Her mind was shrouded in a black fog. In between sleep and the waking world, Zari tried to make sense of what happened. Why did Hawkstrike attack? Why did those cats refuse to accept their place? She was a dragoness, and an awe inspiring one. They were just animals. Why was it so hard for them to grasp?

It's easy for you to accept your place, isn't it? You're above everyone else.

That voice wasn't hers. And it seemed angry with her.

That's what you think, isn't it? But you're not. You are a cat. Many beings are above you. Even Humans.

That wasn't true! She only looked like a cat! She wasn't actually a feline!

But you are. If you return to your dragon form or not, you are a cat at this moment. Besides...

As if on cue, Zari was aware of her injuries. She felt deep scratches all over her back and shoulders. She was aware that one of her ears was now half way split right down the middle. She could feel the wounds in her legs and tail where the warrior's teeth had been. Two toes on one of her hind feet felt like they were on fire.

Even in dragon form, you wouldn't be so awe inspiring anymore. And remember: appearance is a reflection of worth! Even that little gold dragon hatchling is above you now!

That's not my fault! I didn't tell that creature to attack me! She argued.

Niz didn't ask to be attacked either. Earthpelt didn't tell Pharaoh and his group to attack. Now she is going to die before she sees the new territory. You're beneath all prism dragons now. You're beneath many, many cats.

Zari tried to find the words to argue with this voice. She could sense that whoever was its owner was amused, and satisfied.

Not so easy to accept your place now, is it?

She opened her eyes to see... A hairless cat? What the? "You're awake!"

"Who are you?"

"My name is Fae. My Humans nearly hit you! They brought you here and cleaned your injuries. Are you a house cat?"

"No," she replied.

"Would you like to be? I think they want another cat."

"No, I was... going somewhere."

Fae looked around at the house. "Well, you'll stay here for a little while, right? You shouldn't be traveling."

Zari sat up and looked for something reflective. There was a silver dish nearby. The voice was right about her appearance now. She looked even more horrible than before, and previously, she hadn't known that was possible. Was it true? Was she no better than that gold dragoness?

It had to be. So why wasn't she very upset?

It could've been true that Zari was just in shock. But it didn't seem like it. Why was she so calm? The small grey cat had a feeling she couldn't quiet identify. After a few thoughtless moments, a question came to her mind. What would she do now? Zari surprised herself, wondering if she wanted to go home. She would be so out of place among the other prism dragons. But what would staying here accomplish?

She didn't know how to survive on her own in this world, and was positive she'd rather starve than depend on Humans for the rest of her life. Humans were... ugh. What else could she do? She had to go back. Zari still missed her waterfall cave lair. Even though she was now beneath every prism dragon alive, she had to go back. The sooner, the better.

–

Whiteroad had snuck away from everyone else. Her irritation was as its highest point yet, and she was determined to lay in the sun once again. The hot cracked stone didn't bother her feet. Her legs were the problem. Already tired and sore from the recent activity, they nearly refused to carry her now. How could the others be so content knowing they'd outlived their usefullness?

She remembered her first battle as she walked towards a quiet area. She'd been the strongest apprentice in the Clan. Whiteroad could still remember defeating a cat twice her size. She longed for the days that had passed far too quickly. She sighed, knowing there was nothing she could do.

As she moved slowly towards a place where cars were sitting in neat lines, Whiteroad heard a vicious hiss coming from nearby. After that, a scream. Was that Earthpelt? She hurried to an area left alone by Humans. There was a clearing in some thick bushes where sunlight hardly shone. What the elder cat saw shocked her.

Whiteroad saw two tabby pelts: one grey and unmoving and one brown, moving slightly. It was Nightpaw and Earthpelt. Quickly she approached the apprentice cat and buried her nose in his pelt. Blood. Death. Those were the only two scents that came to her. How was Nightpaw's own scent completely gone before his fur was even cold?

She turned to Earthpelt, who was struggling to breathe. The tabby was cheerful, even knowing of her infected wounds. But now she looked horrified. The warrior's green eyes were wide with fear. Whiteroad stared at the pucture wound in Earthpelt's neck.

"Humans!" she screemed with rage. She would've left to attack the first Human she saw if not for Earthpelt pawing weakly at her leg. "What is it?" she asked softly.

"Stop..(gasp).. her..."

"Stop who? You mean it wasn't a Human?" Whiteroad crouched beside the dying cat. "Who attacked you?"

"Death... It stalks the Clan..."

Whiteroad didn't know what to make of this. "What do you mean?" she asked, "death attacked you?"

Earthpelt nodded slightly, her breathing becoming fainter. "Death... is... is stalking the... Clan.."

–

Shadefeather's depressed gaze mirrored that of her Clan-mates. Without a cat to lead them, they remained in the same alley. Everyone was at a loss for what to do about that. She couldn't lead them. She wouldn't be able to handle the entire Clan depending on her. That was not important right now, anyway.

She looked up at the moon and wondered if Dewleaf was watching. Were Earthpelt and Nightpaw watching? The black cat looked to her right to see Hawkstrike, Bellpaw, and Emeraldfire crouched beside Earthpelt. To her left was Nightpaw's body. Ironpaw's nose was in his bother's fur while Steelclaw whispered something about their dead mother.

Windfang and Twilightgaze were moving towards the motionless figures. They were perhaps the two coldest felines in the Clan. Nothing was going right. They were far from their old camp, Zari was gone, and Death was stalking the Clan. Shadefeather knew that she understood the message better than the others.

Before the rogue Clan finds its place, Song and Death will fight.

"Shadefeather?" it was Thunderkit who spoke, too quietly and seriously for a kit.

"Yes?"

"What do you think it means?"

She was slightly surprised by the question. "I don't know. Earthpelt didn't-"

"No, not that," the calico kit made sure no one was listening. "The other message. The one Dewleaf told us about."

Shadefeather's tail fluffed up. "You've met her, too?" Thunderkit nodded. To the question, she replied, "I don't know what that means either."

There was an awkward silence for a few seconds. Shadefeather wanted to ask a multitude of questions, but what was there to ask really? Thunderkit knew what she knew. "Can I be your apprentice when I'm old enough?"

"You don't want me as your mentor."

"But I do!"

"That's a couple moons away. Think about it for a little while, ok? Then, if you still want me to teach you, I'll ask Darkwood about it."

"Ok," Thunderkit starting repeating the messages thoughtfully. "Song and Death will fight. Song and Death will fight... but who will win?"

Does anyone actually read this?

….