In My Dreams
Disclaimer: No, I don't own Warriors, so quit rubbing it in. (This takes place in Firestar's Quest, by the way.)
Goldenflower sighed as she curled up in her nest. Firestar and Sandstorm had just left for a quest to StarClan knew where. She felt a surge of pride as she remembered Brambleclaw's warrior ceremony. Her son had worked so hard to prove his loyalty to ThunderClan, and it had paid off.
She shut her eyes as she drifted off to sleep. She was chasing after a rabbit, when suddenly, the field of flowers changed. As Goldenflower stared around, darkness fell, and she was surrounded by a forest.
"Ah, my first success of many more," she heard a cat mew.
"Tigerstar?" she demanded, astonished.
"Yes, Goldenflower." He stepped out of the shadows. His amber eyes glinted in the little dim light that there was. "It's me."
"But you're dead." Her eyes widened. "Does this mean that I'm dead?"
"No, don't you worry yourself. You're still alive. You're just dreaming."
"What is this place?"
"It is the Forest of Shadows. No cat of StarClan walks here," he growled.
"Well, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to leave."
"You can try. The only way that you can leave is if I let you, or if you wake up. Seeing as you and all your Clanmates are sleeping, that won't be happening any time soon," he meowed as Goldenflower padded off.
She crept through the silent, dark woods, her eyes flicking back and forth warily. Then she scented him.
Brokenstar.
His scent was right beside her, but she couldn't see him anywhere. Goldenflower took off into a run. She could scent so many more cats, but could see none of them. She yowled as something barreled into her and pinned her down.
"Do you believe me yet?" Tigerstar asked, sounding amused.
"Fine. I do. Now let me out."
"No, not quite yet, my dear Goldenflower. There's so much that I want to talk about with you."
"Like what?" she snarled.
"How is Bramblepaw? Or, should I say, Brambleclaw now? And Tawnypelt?"
"They're both fine warriors, who are loyal to their Clans," she hissed.
"Why, you wound me so, Goldenflower. And didn't Tawnypelt leave her Clan? How is that loyal?"
"It was because of you that she left!" Goldenflower's heart broke as she remembered how her daughter had disappeared without a word, to go to ShadowClan. "It's all your fault!"
His paw disappeared, as did the forest. Goldenflower blinked as she woke up in the warriors' den. Everyone else was still sleeping. She quietly padded out of the den and into the clearing. Cloudtail was standing guard at the entrance. He nodded to her as she walked out of the camp.
She found herself at Sunningrocks, where she curled up and stared at the sky. Tigerstar could've made it into Starclan, and could've been one of the stars in Silverpelt. But he wasn't. He had thrown away everything.
You'll understand one day, Goldenflower…
She shivered, even though it was a fairly warm night. After what seemed like moons, she got up and headed back to camp.
Never again did she dream of the Forest of Shadows, nor of Tigerstar.
And yet she always found herself wishing that she did.