Closer
As Blackpaw opened her eyes to a bright white light, she blinked rapidly and backed up, trying to escape the blinding lights. She groaned, her blue orbs burning, but the more she stood there, the more her eyes adjusted. She sighed as she opened her eyes fully, looking around. Everything was quiet. No. Not quiet. It was silent. There was nothing. "Hello!" She called.
"Blackpaw."
The BurnClan apprentice whipped around to see a white she-cat standing in front of her. Instantly, she recognized her. She calmed a little, but curiosity pricked from her toes to the tip of her tail.
"What am I doing here?"
"Don't tell me you've forgotten me."
Blackpaw watched the she-cat as she sat down, stars dancing on her pelt. Slowly, Blackpaw did the same, inspecting the white earth beneath her paws.
"No, I haven't forgotten you, Whiteleopard," Blackpaw mewed slowly. As she met Whiteleopard's gaze, her heartbeat quickened and she listened to her paced breathing.
"Have you forgotten what I told you last time, my sweet one?" Whiteleopard asked. Before Blackpaw could reply, Whiteleopard continued. "As the cold falls in silent darkness, one will be chosen to save the setting sun, but be warned, for the light will go dark and thorns will sting, leaving only when the black bird falls silent."
"I remember. I still don't understand, though," Blackpaw answered. The fact she could hear the SpiritClan warrior excited her, but Whiteleopard's voice was calming and soothing, like that of a queen telling her kits good night.
"They're coming. They're close," Whiteleopard mewed.
"Who?" Blackpaw was completely lost.
"They'll be here soon, and you must be ready for the path that lies ahead," Whiteleopard seemed to be ignoring Blackpaw's questions.
"Whiteleopard, who is coming? Why are they coming?"
"As the cold falls in silent darkness, one will be chosen to save the setting sun, but be warned, for the light will go dark and thorns will sting, leaving only when the black bird falls silent," Whiteleopard repeated.
As the cold falls in silent darkness, one will be chosen to save the setting sun, but be warned, for the light will go dark and thorns will sting, leaving only when the black bird falls silent. Blackpaw thought. One will be chosen? But be warned, for the light will go dark and thorns will sting? I don't understand! And what does she mean when she talks about the black bird falling silent? Blackpaw wondered, and her pelt pricked. Black bird? Ravenpaw? Is Ravenpaw part of this to?
"Is Ravenpaw part of this? Is she part of the prophecy?" Blackpaw asked.
"You shall find out soon enough," Whiteleopard mewed. "But I must bid you farewell, now, sweet one."
"But I have so many questions!" Blackpaw yowled.
"You may ask one," Whiteleopard mewed. "The rest will be up to you to answer." Blackpaw flattened her ears. She thought long and hard before speaking.
"Why me? Why am I so different? I don't understand why you give someone like me a prophecy like this," Blackpaw mewed. From the look on Whiteleopard's face, she knew the she-cat understood what she meant.
"Sweet one, you have been faced with many obstacles. There are many things that will be left unanswered and misunderstood, but you are blessed. So very, very blessed," Whiteleopard mewed.
"What do you mean?" Blackpaw almost whimpered. She just didn't understand!
She stared at Whiteleopard, silently pleading for an explanation. Thankfully, Whiteleopard obliged.
"The night you were born, all of SpiritClan gathered to watch. There had been moons of dry weather and the nursery lay silent, for your clan had been without kits. That night, we lost many warriors as they leaped across the sky. The Forgotten go to a sacred part of SpiritClan where they stay, their names never spoken to the living."
"The Forgotten?" Blackpaw asked, puzzled.
"The memories that lived within the clan left behind die, and when that happens the forgotten cat must go to a different part of SpiritClan. They no longer have to watch over the clan. They can spend rest of eternity at peace, feeling no burden of meeting a new SpiritClan member or revealing a prophecy. They may be at peace," Whiteleopard explained. Blackpaw gawked in awe, completely bewildered. "The night you were born, many of the Forgotten moved on. In one night, the dry weather ended, and kits were brought to the clans again. You and the brave one were gifted that night with a light unspoken of. Forever, you shall be the blessed ones, for when SpiritClan saw you, we knew you were good."
Blackpaw still didn't understand why she was the way she was. As if understanding, Whiteleopard continued.
"It does not matter what you lack, because, Blackpaw, you are more than anything you could think of," Whiteleopard mewed and bent down so they were eye level. "Blackpaw, you are good. You are bound by heart, soul, and sight to what means the most to you."
Ravenpaw means the most to me. Blackpaw thought and then tilted her head. "What do you meant that I'm bounded by sight?" She asked.
"I said one question. I have given you three. The rest you will answer in due time," Whiteleopard purred as she stood up. "I must go now, but remember, you are never alone." With that, the she-cat left with stars dancing on her fur.
-X-
Blackpaw jolted awake to see a pair of green eyes staring at her. Ravenpaw. She thought, but didn't speak. As if hearing her thoughts, the orbs disappeared, only to come back a heartbeat later. Ravenpaw had just blinked. Blackpaw sighed and laid her head on her nest. All was silent.