Ugghh.... that was a weird dream!

Goldenkit felt soft bedding beneath her, like she were sleeping in feathers. She slowly stretched, then winced as soreness corrupted her every move.

Wait, where am I?

She opened her eyes. It was still dark, but a few heartbeats later, and she could see the walls of a strange den. The walls were a dark brown with strange grooves in its tough surface. Wood, Goldenkit remembered. She saw a dim light from a hole in the wall, making it slightly easier to check her surroundings. She could barely see the outside. The sky was black, but had tiny specks of light in it, otherwise known as stars. She lifted her head, then whimpered as she felt a light throbbing in her head.

What happened?

She shakily sat up, but then collapsed and let out a small mewl of pain.

She became aware of other cats behind her. Someone must have heard her meow. She turned around, and saw a gray and white she-cat rising from another nest of feathers and green stuff. The cat had... green whiskers?

That must be Jadewhisker! Goldenkit remembered from her dream of starlit cats.

The cat silently padded over to her. "Hello, little one," She meowed. She then disappeared into a shadow that was unseen by the light outside. A few heartbeats after, she came back, holding leaves and two tiny seeds. "Here, eat the leaves. You can eat the seeds if you can't sleep," she murmured.

Goldenkit sniffed at the leaves, and licked them up. She gagged at the strange flavor, and whimpered in disgust.

"I know, but you must eat them all. You will feel better in a few days, I promise." The cat said, then added, "I'm Jadewhisker, and over there," she pointed to a gray tom sleeping in the darkness of the den, "that is my apprentice, Blueberry." She looked back down at Goldenkit. "Do you have a name?"

Goldenkit opened her mouth. "I-I..." She rasped, but then let out a loud cough. "I'm thirsty!" She mewed.

She could sense Blueberry glaring at her. "Who's this?" He mumbled, still bleary with sleep. He rubbed his face with a blue paw. "Well, better go get her some water." Blueberry yawned, and then stretched himself out, showing his glossy fur in the starlight. He stepped out of his nest and padded outside.

"Eat the rest of the leaves," Jadewhisker persuaded. But Goldenkit persisted. She pushed away the bitter leaves with a flick of her tiny, fluffy tail. But Jadewhsiker quickly flicked them back with a swift paw.

"Eat," she insisted.

Goldenkit scowled at the green-whiskered cat, then licked up the remaining herbs, and quickly choked them down. She coughed some more as the leaves tickled her dry throat. "I want milk!" She wailed.

Jadewhisker gently stroked Goldenkit's soft fur with her tail. "I know, but it's the middle of the night, and you need to sleep. Look, Blueberry is coming back with water," she meowed as Blueberry re-entered the den. He carried a small lump of moss, dripping with water. He placed it in front of the kit.

Goldenkit licked at the soaking fronds of moss, then relished as the cold water soothed her parched throat. When she was done drinking, she felt somewhat satisfied. The night dragged on, and she felt a calm weariness. She laid back down and closed her eyes. Before she drifted into sleep, she heard Jadewhisker whisper, "sleep, little one. You will get to see everyone in the morning..."

Who's 'everyone'? Will I get to see more cats?

The sun was barely peering above the rocky hills when Goldenkit emerged from the medicine cat's den in the tree. She still limped with the nagging pain of bruises, but she felt eager to explore. Jadewhisker hovered close by, in case something happened, but Goldenkit ignored. What is this place?

Were those a pair of eyes inside that den?

Was there a flicker of movement underneath that giant holly bush?

"So what's your name?" Jadewhisker asked. Right. Goldenkit remembered she was too thirsty to tell her. "I'm Goldenkit," She mewed, puffing her chest out proudly, "Leafstar named me."

Jadewhisker's eyes widened. "Leafstar?"

Goldenkit nodded. "Yeah! I saw her in a dream!"

Jadewhisker looked down at her paws, deep in thought, then replied, "hang on. Come back to the den. We need to talk before you cam meet the other cats around here."

Goldenkit persisted, surprised. "What?! But you told me--!"

"I said come with me!"

Whimpering, Goldenkit padded back into the tree hole. She sat beside the older cat.

Blueberry was organizing herbs of different kinds when they came in. He looked up from concentrating with a concerned look. "Is something wrong?" He meowed.

"Goldenkit claims she saw Leafstar in a dream," Jadewhisker explained.

"But I did! Why are you so worried?" Goldenkit growled impatiently. Well, Leafstar did tell me to talk to Jadewhisker... can't it just wait for a bit?

Blueberry looked deep in the eyes of the kit. "Leafstar was the first leader since SkyClan was rebuilt. Now she treads in StarClan."

"I know!"

Jadewhisker peered closer to the kit. "Tell me about this dream you had," Jadewhisker demanded.

Goldenkit thought back to when she saw those cats... "Well, the first thing I remember was... it was really dark and painful, and then Leafstar comforted me and kept me happy. Then she took me to... what is it? Silver Fur?"

"I believe you mean Silverpelt," Blueberry corrected, "Leafstar actually showed you StarClan's grounds?"

Goldenkit nodded. "She also introduced me to Billystorm, Bouncefire, Harveymoon, Echosong and... who else? Macgyver, I think it was?"

Jadewhisker's eyes were like owl eyes. "Those were other cats from SkyClan. Why did they come to you, though?"

Goldenkit tilted her head. "Well, they did. They told me to tell you about something..."

Jadewhisker's eyes narrowed. "Tell us, then. We must know about this."

Goldenkit fought to remember. "They told me... they told me..." With a sudden jolt in her mind, she remembered, "'through the hatred that clouds our world, one with a heart of pure love will shine like gold.' They said it was a message, or something..."

Blueberry jolted, eyes widening with shock. "That isn't just a message. That's a prophecy!" He exclaimed.

Goldenkit was confused. What's a prophecy? She opened her mouth to ask, but Jadewhisker hastily nudged the kit back on her paws.

"Look, everyone else is out of their dens! Let's go and meet them!" She meowed. Goldenkit was forced out of the medicine den and straight back outside the rocky hollow. Jadewhisker exited the den right as the fluffy kit got to her paws. "Let's head to the nursery, first. Foxypelt will take care of you," Jadewhisker hissed in the kit's ear. Goldenkit limped beside the green-muzzled cat across the giant hollow.

"My paw hurts..." Goldenkit complained. It was still wrapped tightly with woven leaves and cobwebs.

"Well, best to let it heal and not put too much weight on it," a new voice said. Goldenkit whipped around, then finding a large gray tom standing over her. He had dark ginger paws and an orange eye and a green eye.

"Good morning, Shadepaw," Jadewhisker greeted, "yes, it would be a good idea to let her rest. She's only bruised in a couple areas, but she's still recovering. Would you mind carrying her to the nursery? Foxypelt says she'd be willing to take care of her."

Shadepaw nodded and picked up the miserable kit by her scruff. He carried Goldenkit to a large den. Inside, it was dark, with a bit of sunlight shining through the bramble barriers. Goldenkit could smell fresh moss, along with milk-scent and unfamiliar cat scent. Shadepaw entered and carfully laid down Goldenkit in the moss. As she looked around, she saw a few napping kits, as well as queens purring as they slept. Jadewhisker sat beside her and murmured, "Foxypelt, the kit is here."

A dark ginger tortioseshell with dull patches of fur opened her eyes and lifted her head. Her eyes were a pale orange with pupils like shards of black crystals. She had one kit nuzzled beside her belly.

"Is this the kit I have chosen to care for?" She mewed, eyeing the kit before looking at Jadewhisker.

Jadewhisker nodded. "Yes. Make sure to take good care of her. You know well enough what could happen if--"

Foxypelt raised a paw to silence the medicine cat. "I do know well enough. More than enough so that you don't have to tell me again." She meowed. She gestured Goldenkit. "Come here, little one," she murmured. She sounded surprisingly calm. Goldenkit limped forward and beside the she-cat's belly.

"What's your name?" Foxypelt asked.

"I'm Goldenkit. Leafstar named me," Goldenkit said, puffing her chest proudly as she remembered what Jadewhisker and Blueberry had told her. Leafstar was an ancient cat from StarClan who was very special. Surely Foxypelt would be surprised.

But the she-cat licked her ear with affection and said, "I'm sure she did."

"It's my first time in the nursery! I never knew this place was so cool! I met a cat named Shadepaw, and then he helped me make it all the way over here! And then I got to meet you!" Goldenkit chirped.

There was a glimmer of amusement in Foxypelt's eyes.

"Well, then. Welcome to RockClan, little one."