"Beware of the power of ivy; even the smallest tendril can choke the forest to death, from the smallest mouse to the strongest oak."

These were the words that were whispered into my ear when my fur was still soft, yet to become distorted by scars. I was only a few moons, and thought it was nothing more than a nightmare.

Those lovely words had gone along with a nice little image of a vine of ivy wrapped tightly around a dove, while a raspy voice whispered them in my ear. The she-cat was scary-looking, with a flat-face and ragged gray fur that was covered in stars. Her yellowing teeth had been curled back in displeasure as she delivered Starclan's message.

"You will be the downfall of the clans if you wander too far into the shadows." She had warned me. Her cold, hard yellow eyes peered into my soul one last time before I woke in a cold sheet of sweat.

I was frightened, as any kit would be. Whitewing soothed me and eventually convinced me to fall asleep again, but I relived that nightmare for a good moon afterwards.

I was so terrified of speaking about it, for who would listen? Surely, they would think it was just a dream, no one would believe that a kit had received a prophecy.

So I kept this as my secret. From my sweet sister, who I swore to protect above all else from the evil in the world. From my parents, who would worry and nag if they knew something was bothering me. From my clanmates who had no clue of the burden I was to carry for them. I kept my mouth sealed and attempted to push it out of my mind altogether.

Eventually I forgot about the dream and the warning it brought. I became a warrior and a spy for my clan, risking my life every night to collect the essential information about the Dark Forest and its plans. It was around then that I remembered the message.

Its meaning is clear to me now, so many moons after first hearing it. If I were to betray my sister and my clan, all out of jealousy and spite, it would only destroy the clans.

I always thought I wasn't special compared to Dovewing because I wasn't a part of the prophecy or had no special powers, but that didn't mean that I wasn't important. My role in the upcoming battle with the Dark Forest is just as critical, almost as much as if I did hold the power of the stars in my paws.

Because what I decide to do, it could change everything.