Brackenpaw's Moonstone Journey

Brackenpaw wasn't particularly excited about heading back to Highstones so soon, he'd literally only been back for all of... He wasn't sure, but he'd hardly gotten settled at all. There was so much he was still catching up on and coming to terms with. Each day he went to bed exhausted from something new he learnt, and woke up with bags under his eyes from sleep that didn't come as he lay awake dwelling on his regrets. At least tonight he would be awake for something useful tonight. He felt guilty keeping Thymelight waiting, but he wanted to check on Harepaw before he left, not that there was much point. His brother wasn't sick anymore, and he was just as close to being a warrior as Brackenpaw was. Another sharp pang of sadness hit the tom as he realised how much he truly had missed. He wished he'd been there for all of it. With a heavy sigh, he pushed out of the apprentice's den and approached Thymelight. "Evening, Thymelight." he said with a small smile, bending down to eat the herbs she had prepared. "I'm ready to leave if you are."

The herbs were bitter, he'd never had anything like them before and he swallowed them with a grimace. The pair were quick to depart, and excited as he was for his moonstone, he dreaded returning to highstones, having spent the past few moons amongst the mountains. "It's only welcome if I don't end up stuck here for another month." mewed Brackenpaw bitterly, though it was meant to be a joke the words came out full of disdain. The tom followed Thymelight through the maze of caverns, when they reached the moonstone he glanced at her then made his way over, pressing his nose against the cool surface. His eyes fell closed instantaneously.

---

Brackenpaw awoke to the smell of pine, it was all around him, and it felt like a warm hug. His eyes cracked open, expecting to be met by a pine grove, but to his surprise the starlit planes were almost barren. He frowned. StarClan was already weird, and he didn't much like tricks. Shouldn't his StarClan cat have appeared by now? What was taking them so long? He began to feel uneasy, sniffing again. The scent of pine seemed to be behind him, taunting him, following him. The realisation hit him like the blow of a badger paw straight to the chest, his knees buckled and for some inexplicable reason he felt tears pricking at the corner of his eyes. "You're behind me," mewed Brackenpaw softly, his voice like a dandelion clock on the wind "Aren't you, mama?"

"I was wondering how long it would take you to notice I was." Came Thornstalker's voice, right behind Brackenpaw just as he predicted. "While this might be the first time I have been physically behind you, I was there the whole time even before now." The pale she-cat said, sitting down, waiting for her son to make his way over to her. "I'm so glad you made your way back to me, to your home."

A choked laugh escaped Brackenpaw, and he spun round rushing towards Thornstalker, letting the warmth of his starry mother envelop him. He didn't know what to say, now he was in her embrace he didn't want to speak, or breathe, or move in case he woke up. Instead he silently wept into her fur, burying himself further into his mother's thick pelt like he was a little kit. He just wanted to stay here. Forever. He inhaled deeply, taking in her scent. No sickness, no blood, in StarClan she was okay. Brackenpaw let out a rattling breath. "I know, mama." he mewed "Even when I made dumb choices." He stepped back, but just enough to look up at his mother, eyes glassy with tears. "Can I stay here? I'm not sure there's a place for me back in SkyClan and I want to see Flamekit too... Is she here?"