breathe in for luck; breathe in so deep]]

[dream]

There was the soft pawsteps of a nimble ThunderClan warrior, his white fur sticking out like a sore thumb in the greenery of such forestry. His electric blue eyes were staring at his paws as he walked, and he felt a strange feeling in his gut. As though something was about to happen. He halted, dust being brought up. It encrusted on his placid white pelt and made it an ugly brown. He shook himself, bits of debris flying in all directions, and he heaved a sigh. He felt so out of place here, as though he should have been somewhere else, doing something else--anything but this. He felt so lost now, without his mother. His father, well, he could have cared less what happened. He had heard rumours of suicide. It wouldn't have surprised him, that proud fool.

[bracken]

Hush a bye, don't you cry. Go to sleep my little baby. When you wake, you shall have all the pretty little ponies.

Silently, the black she-cat breathlessly padded through the fallen snow that left a blanket of white covering the ground. Her icey blue eyes stared at the river that stayed by her side as she continued on. A dull look was on her eyes, a frown plastered to her face. Silent tears pricked to the edges of her dull eyes as Mythpaw looked at her reflection in the water. It rippled a bit until the picture stayed perfectly still. In her mind, she saw a black little kit by her reflection, staring up at the broken down Mythpaw. Usually, it was easier then this to mask her inner feelings. Everything seemed to be weighing her down though. Just becoming an apprentice was rather challenging. At times she found herself wondering if her mother and father were proud. Why hadn't her mother stayed with her? It was hard to learn that her father had passed away yet her mother still had Mythpaw. Didn't seem like she cared though. No, instead she just left her all alone in RiverClan, a few days after her apprentice ceremony. Just a few days had changed her life, those days were still fresh in her mind; only a few sunrises back. Who can I trust? Everyone just seems to lie.. and then leave. Mythpaw wondered, tears twinkling down her face and dripping into the river. Can't I wake up from this living nightmare? How could she though, when this was not a dream.

In your bed, momma said, "Babies riding off to dream land."

Mythpaw shut her eyes and whipped her head away from that hazey reflection of her and continued onward. She didn't know where she was going. Just away, somewhere to clear her mind. Memories seemed to keep flooding back to her. Sweet, sweet memories. There was something wrong with memories though, they were from the past. Mythpaw knew that she was living in all time zones, or so it seemed. The past, she couldn't let go. The present, all of her hard work she was aiming for. The future, Mythpaw seemed to have her mind so focused on what was to become. Out of them all, she didn't really seem focused on the present. She was stuck in the past and ahead of herself in the future. Frowning, the little she-cat continued forward. Her eyes were still glued shut as pictures whirled through her brain. There was her mom and dad, both looking down at her and smiling in the nursery. Then she saw her brother who had died at the age of 3 moons. Although they hadn't known each other that long, Mythpaw could tell they had a bond. At times, he still seemed to be following her. Looking after her. Not everyone had left her, but there she was again. Living in the past. "Wake up.." the wind seemed to whisper in a haunting voice which caused Mythpaw to shiver, not just from the cold.

One by one, they've begun. Dance and prance for little baby. Blacks and bays, dapples and greys; running in the night.

Coming to a slow stop and opening her eyes, Mythpaw realized she was a rather far ways off from camp. She didn't care though, as long as the river was beside her she knew where she was. Anyways, this was great practice for her endurance. That's when her eyes caught a dazzling spectrum of many colors, seeming to sparkly in the sun light. A beautiful flower. It was not wilting at all, even though it was surrounded in snow. Just barely could you see it at all. Carefully, Mythpaw brushed some snow off from around it and sniffed the beauty. It was so beautiful and its scent was heavenly. Not only that, it seemed to be alive with life. Even though they were in leafbare, it refused to give up. Refused to back down. Refused to give up and close. Just like every being, it had a right to be here. Surely, the poor thing wouldn't last much longer if it didn't go into hibernation. Mythpaw continued to brush away the snow until she saw some of the dirt and grass that it was buried in, most likely it was getting its water supply from the river. Keep fighting, and survive. she silently pleaded to the beautiful flower of the rainbow.

When you wake, you shall have all the pretty little ponies.

Mythpaw was just in awe at the flower. Maybe it was training, just like the apprentice herself. Training harder then all of the others. Mythpaw could relate to that. Always, she pushed herself so hard. She pushed herself to her limit. It just never seemed good enough for her though, or for anyone else. Every morning she woke up with exhaustion at her limbs from staying up late at night. What exactly did she do? She ran beside the river, she climbed the highest she could, she fought shadows that surrounded her. Mythpaw truly was a hard worker, though no one seemed to notice, not that she mind. All she knew was that, she wasn't good enough. She just had to be better. Her father and brother were surely watching her. Her mother? That was another story. Who knew if she was even alive? Tearing herself away from her thoughts, Mythpaw sniffed the sweet flower one last time, a single tear dropping on it. Don't give up.. Even when times are hard.. You must not give up. Without admitting it, she seemed to silently bring up what she felt.

Can you see the little ponies dance before your eyes? All the pretty little ponies, will be there when you arise.

Not before she took a few paces forward did she freeze. The river just seemed to vanish into thin air, though it was behind her. Right before her was the ThunderClan border. All that way she had traveled? Worst of all, there was a tom right before her. He probably must have noticed her! Hopefully he didn't think she was trespassing. Mythpaw didn't move from her spot, knowing that would make her look rather suspicious. Instead she just stood where she was, waiting for the cat to accuse her. Out of the corner of her icey blue eyes, she caught glimpse of that beautiful flower that she seemed to relate to, in a weird way that she did. It's not like I was going to cross the border. Her paws were inches away from crossing it though. If this was visa versa, Mythpaw would suspect that this tom was trying to trespass. Then again, he was kind of close to their border. Anyways, she could just be on a border patrol. By herself? Oh stop being paranoid. she scolded herself, You are Mythpaw, an apprentice of RiverClan. You have trained long and hard. Right now though. Mythpaw wasn't in a mood for a fight so she just stood where she was. Emotionless and motionless as a stone.

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[dream]

This is what I brought you, this you can keep,

The tom was so entranced with the ground, his ears had not sensed the approach of the RiverClan she-cat. He flicked an ear in her direction, but said nothing. His whiskers quivered in a way that relinquished that fact that he knew she was there, but he kept his voice muted, as though he were waiting for the first word. He normally was a very keen and outgoing sort of tom, but ever since what happened with his father, he was never able to look at another she-cat with the same disrespect in his eyes again. He would never again glance at a she-cat with lust, he promised himself. His sisters, his mother, both murdered with such cruelty. It was unfathomable, the fact that it was true. But it was something that could not have been pushed aside. With such a heavy heart, he was able to commit the murders of four. There was no doubt in the young ThunderClan apprentice's mind that his father had also taken the life of his sisters. No doubt.

This is what I brought, you may forget me.

Now his pure and innocent--or so they seemed--light cobalt gaze stared up at the she-cat, his eyes scrutinizing and foreboding. But still, he said nothing. His voice was silent, but his eyes were full of such emotion that this she-cat did not possess. In fact, her face either was perpetually bored or just immune to the sense of anxiety. The young tom had to admit, he had never been anywhere near shy, but for some reason, this was intimidating to him. To have to speak to a she-cat he had never once met seemed like a treat, but as he ried to find the words in his mind, he seemed to lose focus too often. Too often.

I promise to depart, just promise one thing:

He finally mustered up the strength to stand, and he looked around him momentarily until he angled his pawsteps perfectly and precisly, and then he finally formed the motion of walking. His eyes were glittering with interest as he walked, and as he got closer, he began to slow. "Hello," He began, unsure of what to say. He had forgotten that he hadn't even planned anything to say yet. When he qas quiet for several moments, and absolutely sure that she would not speak to him first, he began again. "I'm sorry. My name is Ashenpaw, and you happen to be very close to ThunderClan territory." his voice was kind and sincere, though there was an underlying threat. No one could have possibly noticed save for himself. He gave a gentle smile in her direction.

Kiss my eyes and
lay me to sleep