The orange glow of sunset streamed behind the ominous figures of the broad mountains far off in the distance. Through the trees, the pale light shimmered against the leaves. It was the only source of beauty among the seemingly colorless world; Sootpaw knowing this by fact after comparing it multiple times to his dreamscape.

Having been run ragged throughout the hours, Sootpaw's thick pelt was now host to clumps of moss, nettles, a few short twigs, plenty of sand and dust as well. His amber gaze had dulled with fatigue, the need for sleep much wanted. His large paws caused him to stumble several times on the way through the bramble entrance, nearly bumping into Lionpaw more than once as they slipped past the stiff ferns into the apprentice den. The golden tom dove for his nest, curling up in a tight sphere without a word in edgewise. Sootpaw remained on his paws for a few moments longer, gaze lingering around the cramped dirt walls. Lionpaw and himself were the only apprentices as of now, Sunmask's litter only three moons old.

Allowing an over exhausted yawn, sharp ivories bared, the fluffy apprentice shuffled into his distorted nest of ragged moss. Dark brown paws draped over the edge, his misty optics clamped shut, the thoughts of the dreamscape clouding his head. Within mere minutes, the apprentice was happily snoring, ready to face the adventures of his imaginative mind.

The soft rumble of water cascaded into his small ears, nothing but a low murmur until the host had decided to finally acknowledge the dreamscape and pull away from the lingering of reality. With a sneeze, the fuzzy head jerked upright from its paws, the gurgle of the nearby water source much easily heard now that all senses were ready and alert.

Bright-eyed Sootpaw shook his crown from side to side to gather his surroundings. Just as he thought, he was once again in a new area. He had awoken in a bed of reeds, somehow finding it more comfortable than the torn moss he was used to sleeping in. Only a tail length or two from where he lay, a lazy river cut through the soft grass, seemingly going on forever in both directions. The clearness of the stream caught his attention, a bright flash of orange coming into view from his peripheral vision. As his position shifted to an upright stand, Sootpaw moved closer to inspect the dazzling color, somehow not surprised to find it was only a fish. The fish in itself was certainly eye-catching, the sharpness of the orange slicing through the clear surface of the water. However, it made itself easy prey...

Crouching daintily beside the rippling brook, Sootpaw eyed the underwater creature with intensity, the clear predatory glint evident in his gaze. As he raised a large brown paw, the thought to keep his shadow hidden coming natural, the unsuspecting fish swam closer, the current keeping it at bay while Sootpaw planned his attack. His paw connected with the liquid, breaking through the surface with a swift motion. His soaked appendage struck slime, claws unsheathing subconsciously as he jerked it back, pulling the slippery creature with it. The orange fish flipped elegantly in the air, water droplets soaring. Mouth agape, head tilted back, Sootpaw awaited the satisfaction of the flighty water dweller sliding down his throat and into his stomach where it would remain until otherwise released.

Sootpaw felt the slime against his throat, the brightly colored host making a successful journey from the stream to his stomach. With a content gulp, he quickened the travelling time, smacking his jaws and cleaning his teeth.

"Nice catch."

His head jerked down, eyes wide with an expression that reflected startlement. The hairs along his spine bristled, claws sliding out in a heartbeat. As the registered the voice- soft and rich- his blurry gaze fell upon the sleek silver tabby currently lowered by the water's edge, feathery tail languidly twitching against the green blades of dew laced grass.

"It's you again," he relaxed with a sigh of relief, fur flattening and claws retracting to deliver a calm demeanor.

"Tis I," the she-cat nodded. Her bright green optics lay fixated on the water a mere whisker length from her dainty white paws. "You have the instinct of a hunter. You do very well."

Sootpaw glowed with pride, chest puffed out. "I do, don't I? It wasn't that hard, just a measly fish." It wasn't until he spoke those words did he realize the situation. He hadn't just caught a fish- he caught a fish using a RiverClan technique. Eyes narrowing in confusion, he thought back to another time wherein he had spawned among the heather, born and ready with the abilities to catch a fleeing hare without a shred of practice. Originally, he had thought nothing of it at the time, never giving the idea a second glance. Now that he had perfectly executed a RiverClan ability, it brought only confusion to his mind.

"You look cute when in thought," the silver tabby purred, an amused glint in her vivid orbs. Sootpaw's head snapped to meet her gaze, ear tips growing warm.

He cleared his throat. "Didn't you say I would learn your name?"

"I said perhaps," the mischievous twinkle was back in her eyes. Her whiskers twitched as she rose from the crouch, taking a step into the rippling waves. To Sootpaw's amazement, once her paw broke through the surface, the waves shifted to a standstill. Her other three feet joined in the slate expanse of clear liquid.

"How...?" Sootpaw let the question hang, amber eyes still widened. The tabby gave a catty wink before dunking her head under, somehow with grace, and her body followed. With a flick of water from her feathered tail, the water returned to a rapid pace, the silver tabby vanishing. Sootpaw felt a flicker of annoyance. How had she eluded him again? She was literally two tail lengths away! He shook his shaggy head with a sigh, figuring she would reveal her name soon enough. Still, anticipation prickled in his big paws, even making standing uneasy.

Somewhat stressed, Sootpaw plopped himself by the reeds to calculate his thoughts. Bright golden rays descended from the sea of pale blue, white patches scattered among it. A shrill cry from a bird went unnoticed by the brown furred apprentice as he composed what he would do next in the dreamworld.

"This is my dream, isn't it?" he spoke to himself aloud, head tilted as he answered his own rhetorical question. "So therefore I should control the events that are happening." A frown passed his muzzle. "But I haven't been in control. That she-cat still comes and goes, refusing to tell her name even though I have willed it several times. Does that mean I am not truly in command of what happens here?"

"Did you ever think you were?"

Sootpaw whirled around at the voice- almost a sneer with a gruff tone. The hairs along his spine bristled again; the owner to this voice was definitely not the pretty silver tabby. As his muscles tensed, his amber optics locked onto a broad shouldered pale gray tom with striking blue eyes. His powerful frame moved into better view, the reeds parted as the feline slid the rest of the way forward, an amused glint in that dark, stormy blue gaze.

The pale gray tom circled Sootpaw. "Did you ever think you were in control of the dreamscape?"

Sootpaw gave a meek nod, already intimidated by the much larger muscled cat. This shouldn't happen! he shouted at himself. I should not fear this cat! He's only part of my dream after all. He can't hurt me. This is my dream...

"This is my dream," he declared, clearing his throat to retain a solid tone. "I am in control of everything that goes on around here. Including you."

The tom barked a laugh, looming closer with another few steps. He jabbed his muzzle forward, teeth bared only a whisker from the apprentice. "No one controls me," he growled simply, the stink of his breath, hot on Sootpaw's muzzle, causing his nose to wrinkle. "This dream may be yours, but it is not yours to control."

"You can't hurt me," Sootpaw protested, his sharp gaze catching sight of unsheathed claws extending from the broad paws of the pale gray tom. A bitter laugh escaped the tom's parted jaws. His stormy blue gaze fell back on Sootpaw. "You think I can't? Then I should be the one to set things straight around here." Lips curled back in a snarl, the tom swiped his paw at Sootpaw, catching his muzzle. A sharp sting of pain rippled through his nerves, the trickle of crimson escaping the large cut on his snout.

"So?" Sootpaw growled, pelt bristled and ready to advance. "This is only a dream. You. Can't. Hurt. Me."

"Can," the tom boasted, taking another swipe. This time, it came from below, clipping the underside of his jaw. Sootpaw recoiled, rage suddenly fueling his emotions. With the ferocity of a lion, the brown furred apprentice lashed out with a well aimed slash. Claws cut scores against the gray tom's cheek, a similar dribble of red flickering from the open wound.

"You pack a real punch there, kitten," the tom seemed nothing but amused. "But, it appears as if our meeting is cut short. Someone obviously wants to speak with you."

Sootpaw was going to ask but couldn't allow a voice as the dreamscape walls shuddered. The pale blue of the sky shattered, leaving nothing but a black abyss beyond. The ground beneath his paws cracked and crumbled, the grass and dirt shifting dramatically as the apprentice was swallowed up by the earth, falling into the depths of shadows.

"Nothing's wrong!" Sootpaw yelped, jerking upright to stare into the yellow orbs of his denmate.

"I never said anything was," Lionpaw grumbled before turning aside back to his nest. "You were muttering again. It's getting real annoying and I'm trying to sleep here. Go back to bed, wuss."

"Night," Sootpaw murmured softly through the dank air of the cramped den. He felt a soreness on his muzzle, tongue flickering up as a feeble attempt to soothe it. As his taste buds passed over his snout, a sharp, metallic tang didn't sit right in his mind. He cringed.

Blood.

Dun dun dun! Sootpaw has figured out something vital! And who is this mysterious cat? Both the pale gray tom and the pretty silver tabby have yet to be named. I suppose you'll have to read and review to find out. And thanks Twinkle for your comment, I fixed the errors in the first chapter by the way. Lots of love!

-Snarky