Myrtlepaw's Moonstone Journey

Despite the hopes of the clan, the leaf-bare had refused to loosen its grip on the forest. Hunting was still difficult, and snow covered the ground, making the upcoming journey to highstones even more difficult. Muddythorn crept into the apprentices' den, searching for Myrtlepaw's fluffy pelt in the gloom. Once he located the apprentice, he quietly nudged him awake. "Myrtlepaw, it's time to go! I'm outside when you're ready." He exited, careful not to trip over the sleeping bodies. How to not wake sleeping cats was one of those skills he'd picked up from being a medicine cat, one that was completely unexpected but certainly very useful. If only the same thing could apply when it came to his struggles with early mornings.

He waited outside with the herb bundle, greeting Myrtlepaw as he stepped out into camp. "The herbs are to keep your strength up and so that you don't get hungry." Like many other times recently, Muddythorn himself had had less than he normally would, in a final effort to conserve his resources.

---

Before long, mothermouth was ahead, up the treacherous slope that scared Muddythorn every time he had to clamber up it in the frost. It was worth it for what the caverns held, however. "Okay, here we are!" He said cheerily, with energy that had somehow remained after the hike. "The tunnels are really dark, so stay close - grab onto my tail if you need to. Once we get to the moonstone, lay down beside at you'll quickly fall asleep. Good luck!" Speech done, he led the way into the dark.

Myrtlepaw woke to the sound of a gentle prod, his head raising rather quickly. It was surprisingly simple to rouse the tom from his rest, despite the appearance that he was almost dead in his sleep. Turning towards the medicine cat, he gave a nod. With a large stretch, the fluffy tom found himself outside of the den. Finding Muddythorn, he gave a brief dip of his head in respect. With the herbs before him, it took a moment of strength before he quickly scarfed them down. His upper lip curled rather unappealingly at their taste, but it was worth it. "I'm ready." the young tom commented.

Feeling a shockingly little amount of weariness creeping into his otherwise youthful frame, it was as if a second win rushed through the tom as he was told they had made it to mothermouth. He had never been to the moonstone before, and since Muddythorn had been there many times, Myrtlepaw was grateful for the guide. "Thank you." He said quickly, following the other tom inside. It was quite dark, but he kept close enough to be able to sense Muddythorn's tail with his whiskers. Upon reaching the moonstone, he had to blink with surprise. It was beautiful. Did the medicine cats really get to come here every month?

Closing his gaping maw, he settled down next to the stone. It was times like these he was grateful for his thick pelt, which saved him from cold such as what would otherwise be nipping at him now. Gently, he lowered his head and pressed his nose to the stone, feeling the cold jolt through him as he closed his eyes.

When they next opened, he found himself in an entirely new forest, yet familiar at the same time. It was Skyclan's territory during Greenleaf, vibrantly warm and beautiful. The grass faded in and out with the appearance of stars, and he felt guided to move forwards.

A brown tabby with a white underbelly sat between two tall trees, seeming to beckon the young apprentice in. Her gaze seemed hard, seasoned in her stature.

"H-Hello?" Myrtlepaw finally called out, wanting to know just who it was Starclan seemed to find it fit to send before him.

The whiskers of the other cat twitched as they studied him, and she continued to sit in her place. "I am Coldheart, a deputy of SkyClan many, many moons ago." She stated simply, her tone lined with a twinge of ice. It was only welcoming in the sense that they were clanmates, despite dozens of moons separating their existence.

"Is there something I am to know before I become a warrior?" The young tom prompted, shyly taking a seat. He felt an urge to respect the presence that Coldheart held, to watch as it seemed she commanded the ground close to her. However, he didn't want to waste her time, and so he cut to the chace.

"What do you believe you will do as a warrior?" She turned the question, flicking her tail in what seemed to be annoyance. However, it woudl be this prompt that Coldheart brought that would turn Myrtlepaw to reflect. What his answer was would decide her advice.

As such, the tom averted his gaze. His ears pinned back slightly as he was forced to think. He wanted to be able to say he would fight for his clan, to make everyone proud. To provide lots of kill for the clan to feast. But it was a promise that he couldn't make. A sigh, the young tom had to admit defeat. "I don't know."

The blue gaze of the she-cat before him seemed to only harden even more. "Then perhaps you should seek the life of another. SkyClan does not need weak warriors who do not know where to place their paws." Her words seemed laced with venom, but there was a suggestion to them. Whether or not the tom would catch and heed it, only time would tell.

"May you find your path, child." She said, as she finally rose from her place to fade into the stars of the forest.

The tom was left feeling confused, almost hurt by her words. He knew he was weak, but still wanted to serve his clan with every inch of his being. What would he be able to do?