AN: Warrior Cats are owned by Erin Hunter. I made up CrystalClan and FlareClan and its members. I really hope you like it, but even if you don't, please review!

The Mysterious Melody

Chapter Two: What Is That Song?

Dreams. They come so often now. Songpaw was dreaming. Breath pounded in her lungs as she blazed through the forest. She chased the mouse. Yes, it was the same mouse! She knew it was. It was clever, fast, and kept teasing her. It tried to lose her behind a tree: no use. Songpaw had its scent now. She wouldn't lose it this time. Through a stream, under the bracken, in the marshes. Suddenly, it broke cover, and she pounced. One huge lunge, aaaaaand – yes! Her claws dug into the little rodent. Songpaw thought she'd feel victory, but she didn't. Instead, she felt pain! At that same moment her claws dug into mouseflesh, she felt claws stab into her flesh! She yelped in pain. Songpaw lost her grip on the mouse. She tried to roll and throw her attacker, hoping the claws would let go. They didn't. They dug even deeper.

The whatever-it-was flipped her over and pinned her.

"Wh-Who are you?" Songpaw quivered.

In the dark, a shadow smiled. Hundreds of long, pointy teeth showed. It laughed. Not a deep laugh; a high-pitched, maniacal laugh. "HmmmmahhahAHAHAHA!" Like that.

It bent and whispered into her ear. Songpaw pinched her eyes shut and tried to wiggle away, but the shadow wouldn't let her leave. At first it sounded like gibberish, the shadow, harsh and unfocused. But then the shadow started to form words, clear and precise. It started singing.

"You should be afraid. You'll die when you lay.

Time's not on your side; you can run, but never hide.

Peace is a lie, there's no sun in your sky.

Morning or night, you can't escape our bite.

It's time to submit. Don't fight. Just quit.

You have no hope; it's much too late.

You think you're the hunter, but you're the bait."

Songpaw was still trying to understand all of that, when the Thing lunged down and bit her ear, hard! "OW!" she cried.

It chuckled. "Don't worry, the pain will go away. In a year, in a day. Oh, wait! I forgot! The pain's all you've got!" It bit her again. "Now, wake up! And fear. The end is near." It slashed at her back, and the dream ended.

Songpaw awoke, gasping. Then she felt sharp pains, in her back and ear.

"Ugg," she started.

"Wow! You tossed and turned all night!" Scarletpaw was right next to her, staring down with big eyes. "First you were like this, and then you were like this, and then this other time, you rolled and rolled and rolled …" Scarletpaw went on like normal, acting out Songpaw's sleeping habits with much energy and enthusiasm. "What were you dreaming about?" Scarletpaw panted in between rolls.

Songpaw stretched. "Dream? Was I dreaming? I really don't remember … I'm sure it was important anyway."

"Leafpaw! Keep your tail tucked in, or she can grab it! Mousebrain!" Snowfur shouted.

Leafpaw and Songpaw circled one another. The training pitch was a wide, open plain covered in nettles. Some stung, some didn't. You never knew. Snowfur thought training here kept the apprentices on their paw-pads. He stood proudly at the side, while Souldawn prowled nearby, judging their contest. "Songpaw! Keep it up! You'll beat her in no time!" Snowfur encouraged.

Songpaw lunged at Leafpaw, a full tackle. Leafpaw was too quick for her. Not only did she manage to dodge the tackle, she also battered Songpaw with her paws a couple times, tripped her and pinned her. Leafpaw was the quick one, but Songpaw was the strong one. She used all of her strength to thrust Leafpaw upward. As Leafpaw hit the ground, the wind was knocked out of her. "Oomph!"

"Now! Press the attack!" Snowfur shouted.

Leafpaw scrambled to the side, trying to regain her balance. She accidentally stepped in some stinging nettle and jumped the other way. She scowled down at her paws. Seeing an opportunity, Songpaw darted in and grabbed Leafpaw's scruff. Shoving her face into the ground, Songpaw pressed her full weight on the other cat.

"Match over! The winner is Songpaw. Great job, you two!" Souldawn praised.

Snowfur snorted, pacing into the practice plain. "Only Songpaw deserves praise! She won!" He directed his gaze at Leafpaw. "And you! You're not going to the Clan Meeting tonight."

Songpaw felt her fangs dig into her flesh. Her fur rose as she screamed, "HEY!" and stomped up to Snowfur. "Leafpaw is a great fighter! She's quick, and smart, and tougher than you think. She's a fantastic hunter, and the best friend I have. Of all the apprentices you train, she's learning faster than any of them. So could you quit being a pile of fox dung with a burr stuck in your fur!? Sheesh, for StarClan's sake!"

Souldawn stepped quickly in between the apprentice and her mentor. Her fur was flat, her eyes wide, but her gaze steady. All the she-cat could manage was, "Songpaw. Camp. Now."

"I was going there anyway!" Songpaw retorted, stomping off. Souldawn ran after her.

Meanwhile, Snowfur had turned to Leafpaw. He brought his muzzle close to hers, and said, "Go to the Frogfur Bog. Now." He must have recovered from his earlier attitude, because he said this much more quietly.

The quiet tone freaked Leafpaw out even more than his yelling did. She bolted for Frogfur.

From the tall grass, an eerie voice crackled, "Snowfur."

The large, white tom froze. Sniffing the air, he located the voice, and bowed at the shadow crouched in the tall grass. "Master," he said formally.

"Your efforts are greatly appreciated. A she-cat such as this will be a great asset to our cause. Keep up your vigil, my pet. You shall be rewarded."

Snowfur's muzzle was almost in the dirt. "I am always happy to serve."

"Now if only my brothers get their jobs done as faithfully, all shall be well."

"Of course," Snowfur responded. There was a moment where there was nothing but the wind, and then he spoke again. "Master, forgive me. I have one question."

"Speak."

"The song. I don't understand. What was that song? Why did he sing?"

The shadow regarded Snowfur with wide, unblinking eyes. Without a word, it turned and disappeared.

Further on, Souldawn caught up with Songpaw. She stepped solidly into the other cat's path. "Songpaw!" Songpaw skidded to a stop. "I appreciate your courage, but understand this: you NEVER take that tone with a warrior. Is that clear?"

"Yemesmesmsm..." Songpaw mumbled.

"Excuse me?"

Songpaw sighed. "Yes, Souldawn."

"All right. Now, back to camp with you. Get ready for tonight's Meeting."

Much, much further on, Leafpaw finally reached the Frogfur Bog. Every step she took felt icky, and made squishy sounds. Crickets screamed in the night. The damp grasses seemed impossibly tall. There was no moon that night. Leafpaw slunk low to the ground, making herself as small as possible. Where was her mentor? "Snowfur?" she called quietly.

A puddle splashed nearby. She bolted, diving into some wet moss and staring at the puddle, eyes wide. "Snowfur? Is … is that you?" she whispered.

Something sounded behind her, and she turned. "Snowfur?"

But then the night closed in on her, and everything went black.

AN: Duh-Duhn-DUHNNNNN! It's a cliffhanger! See you next time!

Editor's Note: I type ScarletTheCat14's stories for her, and it's been noted that I mistakenly said "Leafgreen" in Chapter One, instead of the correct title, "Greenleaf." I apologize. That was my mistake, not the author's.