Chapter 46: The Clearing of Time

Chapter 46: The Clearing of Time

Mapleleaf

     My plan is coming into place.  Slowly, but it's coming.  Soon Wolfstar will do his part, and it won't be very long after that. 
"Mapleleaf," Skullstar appears.
"Yes, Skullstar?" I reply.
"Why is this taking so long?" he growls.
"You can't rush perfection."
"Well, hurry up!  We need this plan to unfold and fast!  You haven't done very much toward the cause."
"Very much!? Very much!!!!!?????  All the clan has abanoned little Flamestar and I'm on my way to talk to Wolfstar!  Besides, you never even told me what the cause is."
"You'll find out soon enough, Maplesleaf.  Now go talk to Wolfstar."  I hurry away.  No need to upset Skullstar. 
     Soon I approach DeathClan camp.  Complete chaos is going on.  Cats are running everywhere.  I focus my attention on Wolfstar.  He's talking to an oddly familiar white cat.
"Scarletpaw just attacked Turtlepath, and she nearly killed me!  The apprentice just ran away!"
"Psst, Wolfstar!" I whisper, and then quickly and silently duck down. 
"Yeah, Mapleleaf?  What's up?" Wolfstar asks.
"It's time." I say.
"For what, might I ask?"
"You must take over StormClan camp."
"Oh, right."
"Leave someone in charge and let's go."
"But.."
"Come on!"
"Ok!"
"I'll meet you at the border."  I race off toward the StormClan border.  Skullstar wants things to speed up?  He has it!  But something draws me away from my path.  A small clearing with a small, young cat sitting in the middle.  She reminds me of... me.  I look at her, and she looks at me.  Our eyes meet.  I take a step closer.  Soon we're less then a tail-length apart.  Her bright jade-green eyes stare into mine, and for a second, I feel time slow down.  The past enters my body.  I see a small, young calico cat with bright jade-green eyes running through a vast clearing with a black tom about the calico's ago.  They're laughing and having a great time.  Sadness runs through my heart like a rabbit hopping down a path towards safety.  I see myself, young, jade green eyes, back in the good old days.  And then, I see an older version of the calico, looking at bright red berries, breaking off a branch and presenting it to the tom.  My heart learches.  I yowl and tear the daydream apart, and the time speeds up.  Soon I'm looking at a much older calico, deep jade eyes and a dull pelt.  She's sadly walking away from her life, ashamed of her mistake.  This part is even worse. 
     But the dream stays anyways.  And the calico is walking down the path of good and evil when a cat with deep red eyes beckons her inside one of the forests.  Her eyes transform from green to red.  She stalks off in the forest, and I find my head shaking.  I'm still standing with the small calico in the clearing.  She's still looking at me, and I still look at her. 
"I know you," the small cat says.
"Yes, I know you too," I reply.
"In this clearing, so much has happened."
"I know.  I know.  I know much more."  The small calico nods.
"The clearing of time, it seems." The calico says.
"Ah yes, the clearing of time.  So much time..."  I'm lost in my dreams.  And I wonder, if this is a dream too.  Because I'm talking to a younger version of... me.