Pebblefoot's POV

Pebblefoot's paws worked at the ground nervously. How was he to solve this? Would it even make any sense to try? There was still an unknown attacker of Blazepetal, as well as full control from the Dark Forest looming over their heads. Pebblefoot went into a den, and fell asleep slowly on the soft moss.

He opened his eyes to see a sun-lit clearing.

Wait, aren't I supposed to be sleeping?

"Yes, you're sleeping. But you're dreaming, too." the mysteriously familiar voice said.

Pebblefoot whipped around, only to see Leopardstar.

"Leopardstar!" Pebblefoot exclaimed, seeing his former leader in her full glory.

"Okay, listen. This is going to be short. StarClan has a message for you, but I'm not the messenger. I'm just here to confirm that this is a message from StarClan, and that you can trust the messenger." Leopardstar meowed, before disappearing.

"What? Wait, Leopardstar?" Pebblefoot meowed, alarmed. He didn't even have time to process anything.

A familiar she-cat appeared in front of him. Mapleshade.

"M-Mapleshade." Pebblefoot meowed. Is this the messenger that StarClan has sent?

"Yep. I'm Mapleshade. Hello. So, I'll make this quick since it's not like you can sleep forever. I am now a StarClan member. Don't ask me how, it takes too long to explain. Maybe I'll do that when there isn't a threat of destruction for all four clans. Anyway, I'll go brief. We can be more detailed at a later time, because it's more important that you know the outline to our plans so that you don't get in the way of them, and also that you can help, rather than the exact elements at this time." Mapleshade said.

"How do you know you can trust me, and how are you here? How can I trust you?" Pebblefoot asked.

"StarClan still watches over the clans, though there has been a Dark Forest takeover. After all, it is our duty. We see you and Stoatfur discuss on how to save the clans, not destroy them. We also have interpretations based off of your actions. Also, as a StarClan warrior, I can walk in your dreams. Not that I couldn't do that in the Dark Forest, but yeah. And if you can trust me? You don't have another choice. StarClan asked me for help. Now is not time for questions. Basically, no cat is evil. You can argue with me later, not now. Their negative life experiences is what turns them bitter and sour. So we're going to try to resolve those deep rooted scars from negative life experiences in the Dark Forest warriors, which will hopefully wake them up to realize that they need to change. We're going to start with Tigerstar. By the way, I'm telling you this because I want you and Stoatfur to help guide Tigerstar, and befriend him." Mapleshade meowed.

"Befriend Tigerstar?" Pebblefoot exclaimed.

"Yes. I know it won't be easy, but we'll be giving you pointers on what Tigerstar likes and what he doesn't so you can act more to his liking. The reason you're befriending Tigerstar is to show him care that he never really felt he had from his father. But of course, don't mention his father to him. I'll let you go now." Mapleshade meowed, disappearing.

Pebblefoot was barely conscious of how the clearing he woke up in was disappearing before it all turned to black. Pebblefoot opened his eyes, blinking groggily.

A sign, from StarClan? Or not?

Pebblefoot sighed. Was that really from StarClan, or is it an attempt of the Dark Forest to test my loyalty and manipulate me? Why can't StarClan be more specific and just state who the messenger will be so that I know that I can trust whoever it is? Why do they have to exclude important details?

Pebblefoot felt unsure. Was he to trust Mapleshade? He would have to talk to Stoatfur about this.

Mapleshade's POV

"All done. Let's hope Pebblefoot is who you say he is." Mapleshade meowed.
"He is, and so is Stoatfur." Bluestar insisted.

"Oh no!" Spottedleaf exclaimed.

"What?" Both Mapleshade and Bluestar turned to look at Spottedleaf.

"We've neglected that Tigerstar's case with his evilness was predicted before he was born. Maybe he was supposed to be this way, and there's not a thing we can do to change it." Spottedleaf murmured.

"Pinestar was told to kill his kit, and he didn't do it. But Pinestar was too weak to act like an actual father and mate. Like, he literally went like "ok guys let's just eat and not worry about about my mate" during her kitting. But anyway, with prophecies, not all of them come true." Bluestar trailed off.

"Also, we don't know if Tigerstar's prophecy is finished anyway. And prophecies, though they are pre-written, it doesn't also mean that the future is predetermined. Such as the prophecy of the three. They were supposed to save the clans from the Dark Forest using their exceptional skills. And though Tigerstar's destiny was evil and destruction, it doesn't mean that he can't change. He's still obviously living out his destiny, even after death." Mapleshade meowed.

"Arguably, some destinies are predetermined. Such as Firestar becoming the future ThunderClan leader. Moth Flight saw a vision of that, and she was one of the first WindClan cats. As well as the inevitable relationships of all the cats to Firestar." Spottedleaf meowed.

"Moth Flight saw visions of Firestar way before practically anything? Hang on, tell me about this! It could really help to know information about the prophecies, how they work, and how they influence the future." Mapleshade meowed excitedly.

"Well, it was nothing much. Moth Flight just saw Firestar receiving his nine lives in a dream. This was when she was grieving for Micah." Bluestar said.

"Fully understanding how prophecies work is very confusing, not even us as StarClan ever had a full understanding of it. I believe Moth Flight has the fullest understanding of it, due to her long time with learning about interpreting it. However, I don't think that even she really knows where they come from, and who makes them." Spottedleaf added.

"But what's important is that Moth Flight saw the future, or did she just see an option of the future?" Mapleshade wondered aloud.

"I'm not sure of that. As you know, the prophecies were made moons before the clans were created, possibly even before they discovered the old forest. We don't know how far they date back to. But one thing that we do know, is that the result of the prophecies aren't sure." Bluestar meowed.

"But then, that also leaves an unanswered question if some destinies are meant to happen, and there isn't a way around those destinies. As a cat, you feel as if you have full control of your actions. But what if you don't, and a prophecy already has your life and death written out?" Spottedleaf asked.

"I can give you a classic example about Bluestar here." Mapleshade began.

Bluestar's eyes widened, beckoning Mapleshade to continue.

"I'm not sure if you remember this- you probably don't. But Goosefeather interpreted an omen about you, and told you. The exact words were 'Like fire, you will blaze through the forest... but beware- even the most powerful of flames can be destroyed by water.' I'm sure you understood the meaning after, about how you were the fire and Oakheart was the water. ThunderClan and you would have been destroyed, according to the prophecy. But you avoided it by giving your kits away to Oakheart. The prophecy didn't become true because of the sacrifice made. So I'm saying, if there is anything to Tigerstar's destiny, it doesn't necessarily mean it will come true. As for Moth Flight's vision, it was probably a possibility of an outcome in Firestar's life if we follow the logic." Mapleshade meowed.

"Oh... Tigerstar was supposed to have died along with his littermates. Goosefeather was telling StarClan.. So far, Tigerstar has been defying destiny. He was meant to die and not bring destruction to the clans." Bluestar meowed, realizing how the pieces of the puzzle were fitting together.

"But what I'm saying, is that there are likely different prophecies given depending on what the outcome of a situation was. If Tigerstar had died as a kit, a sign would have never been sent about Firestar so that you would let him join the clan. Therefore, Firestar wouldn't have joined ThunderClan. Or, a different sign and prophecy about Firestar would be sent, because Firestar would have to be the fourth cat in the power of three prophecy.." Mapleshade said.

"So, conclusion, future is not predetermined. And we can change whatever this is." Bluestar summarized.

"Essentially." Mapleshade meowed. How does it take them so long to understand something I've been telling them from the beginning? StarClan is even more featherbrained than I originally thought.

"I guess we now have to get Pinestar on board with this whole situation.." Spottedleaf trailed off in her statement.

All three cats collectively sighed, knowing the hard road ahead.

Pebblefoot's POV

"How do we know that Mapleshade is the messenger StarClan sent?" Pebblefoot asked Stoatfur. Pebblefoot had just finished sharing his dream with Stoatfur.

"We don't, but you said it yourself. She seemed genuine. Plus, Leopardstar came to you and told you specifically to trust the messenger, and StarClan probably did that because you would know and trust Leopardstar, and they knew that you wouldn't trust Mapleshade right off of the bat." Stoatfur meowed.

"Yeah, but wasn't Mapleshade part of the Dark Forest?" Pebblefoot questioned.

"Mapleshade did plead for StarClan's forgiveness right before her death, maybe that meant something too." Stoatfur suggested.

"I guess." Pebblefoot said.

"I say that we should trust her. It seems to add up, after all." Stoatfur meowed.

"Okay." Pebblefoot dipped his head in agreement, but his doubts remained swarming in his head.

"So Mapleshade said she'll give you advise on befriending Tigerstar?" Stoatfur looked around, as if expecting the massive tabby cat to appear upon his name being spoken.

"Yep. However, all we know for now is that Tigerstar doesn't like his father, Pinestar. Therefore, we should avoid the topic and agree with Tigerstar as much as possible." Pebblefoot meowed.

"This probably includes acting more evil and sinister, such like a Dark Forest warrior." Stoatfur shuddered.

"We have to save the clans, no matter what cost." Pebblefoot vowed.

Mapleshade's POV

"You're telling me that I have to attempt reconciliation with Tigerstar?" Pinestar meowed, seemingly extremely confused.

"It's the least you could do to fix your mistake. Remember, Tigerstar was never supposed to have lived." Bluestar meowed ominously.

Pinestar shook his head. "Tigerstar will never listen to me."

"You were a crap father, never going to visit your kit and then deserting him for the Twolegplace. Your kit destroyed the clans. Take responsibility." Mapleshade growled. Even in afterlife, Pinestar's still a coward. Unable to own up to his own mistakes & fix them.

"It's the only way. We need you to fix this with us." Spottedleaf meowed, stepping forward.

"The clans will die. Again, it rests on your shoulders, the destiny of the clans. Last time, you ran away and let the clans be destroyed. Are you going to run away again, and have the clans destroyed for good?" Mapleshade growled, circling Pinestar.

"What am I to say to him anyway?" Pinestar cried.

"Take credit for what you've done, apologize for it." Mapleshade meowed, flicking her tail.

"Okay, okay. I will. Just send me to him." Pinestar muttered.

"As you wish." Mapleshade narrowed her eyes.

Hello! I just want to help you understand what's written in this chapter. When Mapleshade, Spottedleaf, & Bluestar are figuring out omens/prophecies, they realize that prophecies are written as a warning or as guidance. The prophecy is the ultimate destiny that is supposed to be fulfilled, but sometimes things don't go to plan. When things don't go how they're supposed to go, there is another prophecy sent as an alternate destiny. I don't know if this explanation helped, but I hope it did.

I feel like I should also explain why this chapter is called horizon, it's because the horizon is where the sky appears to meet the land, as is happening in this chapter. StarClan (which are stars in the sky also) are communicating with the cats alive on the land.

Reviews & PMs are always welcome!

~Waterfall