Fawnkit's Medicine Cat Apprentice Ceremony

Dovefrost had decided. Even if the kit's appearance was a little strange. Fawnkit was going to be his next apprentice, she had shown an interest in herbs. Exploring his den with curiosity, listening to his herb rambles intently. She was showing all good signs of becoming a wonderful medicine cat. He had already approached Stoatstar with such, claiming he would take her to the Moonstone to become his apprentice.

He approached the nursery, knowing Fawnkit was one of the last of the siblings to leave it. "Fawnkit, can you come out here for a moment?" Once she had approached, he continued speaking. "Fawnkit. I know you haven't had an apprentice ceremony yet, but there is a good reason for that. I wish to take you on as my apprentice, for you to become a medicine cat apprentice. Do you wish to follow this path with me?" He asked her, hoping she would agree.

Fawnkit began to worry. She had watched from the distance as her sisters and brothers had their apprentice ceremonies — starting with Darkpaw, then Comfreypaw. They were all a tad bit older than her then, though now she was just the same age as them! Yet still, her apprentice ceremony hasn't arrived. And so, with circling thoughts, she rested herself inside her nest.. though not being able to sleep. "Fawnkit, can you come out here for a moment?"  Wait, why was Dovefrost calling for her? She wasn't ill, nor injured. With a flick of her tail, she nodded, ducking as she made her way outside to the medicine cat.

"...I wish to take you on as my apprentice, for you to become a medicine cat apprentice. Do you wish to follow this path with me?"

She blinked. Wait, what? She? as a medicine cat apprentice? Fawnkit squinted her eyes, then opened them again, thinking maybe she's misheard it— but no, she wasn't! Dovefrost sat still, waiting for her answer, and a moment, she froze. She liked finding out about herbs, they were such a mystery! ...But she wasn't sure if she wanted to become a medicine cat, either. Though Dovefrost himself has already asked her! She couldn't miss this chance!

Fawnkit took in a deep breath. No, she had to accept this. "I do, Dovefrost!" Thinking of all the opportunities laid ready for her in front of her eyes, she willingly took it. Until the future arrives, she wouldn't know what'd be coming for her.

Doevfrost nodded, relieved to hear her agree to becoming his apprentice. "Alright, then I need to take you to the Moonstone and present you to Starclan." He told her. He had prepared the herbs before hand just in case, she had agreed. If she hadn't they could always be sorted back into their rightful spots. He quickly grabbed the bundle of herbs before placing it in front of her.

"Eat these, and then we can get going." They had a little bit of wiggle room time wise, but they still needed to get going.

"Presenting.. me? To StarClan? Oh, that's so grand, Dovefrost!" She chirped, before gazing down to the herb bundle prepared for her. With a nod, Fawnkit chewed the herbs, then swallowed it, attempting not to scrunch her nose at the unfamiliar bitterness some of it carried. Once she was done, she stood, looking up to Dovefrost. "I'm ready to go, now."

Dovefrost let out a small hum as she said she was ready to go. "Follow me then." He told her before heading for the camp exit. They should make good time, the Moonstone would be shining brightly by the time they arrived.

--

The white tom was quick to dive into the dark tunnel that was mother mouth, chirping back a quick order of "Stay close." To his current apprentice. She could follow his scent, or keep track of the tip of his tail. Eventually the darkness let up to a brightly lit cavern. The Moonstone shown in all it's brilliance.

The white tom stopped in front of the stone, turning to face Fawnkit who lingered behind him. "Fawnkit, from now on, you will be known as Fawnpaw. From here on, you will be entering the mysteries of Starclan and learn the way of the medicine cat." He told her. "When you are ready, press your nose to the stone, and Starclan will speak to you in your dreams."

The trek to the Moonstone was long and unfamiliar, though thanks to the herbs Dovefrost had handed her, the hunger was at least suppressed for a while. As they entered the Mothermouth, Fawnkit couldn't help but feel anxious. It was so dark in there! Though soon, the sight of a glowing light— which she presumed as the Moonstone's, grew larger and larger, and the she-kit began to ease. However, the moment she saw the illuminating stone, Fawnkit gasped. "This.. is the Moonstone?"

She once again looked to the medicine cat, ears swiveled high as she listened for her new name. Fawnpaw! Her heart was racing, and with a small nod, she'd approach the Moonstone. Fawnpaw leaned forward to touch her nose with it, and a shiver ran down her back as her nose met the stone's surface. Blinking slowly, the young she-cat lay down, drifting off to a deep sleep...

---

As her vision shifted from the cave's background to a strange dream instead, the apprentice squinted her eyes, before opening them. Was.. this supposed to be StarClan? The seemingly endless blank space stretched afar, and all she could see was not starry plains as everyone else described, but.. pitch black. She blinked, waiting for the space to transform into what she imagined to be StarClan, and still, she waited and waited.. but it remained unchanging. Darkness. It felt as if a black canvas has swallowed her whole, and even as she called out for someone, there was no contact. Was it.. supposed to always be like this?

"StarClan? Someone? Hello..?"

Her voice began to echo out, and as it faded, her vision blurred.. and once again, she awoke, now back to the cave. Despite her relatively positive attitude earlier, the moment she awoke, she felt.. confused and frustrated, rather than pleased. She only had more answers to StarClan, as they didn't reply to her calls. Has something happened to them?