Featherkit's MCA Ceremony

So many things had been running through the young medicine cat's head lately that she felt as if she was on the border of insanity. First, the promise of impending doom. One top of that had been the incident with Thunderclan's warriors in which she had to step in to heal one who fell at the paws of their clanmate. Of course, there was always the constant stream of cats coming in with some variety of illness or scratch. Her life had almost been too busy to consider the important things. She had allowed herself to use it as a distraction. There had been no more signs pointing towards the possibility of Windclan's destruction. Sageleaf pushed all of that to the back of her mind, but the anxiety of it all still plagued her constantly. However, without any sort of further knowledge, there was nothing she could do for her clanmates. Talking to Brindlewhisker was as much as she had to offer.

Her head rested on her paws as she tried to still her mind enough to drift into sleep. She had taken to giving herself poppy seeds in order to fall asleep sage is a drug addict now. As she lapped up the tiny black seeds and settled into her nest, Sageleaf felt her eyes begin to droop. With a soft sigh, she drifted into the deepest sleep she had for quite sometime. For once, the dark world of her dreams was void of any nightmares. Everything seemed peaceful. In the dream, she cast a gaze over the empty landscape. There seemed to be something off in the distance, but the shapes were fuzzy. From what she could make out, it was kits playing around a queen's paws. A soft smile twitched at the edge's of her maw. It was a beautiful and serene moment. In those first few moons of life, kits normally had nothing to worry about. That was the most perfect image she could have seen before her her. Everything about it contrasted the darkness that normally bothered her as she slept. There was still goodness that existed underneath the constant stress and pain of reality.

As she continued to watch, it appeared one of the little shapes glowed softly. Sageleaf could not pull her eyes away from the kit's golden radiance. But, everything was still too fuzzy to put a name to it. The tiny cat raced over to her and danced around her paws. She engaged and batted with it playfully. However, it still seemed to be more of a ball of light in a shape of a kit than an actual kit herself. After a little while a playing with it, the scene faded and she found herself blinking awake in the soft moonlight of the den. That was a very strange dream to have out of nowhere. None of it made sense. Was it just another figment of her imagination, or was Starclan trying to tell her something. As she pondered these things, her head lifted and glanced briefly around the den. Something caught her eye. Among the tiny pile of sage was the tip of... something. Curiously, the medicine cat padded over and used her paw to brush away the herbs. Laying there, underneath the sage was a tiny, pure white feather. Confusion twisted over her features. Then, she remembered her dream.

Could it be?

After a moment of debating over all of this, Sageleaf decided it could not simply all be coincidence. Starclan was trying to tell her something. Featherkit. She thought of the deputy's young kit and could not help but let a smile cross her face. The ancestors were finally blessing her with something. No longer would she be alone in the den with her thoughts of other paths and unexplained omens. Another medicine cat would train under her and eventually take her place. No time could be wasted. Her paws barely touched the ground as she immediately shot over to the nursery. This was right. This was a destiny she could understand. Her own had always been so unclear, but maybe she could change this young kit's and train her up in the ways of a medicine cat. It had never been something she had prided herself in, but Brindlewhisker's kit could be different. Without hesitating, her nose poked into the den where queens and several kits slept soundly. She both the kit and her mother, not sparing any seconds before whispering, "We have to go to the moonstone, Featherkit."

Almost at once, a pair of eyes quickly shot open to stare intently at Sageleaf with an air of annoyance visible within their gleaming depths.

As much as Brindlewhisker adored her former apprentice, it was hard enough to actually find sometime to properly sleep while taking care of four kits. The Medicine Cat's next words however, did little to quell her irritation and confusion. "The Moonstone?" She finally hissed sharply, careful to keep her voice low to refrain from disturbing her kits and the other Queens who currently resided in the nursery alongside her. "Why in Starclan's name are you trying to take my kit to the Moonstone? She's hardly old enough to walk, let alone journey all that way." Especially in the middle of the night, while the words remained unsaid, the thought behind the words still remained.

Featherkit yawned, stretching as much as her little body could. It was dark outside. Nighttime. ...But Sageleaf was in the Nursery, and talking to her? "The Moonstone?" she asked, tilting her head to the side. "Why would I have to go to the Moonstone?" That was where medicine cats went, right? She thought she remembered her mother saying something to that effect. She looked to her siblings. Why had Sageleaf come to see her, and not them? She looked up at the medicine cat, waiting for an answer.

"It appears Starclan has already chosen their next medicine cat..." Sageleaf whispered, unable to hide the excitement in her voice. Flicking her tail, she signaled for the mother and daughter duo to follow her. The grey and white she-cat waited eagerly outside the den. She did not want to wake the entire clan. However, he paws padded gently on the ground. Her eyes scanned over the tiny bundles of travelling herbs. Given they were in Windclan, it was not as far, but she still thought the kit could use some for strenght. The medicine cat peered into the nursery, waiting for Brindlewhisker and Featherkit to join her.

Brindlewhisker's gaze narrowed sharply as she gazed at Sageleaf, clearly displeased with the other she-cats words. Couldn't this of waited till morning, when they could properly discuss things? She would of especially preferred Dewtuft to be present for this...adventure. Letting out a short huff of annoyance, the brindled she-cat carefully unwrapped herself from all the rest of her still-sleeping litter before carefully scooping up Featherkit by her scruff. Ignoring the way that the muscles in her nape winced in protest as she carried the heavy she-kit, the Deputy cautiously made her way out of the nursery with as light of steps as she could manage.

Slipping out into the cool night air after Sageleaf, Brindlewhisker did her best to gently deposit Featherkit on the ground beside her, although a protective forepaw prevented the little she-kit from moving out of her range. "I don't care if Windstar herself came to you in a dream and told you that Featherkit needs to be apprenticed this very instant or else the entire forest would be smited," She mewed matter-of-factly, "She can wait till sunrise so that its safe for the two of you to travel!" The thought of one of her daughters being condemned to a miserable and less than fulfilling life of a Medicine Cat made Brindlewhisker's fur prickle with skepticism and outrage, but she forced herself to hold her tongue in a patient manner so that Sageleaf could get a word in.

Featherkit snuggled into her mother against her will, trying desperately to stay awake and understand what was going on as her eyes fluttered shut. Well, she supposed it wasn't so bad. She could wait for her mother to wake her again, after all.

Sageleaf lead the two to highstones and then the moonstone.

"Featherkit... is it your wish to enter into the mysteries of StarClan as a medicine cat?" She asked.

"Yes," she said firmly, without a hint of hesitation.

"StarClan, the time has come for me to appoint an apprentice. I present to you, Featherkit. She has chosen this path and will train hard to understand your ways. From now until you receive your full name, you shall be known as Featherpaw. May StarClan light your path with their wisdom." After officially naming the young cat, she motioned for her to move close to the moonstone and settle down. Starclan would address her now.

The newly-named Featherpaw shivered with excitement as she drew closer to the Moonstone, making herself comfortable next to it and touching her nose to it as she drifted into sleep. When her eyes opened once more, she was somewhere unfamiliar. It felt like it must have been far away - how had she gotten here?

The starlit plains of the warrior ancestor's territory glistened around the young she-cat. From her place off to the side, Puddlepaw watched with a soft smile. There was not much of a hesitation before she stepped out to reveal herself. The little she-cat stood before the new arrival. It seemed like not much time had passed before the former Shadowclan medicine cat had welcomed Featherpaw's mentor into the ranks of the clan healers. Her features were welcoming as she spoke, "Welcome, Featherpaw. My name is Puddlepaw. I was once the medicine cat apprentice of Shadowclan under Honeydrop." There was just the faintest spark of a sweet sadness as she remembered the cat who had mentored her before her untimely death. But, there was no time to dwell on such thoughts. It was her job to welcome in the newest member of the medicine cats. Of course, there were things to be said other than that. Not all could be revealed, but like with Sageleaf before her, Puddlepaw was here to guide the young she-cat.

She noted with interest how different Featherpaw's spirit was from her mentor's. Sageleaf had been less than thrilled to learn Starclan had chosen her. It was her faith in Starclan and guidance from Puddlepaw that kept her in the role. That time was coming to an end, at least here. Besides, Sageleaf would not be the one to train the new Windclan medicine cat apprentice. That was information she would keep to herself. Not even the full medicine cat knew of her destiny. With a soft sigh, the shimmering Starclan cat spoke up once more, "There are going to be many challenges you face in this role, young one. Just remember to never lose faith in Starclan. We are always going to be here to guide you through it all..." With that Puddlepaw turned to leave. Her jaw was tight, locking away the words she wished to share. Oh how she longed to just tell both Sageleaf and Featherpaw what was to come. But, Starclan was not here to interfere, only guide. The world faded around the two of them, leaving the brand new apprentice back in reality.