Tigerpaw's Moonstone Journey

This time, it was Tigerpaw's turn. Burdockroot was under the impression he was like Nightstar's adopted son. The hypocrisy of Nightstar recently confused her, but oh well. He rectified it in his latest clan upgrade. Lumbering once more to the apprentice den, she nudged the target cat under her paw. When he stirred, she cocked her head to the entrance. "Follow me. Moonstone." With that, she turned and sauntered back to her den.

Following the nudge of a stiff paw, Tigerpaw had awoken to vaguely hear 'follow' and 'moonstone'. Quickly, the tom got to his feet, and followed after the medicine cat. He had not met Burdockroot, technically, having more just seen and heard of her. He also knew to do what she said. He probably stepped on an apprentice or two as he hurried out of the den and over to hers.

Of course, he had also heard the word 'moonstone', which he knew meant he was going to visit Starclan... or Starclan would visit him? He wasn't sure which one was a definition and which one was a threat. Either way, he knew very little about the whole ordeal. As a kit he had heard queens tell him of Starclan... of the place where their ancestors and warriors go when they die... He wasn't from a clan though and still wasn't entirely sure he believed it was true. If it was, he wouldn't even see his mother, and he barely remembered her.

Still, he wanted to make Shadowclan proud. Wanted to make Nightstar and Locustcall proud. So he would believe, at least tonight, with everything he could. With a strangely determined expression on his face, he stood near Burdockroot, awaiting instructions.

When the apprentice joined her, she nudged the bundle of traveling herbs that sat there towards him. "You aren't from ShadowClan... I think... So you probably don't know. When we get to the Moonstone, you will touch it with your nose and wake up in StarClan. They'll tell you something they think you need to know. You'll wake up, we'll come home, and so on and so forth. Oh. The herbs are gross, I know this." Her flat tone was mismatched with a quicker pace of speech. It wasn't excitement, just trying to get the whole spiel done and over with. Lots of apprentices had gone to the Moonstone recently, this would be her fifth journey in less than a moon, not even including the Medicine Cat Meeting.

"I'm not. Thought that much was obvious. Lived here for moons and still not quite Shadowclan enough." Letting out a dry chuckle, Tigerpaw started eating the herbs as Burdockroot began explaining the Moonstone journey. Of course he had begun eating before she mentioned the herbs were gross, though that was an understatement in itself. They were disgusting. He managed to not make a sound though, not wanting to interrupt the medicine cat's spiel. Tigerpaw hadn't known that Starclan told you something they thought you needed to know, but how did they know what you needed to know. It was all so strange, but he wanted to believe. He really did.

"Ready to go?" She turned and started to head out to the Moonstone. They would make it in good time.

----

The journey was uneventful like they all were. But soon enough, Moonpaw and herself stood in front of the cave entrance. Moonpaw would be familiar with this area, but not what lays inside. "Follow my tail. It's dark." Plunging into the darkness, Burdockroot didn't hesitate and followed her paws through the winding cave. At this point, it was sheer habit. Eventually, they emerged into the large cave, where the Moonstone had just started to shine.

"Lay down and touch your nose to it. Wake me when you wake up." With another yawn, the mottled cat walked to her usual spot and plopped down, curling into a ball with her tail over her nose. She kept her mismatched eyes open to make sure Tigerpaw did as she was told.

Tigerpaw had, by now, gotten used to the darkness that Shadowclan lived in... but the darkness of the Moonstone felt strange. It was unnatural, too dark. While it was likely caused by the enclosed space of rock and dirt, the apprentice couldn't help but feel strange. His fur brushed against the sides, head hunched as he went. Then there was light in the distance, and a rock of unparalleled brilliance came into view shortly after. Burdockroot gave him instructions, and the apprentice could only wordlessly nod and do as he was told.

Laying down, he pressed his nose up to the Moonstone. It was cold, but he felt little else. For a moment, Tigerpaw thought he was doing it wrong, but exhaustion began to claim him, and he decided not to protest as he drifted off into unconsciousness...

It hadn't been very long since she passed. At least, that was what the late warrior had told herself. Nevertheless, it didn't seem to matter. While she had thought it the duty of the older Starclan cats to be the ones to come and visit the next generation, evidently, it seemed either she was wrong, or she was now "old." Truth be told, all evidence pointed towards the former. She had survived the flood that had forced Shadowclan from their home, and had kept a close eye on her clanmates from the stars as the twolegs came and meddled with their land. Desperately she had wanted to stop them, but it was unfortunately a wish that the bengal-patterned molly was never going to see granted.

But that wasn't what her focus was on. As she was called to the star-tinted lands that mimicked her old home, Mothcatcher's tail twitched in joy at getting to talk with one of Shadowclan's apprentices. She took in all of his appearance as quickly as she could, watching how he carried himself, how he moved. She'd evaluate how he spoke soon enough. "Hello." Rather uncerimoniously, the she-cat approached, dipping her head in friendly greeting. "I'm Mothcatcher, a Shadowclan warrior who passed... not long before the twolegs came. And also the warrior here to help prepare you to become a warrior."

Golden eyes opened to a land full of stars, bright and wonderful. He was really there. Tigerpaw couldn't really believe it, and yet he had been trying to believe really hard, so appearing in Starclan was quite the welcome event. Hardly had the apprentice had time to get his bearings before a cat appeared before him, padding to his front without delay.

"I'm Tigerpaw." The apprentice mewed quickly, still taking in the area before him. "A part of me can't believe this even exists..." His words trailed off before he focused once more. "I would love whatever you could tell me about being a warrior. I want to make Shadowclan proud."