The Dream.... Part One

Applestar's breaths became a rhythm as she lay in her nest, deep in sleep. The water that trickled outside of her den became a nice, cool rushing noise. Applestar's eyes twitched in sleep, her dreams haunting her.

Applestar ran out into the forest, blood soaking the forest floor. Applestar skidded to a halt as taunting voices sounded from the other side of a gorse bush. 

"Great job, Oakfall. That tiny she-cat thought she was a match for a MountainClan warrior, didn't she?" A sly female voice hissed. 

"She did, right? The stupid forest cat doesn't know the first thing about fighting! Her muscles could've used some work." The tom known as Oakfall growled. Applestar gaped in horror. Who were they talking about? What is MountainClan?

"Oakfall! Poppyclaw! We got one more." Yet another voice hissed, farther from the two cats behind the bush. Applestar followed their hefty pawsteps toward a rushing river. Wait...she knew that noise....it was the river in RippleClan territory! These cats are in her territory!

"N-No, please! I-I want to join MountainClan, I promise!" A terrified voice piped up. Applestar knew that voice, it was Flameclaw, her deputy! What are they doing to him? she thought. 

Applestar peered through the bush to see a muscular dark brown tabby tom, a dark tortoiseshell, and a gray streaked tom. Flameclaw had one eye shut, and a deep claw mark on his shoulder. 

"Oh? Is that so?" The dark tortoiseshell hissed into his ear. She must be Poppyclaw. Applestar thought. Flameclaw nodded. Poppyclaw put out a front paw, and unsheathed a claw, slicing Flameclaw's throat like berryskins. "Too bad.." she snarled. 

The gray streaked tom grinned. "Nice move, Poppyclaw. I'm sure Crowstar will be pleased with your performance. He had his doubts, after all, you were taken in from SmokeClan, and he didn't know weather to trust you or not," he mewed. 

Poppyclaw smiled, flicking Oakfall over the ear with her tail. "Thank you, Stonestreak." She dipped her head to the gray tom. 

Applestar backed up, horrified. Bodies, all around her! Her slain clanmates! 

"No!" Applestar jolted from her dream, and stared around her den. She quickly bounded outside, looking around to see if everyone was there. Luckily, it was a normal day for RippleClan. But...It looked so....real... She thought. 

Bounding to Cinderpool's den, she looked inside to see the medicine cat sorting some herbs. "C-Cinderpool! I-I need to go to the Moonwater." she meowed, her paws churning the dead twigs. The medicine scanned Applestar up and down. 

"Applestar....? Are you sure?" she asked. Applestar nodded. "Well, tomorrow, you will. You'll need an escort." Cinderpool meowed.

Applestar dipped her head. "Thank you." she meowed. Applestar's heart pounded in her chest. Is MountainClan...real?