Nightmares: They Are All Too Real

[Fernpaw]

Maluuni strolled into the Warrior's Den, sniffing the air cautiously. No cat was there. Using her paws to feel her way to the back of the den to her nest, she carefully avoided tripping over loose moss that had fallen out of messy nests. It was not easy---being blind---but Maluuni had learned to compensate. When the white she-cat reached her nest, she stepped delicately into it, turned around three or four times, and settled down. Her last thought as she closed her eyes was a wistful one. Brother . . .

Darkness. Black darkness. Dark darkness. Thick, cloying darkness that clung to her fur and weighed her down. Maluuni kicked and fought, struggling to free herself from the suffocating darkness. Suddenly, a flickering light appeared in the corner of her vision. A light? Yes, Maluuni could see. The she-cat peered closer, she was standing at the edge of a cliff, a sheer drop below her. The white cat looked, she saw a bright light coming towards her. No, not a light. Flames. Red and orange flames were flickering, licking up the sides of the trees she used to play in. Hungrily devouring all vegetation that lay in their path, red-hot flames ran and crackled through the forest. Maluuni saw animals fleeing in terror, birds, rodents, prey, twolegs even, and their dogs. Then, she saw the cats. Black cats, with gleaming yellow eyes. Eyes that held fear, malice and confusion. The scents came flooding to her, and Maluuni recognized them all. Mother, Father, Shiera, Bangil, Niketa, countless cats that she had grown up with. They looked into her eyes, cold and heartless. Slowly, they came to a halt in front of her and fanned around her, like a well-planned battle drill. Maluuni took a step forward, crying, "Mother, I can see! Look at me, I can see!" The black cat's eyes were merciless as she stepped forward, chanting words that Maluuni couldn't understand, but she understood that they didn't have a nice meaning. Maluuni ran to her father, afraid, "Father! Father, stop mother! Help me, father!" Her father advanced upon her, claws sliding out with an ominous shiiik. Maluuni ran to one cat after another. All advanced upon her, jaws gaping, fangs gleaming, saliva dripping from open jaws. Maluuni took a step backward. There was no rock. She slipped, the cavernous drop looming up to engulf her. Her front paws gripped the rock, claws digging desperately, trying to find a hold. Behind the shoulders of her Clanmates she saw the fire, roaring, coming closer. The heat was unbearable, it singed her whiskers, and the rushing of it filled her ears. And all the while she continued to slip. She clung, crying, "Mother! Father! Help me!" They each came forward. They gripped her paws. Maluuni felt relief and hope beating in her chest. They were going to save her! They had just been playing a little game! They were . . . Before this thought could finish, her parents both shoved her off the edge of the cliff. Maluuni fell, yowling. Spinning . . . spinning . . . darkness . . . pain . . . blackness . . .

In the den, Maluuni woke up, breathing hard. It had all seemed to real, she could've sworn that it had all happened. Her blood pressure must have rose higher than was good for her. She took deep breaths, flanks heaving in terror. Fear-scent clung to her fur, as if it was afraid to leave. Maluuni called out in her mind, Menea, my brother, where are you? Help me! In answer to her silent plea, a strong voice echoed in her ears, Maluuni, dearest sister, know you are never alone. I am here with you. Maluuni instantly felt calmer, new strength surged through her limbs. Her sensitive nose filled with the scent of her brother as his spirit came down from StarClan to comfort her. They had always had a strong bond, and now in StarClan, he constantly came down to watch over her. If only . . . If only she could've gone with him, or he could've stayed. Maluuni needed a friend, now more than ever.

[The Everlasting SUNNEH.]

Rosebush padded into the Warrior's Den, sniffing up the fear-scent. She stepped into the underbrush, feeling the oak leaves flatten beneath her weight. Her tabby pelt was sleek and dark, and the sunlight gave it an eerie sleek shine. Rosebush walked over to the only cat in the den, Maluuni, the one-part name, and sat down next to her. Rosebush would never know how it felt to long for a sibling. Her brother, Skytail, lived in Shadowclan, but she knew nothing worse. She still saw him sometimes. At the Gatherings if she was brought. So she did not know what it was like to lose someone forever. To never see them again, even tough you know that they can see you. Rosebush looked over at her den-mate and fellow warrior, inquiring the she-cat.

"What is bothering you?"

Rosebush felt like she was talking to a kit, and hoped that Maluuni would not be offended.

(sorry it is short. It is a repost.)

[Shadepelt]

Shadepelt's sleep was disturbed. All night she heard kicks and thrashes, coming from some cat in the Warrior's Den. It was Maluuni, she knew it. The often sympathized for the she-cat, but then knew, that Maluuni was strong, and with some good friends, she could do anything.
It was a hot night. Shadepelt got up and streached, cursing her black pelt that weighed her down with unthinkable heat. Sweat glinted on her fur, making her look like a polished stone that sits in the river.
Eyes darting back and forth, she saw Rosebush trying to sooth Maluuni. Shadepelt sighed, she would go help, but she didn't want it to seem like she had been listening. Great StarClan, she thought to herself, Who cares what they think. Shadepelt lifted her head and mewed,
"Everything all right?"
Her blue eyes were wary, she didn't want to seem like a stuffy old grump. She quietly got up, and padded quietly over to the two cats, making sure not to step on any of the other sleeping bodies. She didn't want to hurt Maluuni's pride, so she tryed not to seem to sympathetic.
"Troubled dreams?"

[Fernpaw]

Maluuni tilted her head, blind eyes searching first Rosebushs' face, then Shadepelt's. "Nothing," she mumbled. "Just a nightmare." She couldn't help but give a suppressed shudder, it had all seemed so real. The fire, the heat, the cats, the fall . . . She shook herself. Snap out of it, Maluuni! she told herself. You're only scaring yourself. It was just a dream.

Her brother's voice echoed in her mind, Dreams have a powerful effect, though. And some are truer than you realize.[/b]

Shut up! You're not helping, Menea! she snarled silently at her brother. Menea lapsed into what she suspected to be an affronted silence. Maluuni tilted her head, listening intently. From the sound of the breathing, she could tell that the two she-cats were directly in front of her. Getting up, Maluuni gave each one of them a lick, right on the shoulder, exactly as if she could see them. She attempted a smile. It was a wavery one, but a smile nonetheless. "I'm alright."

[Shadepelt]

Shadepelt smiled back, "Alright. If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm always ready to listen." She nodded to Maluuni, then to Rosebush.
"Well, I'll see you both in the morning. Maybe we can hunt together tomorrow?" With a flick of her tail, Shadepelt padded back to her nest, and lay down.
What could have the dream been of? She wondered sleepily, it must have been pretty bad. Maluuni had looked really frightened. Was it about the fall? Shadepelt didn't know, she didn't really know anything about Maluuni.
Hoping her dreams wouldn't be terrible, Shadepelt closed her eyes, and waited for sleep.

((Sorry for the short post, I'm kinda tired ))

[Fernpaw]

((It's okay!))

Maluuni murmured, "G'Night," before turning back to Rosebush. White she-cat sat crouched in her nest, blank eyes looking straight at the she-cat. Finally Maluuni mewed softly, "Thanks for checking on me. You're a good cat," and she hesitated, as if about to say more. The white cat closed her mouth firmly, turned around and tucked her head in. Rigth before she drifted off, Maluuni listened to the quiet breathing of all the cats in the den. This was her home now.

((Aagh! Sorry, exhausted. I just got back from a swim meet and I'm tired.))

[The Everlasting SUNNEH.]

(I would post something, but I am braindead, and I don't have much to work with there...)