Snakefang felt the flesh beneath his eyes begin to sag. He was exhausted. As traditions demanded, new warriors had to sit silent vigil through the night of their warrior ceremony. Snakefang's golden fur was fluffed out against the icy breeze. He hadn't spoken since the last evening when Brambleclaw had arrived with the evening patrol and he had to ask them to state their business at that late hour. Snakefang nearly closed his blue eyes- nearly. He glanced over at Heathernose. His sister was sitting on the other side of the entrance, her eyes completely glazed over and bloodshot. Snakefang snorted. Falling asleep on duty. I'm disappointed in you Heathernose. What if WindClan had decided to invade? I couldn't take on a whole patrol by myself. Snakefang looked back ahead and then up at the sky. In the distance, he could see the sun just about breaking over the mountain tops, his vigil would soon be over. Hollyclaw and Ashflame sat nearby outside the nursery, they looked awake at least. Snakefang spotted Firestar slinking out of his den. The ginger leader moved to the top of the Highledge and stretched dramatically. Snakefang felt a little well of envy begin to bubble up. Firestar spotted them and Snakefang saw a gleam of happiness in his eyes. He skillfully bounded down to the ground and padded over to them.
"The sun is rising," He mewed, "You may talk."
Snakefang heard a gasp from Ashflame as if he hadn't breathed for a moon. Hollyclaw's whiskers twitched in amusement. Snakefang yawned the biggest yawn he had ever done.
"You may rest if you wish," He offered, "But I'm sure Brambleclaw will take you on a patrol if you want."
Snakefang shook his head quickly. Firestar's whiskers twitched in amusement.
"Thank you Firestar," Heathernose croaked, her voice sounding dry as if she hadn't used it for several days. Snakefang drifted to the warriors den. He stuck his head inside. He watched the rise and fall of the sleeping warriors. He tried to pick out the gray and golden pelts of Lionblaze and Dovewing. Spotting Dovewing about a fox-length away, he carefully stepped around his clan mates. Snakefang saw an empty next to Dovewing which he assumed was for him. He lay down, his pelt just about brushing hers. It wasn't long before Snakefang fell into a dreamless sleep.
Snakefang was awoken at sunhigh when Hazeltail's thick tail brushed past his nose. He raised his head sleepily and picked up an atmosphere of confusion and tension. Hazeltail looked back at him, her blue eyes filled with guilt.
"Oh I'm sorry," She mewed sympathetically but seemed to be in a rush, "Did I wake you?"
She didn't stick around for an answer. She bounded into the clearing as quickly as she could. Snakefang shook his head to wake himself up properly. He rose to his paws and stretched. Snakefang looked around; he was the only one in the den. He licked his lips a few times before following Hazeltail into the clearing.
ThunderClan was gathered in the center of camp. Anxious mutters and murmurs filled Snakefang's ears as he silently walked up to them. No one acknowledged his presence. He picked out the ginger pelt of Firestar. It must be serious if Firestar himself has come to investigate, Snakefang thought. He pushed his way to a viewing point. Lying sprawled out in the middle of the clearing was…
"Dovewing!" Ivypool screeched. The gray and white warrior buried her muzzle in her sister's fur, letting out wails of grief. Whitewing cried silently into Birchfall's shoulder, he licked her sadly.
"Out of my way!" Jayfeather hissed as he pushed through the crowd. Snakefang let out a small sigh of relief, his heart twisting agonizingly at the prospect of losing Dovewing. Ivypool reluctantly tore herself away from Dovewing as Jayfeather stood over her un-moving sister. He turned to Ivypool.
"What happened?" He snapped. Ivypool let a tear slide down her face.
"W…we were w…walking," She started, her voice shaking, "T..then she started coughing and wheezing and then crumpled to the ground and…and started going all shaking and then she just completely lost consciousness."
Jayfeather nodded. He didn't thank her. He expertly laid his paws on her chest and forehead, muttering under his breath.
"She's very much alive," Jayfeather concluded, "But-"
He was cut off by a horrible screeching sound coming from Dovewing. Her eyes snapped open and instead of their normal blue, they were a dark green.
"The time has come," She wheezed with a voice that was not her own, she was staring directly at Sakefang, "For the one, to make or break the clans, to decide their fate, beware the golden snake!"
Her speech was cut off by a horrendous coughing fit. Her black eyes turned blue once more and a tiny wisp of blue fog floated out of her mouth and into the sky. She closed her eyes again and fell unconscious once more. Everyone turned to look at Jayfeather, eager to see his verdict on the situation. Even he, looked terribly confused.
"Ivypool," he mewed softly, "Help me carry Dovewing to my den, she's not dead, only exhausted."
Ivypool nodded solemnly. She gently put her teeth in Dovewing's scruff and helped Jayfeather haul her into the medicine cat den. Firestar and Brambleclaw followed. The gathering quickly disbanded. Snakefang mulled the words of the prophecy in his head. The time has come for the one to make or break the clans to decide their fate. Beware the golden snake. Snakefang looked at his fur, it was golden, just like normal. He felt a lump form in his throat as he examined his name. Snakefang. Snake. Golden snake. It can't be me, Snakefang thought, I'm barely a warrior, how could I make or break the clans?
Snakefang decided he needed a drink to clear his mind. He padded out the thorn barrier exit and wandered down to the lake. When he arrived, Snakefang leaned over the water and was about to bend down to take a drink when he noticed his reflection. Staring back at him was a magnificent golden cat looking remarkably like himself but older and much, much stronger. The cat had a flowing mane of thicker, darker fur around his neck and a white star on the middle of his forehead. But the cat had the same innocence in his blue eyes that Hollyclaw had always teased him about. But in this cat, behind the innocence was…strength and wisdom. This couldn't possibly be a mirror image of Snakefang could it? Settling on the fact it was a trick of the light, Snakefang took several cooling laps of water. He was about to withdrawer when he had had enough but suddenly noticed the sun wasn't normal either. Behind the golden cat, the sun was black as night.
"I'm going mad," Snakefang murmured. He turned around and trotted back to camp, pushing his visions to the back of his mind.