Dive into the Wild

By Atlantica Stitch

The Prophecy

Dirtfur stepped into a moonlit clearing. There were no trees, showing Silverpelt in its full glory. In the center was a small pool, about the 3 fox-lengths long. He walked up to it and looked in. He saw himself reflected there. The young tom saw every detail in the glassy water. His fur was brown with black patches, looking like clumps of dirt. Wait; there was no place like this in MistClan territory.

"We need you, Dirtfur." The voice made Dirtfur jump. Spinning around, he saw a cat standing on a flat rock. His fur was bright orange. He looked at Dirtfur with bright green eyes. With a jolt, Dirtfur realized that this must be Firestar, the legendary kittypet, and powerful leader of ThunderClan. He spoke, head bowed in respect.

"Firestar, why do you need me? Why aren't you speaking with Breezestar, or Foxfur?" he asked, referring to the leader and medicine cat, whom StarClan usually shared prophecies with.

Firestar shook his head. "We need you. I had these dreams when I was a warrior. StarClan once shared a prophecy with 3 warriors and an apprentice, to save them all." Dirtfur remembered the prophecy, shared with Brambleclaw, Tawneypelt, Feathertail and Crowfeather, to save the four Clans from destruction by Twolegs. He bowed his head.

"Very well, what is it I must know?" he asked.

Firestar nodded, and then padded down to stand next to him. He pointed his tail at the pool, which began to ripple, though there was no wind to disturb it. Dirtfur looked on, eyes wide as two cats appeared, reflected in the pool. One was pure brown with unusual sapphire eyes. The fur around his head was spiked out, like a mane, almost. Around his neck was a metal chain, with a crown-shaped pendant attached to it. Dirtfur recognized it as a Twoleg accessory, though he did not know its name. The second cat was silvery-white, with aquamarine eyes. Firestar nodded at the reflections. "These cats will save the valley from the darkness."

"But how can they help?" Dirtfur meowed, looking at the reflections curiously. Firestar said nothing, but the reflection rippled again. This time, it showed a hollow, with a large flat rock in the middle. Dirtfur recognized it. It was where the Clans met every full moon in peace. "Rock Hollow?" he meowed, looking sideways at the StarClan cat.

"This is a battlefield." Firestar meowed gravely. "In this battle, no blood will be spilled, nor any scars left on the flesh. But it will be the most horrible battle in the history of the Clans." He sighed. "Not even StarClan can stop this evil, for it has been here all along."

Dirtfur didn't understand. "What does that mean?" he asked, but Firestar had gone. Suddenly, he found himself in Rock Hollow, standing on the Flatrock. There were many shadows, but nothing to cast them. Suddenly, the shadows rose up, becoming little black monsters with round yellow eyes. Dirtfur gasped and tried to run, but 4 of the monsters leapt up. Three pinned him down, exposing his belly. The fourth reached out a black, shadowy paw, plunging it straight into his chest.

Dirtfur sat straight up, breathing hard. He looked around. No black monsters, just MistClan warriors. It was just a calm morning. The first fingers of light were crossing the sky, signaling the start of dawn. Dirtfur sighed, settling back down in his nest, but he couldn't forget how the black monsters had come out of nowhere, and the one that had grabbed his heart with icy cold claws…he shuddered. There was no use worrying about it now. He laid his head down and slowly slipped back into sleep.


Next Chapter: The Heroes Arrive