The scent of fresh, cold air reaches your nose and you sniff at it gently, a comforting feeling overwhelming your body. Fluttering your eyes open, you take a look around you, attempting to get familiar with your surroundings. You’re uncertain as to where you are; you have never been here before, though you’re not frightened. There is a sense that everything will be okay, so you don’t panic, instead inhaling the breeze deeply.

 

You were pretty sure you had just been in your nest, so you’re a little confused about how you got here. Your limbs feel strange, like they’re way too light ... is this a dream? It must be, because you’re not even sure such a place exists within your Clan’s territory. As your eyes adjust to the harsh light, you spot a figure in the distance. It appears to be a black-furred cat, laying down by a glimmering glade. Curious, you decide to step closer.

 

As your paws press on the ground, you notice that they make no sound at all and that you’re moving a lot quicker than you should be — you’re right before the mysterious cat in only a moment. Now that you can see them more clearly, you notice that the black cat is staring out into the distance. You follow their gaze, your eyes falling upon a small kit ... a kit that is a direct copy of its larger version in front of you. Blinking in confusion, you look back to the stranger, a question on your tongue.

 

“Don’t fret, little one. You’re glimpsing into the past.” The past? But whose past was this? It certainly wasn’t yours. Before you can open your mouth once more, the stranger stands up onto their paws, and turns around slowly to face you. You look upon the molly’s face, close enough to see the sun illuminate her whiskers. There is ... something familiar about her, though you’re uncertain what this detail is. The feline allows you to finally speak, a question: who are you?

 

The answer doesn’t come right away. Instead, she lets out a laugh — it’s surprisingly loud for such a graceful figure, almost like a bark. Your ears flatten at the unexpectedness of it. The molly lays her tail comfortingly across your back and you instantly relax, despite the fact that you had only just become acquaintances with her a second ago. “I suppose everyone who knew me well has passed on by now.” There is a sad look in her eyes, a longing for ... something.

 

It clears up as fast as it appeared. “My name is Cloud. You might know me better as Cloudstar, one of the cats that led the Clans to the Glade.” She doesn’t say it in a smug sort of way, mostly just relaying it like it was some boring old fact. Your whole body, however, had completely frozen. Cloudstar?! You really should have known better — the elders in your Clan would be very disappointed.

 

The molly smiles at you gently, as if she can read all of the thoughts running through your head. “I will take you to the beginning.” Cloudstar pauses, and motions towards the little kit playing in the distance, a small smile on her face, “Although, I’d wager that this is the wrong beginning.” The molly blinks slowly, seeing that you’re ready on your paws to follow, and gently shakes her head, “There is no need for traveling here, only for you to keep your eyes open. Go on.”