He had been dreaming, lost in a world somewhere where hopes and dreams collided with the most subtle hints of reality. Somewhere, in this mysterious, surreal landscape where mist swirled through the pines and moonlight dappled the ground in a soft glow he had seen her. At first it had been only a flicker of soft white fur, a sweet scent lingering just out of reach, just out of sight. Then a light purr, the sound heavenly and welcome to lonesome ears. The gentle sounds of pawsteps thrummed softly over sweet pine bedding, a hushed blanket that lay thick on the forest ground. He was running, muscles rippling under a brilliant black and white spangled pelt, desperately chasing after the shadow of the cat he had adored since he had first insulted her at a Gathering long before - though hadn't let himself admit it publicly. But it didn't mean he couldn't dream, couldn't long for her like a flower reached for the sun.

    A flash of white caught brilliant green eyes, and the hefty tom pushed through the undergrowth, revealing a dreamlike clearing bathed in a soft milky glow. Star shaped flowers dotted the clearing, a soft purple with centers of pure white, as if they had fallen from silverpelt itself. Moss crept onto seemingly iridescent stone slabs that surrounded the clearing with a solid barrier, and the sweet scent of honey lingered in the air. But he didn't notice any of this ethereal beauty. He saw only her.

    She was perched regally on one of the center stones, her soft white and gray fur shimmering in the moonlight. She was beautiful, more gorgeous than any star in the sky. Everything in the world was inferior to her - unmatched, though he was sure all the stars and moon tried desperately to reach her pristine state, though they too fell short. Much too short to even hope to realize the pureness, the flawlessness of the she-cat who they so desperately bowed to, worshipped. Even the sun's brilliance had met its match.

    Her fur was silky, feathery, accented with intricate silvery stripes and swirls, her tail rested serenely beside perfectly formed paws. Her chest was held high with pride - pride well deserved, for none could hope to meet her beauty, her grace. Her pride that she so commanded be honored. And he was lost in her eyes, deep pools of blue sparkling with the light of the moon and sun combined.

    "Talonstar..." he whispered, his voice barely a whisper on the light breeze, leaving his muzzle with the softness of a newly budded violet's petals, for nothing less was worthy of her notice. It was as if he was in a trance, gazing up at her with moons of adoration shimmering deep in vivid green eyes. He felt his heartbeat quicken, a deep thrumming sensation, growing stronger, faster, the longer he gazed upon her flawless form. His heart felt as if it would burst from his chest, for no mere simple container could withold his pure passion, adoration that seemed to radiate from him with the strength of the greenleaf sun. No cat could ever match her. Nothing could even dare try.

    "Hemlockstar."

    Her voice was like honey on the night air, so sweet and delicate it was as if he could taste it on his tongue. She had spoken his name. Never before had 'Hemlockstar', a name full of ferocity, harshness, a name meant to kill...sounded so perfect, gentle. He would forever treasure the simple words that seemed to leave her with such ease, such grace, locked for eternity in his memory. Her eyes were locked with his, and he felt himself moving towards her, his movements fluid as he leapt up beside her on the slab of stone, feeling humbled by her presence. She was more brilliant than any cat of StarClan, for stars seemed to shimmer in her fur, the moon was locked in her eyes. And at last he could tell her, promise her his heart. "Talonstar," he mewed, closing his eyes and reaching forward to press his nose against hers, wrapped in her sweet, mountainous scent. "I..."

With a flash the illusion faded, and the large tom was no longer in the serene woods of his dream. Instead of pressing his nose to hers, which he had been a heartbeat away from doing, he found his muzzle shoved against the side of the HighClan warrior's den, the chill of frozen stone seeping into his skin, his thick fur on end to combat the chill. Vibrant green eyes were narrowed as he gave himself a vigorous shake, causing his long pelt to fall into place, and he found himself unbelievably irritable as he clung on to the last remaining bits of his dream. Once more commanding a regal posture, he strode out of the warrior's den, squinting against the brilliant mountain sun. He felt his heart skip a beat as he spotted Talonstar perched upon the leader's rock, giving orders to surrounding, attentive HighClanners, and he felt a sigh escape from his chest as he gazed upon her, figure just as flawless as in his dreamscape. She was so perfect, so unworthy of any cat's gaze upon her. He gazed over the camp, searching out his warriors, though a quiet promise echoed in his mind.

Next time.