Sunpaw and Daypaw's Moonstone Journey

Oddly enough, through the mass of pelts of unfamiliar cats, Tinystar didn't have much trouble finding his family, who were all huddled next to each other. Tip-toeing and weaving his way through the resting crowd, he made it to his kits. Prodding Sunpaw and Daypaw's sides, the little leader made his way back through the crowd and stood near the edge, waiting for them to wake up. In the distance, the sun began to rise, just barely illuminating the once dark, dreary sky. With so much going on, one might have not even though about taking apprentices on their moonstone journey, but with everything subject to change without a moments noticed, the SkyClan leader decided that he wanted to get his kits their warrior names as soon as possible, before something happened that would keep them from earning their much deserved ranks.

~~~~~

Having been fast asleep and warmed by his mother and sister's pelts, Sunpaw woke with a jolt. Lifting his long-necked head, he blinked his groggy eyes and looked above the crowd to see his father standing at the edge of the sleeping bodies. What in StarClan's name could Tinystar want at a time like this? Didn't he understand that everyone needed their rest after such events? Letting out a yawn, he twitched his large ears. Whatever the reason was, it must have been a good one, so he wasn't going to complain. Well, at least not aloud.

Standing up, the abnormally tall apprentice made his way through the crowd, his limber legs still a bit wobbly from sleep. "What is it?" he said through another yawn as he looked down to his father, who looked like he could've used some sleep himself.

Daypaw shifted as she felt a light nudge. She felt Sunpaw moving beside her and she raised her head to see Tinystar's small form retreat and then stop near the edge of the group of cats. There was barely any light in the sky yet - couldn't he have just let them sleep for a little bit longer? It was too early for whatever he wanted them for. She suppressed a yawn and with a glance at her brother, she got to her paws.

Navigating the crowd of both familiar and unfamiliar cats proved difficult, but she reached her father without awaking anyone else. She blinked blurriness from her eyes, focusing on her father in the pale morning light. "Yeah, what is it?" she mumbled, echoing Sunpaw's question.

Glad to see both of his kits standing before him in a timely manner, Tinystar gave them each a nod, a smile on his muzzle. "You both are going on your Moonstone Journey," he purred. With that, he turned around and made his way towards Mother Mouth, which was only a foxlength or two away. "Stay close to me," he whispered over his shoulder. Making his way into the dimly lit cave, the trio was soon in complete darkness. Luckily for him, this was an instance where his size gave him an advantage, for he didn't have to worry about crouching down or hitting his head on the ceiling above the narrowing tunnel.

After a few moments of walking in silence, they reached the bottom, where the slight glow of the Moonstone was in view. "Here we are," Tinystar mewed. Taking his place by the wall of the wave, he pointed his nose to the stone. "When you're ready, touch your nose to the stone and you'll fall asleep," he finished and let the apprentices take it from there. Hopefully, Sunpaw wouldn't be too afraid of doing such a simple task, but anything was possible....

~~~~~

Turning to look at his sister with a curious yet unsure look, the tall, lean apprentice followed his father into the tunnel. Of course he absolutely hated walking in complete darkness, especially with the musky, stale scent quickly enclosing around him, but taking in a deep breath, he focused on Tinystar's familiar scent which was in front of him.

Soon enough, they made it to what was most likely the Moonstone. Turning in the direction of his father's voice, he swallowed the lump in his throat. What if they didn't wake up after falling asleep? What if they met a cat in StarClan that they didn't want to see? Taking a few moments to contemplate all of the horrible possibilities that could happen, he watched as Daypaw laid down and fell asleep. Well, he couldn't let her go alone, even if he was afraid.

Laying down, he touched his nose to the damp stone, which sent a shiver up his spine before he fell asleep. 'Please StarClan, keep us safe,' he prayed to himself one last time before he drifted away to the land of the stars...

Daypaw gave Sunpaw a reassuring smile as they headed into the cave. Her pawsteps were confident, even in the darkness. How many apprentices had walked this path before her? She could almost feel her steps falling into rhythm with theirs. This was the only task that lay between her and she and Sunpaw's warrior ceremony, and she was sure that this was something she could handle.

They soon reached a larger chamber with an unnatural-looking stone at the center. She eyed it curiously as Tinystar gave them instructions, and did not hesitate to approach the stone when he finished. Without a glance back at him, she lay beside the stone and pressed her nose to its smooth, cold surface. She slipped into sleep, only to awake again moments later surrounded by stars.

Waking up among the stars, Sunpaw stood up and gave his pelt a shake, which sent stardust flying every which way. So this is what StarClan was like... it was certainly beautiful and surprisingly not as dark and frightening as he'd imagined. Looking around, the young tom's eyes fell on another cat that stood in the distance. Was is a StarClan cat? No... that pelt was all too familiar.

"Daypaw!" Sunpaw called out as he began to run towards his sister. He had no idea they would see each other up in this unfamiliar place but couldn't have been more overjoyed to see his sibling. "I'm so glad we're here together," the tall tom purred as he nudged the side of his sister's cheek. He didn't even need nor really want to talk to a StarClan cat now that they were together.

Daypaw stood, the ground of StarClan soft beneath her feet. She gazed around at the star-specked landscape, and to her surprise, she noticed another cat close enough to make out. "Sunpaw?" she asked loudly, although she instantly recognized his figure. She trotted closer, squinting in the dimness. "Do cats usually come here... together?" But it didn't matter, she was glad to have her brother here in the unknown with her. "Me, too," she replied, rubbing her cheek to his.

She looked around again, scanning the area once again. The stars had not faded, so they were certainly still in StarClan. "I wonder if who's coming to talk to us?" She tried to ignore the nagging feeling that maybe someone wasn't coming to talk to them. "Are you nervous, Sunpaw?" she asked, but she knew the answer. "Don't be. We're here, and we're together, and some dumb dead cat is running late." She smirked at her own remark, letting her smile slip through in hopes that it would spread to Sunpaw.

Listening to her question, Sunpaw nodded his head and was about to answer, but luckily for him, the answer was obvious enough that no words were needed from him. Looking around, he wondered where the StarClan cat was that they were supposed to talk to. Did StarClan cats even run late? It didn't seem like something that was possible, but who knew. At this point, anything might as well have been possible, seeing as though they were together in the land of stars for Silverpelt's sake.

ooc; if you would be able to... please let me know in your responses what wisdom you'd like shared~

Siblings. Now, that was something new. For moons since his passing, and since the loss of his former apprentice who had been condemned to an afterlife in the mist, the leader had retreated to the background of Starclan. He simply mused over a world in which he had no control. To say that Rippedstar had committed himself to a life of bliss and ignorance could not have been further from the truth. His paws had itched to rejoin the living and serve Skyclan to the best of his ability. Accepting that fate had been difficult. Accepting the fate of Sedgestrike had been agonizing. Cherrymist and the rest of his kin here had provided a sense of solace, and with that, he made the decision not to meddle for some time. The living had their own business to attend to.

But when the opportunity to speak to Tinystar's kits presented itself, Rippedstar knew there was no other option. It had saddened and frustrated him to merely sit by as events unfolded in the clan that he beloved. Tinystar had been a devoted and loyal senior warrior for so long, and despite their difference initially, had grown to be a trusted advisor. Seeing the tom set for somewhere so off course the path that both he and Poplarstar had tried to lay for the future of the clan, culminating in the murder of an apprentice, had lit a fire underneath his paws. A feeling he had not known for some time.

For a moment, he simply watched the apprentices. Neither Daypaw or Sunpaw seemed to have an ill-willed bone in their bodies. Much like Tinystar once had been, being known for his hard-working and cheerful disposition. Curiosity finally drew Rippedstar from the bushes. His blue gaze was friendly, and despite likely looking quite the character with his stoic expression and scar-marred maw, an equally as warm smile tugged at the edges of his features. The tom had never been imposing or impressive in life. He was big or particularly strong as the other leaders had been in his lifetime. There was no special tabby marking to his coat, or other interesting features. He wore a black and white pelt without a pattern, branded by the scars of many battles.

"Welcome to Starclan, Sunpaw, and Daypaw. I'm glad that despite circumstances your paws were able to find their way here. My name is Rippedstar. I lead Skyclan before your father's predecessor."

Standing around for a few more moments, Sunpaw turned his gaze when his peripheral vision caught sight of a cat approaching them. Tail tucked under his hind quarters, he pressed himself against Daypaw's pelt starry pelt. Listening to the tom, what he said peaked his curiosity. He hadn't heard much of Rippedstar, other than he was originally a WindClan cat. Of course, this brought up the question of how a WindClan cat was able to become a SkyClan leader, but he wouldn't dare ask something of the sorts, much less speak much at all.

"H-hello," the tall tom mumbled, barely audible as he turned his light amber gaze down to his paws so that he wouldn't get caught staring at Rippedstar's scars, most likely from battle. A cat covered in such defined marks... He must have been through a lot in his life. Hopefully he gained them from being a loyal leader and defending his clan.

ooc; it would be great if he could talk to her about having self control and being a little more patient :)

Daypaw turned to see another starry pelt approaching. "Rippedstar," she repeated to herself quietly. She had heard his name many a time while cleaning out the elders' den and running errands to the nursery. He had been leader before Tinystar and Poplarstar, it seemed. His pelt was marked with the echoes of what must have been many battles, like a map of his story.

"Hello, Rippedstar," she greeted him, laying her tail on Sunpaw's back both protectively and reassuringly. She could tell that Rippedstar was there for the right reason, and that he was no threat to them, but still she had an urge to make sure Sunpaw felt safe."What have you come to tell us?" Her ear flicked with curiosity.

Ooc; i am so sorry for the late response! dead computer and crazy busy has made posting haaaard

"You both are exceptional young cats, duty bound to the clan you were born into. That is a wonderful gift to have. I look forward to seeing the places you'll go." His blue eyes bore into them curiously, reading their expressions and noting the dynamic shared in their sibling bond. What Sunpaw had in size, he lacked in bravery. And Daypaw seemed to have no problem striving to make up for that gap. Rippedstar's tail twitched for a second, soaking in the silence as his mind churned. What he could say could potentially impact the lives of these apprentices, and the clan he had once lead. They were the future of Skyclan. His whiskers flicked slightly as his maw moved to conjure up the words from his mouth, "Patience, Daypaw. The very thing you've come here lacking. Take time to wait, to listen, and to exercise self control." While the words were light, there was a graveness underneath as a caution. Sedgestrike had been lacking in similar areas, ones he had never learned to correct, and his erratic behavior had prevented him from joining the ranks of Starclan and fulfilling a destiny that he could have very well make his own.

"And Sunpaw... your sister won't always be here to protect you. You must think for yourself, create your own destiny, and find comfort in no cat's presence other than your own. Both of you can bring so much to Skyclan. Never let your loyalty cloud your judgement." Rippedstar nodded to them each before turning back to Starclan and leaving them to return to their father.

Listening to what Rippedstar said, Sunpaw's abnormally large ears grew hot with embarrassment. If only he was the size of a mouse, then cats wouldn't expect him to be some big, strong warrior. casting a glance in Daypaw's direction, she didn't seem one bit phased by what the starry pelted leader had said. Typical.

Watching as the leader began to fade away, the star-lit plains that surrounded them also grew dimmer and darker by the second. Opening his eyes, part of him wondered if he was actually awake yet, seeing as though the entirety of the cavern was dark, but lifting his head, the moonstone still glowed, giving off the faintest light just enough so that he could see his tiny father's resting pelt in the corner.

"T-tinystar," the meek tom mewed softly, prodding the leader's side with a large paw. Once his sister joined them and their father rose to his paws, the trio began their trek back up the tunnel and towards home. StarClan was sure an interesting place with many interesting cats and hopefully he would join them in the far future when he passed.