Full Summary: When two cats from enemy Clans realize that they are linked in a strange, unheard of way that no one else would ever be able to understand, and that they themselves can't ignore, they have no one to go to but each other... but then, they've always been together, in a way. Now, despite their wariness for one another, they must work together behind their Clans' backs to find out why they've been linked... to figure out just how much they can do with their linkage... and maybe even grow close along the way.

A/N: This prologue is actually an excerpt from a later chapter in this story. :)

Prologue

"There was a time when all cats had their minds free to one another. Because of this, there was no war or arguments or secrets, because all cats understood each other perfectly and could not lie to one another; in fact, there was only one large group of them, and they did not have a name for their group, but simply called themselves 'us' and 'we'. They were at peace with each other, and although the world was far from perfect, they were unified, and could fight off almost any danger that went their way.

"But then one cat came along... he was called Dusk, and he was not pleased with the way things were. He was not evil in the slightest, but simply curious and bright, and he wondered what it would be like if there was actual privacy in the world... he wanted to sever the mental connections amongst cats. He succeeded. The exact details of how he succeeded have been lost to history, but it is said that he easily got many cats to agree with him; after all, with his mind open to all, they knew exactly what he was thinking, and he did not have to explain his feelings to them with words. Surely, you two understand this."

Automatically, without thinking about it, Smokepaw brushed her mind against Emberpaw's, as he simultaneously did the same to her. Before, when she had barely discovered her connection with Emberpaw, Smokepaw would have flinched away from the mental contact, but now, she actually found it comforting. Emberpaw knew her on such a deep level... there wasn't a single part of her that he didn't understand. It was the same way around; she knew him as well as she knew herself. She could even feel him agreeing with her thoughts right now.

Together, they nodded at the cat. They definitely understood what he meant about not having to explain things in words.

"Well, the cats saw the advantages of Dusk's vision," the old tom continued, "and they all agreed that the linkages should be severed. And, somehow, together, they managed to close off their minds and stop their mental connections with each other. Deceit begun, because cats could then lie... They did not understand one another nearly as well anymore, and therefore began to distrust each other. Because of this, skirmishes began, quickly growing in violence and frequency, and soon they were all involved in a full-blown, bloody war. They had no control over themselves, and they did not know of restraining their claws and showing mercy, because they had never fought before. When they fought in this war, they unthinkingly went for the kill, as if they were hunting prey. Soon, only about fifteen of them remained." His eyes darkened. "They had just managed not to destroy themselves, but only just. The remaining cats, luckily, came to their senses, and began to try and trust each other again without their mental linkages. They grouped together, forgetting their disagreements, and did all they could to keep the peace.

"They succeeded, and the population slowly grew again over many seasons, but the lost cats were lost for good." He met both Emberpaw's and Smokepaw's gazes, one after the other. "I'm afraid that I can't say why you two have been connected in the way that is so ancient that not even StarClan know of it - "

"Why not?" Smokepaw interrupted.

The old cat stared at her. "Because I do not know why. But I can help you two... There is more that you can do with your minds than you would expect."

A/N: Please review and tell me what you think so far! :)

By the way, I've been pretty busy lately, so this fic won't be updated as often as I'd like, but the next few updates should be pretty quick.

~Blazingstar