Willowpaw's Moonstone Journey

“Okay...” Willowpaw said cautiously. She didn’t quite believe Dacedream, but she took it for granted anyways. “I was just worried is all.” She said. Now she suspected something about Rainstrike. Suddenly, the world around her blurred dizzyingly. Willowpaw blinked, slightly confused. She checked her wounds again, to see if it was her, or that something was wrong.

Dacedream was relieved that Willowpaw didn't press further. She didn't want her fears to be correct about Rainstrike. She didn't want to turn anyone against their Clanmate, especially if she was wrong. What if Rainstrike really had just been afraid? The world flashed then, and Dacedream realized with a start that their time together in StarClan was coming to an end. Her starry form began to fade and flicker, and she meowed gently to Willowpaw, "It's okay. You're just going back to Mossbloom is all." She dipped her head as it faded, and she said, "Be safe, Willowpaw. It's good to be worried sometimes. It can keep you out of danger. I am on your side, little sapling." Then she was gone, and Willowpaw was waking up.

Willowpaw blinked slowly, waking up as if from a dream. She was still laying on the ground, near the glowing Moonstone. Dacedream had disappeared, and now she was back in the real world. “Mossbloom? Let’s go back now...” Willowpaw called out, padding towards the medicine cat.

As the apprentice stirred, Mossbloom looked up and stood. Nodding, the medicine cat silently led the way back out of the caverns, and to the chilly air. The sun would be rising soon, but they had a long journey ahead of them still until it did. She lay her tail across the she-cat's shoulders gently, giving her a small, reassuring nod before the two set off towards ThunderClan's forest in the distance.

Willowpaw’s eyes dropped slightly. “Poor...Dacedream...why...didn’t...Rainstrike...help...her...?” She yawned, trailing off. Her paws were exhausted. “Mossbloom? Did you know...that...?” Her eyes were eyes were now half lidded. Luckily, the arrived at camp already. “Night...Mossbloom...” Willowpaw collapsed onto her next, sleep claiming her immediately.

Confusion covered Mossbloom's eyes at the apprentice's words. Rainstrike? Dacedream? Ah, she must have spoken to Dacedream. Why didn't Rainstrike help her? Well, Rainstrike had brought the queen's body back, and said she arrived too late, and was outmatched. What was this now about not helping? Before she could ask anything, Willowpaw was asleep peacefully. Her eyes narrowed as she gazed at the slumbering apprentice, a small voice whispering in her head. What had Rainstrike done, or not done rather, that day? As she padded towards her own nest, curling up in it, she told herself that she would ask another day, when Willowpaw wasn't so tired.