Sootpaw's Moonstone Journey

Another one of Mapleleaf's kits was ready to go to the moonstone. After her journey with Sleepypaw, Sleepycloud, this trip didn't seem as terrifying. Of course, she knew that not every kit would share the laid-back warrior's views on her. But it was knowing Mapleleaf forgave her for what happened that made this easier. Slowly but surely, she would be able to move on and grow.

Dropping the bundle of traveling herbs at Sootpaw's paws, Dovesight offered a smile to the apprentice. "Whenever you're ready, we can go."

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Leading Sootpaw through mothermouth, the pair made their way to the moonstone. "When you're ready, touch your nose to it, and StarClan will greet you. I will be here when you wake up."

Sootpaw nodded, eating up the herbs like Dovesight told him to, trying not to recoil from the taste. Once he finally managed to get over the taste he nodded to the Medicine cat, and was ready to follow her to the Moonstone.

The stone was huge. Bigger than what he was expecting. He didn't know if he could do this... What waited for him on the other side? Would he see his mother? "I.." He wanted to voice some of his concerns but with this he felt he just needed to brave up and do it. "Okay." The tom approached the stone, settled down with his nose pressed to it and fell asleep.

While the late warrior had passed long before she likely should have, it was by the grace of the rest of Starclan that it wouldn’t be the last time she got to see her growing kits. She certainly was among the sky, watching over them every day of their lives, but it was different when she couldn’t actually interact with them, instead being just a spirit in the stars. So far away from their soft, fuzzy pelts, their accomplishments, their troubles. So it was certainly a special time whenever she would get to interact with them again, not to mention at such a pivotal time in their lives. It filled her with such insurmountable joy, joy that radiated throughout her entire being in a way that hadn’t always been seen by her children.

Excitedly, Mapleleaf found herself bounding over to the familiar appearance of her son. He was much closer in resemblance to his father than the rest of their children. Her strides were much more like the hops of the rabbits that traversed the Windclan moors than anything else, and that excitement brought her right up before the soon-to-be warrior. ”Sootpaw!” She called out gleefully, the golden molly instantly going to rest her head atop her sons. She wouldn’t tackle him like she had done with Hawkshriek, deciding it wouldn’t be polite to give yet another one of her children a heart attack. It didn’t stop the energy that she had though, the youth radiating from her as it once did. ”I’m so proud of you, my son. You’ve grown so much! You’ve done so well!” She grinned. After keeping him close for just a moment, the molly pulled away so her gaze could fully look at him, and just how much he had grown. Stars, had she really been gone that long..?

Shaking the sad thought away from her mind, she simply rested her head atop the tom’s once more, keeping herself close as she let out a purr. It seemed that her passing had hit him the hardest… she felt compelled to comfort him. ”You know, Soot, I’m always watching over you.”

The tom perked at the sound of his named being called. His heart pounding in his chest with hope at who it might be. "Mom? Amber eyes instantly turned to the source of the sound finding his mother hopping over to him. Warmth filled his heart as tears began to prick his eyes. She was here. "It really is you.. He said softly accepting her affections.

A purr rumbled in Sootpaw's chest at her words. He was glad to know she was making her proud. Glad to know he was doing the right things ever since her passing. "I'm glad.. I'm so glad. I hope I can continue to make your proud.. make dad proud, and Riverclan as well."