I padded over to the apprentices' den and to my nest. Tawnypaw and Bramblepaw were cuddled together in my nest and I rolled my eyes before cuddling beside them. Did they have to pick my nest? I closed my eyes and let out a deep breath.
I woke up to a sunny luscious forest. I looked around and yawned. Where am I? I looked around and saw a calm river. The vision transformed to a stormy night and the river splashed around wildly. Then the vision vanished and I widened my eyes. I'm back in Leopardclan's territory! I looked at the path Silver Frost took me on. I jumped to my paws and ran down the path. Then a tunnel appeared. I crept through and breathed in the musty scents. "Storm Dream! Storm Dream!" an excited squeal sounded. I looked around then saw two cubs running over to me. As they got closer, I realized I looked down on them instead of up. Aren't cubs the size of cats? "Storm Dream!" the bigger cub, a silver leopard, exclaimed. I narrowed my eyes. Are they talking to me?
"I'm not Storm Dream." I said. The smaller one, a fluffy golden leopard, rolled her eyes and scoffed.
"Quit fooling around, Storm Dream! You're supposed to take us out hunting, remember?" she giggled. I realized she looked a lot like Ocean Breeze. The bigger one looked just like Silver Frost. Are these cubs a younger version of Ocean Breeze and Silver Frost?
"Come on! Feather Moon and Light Eyes are waiting!" Silver Frost said. Then they scampered away and I followed them more slowly. Feather Moon and Light Eyes? Storm Dream? What is going on?
"There you are." a murmur sounded. I looked up to see a gray leopard with gleaming silver eyes. His teeth flashed in a heart warming smile. I faked a smile and padded to him.
"Here I am!" I chuckled nervously. Who are you? A laugh sounded near us. I looked over to see a light golden leopard with violet eyes. Her fur was fluffy and she was tiny.
"Stop flirting with leopards you know you can't have, Thunder Light." she chuckled. Ocean Breeze and Silver Frost giggled beside her. Thunder Light rolled his eyes then turned to me. Then he plucked a flower from the ground and tucked it behind my ear.
"Until next time." he murmured. Then he padded off to a patrol heading out. The small leopard rolled her eyes and beckoned me to come over.
"We're still waiting for Light Eyes. That lazy tom." she said. I nodded and sat down in thought. So this must be Feather Moon. Then a hazel leopard stumbled out of a ruffled nest. I rolled my eyes with a snort. And I'm guessing that's Light Eyes. Feather Moon chuckled. "It's about time, Light Eyes! We were waiting here forever!" she exclaimed. Then she led the way out into the forest. I looked around for a puddle. A sparkling glint caught my eye and I found what I was looking for. I skidded to a halt by the puddle and peered at my reflection. I gasped at what I saw. My long fur was shortened into a tan color and my spots were black with bluish gray insides. I had a white underbelly and my eyes were a beautiful hazel color. I looked at myself in awe. What happened to me?
"Yes Storm Dream, you are a beautiful leopard." Light Eyes chuckled. I looked at him. "Now can we please go hunt now?" I padded to them in embarrassment. Ok. Deep breaths. These leopards obviously got the wrong cat. But for now I just gotta play along. Then realization came to me. This is a dream! It's the dream Talon Fang was talking about! So that must mean Killing Storm is in it. I looked around with narrowed eyes and pricked ears. Then I felt breathing against my ear. "You got your beauty from your mother. And your skills from me." Light Eyes murmured. I flashed a smile. So he's my father! Then who's my mother? Maybe she's dead. I let out a sad sigh.
"I wish she was here with us." I murmured, keeping my eye on him to see his reaction. Light Eyes raised an eyebrow.
"Rising Star? She's in camp." he said in confusion. I scoffed and laughed in embarrassment.
"I meant here with us on patrol." I chuckled. Light Eyes looked at me with understanding.
"Oh! Well she's expecting your new siblings, remember?" he chuckled. I smiled. Storm Dream must be excited.
"Yeah. They're going to be beautiful." I murmured. Light Eyes purred and and padded to the front. I sighed in relief. That went well. Then I felt a sudden weight on me. I yowled in surprise and swirled around to face my attacker. Ocean Breeze and Silver Frost were tackling each other on the ground in a play fight. I rolled my eyes and snorted. "We're supposed to be hunting, you two. You're scaring off all the prey." I chuckled. Ocean Breeze rolled her eyes and pawed Silver Frost away. I giggled and followed Feather Moon and Light Eyes into the trees.
"Stop." Feather Moon ordered, lifting her tail into the air. I froze and smelt the air. Strange cat smells filled my nose. "Do you smell that? Lionclan crossed the border!" Feather Moon exclaimed. Then four lions jumped out. I crept to my patrol with bristling fur along with the others. "What are you doing on our side of the border?" Feather Moon snarled. I looked at the lions one by one. Then a familiar face was among them. Running Breeze! Did she meet Flying Eagle yet? Then an idea came to me. I can stop Flying Eagle from killing her! Then they'll both be happy!
"You're on our side of the border." one of the lions growled. Light Eyes gaped at him.
"Our scent markers are right here!" he exclaimed. A bulk looking black lion padded up to me and I growled at him.
"Back off!" I snapped. The lion looked down at me with a sneering smirk.
"Look at you. All small and bold." he chuckled. I shoved my snout into his face.
"You got five seconds to back off or my small and bold self will claw both your eyes out!" I snarled. The lion rolled his eyes and flashed his claws in my face. Light Eyes placed my tail on my shoulder.
"Leave her alone, Frost Claws." he growled. Frost Claws scoffed and backed away.
"Fine. But stay out of our territory or next time I won't be so nice." he snarled. Then he lead the patrol back to their territory. I growled and swished my tail in anger.
"That flea-bag!" I snapped. Feather Moon scoffed.
"Let's go hunting before I chase after them with unsheathed claws." she muttered. We went deeper into our territory and separated. I sniffed the air and smelt a weird scent. I followed the smell to a deer. I licked my lips and kept low to the ground. The deer's ears pricked and it ran away. I gaped at it. I didn't even do anything! I gave chase and saw it running over a stream. I jumped over the water and tackled the deer down.
"Gotcha!" I chuckled. I gave it a nip to it's neck and it went limp.
"Nice catch." a voice purred. I looked up to see Thunder Light. I rolled my eyes and and grabbed the deer into my jaws. "I see you still have my gift." Thunder Light smirked. I looked at my ear to see the flower he gave me. I flicked it off and walked back through the stream. I began to lift the deer onto my back so it wouldn't get wet but Thunder Light already did that. He gave me a flirty smile and raised his eyebrow. I scoffed and rolled my eyes. Then I padded through the water. "You look beautiful in the sun." Thunder Light mewed. I looked at him in annoyance.
"Charming." I muttered. Thunder Light puffed his chest out with a smile.
"I get that a lot." he sighed. I rolled my eyes. "The she-leopards just can't resist. The trail of broken hearts says it all."
"Oh so you're a heartbreaker." I said. Thunder Light flattened his ears and looked around.
"W-well-" I shoved my snout into his face.
"So what makes you think you can just hop from she-leopard to she-leopard and then think I'll settle for you? Haven't you ever thought that I'm smart enough to not get my heart broken by a tom like you?" I snapped. Thunder Light looked at the ground in shame. "Maybe if you unfreeze that block of ice in your chest, I'll consider looking in your direction." I shoved him away and took my deer out of the stream and onto the other side. Thunder Light followed me.
"Wow." he breathed. Then a tear fell down his cheek and I rolled my eyes. "No one has ever cared as much as you! You might be the one!" he cried in joy. I groaned and glared at him. Can't this tom take a hint?! I padded to my patrol with Thunder Light trailing after me. Light Eyes chuckled at the annoyed look on my face.
"Look at the two love birds!" Ocean Breeze chuckled. Then she leaned on Silver Frost. "Oh great and mighty Thunder Light! How I love you so!" she sighed. Silver Frost puffed out her chest and strutted around.
"Why thank you, fair Storm Dream. You are my beautiful flower that I will cherish forever." she said in a deep voice. Then they pranced around like happy kits. Light Eyes chuckled while Feather Moon burst out laughing. I growled while Thunder Light smiled in pride.
"See? Even the cubs think that we should be together!" he purred. Then he leaned into me. "My dazzling flower." I shoved him off with a growl.
"This flower won't be so dazzling when I slice your ears off!" I snapped. Thunder Light licked my muzzle. I gasped and gaped at what just happen.
"Ewww!" Ocean Breeze and Silver Frost exclaimed, covering their eyes.
"My face… is ruined." I groaned, as Thunder Light nuzzled my cheek. Feather Moon laughed and stepped between us.
"Break up the love show! We have cubs here." she chuckled. I rolled my eyes and wiped my face with my paw. "Now let's go back to camp." I grabbed my deer and followed them to the tunnel. Thunder Light pressed himself against me and nuzzled my ear. I growled and tried to ignore him. Just wait 'til he falls asleep… We walked into the camp and placed our prey on the fresh-kill pile. I looked around for any familiar faces. A cub bounced around with his siblings. He looks just like Talon Fang! I shook my head. Get it together, Leopardpaw! I can't just ask him about this dream! He's a cub right now so he won't help. I sighed and settled down beside Light Eyes who was sharing tongues with a pretty hazel leopard. That must be Rising Star. I looked at her plump belly and walked over to them. Rising Star looked up at me.
"I heard you and Thunder Light are in love." she chuckled. I growled.
"He's in love. Me, not so much." I chuckled. Then I lifted my snout into the air and held my paw to my chest. "Who can blame him? I am quite lovely." I smirked. Light Eyes rolled his eyes.
"She was admiring her reflection when we went out." he chuckled. Rising Star rolled her eyes.
"You truly are Light Eyes' daughter." she joked. Light Eyes nudged her with a purr. I smiled and looked around. Everyone were sharing tongues and eating prey like a loving clan. What Killing Storm did has changed everything. Well now that I'm here he won't get away with it.