Puddlekit's Medicine Cat Apprentice Ceremony

Honeydrop padded quietly out of the medicine den. She had thought about this for a long time, consulted with Dawnflower and with Alderheart in StarClan. The kit was definitely the right choice. She was sure of it. She made her way into the nursery and nudged the small she-kit. "Puddlekit? Puddlekit, wake up."

The kit shook her head groggily, blinking open her eyes and yawning. She rolled to her side, gazing at the medicine cat contently, but with a twinge of uncertainty that only grew as she realized how late it was.

"What's happenin'?" Puddlekit struggled to her paws, glancing anxiously over at her moss to make sure it was alright, and then turned to her littermates. The runt looked back at Honeydrop, familiarity brimming in her eyes as she tilted her head. She stifled another yawn.

Honeydrop blinked as the small kit woke up. Shaking off any second thoughts, she continued. "Well, Puddlekit, I-I've been thinking, and I wondered if, um...." The medicine cat stood up straighter and wrapped her golden dappled tail around her paws. "Puddlekit, would you like to become the medicine cat apprentice of ShadowClan?" she asked formally, musical voice ringing through the nursery with a responsible undertone, but not loud enough to wake up all the other kits in the nursery.

Eyes widening, she listened as the bright she-cat finished. Of course she wanted to be a medicine cat—it was her dream! But what will Wolfkit say?

She turned to her snoring littermates, the sounds comforting to her ears. Once she became an apprentice to Honeydrop, she'd never hear the noises again…gritting her small teeth, she glanced back at the medicine cat. This was where she wanted her life to lead—and even if her older sister wouldn't admit it, Wolfkit cared about Puddlekit. She would accept this, the runt knew.

"Yeah!" her voice piped, unsure at first, then grew stronger. Her blue eyes lit with excitement—and knowledge that her journey had just begun.

Honeydrop smiled at the kit's serious enthusiasm, giving her an encouraging nudge. "That's the spirit, Puddlekit. Now, follow me- it's time to go to the Moonstone to be accepted by StarClan." ShadowClan's medicine cat rose to her feet, padding out into the moonlit marsh. In order to get to Highstones, they had to cross the Thunderpath and WindClan territory. The golden dappled she-cat made her way out of camp and to the border, flicking her tail for Puddlekit to follow her.

The kit nodded, excitement coursing through her bones. This is it!

She scrambled after Honeydrop, wind billowing her puffy fur to the side. Puddlekit kneaded her claws, determination flickering across her small face. She would make this, no matter the distance.

••time skip••

Puddlekit though she might die. 

It was a nice idea, she decided; no more worries or anything. She could talk to Honeydrop in Starclan and to Wolfkit and Marshkit in her dreams. Plus she would be made of stars. That was a bonus.

The tunnel seemed to extend on forever; it was cold, hard beneath her soft paws and was constantly weaving deeper, deeper into the earth. She trod along behind the medicine cat, tail drooping. Sometimes the she-cat's tail would flicker away from her nose for a heartbeat and she would stand stock still, scared that she was all alone, or would run as fast as her little legs could carry her, only to hump into her soon-to-be mentor.

Finally, the gleam of something bright nearly blinded her eyes, grown used to the pitch black. She winced, then slowly opened her blue orbs, mouth dropping, letting out a small gasp despite herself as they arrived in the cavern, something—she wasn't sure what it was—tingling throughout her body. 

"Wow," Puddlekit breathed.

Honeydrop padded steadily through the long, dark stone tunnel, guiding Puddlekit with the occasional flick of her tail. Finally, after what seemed like moons, they reached the cavern. The moon was in just the right place, flooding the tiny room with light. The giant crystalline monolith, the Moonstone, towered over them like a pole reaching from here to Silverpelt, reminding them that StarClan was never very far away. No matter how often she saw it, it still managed to take her breath away. The light that shone bright as day from the stone reflected off her golden fur, making her glitter nearly as much as the diamond-filled sky above. Her hazel eyes sparkled like stars as she gazed at her soon-to-be apprentice. The warmth of conviction filled her heart to the brim, making her feel as if she glowed from the inside as well. She felt StarClan's approval- this was a good choice.

ShadowClan's medicine cat felt the presence and support of all the cats who had previously held her position, from Ebonyleaf to Alderheart, and it nearly brought tears to her shimmering eyes. She could feel StarClan's live, and she hoped Puddlekit could too. The golden dappled she-cat took her place by the Moonstone, hazel eyes gazing into blue ones. The time-honored words rippled across her tongue, fell like a cascade from her mouth, and though the voice that spoke was Honeydrop's, warm and musical, the words echoing through the caverns were those of StarClan, the ancient ceremony brightening the whole of the Moonstone.
"Puddlekit," they spoke as a whole; Honeydrop's voice clear and serious, StarClan echoing quietly underneath, whispering the words they had given to Mothwing ages ago. "Is it your wish to enter into the mysteries of StarClan as a medicine cat?"

Finally, Puddlekit tore her gaze away from the beautiful thing, blinking at Honeydrop.

"Yeah!" she responded whole-heartedly, her mew ringing through the space. Something about this moment sparked beneath her pelt that glowed blue in the light, and she puffed out her fur, gritting her teeth once more. The runt stared at the dappled she, her fur seeming to ripple in golden waves across the cave.

It felt like nothing had before, and she shivered, from excitement, or fear—or both.

Honeydrop smiled and looked up at the sky. "Warriors of StarClan, I present you with this kit. She has chosen the path of a medicine cat. Grant her your wisdom and insight so that she may understand your ways and heal her Clan in accordance with your will." The last of her voice verbrated through the cavern, and the stars above seemed to glow brighter in acknowledgement of her words. "Press your nose against the rock and close your eyes, Puddlekit. StarClan gets to give you your name- not me." The ShadowClan medicine cat followed her own advice and pressed her nose to the cold stone, falling instantly into sleep.