Harepaw's Moonstone Journey

It had been a little over a quarter moon since Pricklepaw had last asked him to once again take his place and lead an apprentice to the Moonstone, but as always, Leopardstar had no objection.  He relished the long trek across WindClan's moorland, the raw energy summoned by the traveling herbs he had just consumed always making him feel younger then he was, strengthening his aging limbs and joints.  He was not an old cat per se...just, experienced.  Or at least that was what he chose to tell himself; most of the warriors were less than half his age.  As he settled down next to the entrance to the gorse tunnel to wait for the young tom he was escorting today, he reflected on this fact for a moment, before brushing it aside.  Every cat grows old eventually, it's not something we can avoid.  Besides, any clan cat that lives to see their muzzle go gray should be thankful.

Harepaw was filled with an uncomfortable energy that felt like it was sloshing around in his belly. 'I'm gonna be sick...' The nasty herbs didn't help, either, and his lips were still pulled back in disgust at the taste. He padded to the entrance a little while after Leopardstar, having needed extra prodding from Pricklepaw to get going. The medicine cat apprentice was kind of scary, though, so he was glad to be in the company of the mighty leader on his Moonstone journey. Maybe. The whole affair was rather scary even though he knew every apprentice did this before they could become warriors. At least it was a sign of faith that the leader thought Harepaw might actually be a warrior soon. So he was caught in this gross mix of excitement and anticipation and nervousness at what he would witness at the Moonstone and fear that somehow he'd let Leopardstar down and that StarClan would look at him with disgust and...

Harepaw was completely silent, lost in his thoughts, but his rapidly changing expression and distant gaze easily gave away the fears he was trying to hide in his mind.

Leopardstar's attention was caught by the soft sound of approaching pawsteps, and his black-tipped ears twitched as he turned to greet his young companion with a faint yet friendly smile; instantaneously though, he noticed just how...apprehensive Harepaw seemed.  He wasn't particularly surprised by this reaction though since throughout the ruddy-pelted tom's training he had always seemed a bit more hesitant than other cats his age, more easily scared.  That was one of the reasons the leader had decided to leave him behind for the battle against Lichenmask; that, and the fact that he hadn't wanted to take any of the apprentices to such a gory show of aggression in the first place.  In the end, though, they had all come out of the war with a renewed bravery and resolve...would Harepaw have benefited in the same way if given the chance?  Or would seeing such horrid scenes have set him back even more?

"Good morning, Harepaw.  Are you ready to set out?"  His voice was a bit softer than usual when he addressed soon-to-be warriors, which he instantly regretted.  I shouldn't be treating this tom like a green apprentice...he needs to decide to become stronger, to face whatever fears have possessed him.  With a brisk shake of his dewy pelt, the big spotted tabby tom rose to his paws and lashed his lengthy tail, meeting Harepaw's gaze with questioning hazel eyes.  Lets see where this day takes us.

His focus was caught by Leopardstar's voice, deep and yet somehow gentle. The lanky apprentice snapped to attention and gave his best confident smile, which was perhaps a bit too toothy and certainly very awkward. "Y-yes sir, Leopardstar! Whenever you are, sir!" He meowed, overtaken a bit by awe. He hadn't spent a lot of time with the leader, but Harepaw thought he was pretty cool and brave and wise... everything the apprentice wished he could be. His mind wandered briefly, and he pondered if Leopardstar had always been that way or if he'd had to learn it. But his thoughts returned to the task they had to deal with, and once again anxiety began gnawing at him like fleas. He found himself pacing, as he normally did when fearing for the future, and tried to sit still and prove that he could be patient.

Despite the obvious signals of the younger tom's worry, Leopardstar returned Harepaw's strained smile with a slightly doubtful grin, flicking his black-tipped ears as he meowed; "Good, let's go then."  Whipping around, the big spotted tom pushed through the thorny gorse barrier and led the way up the steep walls of the ravine.  Checking briefly to make sure Harepaw had not fallen behind, he set out at a steady trotting gait, hazel eyes narrowing in concentration.

~TIMESKIP~

At long last, the two cats rounded the final hill and came within sight of Highstones, it's rocky cliffs looming over them as if trying to dissuade travelers from discovering the many mysteries kept beneath its expanse of earth.  Leopardstar came to a halt in front of the gaping cave entrance that they called Mothermouth, and looked back to address Harepaw.  "We made good time, the sun's only just begun to set.  If you need to rest, do it now before we enter."

He was giddy the whole trip, suddenly feeling the energy the of the herbs and wishing they could outright run the whole way instead of trotting steadily along. It was perhaps best that they maintained their speed, though, because Harepaw tripped enough times over his newly-long legs to make a fish out of water look graceful. He sheepishly trailed behind Leopardstar, hoping the older tom didn't see him stumble as much as he did. He got away mostly unharmed by his clumsiness except for a single wrenched claw that plagued him the rest of the journey.

Although he'd lost a quite bit of steam by the time they'd reached their destination, Harepaw's ever mounting anxiety kept him on his aching paws. The clashing feelings were starting to come to a head within his chest and stomach, and he pulled a face of obvious concern, at once desiring to turn tail and run home yet also to run right into the cave. He couldn't take this any longer! "I don't think I need to rest, Leopardstar, sir." He meowed, throat tight and tail lashing. A third desire to stop and soothe his claw bounced around in the back of his mind, but it was entirely inconsequential to him at the moment.

For a long moment, Leopardstar cast an unreadable glance over his young companion before finally nodding, turning his squinted eyes onward to the night-like path ahead.  He noticed the way Harepaw had been stepping tenderly ever since one of his many stumbles but decided not to bring it up; if he wanted to go on despite an injury, why should he stop him?  When he becomes a warrior, he'll have to fight on against much more than just an injured paw...we all must learn how to keep walking, even in times of pain.

So, the two ThunderClanners began their downward descent into the tunnels of Mothermouth, the large golden tom maneuvering through the darkness on a path he knew now by heart.  Letting his whiskers and tail tip brush the cold stone walls, he guided Harepaw through narrow and wide passages alike, until at long last a flash of light beamed through the musty gloom.  With a smile, Leopardstar ushered Harepaw ahead of him as they emerged into the Moonstone cavern, a large space with a brilliant white crystal standing near the center.  A small hole in the roof high above allowed moonlight to enter, which reflected onto the stone's many surfaces, creating a beautiful holy glow that enveloped everything in the vicinity.  The ThunderClan leader's spotted pelt almost washed white, his deep voice reverberated off the walls; "Harepaw, lay down and touch your nose to the Moonstone.  StarClan will grant you sleep, so that one of their own may enter your dreams and speak to you.  I'll be here when you wake up."

Harepaw grew more alarmed the longer Leopardstar simply stared at him with an expression he couldn't read. Would the leader turn and refuse to let him complete the task? The thought made Harepaw's gut clench. To have traveled all this way and gotten so close just to be denied...

Finally Leopardstar nodded and led him into the cave, and much of the tension that had built up in his body was released. Now the lanky tom was just tired, exhaustion weighing down his limbs and straining at his muscles with every step. It was hard to feel fearful when all he wanted was to lay in his nest for the rest of his life. He ignored his wrenched claw as they maneuvered the tunnel passages, and he couldn't help but feel some wonder tug at him despite his desire to sleep. He tried to stay close to Leopardstar, but not too close. He didn't want things to be any more awkward than he'd already made them.

The wash of bright light surprised him, and he had to look away so his eyes could adjust to the change before he could look back at the Moonstone. It was strikingly beautiful, and reverence seized Harepaw like prey in a fox's jaws. He always loved the stories of StarClan and mourned their absence when Lichenmask hid the stars away. Now he was actually going to speak with one?! He was at once fearful and excited, the buzz from earlier coming back but completely renewed. He glanced at Leopardstar for reassurance, then followed his instructions and laid down in front of the bright rock. He hesitated only a moment before touching his nose to the Moonstone, and when he opened his eyes not more than a heartbeat later, he found himself standing in the starry plains of his ancestors, eyes wide and mouth hanging open.

Specklefang seemed to apparate right in front of Harepaw, green eyes narrowed and pinning the young apprentice in his place. She scrutinized the tom, her lip curling in distaste, "You're a puny little thing, aren't you?" She snarked.

Harepaw was startled by the spectral cat's sudden appearance. He cowered, unsure how to deal with this stranger, and backed away a few steps. He dipped his head low, and after an uncomfortably long hesitation mewed, "G-greetings... I'm Harepaw, apprentice of ThunderClan..." Was that the right thing to say? She already seemed to dislike him. She was big and very scary. 'I'm not that small... am I?' he thought to himself, a bit indignant about being insulted by some dead cat he hadn't ever met before. But this was StarClan, the ancestors, the ones who guided from beyond. He was committed to showing them respect even when it seemed unfair. Harepaw really didn't deserve respect, in retrospect. Still a bit fearful, the tom stood a bit taller and addressed her again. "Do you have guidance for me?" Perhaps his meow was just a squeak, but the fact that he willed himself to say anything in the first place was a historical occurrence.