Echo gasped, struggling to breathe. Then, she noticed that she was safe. Not again! she groaned inwardly. Echo was still by the same rotting tree. She pulled herself to her paws and continued to travel.
The calm breeze reassured the dark tabby she-cat. This part of the forest was calm, almost welcoming to her. The only problem that Echo didn't notice was that a wild dog was poised in the bushes, ready to attack. Echo realized something: that the forest was too quiet. Too peaceful.
And that was when the dog attacked. Claws scratched at her body and eyesight went bloodred. I'm going to die right now, Echo thought with horror.
Suddenly, she heard the loud yowls of other cats. By this time, the pain was too hard to ignore, and darkness overcame her vision.

Echo opened her eyes to find out she was in a starry, grassy land. She walked around, enjoying the scenery. Then, a cat with stars in his fur walked towards her.
"Who are you?" she meowed.
"Don't you know me?" The cat's flame-colored pelt looked familiar. "I was the one that first got the Dark Echo prophecy."
Echo gasped. "Flame! I can't believe-"
Flame hushed her with his tail. "There is not enough time to talk too much," he meowed sternly. "Darkness has grown stronger in its many years of imprisonment. He has grown almost strong enough to break free."
Echo didn't say anything. She was too shocked.
"Remember the prophecy," he continued, but he was starting to fade. "Beware of the Dark-" He disappeared.
"Flame? I knew you were going to say something else! Where did you go?!"
The vision began to fade.

Echo woke up with a start, but in a few heartbeats she knew that this was a different place. A she-cat was sorting plants hurriedly. She looked up at her and smiled.
"You're finally awake. Well, stay here for a moment, will you? I need to get Snowstar."

Could she be more brief? Echo thought sarcastically. Well, this is another fine mess you've gotten yourself into!

Echo looked around the den. It smelled powerfully of herbs and poultices, with leaves and berries sorted into neat piles. Maybe this could be-
"Hi! Who are you? I'm Moonkit, by the way." A kit, around the same age as her-five moons old-bounced into the den.
"Um, well...I'm Echo." She shook her pelt, sticky with all different types of leaves. "Where am I?"
"Where are you?" Moonkit asked. "Well, silly, you're in the IceClan camp! Don't you remember? You were being attacked by this wild dog. One of our patrols found you and chased away the dog-and then you came here!" She added, "I hope you can stay! Then we can be friends!"

No way! Echo shuddered. I can't believe I was saved...by strangers. Then, the cat that was sorting herbs earlier walked back into a den with another she-cat. Moonkit's eyes widened, and she dipped her head, much to Echo's surprise. She must be their leader...

"Hi, Snowstar," the kit spoke solemnly. "I was just making sure our visitor felt welcome."

"You may go." Moonkit gave the leader a curt nod, and bounded away. When she was gone, the white cat walked toward her. "So, what were you doing in IceClan territory? I can tell you're not a kittypet, since you look underfed. But before we continue, I need to know your name."

"My name is Echo," she replied boldly. "And I need to leave as soon as possible, please."

"Yes, Echo, but I strongly suggest you stay here until you heal." She flashed a small smile. "Maybe you would be interested in Clan life. Do you understand?"

"Okay. But only until I feel better."

Echo walked to another den which the IceClan cats called the "nursery." Maybe she would find Moonkit or whatever her name was. A few heartbeats later, Moonkit emerged from the nursery and leaped next to her. Her silver pelt shone in the moonlight.

"So, I hear that you're staying with us for a little bit. Yay!" She purred. Echo hated to admit it, but Moonkit wasn't that bad. "Well, anyway, come inside and meet my cousin, Breezekit! I still can't believe he's related to me, though," she muttered.

A small, brown tabby tom was playing with a ginger kit. It seemed like they were playing with a ball of moss. That looks fun, Echo thought. Maybe I will play with them later.

"The tabby tom is Breezekit, and the other ginger one is Flamekit." Moonkit poked a sleeping kit, her pelt white this time. "And this is Whitekit."

"Anyway, enough introductions and let's have some fun! My mother can tell us a story."

Echo shrugged. She didn't really care, but maybe Moonkit's mother might know about the Dark Echo prophecy.

"Hello, Moonkit," a silver-and-white she-cat purred. Her eyes lightened up when she saw Echo. "And you must be Echo! I'm Skyflower."