[ Chapter Five ]

  The Dream Warriors

  He walked up to the door, pawing at it eagerly. Bright voices glowed behind the dark, stained door. He pushed his head against the door, meowing. The door wouldn’t open. He meowed again, the humans always opened the door when he meowed. He grew frantic, mewing and pawing the door fearfully. Suddenly, he was outside, the cold air stinging his lungs. His tiny paws were buried in snow, freezing cold snow. The snow began to rise, his shoulders were soon covered. The house disappeared, as if it had never existed. He squealed into the air, until his head was covered with snow. He tried to breathe, pawing the snow away. More snow poured over him, drowning him in the cold. The world began to fade, all he could see was white. All he could feel was cold, pain was everywhere. He screamed his loudest scream. Everything went black.

  ~X~

  The kitten stood in a clearing, frosted with snow, stars twinkled in the night sky. He could hear rushing water, and the chirping of birds. He looked closer, and saw something strange. Odd shapes littered the clearing, some more solid than others. The kitten took one paw step forward, and all the heads snapped towards him. They were cats! The strange cats began to whisper, their hushed voices melding together. “Hello, I’ve been expecting you.” The kitten took a step back, “Who… What are you?” He asked. The weird cats spoke again, “I am North Star, and these are the Icebound Warriors.” One shape stepped out of the crowd, more solid and bright than all the others. Its pelt was a dark grey, white stripes running down its back. Its eyes were crystal blue, and starlight glittered in them. Frost weaved around its paws. “I have brought you here for a very special reason,” North Star said, calmly. The kitten interrupted him. “What is this place?” He said quickly. North Star purred, “Already curious, you’re a fun one!” The kitten dropped his gaze apologetically. “You are in the Spirit Realm, the land where all souls go when they die. This clearing is part of the territory of the Winter Stars, the cats who die in the cold.” North Star explained, amusement danced in his icy blue eyes. “Did I die?” The kitten asked, fear sharpened his voice. “No, far from it! You are a part of a prophecy, an ancient one at that.” The great cat said. “Prophecy?” The kitten tilted his head, confused. Mother hadn’t spoken of any of this. North Star read his confusion. “Honestly, what are you youngsters taught these days? Did your mother not mention any of this?” The kitten shook his head. “Prophecies were ancient visions of the future, carved into the stars by the first Visionary, Sky Of Bright Stars. He foretold that-” North Star stopped. “You didn’t understand any of that?” The kitten shook his head. “Visionaries are special cats who can see the future.” The spirit explained, his voice betraying his exasperation. “Sky foretold that, As the Sun traced its path, beware of Shadow’s mighty wrath.” The sky began to dim, the clearing fading away. “Wait! What does that mean?!” The kitten was pulled away.

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