My paws were jumping backwards without my consent. Or rather, without my control of them. I recoiled in shock in confusion, though my mind was still frozen in place, too confused to deal with what was going on.
Of course I should have known this. Of course this whole thing wasn't just a 'second chance'. Why was I so naïve? I was being used, whether I wanted to admit it or not. And since Dovekit had given me this 'gift' of course I would be expected to fulfill some crazy prophecy.
Some crazy prophecy? But this wasn't even some random prophecy. It was THE prophecy, the Omen of the stars. The one I had known about since its beginnings.
Dovekit's frustrated snarl snapped me out of my frozen confusion. "Look at me!" She hissed, her eyes grabbing mine and locking them into her own. The eerie green glow flew at my eyes, and suddenly I felt disconnected from what was going on. I could hear everything, but I certainly couldn't move, even if I wanted to.
"Now," she muttered, stance relaxing a bit. I could still see suppressed anxiety in her eyes, like time was running short. Well, that was obvious from her repeated exclamations and outbursts.
I realized how much she had changed since she had died. When she had been on earth and I had been watching, she had been an eager and happy kit, like any other. She had loved to play pranks and she was always getting into trouble. In other words, just like any other five-moon old Thunderclan cat.
But now she was anything but young. An air of ancient wisdom surrounded her like an aura. Her eyes flamed now with snappish fury, but her eyes were as deep and depthless as if she had lived for many seasons. She didn't even look like a kit anymore, I noticed, but like a young warrior.
"Oh, focus!" She growled. "You want to know why I'm so wound up? You're a naïve kit who I THOUGHT was ready for this power, but you won't even LISTEN! Oh yeah, and, I only have a few short moments to tell you everything you need to know before I DISAPPEAR!" She glared at me, green eyes bright with fury.
I would have shrunk back if I had been able to move. A terrifying though hit me—had she been able to read my thoughts just then?
Dovekit opened her mouth as if she was about to say something, but shook her head violently. "Do I have your attention now? Good." Her form wavered and grew more transparent, the only part of her remaining clear and vibrant were her piercing eyes. "The prophecy you now carry is, indeed, mine. The Power of Three? You are now the third. Well, I am, technically, but you carry my power."
What? Why? I wanted to ask so much, but my mouth was locked shut. "Just don't do anything foolish, ok?" She pressed on, her meow's pace increasing rapidly. "Don't let anyone know about this, that you look like me and everything. Make them believe I am you! I will tell you more later, of course, but for now, just don't get caught." She shimmered.
"Just live like usual, like you would have before. The prophecy will come in time." She winced and her eyes narrowed. "I have to go, just don't do anything mouse-brained!"
She disappeared, and I was tossed back into life. My eyes blinked open to the sun's glare, and I remembered I was basking on the sun rocks at the top of the gorge. I shut my eyes again, blocking any thoughts of what had just happened from my head. I didn't want to have to face what Dovekit had told me.
But it found its way into my head anyway. It was just too unbelievable—Dovekit had died from a fox attack, from what I had heard from Jayfeather about my own wounds. But she had intercepted me in Starclan and, what, passed her powers onto me? And now I was stuck with the burden of THE prophecy?
I groaned. Great. I opened my eyes reluctantly, getting to my paws with a heavy sigh. The elders still slumbered on the stones, though the sun was beginning its descent down the horizon. It was hard to believe that it had only been a day since I had been thrust into Dovekit's body and the prophecy.
I picked my way down the stones, yawning as I did. Be Dovekit…I have to convince everyone that I am someone I'm not. I wanted to just hide away and not have to deal with it all, but I had a responsibility. Not that I knew what that responsibility was, anyway. Why did I have to do this? Why couldn't Dovekit tell me?
I shook my head and paused in the midst of camp, drinking in the bustle of warriors returning from patrol and friends sharing tongues around the fresh kill pile. I couldn't forget the longing of not so long ago, of standing by the Echopool wishing with all my heart that I could experience it again. And now that I was here, I couldn't help the thrill making my heart jump. Everything was alive! I could almost become giddy off the vibrant sun's glow.
"Dovekit!" A deep tom's joyous mew made me jump. "Oh, Dovekit, Dovekit," I turned to see the glowing eyes of Birchfall, my supposed father. He flicked me lovingly with his tail, his eyes shining. "Oh, you're ok, you…" he choked up, a purr rumbling deep in his chest. He nuzzled me softly, purring all the while.
"Dad," I meowed, my heart throbbing at his tender words. And, for the first time since all this had happened to me, I felt homesick. Not for Starclan, which was as much a home as a prison, but for my family.
I winced inwardly as I remembered the last time I had spoken to my own father. He loved me, I knew. But I had still treated him with contempt the other night. Him and Bluestar. Birchfall purred again, licking me between the ears.
I smiled warmly at him, eyes sparkling. I felt genuinely loved by him, and it was unbelievable. Suddenly I didn't feel so confused or lost. This clan was behind me every step of the way.
No. Not me. My heart plummeted. He loved Dovekit; Dovekit was his daughter, not me. I gave him a smile again, best that I could manage, and attempted a rough purr. Sadness darkened my eyes, and I had to turn away.
"Thanks, Birchfall," I meowed. "I'm fine, really." I gave him a little grin, but I'm sure it didn't reach my eyes. Birchfall nodded and grabbed a squirrel.
"Want something?" He asked.
I shook my head. "I just ate," I explained. Birchfall nodded again and sat down to eat.
"Want to talk?" He motioned at the spot beside him. I hesitated, glancing at the darkening sky. I just wanted to close my eyes now, forget about how this was all pretend for me.
I feigned a yawn. "Actually, Birchfall, I think I'm going to go catch some sleep," I meowed as genuinely as I could. I added a little smile as well, once again as genuinely as I could. I gestured at the dusk gathering.
Birchfall grinned. "Of course." He licked my ears again, his eyes warm. "Good night, Dovekit." Mosskit.
"Good night," I meowed softly and trudged into the nursery. Jayfeather didn't come and fetch me to go to his den, so I figured it was alright to sleep there. I settled in my mother's nest, which was empty. I closed my eyes and released myself to the dark.
----
The stiflingly warm den was highlighted with streaks of light from the morning sun when I woke. Pelts were brushing against me on every side, and quiet snores echoed all around me. I raised my head just a bit, blinking blearily. Whitewing was curled in a crescent around Ivykit and I, and Dovekit's sister was piled almost on top of me.
I grunted and wriggled out of the mass of fur. No one stirred, and I padded out of the den and into the weak, early morning light. Not many cats had stirred this early, so I was almost alone in the silence.
Berrynose and Brackenfur were standing guard at the entrance, and for once Berrynose was silent. I stifled a laugh as I remembered all his outbursts, the ones I had seen from the Echopool.
I sat by the fresh-kill pile, eying the prey without much enthusiasm. I couldn't shake the feeling that I didn't belong here, but I still couldn't resist the allure of life's movement around me. A life I was now a part of, instead of just watching from far away.
"Hey, you're up early." I looked over to my right in surprise to see a pale gray apprentice with black stripes and green eyes. Bumblepaw.
"Oh, hi," I meowed, my ears flicking in surprise at his being there.
Bumblepaw grinned, one eyebrow arched. "Aren't you wondering what I'm doing up this early, too?"
I rolled my eyes teasingly. "I don't know. Why?"
"Blossompaw, of course." He winced dramatically. "Ouch."
I laughed. The noise sounded foreign to my ears, and it was strange that it would feel that way. "What has she done now?" I asked with a smile, forgetting momentarily my estrangement here.
He looked at me with a laugh. "Woken up! That's enough, trust me."
"From what I learned yesterday, she sure can be a pain."
Bumblepaw tilted his head at me, eyes still sparkling good-naturedly. "She's been annoying for loooong before yesterday, my friend," he meowed with a grin.
Mouse-dung! I had slipped up. Of course, I was supposed to have been here all along. Why had I even said that? I had known about Blossompaw's annoyance forever from the Echopool, why had I said just since yesterday? My throat constricted uneasily.
"Yeah, I know," I laughed, but to my ears it didn't sound right. "But after waking up from a fox attack she's even worse." I rolled my eyes with a smile. Oh, Starclan, that was awful. It hadn't even sounded real at all.
But Bumblepaw didn't seem to catch the uneasiness or the forced laugh. "Good. For a second there I thought you were going crazy." His eyes twinkled mischievously.
I smiled back, but it was forced again, and I once again found myself uneasy. "It's a little early…but you want something from the pile?" There wasn't much, just a bit from the dawn hunting patrol of earlier.
Bumblepaw nodded, so I tossed him a mouse and grabbed my own, digging in without pause to cut short any conversation. He ate quickly, devouring his own prey in a few bites.
I picked at mine for a bit before finishing it. I looked at him for a moment, awkwardness swelling in our silence. I was about to say something mouse-brained, no doubt, when Ivykit bounded out of the nursery.
"Hey!" She mrowled, shoving me lightly. "You didn't wait for me! Come on, Dovekit, why are you such an early bird this morning? It's usually moons before you get up most mornings!" She prodded me playfully and caught sight of Bumblepaw. "Oh, hi Bumblepaw," she added.
I gestured at my prey, beginning to feel panicky. If I didn't know what Dovekit had done, like slept in, how could I be her? "I was hungry," I explained. "Sorry." I smiled at her apologetically.
"Whatever," she meowed good-naturedly. She grabbed her own prey and began to munch. "You do realize," she mumbled through the prey, "that our apprentice ceremonies are really soon. Yours won't even be delayed, probably!"
I nodded. "Firestar told me it wouldn't be."
"Yes!" She yowled, jumping into the air. "Together forever, right?"
Bumblepaw laughed. "You guys are crazy. I would do anything to not be 'together forever' with Blossompaw."
Ivykit grinned. "It's actually not that hard to believe you two are siblings…" she teased and dodged his paw blow.
"Hey!" Bumblepaw hissed playfully and bowled her over. Ivykit battled back fiercely, taunting and mocking between blows. They collapsed in a heap of giggles a few minutes into the mock fight, and I could only watch their easy interaction with a sinking heart. I shook my fur, as if somehow that could shake the nagging feeling that I didn't belong here. But I knew that wouldn't save me from the truth. Nothing would, not even the great prophecy I had been thrust into without my consent.
How is it? I would really love some constructive crit., so if you have some for me, that would be great! Next chapter up soon!
