MORE PLOT DEVELOPMENT! Gosh, I'm actually getting into this story. These characters are really fun to write. So enjoy the chapter!

THE DREAM
CLAY

I opened my eyes. Funny how in dreams, that can happen. I knew it was a dream. I was fully conscious, yet I had fallen asleep just minutes ago. I was not in a forest. I was on an island (not quite the Gathering Island) covered in sand and enough rocks to provide entertainment for kits and apprentices for days. There was a cat resting on top of one rock, her eyes distantly watching the water around the island. There was no other land in sight besides a mountainous shoreline miles away.

"The darkness is set to consume the clan… only those with enough power in their hearts can stop it…" mumbled the cat. I lept on rocks, climbing over to see who it was. It was Fallowsnout, her eyes filled with fear. She had no clue that I was there. Suddenly, she snapped out of it. "Claysight?"

"Fallowsnout? You… recognize me?" I was confused- Fallowsnout was mad. She never addressed anyone by their full name.

"Of course I do," she shook her head, "but… what are you doing in my dream?"

"Your dream?"

"Yes, you are walking in my dream. Unless I'm dreaming of you," Fallowsnout proposed. I grimaced, "which I absolutely would never do."

"Well, that's certainly good," I rolled my eyes. "But how am I… here?"

"I suppose StarClan wished you here. Unless, unless you weren't called… maybe this is of your own doing," Fallowsnout began to trail off, her brain obviously working.

"Why would I want to speak with you?" I mused, before adding, "no offense, of course, but you're mad."

"Indeed, in the world where cats walk, but in dreams, I am just as intelligent as I was once, before the accident," Fallowsnout took a deep breath, "now I suppose you're wondering what this accident is, aren't you?" I nodded. "Well, then, sit tight, because it's quite the long story." I nodded, before taking a seat.

"Not long after you were born, me and my apprentice, who is now known as Eagleleaf, although recent circumstances…" she trailed off, before shaking her head, "Eagleleaf and I were off searching for herbs, when we were attacked by a group of cats with… abilities. Eagleleaf ran off to get help, leaving me to deal with them. The cats pinned me, and did something using their magic. I have absolutely no clue what they did, but it made my walking self go mad. I suppose it isn't as entertaining as it was suggested to be, but it is the most scary moment in my life."

I took a deep breath, "and now you've… you've become…"

"Yes, insane, as you might say. But, I'm not… not really. My mind is intact, but I'm not allowed to speak of anything 'intelligent,'" explained Fallowsnout, rising to her paws. "Now that that mystery is solved, I suppose we should move onto the bigger question- how are you here?"

"I don't really know."

"Well, yes, you wouldn't know, obviously that makes sense. You see, if StarClan wished you here, all we would be able to do is simply engage in conversation, but if you are here on your own accord- in this case, with dream 'walking' abilities, you might be able to, figuratively, control your surroundings, summon things, frankly anything is possible," Fallowsnout jumped from rock to rock as she talked, "so go ahead, imagine anything. Make the waves do as you like. But try not to harm me in any way. Because if you get killed in a dream, you get killed in reality."

I squeezed my eyes shut. I had an idea of what I wanted to do.

"Can I trust you, Fallowsnout?"

"It isn't like I can tell anyone."

"True."

So I painted Cinderdapple in the sand, using leaves, rocks, whatever was on hand. I added the sparkles in her eyes with seashells. The thought of her face made the objects move as they pleased. Because I loved her, and I was their boss. By the time it was finished, it looked almost exactly like her. A masterpiece, I grinned.

"You and Cinderdapple, then," concluded Fallowsnout. She gave a pleasant smile. "The troubled dreamer and the tortured fighter. I can see it." Fallowsnout laid down, before looking up at me. "I'm getting ready to awaken, I suggest that you lay down and join me. Its nearly sunrise."

I nodded, before curling up nearby the medicine cat. It turns out some cats aren't as insane as they may seem.

"Claysight, you better wake up! Oh, come on…" I opened my eyes to the sight of Cinderdapple leaning over me, her face distressed, "There! See, I knew I could wake him up!" she was yowling to someone in the distance- I didn't feel like seeing who. "Right. WindClan's in camp, and you need to get up."

WindClan? Gosh, could this morning be any more confusing?