Chapter 2: Familiar Experience

"Hey, do you think she's okay?"

"I mean, she doesn't look like she's injured or anything."

Wha-What's going on? Kairi slowly opened her eyes.

"She's waking up." Kairi looked at the two cats looming above her body. One was a light brown tom, and the other one was a pale gray tom. "Hi there." Kairi let out a small scream.

"Well, we all know she doesn't like you, Grasspelt."

"Shut up, Pebblefoot!" The light brown tom pushed the gray cat a bit. They both looked over at Kairi and saw that her breathing increased. "Hey, calm down, everything's alright." Grasspelt told her.

"But you're…both talking cats!" She told them.

"Um…you're the one to talk." Pebblefoot responded. "Have you ever looked at yourself lately?" Kairi didn't answer and attempted to get up.

"Are you hurt?" Again, Kairi ignored the cat and figured out how to get up in her new form. Once she did that, she slowly walked over to the nearby stream. She looked at her reflection and saw that an auburn-furred cat with crystal blue eyes now stared back at her. I look so cute! But…why am I a cat now? Is this one of the different worlds Sora traveled to?

"My last remark wasn't meant to be taken literally." Pebblefoot told her.

"What? Sorry about all that." She apologized.

"It's okay. Are you a loner?" Grasspelt asked her.

"Loner?" Kairi tilted her head in confusion.

"It just means that you're a cat with no owner." Pebblefoot asked. "Maybe they don't use that term where you're from?" She shook her head. "Speaking of that…what's with all the…stuff?" Pebblefoot asked, noticing Kairi's pearl necklace and her blue, black, and white armbands on her left foreleg.

"What? You mean my necklace and armbands?"

"Sure...I guess." Pebblefoot then shook his head. "Why are we having a conversation anyway? You're not from any of the Clans, but you're on RiverClan territory and you have to go."

"Does she really? She was unconscious just a few moments ago."

"Um, yeah? Look, I know you may think she's cute, but she shouldn't be here." The two RiverClan cats began arguing and Kairi let out a sigh. They're just like Sora and Riku in a way…wait a second…

"Wait! You both said you were from RiverClan?" Kairi interrupted.

"Have you heard of it?" Grasspelt asked, Kairi shaking her head. "But you just…"

"Can you take me there?"

"Why would we do that?" Pebblefoot asked.

"Listen, I know it's going to sound hard to believe, but I'm not from this world. My two other friends and I were sent to this world and were told that we were going to protect the Clans."

"Not from this world? Didn't Mistystar tell us about that one ThunderClan cat that wasn't from this world as well?" Pebblefoot looked over at Grasspelt, the tom nodding.

"Yeah, his name's Lelouch. I only remember because Petalfur constantly talks about him ever since she caught one single glimpse of him one day."

"Ha, seems like Mallownose might have some competition now." Pebblefoot looked over at Kairi and let out a sigh. "I guess Grasspelt's right; the right thing to do would be to bring you into our territory, especially since you're not from this world. Follow us." Kairi followed the two toms until they reached the RiverClan camp. She looked at it in awe. She didn't know how cats living in the wild could make something like this.

"I mean, it's not in the greatest shape due to our recent battle with the Dark Forest, but it's getting back to its original self." Grasspelt told her.

"It's really amazing. You all built this yourself?"

"Yup…well not us two, but the Clan as a whole." Pebblefoot stated. "We should take you to Mistystar now. She's our leader. She's really kind, so no need to worry." The three cats entered the leader's den and saw Mistystar lying down on a bed of moss.

"Pebblefoot, Grasspelt, welcome back." She greeted with a smile, but then it faded when her eyes locked onto Kairi. "Why have you both brought a loner into our Clan? Do you not know that we're still recovering from the Dark Forest battle?"

"W-we know Mistystar, but she's not a threat. She says she was brought here with her two other friends." Grasspelt stammered, fearful of her leader's accused insubordination. "She says she's not from this world."

"Really?" She glanced over at Kairi. "Very well then. You two may go work on your Clan duties."

"Yes, Mistystar." The two RiverClan cats left, leaving Kairi and Mistystar alone.

"Well, you don't seem threatening…so is what Grasspelt told me true?"

"Yes. My name is Kairi and I come from another world called Destiny Islands. My two other friends, Sora and Riku, are here as well and we were told that we would be the key to the Clans' survival and peace."

"Much like Lelouch of ThunderClan…" Mistystar whispered to herself. "Kairi, I haven't received any prophecy as of late, and like you heard me tell those two, we were just in a battle recently."

"I understand, but please don't send me away. If I have to protect your Clan from some danger you haven't heard of yet, I will. I don't want to see any of you or cats from this Clan hurt."

"We've only just met and you let off such a selfless and protective attitude." Mistystar let out a smile. "You express traits of a fine warrior, Kairi. I'll be glad to let you stay in RiverClan for the time being."

"Thank you, Mistystar. I won't let you down." I'm glad that Mistystar trusts me, so I guess I'm off to a good start. I just hope Riku and Sora can say the same.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Ugh…my head… Riku shook off any remaining unconsciousness and looked around. He saw that the trees around him were massive. What the…whoa! As he tried to stand up, he fell to the ground, realizing that he now had to walk on four legs. What's going on here? He got up correctly this time and made his way to the nearby lake. He looked down and saw that he was now staring at a silver cat with blue-green eyes, and fur that would occasionally cover his eyes. Am I the cat in the stained glass picture? He wondered, turning around to look back at the forest. I don't know what's in there, but I'm sure I can fend for myself if it comes to it. I have to find the Clans that the prophecy foretold. He made his way into the forest as fast, but also as quiet, as he could. He sniffed the air and kept his hearing alert, utilizing his new improved senses to try to find some sort of link to the Clans. As he was walking, he heard voices from behind some bushes and stopped moving.

"Those Dark Forest cats really did a deal to the Clan." One of the cats said.

"You're telling me. My shoulder's a bit achy from the battle still. At least everything's fine now." Riku now entered the bushes to get a glimpse of where the voices were coming from. He saw two cats: one was a white she-cat with green eyes, and the other was a cream-furred she-cat with amber eyes.

"Hey, did you hear that?"

"Yeah. Dawnpelt…you smell that too, right?" The white cat asked, her friend nodding.

"We should go check it out, Snowbird. It's not from any of the Clans, though."

"So that leaves three options: rogue, kittypet, or loner. Regardless, they're on ShadowClan territory, so let's teach them a lesson, shall we?" Snowbird stated. Damn it, they're bound to find me, but shouldn't I just make myself… "Thinking about something? Or are you just going to sit there in the bush and look pretty for ShadowClan?" She asked him, revealing his hiding spot.

"Aw, don't scare him Snowbird. You two look almost identical. It's strange, really." Dawnpelt told her.

"Please, he's not related to me in any way."

"Well then you two can be a couple then!"

"Seriously Dawnpelt? It would be soooo wrong." Riku just looked at the two and sighed.

"Weren't you just interrogating me?" He asked.

"Oh, right..." Snowbird pounced on him and pinned him to the ground. "What are you doing on ShadowClan territory?"

"Look, I'm not from this world. If you let me go to your Clan I can explain everything."

"Not from this world? Like Lelouch, right Snowbird?" Dawnpelt told her.

"What? Y-you mean that ThunderClan cat?" Riku could see the slightest blush on her face. So much for this all being a serious conversation.

"You know the one. Anyway, we should let him go. If he's from a different world, he can't be that bad."

"I guess you're right." Snowbird got off of him and helped him up. "Sorry about that. I'm Snowbird and this is Dawnpelt. We're from ShadowClan. What's your name?"

"Riku."

"Well Riku, if you're from another world, I'm sure Blackstar might be interested to see you." Snowbird told him. "Just follow us and we'll be there in no time. It's not that far from here." Riku walked behind the two she-cats for a few minutes until they finally reached the ShadowClan camp. All the cats around paused what they were doing and just stared at the three, more at Riku than anything.

"Why'd they bring a loner in the camp?"

"What if he's got more friends waiting to attack? We're not even recovered from the Dark Forest." Around the camp, cats began wondering what Riku's reason for being here was, but all he wanted to do was speak with the leader.

"Riku, right in here is where Blackstar is. Snowbird's just going in to explain everything." Dawnpelt told him. They saw her walk out a few seconds later.

"Alright, you're all set. Good luck with whatever you need to accomplish." Snowbird told him before she and Dawnpelt left to perform more Clan duties. Riku stepped inside and saw the white-furred ShadowClan leader.

"Please, have a seat." Blackstar told him. "Snowbird tells me that your name is Riku, but also that you're not from this world, correct?" Riku nodded his head.

"Yes. My friends and I were brought here to help the Clans. We were told that we were the key to their survival and peace." He explained.

"I see…and what about your friends? Where are they now?"

"I don't know. When I regained consciousness I saw no sign of them whatsoever." Blackstar gave him an understanding nod.

"Very well. If that's the case, you are welcome in ShadowClan. If any evil is to strike the Clans, the most opportune time would most likely be sometime soon, especially after we're still recovering from the Dark Forest. Riku, I hope that you can be the savior that this Clan needs when the time is right." Riku nodded.

"Yes Blackstar, I won't let you down."