens were resting in the shade comfortably. Just then, a snake slithered out of the rocks towards a kit, unaware.
"No!" Hollyleaf cried, and ran toward the snake. Her paws seemed to carry her nowhere, and another cat reached the kit, throwing itself in front of the snake, being bitten instead.
"Help!" The cat yowled writhing in pain. "My blood is on fire!" Hollyleaf's blood turned to ice, as the other cats wailed in distress surrounding the bitten one.
Hollyleaf's eyes flew open, and she ran out of the den. It was dusk, and the patrols were swapping out. Hollyleaf blinked, and went to the nursery. All was peaceful, but her head swirled.
"It was just a dream." Hollyleaf told herself sternly, and shook her head. She would go out for a walk to clear her mind.
Silverpelt sparkled dazzlingly above, but Hollyleaf was lost in thought. Had StarClan sent the dream? It had to be. But why? Hollyleaf asked herself over and over. But all she could think about was Berrynose.