Welcome to Gaia! ::

The ceremony had made Katarina seriously think about her future. But she had her doubts. As she had grown she had watched the other kittens hunt and saw something that upset her. All of them had a much easier time thanks to their marks. But Katarina had never been able to properly hunt. Staulking was difficult when you stood out so much from your bright colorful surroundings. The only other kitten she thought might know what she felt like was that purple kitten that had just joined the clan.

But still, she always had to think of a way to attract the prey to her or to simply hide somewhere until something came along. That wasn't hunting. That was getting lucky. And now she was having a hard time staying awake to even practice her fighting skills. She knew she needed to start going to sleep earlier but she just couldn't settle down any more when the lights went out. This did not make her mother any happier and she was constantly scolded for trying to go outside the hut after dark.

But she wanted to know what it was like to really hunt! And at night was the only time she could do that!! She could blend in since there was no light to reveal the brightly colored plantlife around her. She couldn't be seen! She had proved it when she had gone out one night without her mother's permission. She heard her other calling and knew she was in trouble. But when her mother reached the spot she was at, she simply walked past her. Katarina had to call to her mother and boy she got it then. But still, she could hide, she could hunt, and she could prove to the clan that she didn't need luck to bring home food.

"Come back..."

She spoke softly as she slept while in her dreams she moved towards whatever it was she was following. She looked around. The surroundings were blurry but it was still the forest. Looking down at herself she couldn't even make out her own feet moving. Only when the moonlight spread across her did she see the pretty spots that were hidden in the darkness of her coat.

She looked back up to try and keep an eye on whatever is moving. She had to catch it. It was heading towards something big...what was it.....the scene began to slowly fade out...

She squirmed restlessly in her sleep, whimpering softly.

"Katarina. Katarina! Wake up! Its just a dream."

Her eyes opened on to the face of her mother. She was concerned as usual. The kitten sighed and sat up. Looks like she'd be awake for the rest of the night again. Unless she wanted to dream again. Katarina's mother was still concerned and hoped she would figure out what was troubling her young one.

Katarina sighed. It was no use, she wasn't going back to sleep. Even if she did she'd just dream. But since she had the time, she decided to see what was different about tonight's dream.

She was in the forest as usual. It was not a part of the forest she had been to before but she could tell it was her clan's territory. The path was small and curved through the brush. It was always at night with a full moon. The stars seemed to sparkle instead of just shining.

The thing. She could still never get a good look at it. Not even it's shape. But a black thing. Thats all she could see. But she would always start following, trying to catch it. While she never seemed to move closer to it, it never moved farther away.

But tonight's new piece was the place it was heading. The path was actually leading somewhere. But she couldn't tell what it was. A mountain? A hill? Some sort of large dwelling? It was still blurry in her mind. Her curiosity always got the better of her and she tried to think of what the next night's dream would bring.

Another night, the same dream. Only this time she could see where the dark thing was leading her. It was a cave. She ventured closer to the cave and saw a path leading downwards. At first she felt scared, but noticed she could still see dispite the normal lack of light. She walked down...then everyone started to fade again.

"no...no wait, i'm almost there!"

The kitten sat up panting, reaching out. But she was in her home, her mother sound asleep next to her. It was the middle of the night again. And she was wide awake. She sighed and ran a hand through her midnight locks. Why her? Why did she have to have strange dreams? Wouldn't this be better for the people who wanted to be a shamen? She didn't want to be a shamen, she wanted to be a great Huntress and bring great feasts back to the villiage. She wanted to prove her merit in battle when the time came. But how could she do this when she couldn't sleep at night.

She decided to put an end to this. She threw her covers off and marched to the door. Of course she was really quiet about all of this so as not to awaken her mother. She stepped outside and started walking. Not towards the fire this time, but to the edge of camp. She had been able to figure out where she starts walking in her dream and it was right here. She would follow this path and see where it lead.

Katarina had a brief moment where she wondered if this was such a good idea, she had been walking for awhile with no change in the scenery. She knew there were parts of the forest she was not suppose to go unless she was with an adult. There were even places the adults didn't go. But she had no idea where she really way now. A sound made her ear flick up towards the trees.

"Whooooo...........whooooo."

It was a great horned owl. It watched her from the tree with its large round eyes. She blinked at it, standing still and just watching it for the moment. Then.....it seemed to....nod at her, as if to say it was ok to go on. She smiled softly and nodded. Her walked continued. For some reason, seeing the owl made her feel more confidant. It was a wise creature and knew its way around the forest at night.

She continued on with more confidance. It was getting a little colder but she ignored it, she had to keep going and find out where the dream lead. The next sound that she heard was a high pitched squeeking sound. It almost sounded like a mouse but it was coming from above her. Looking up into the night sky she saw it, a bat! It fluttered around in the night, flying ahead of her without hitting one branch or limb. She marveled at it for a moment as it found a perch on a low hanging branch. Wrapping itself in its wings, it seemed to look at the small kitten walking through its forest. Again, she had the feeling that it wanted her to continue, like the owl had. Again, confidance raced through her and she continued her journey.

Katarina was in awe of the large cave she had found. None of the adults had ever talked about a cave out this way. She looked at all the formations that had been made over time, wondering how long this cave had been here. But she was also nervous. She had gone beyond her dream and now was on her own. But she wasn't afraid. She knew this would lead her to the reason behind her dream.

The path widened out and she was suddenly in a large room. Her small torch flickered and danced, making the whole room seem even bigger. Then something happened. In a flash, the entire cavern was lit by torches that spread in a circle around the room. Katarina could see symbols written all over the walls, ones she did not know the meaning of but somehow understood. This was the Cavern of Night and she was suppose to come here. But why? She couldn't understand that.

Then a shaft of light shone down onto the kitten. She blinked and looked up to see a hole in the ceiling and the full moon shining down onto her. She felt strange and began to grow weak in the knees. Sounds suddenly filled her ears. Crickets playing thier song in the night, the nightingale singing their tune, wolves and coyotes howling to their silver mistress in the sky. She clapped her hands to her ears and feel to her knees. What did this all mean!? The last sound she heard was the hooting of the owl then a shadown seemed to envelope her. It was all dark and quiet now. Katarina lay on the floor where she fell.

Her mind raced with images and her ears rang with sounds all around her. The forest at night, the moon in the sky, the animals all around her. It was a blur, she could see them all. She could understand their movements and their meaning. She could see. But it kept moving. Whatever it was, it wouldn't let her catch it. She tried to grasp it but it sliped from her paws. She tried to chase it and it only out ran her. It seemed to say she would have to wait alittle longer for it to come to her. She could not force it to her.

She wanted to cry, she had tried so hard and she still couldn't catch it. What was it! But the feeling started to fade, like when she was asleep. Was she asleep? But image finally disappeared and she opened her eyes. Above her was the opening up to the moon. The cavern was dark again, no sign of the symbols she had seen or the sounds she had heard. It was just a dark cavern, with only her dying torch as light.

She tried to get up but she couldn't move. It was as if all her energy had been lifted out of her. But she still was scared. Here, she was safe. Nothing could harm her here. Soon the normal sounds of the night came down to her from the opening. Crickets, owls, nightingales, and the occational howl of a wolf. Her eyes slowly closed, her mind drifting off into sleep. But this time, the dream did not come. She had gone past her dream, and could now only wait until it came to her of its own will.

Back in camp, the party informed the rest of the village that the kitten had been found and was not injured. The Healer was called to check on any internal ijuries that the kitten may have gotten from a fall, but she could find none. She leaned over and shook the kitten slightly.

"Katarina. Katarina, wake up please."

But there was no responce from the kitten. The Healer looked dismayed for a moment, and looked her over again for any signs of stings or small bites. She feared the kitten had been poisoned due to her lack of responce. But again, no wounds were found. She tried to stir the kitten again but there was no waking her up. Katarina's mother was fearful but the Healer reassured her that her daughter was simply asleep, a very deep sleep. There was nothing to do now but wait until the kitten woke up.

Katarina's mother picked up her sleeping child and headed back for her home. Once there, she placed her child into her bed. She had been checked and no wounds either external or internal had been found. But they could not explain the deep sleep the kitten was now in. Her mother hadn't told them of the strange dreams the kitten had been having, her only concern was her kitten's safety. Taking a seat next to the black cougar, she prepared herself for the rest of the night. She would wait until morning if she had to, but she would be there when Katarina awoke.