Hollowpaw's Moonstone Journey

The early afternoon air was filled with the faintest hint of the early Leaf-Bare chill that flavored the cool breeze, promising that the heat of the day would be bearable- pleasant, almost. Wrapping her tail neatly around her paws, Brindlewhisker remained seated still as stone, carefully watching the slow-going action within the camp. A few sunrises earlier it had been decided that another apprentice had reached the final stages of their training and now it was officially time for them to meet their Warrior ancestors for the first time. Almost time for another ceremony.

The Deputy remained settled on the soft earth beneath the cool shade of the Gorse Wall as she waited for the lucky Hollowpaw to make his appearance. Yesterday evening Brindlewhisker had managed to corner the young tom to speak privately about their upcoming journey, so now all that was left was the actual trip itself. Starclan willing it would be a smooth journey. Remaining crouched within the shade of the Gorse barrier, the Deputy found herself patiently waiting for Hollowpaw to make his appearance, a small bundle of traveling herbs placed a few short tail lengths away from her paws.

Brindlewhisker had approached him last night about taking his trip to the Moonstone. The young tom beemed. This means that Ashstar and Brindlewhisker had noticed him, his improvement, and his journey to being a warrior was almost complete. The young tom had restlessly slept the night before. He was a very handsome young cat; his multi-colored eyes was such a center piece. Unfortunately, the young tom was much too quiet, and had no friends outside of his mentor, Quailfeather. The next morning, he went about his early duties with eager excitement. Finally, the afternoon came around and the young tom trotted up to the deputy. "Good afternoon, Brindlewhisker!" Hollowpaw greeted, taking a seat next to the former rogue.

"Good morning." Brindlewhisker mewed softly, whiskers twitching slightly as she caught a glimpse of the look of excitement on the young tom's face. Although she had chalked up the journey to the moonstone as being tiresome and a bit strenuous considering how often she had been making the trip as of late, but she always found the lucky apprentice's excitement to be worthwhile- plus it always lifted her spirits to see a potential new warrior rising in the ranks. "I hope you got a good nights sleep because we have a long journey ahead of us today." She warned with a hint of amusement evident in her words. Unwrapping her tail from her paws, she used one of her forepaws to gesture to the small bundle of herbs that Sageleaf had prepared earlier that morning. "These are traveling herbs," Brindlewhisker mewed, lightly pushing herbs to the younger tom, "They'll keep your strength up and make sure that you don't get hungry while we travel. They aren't the most pleasant tasting things in the world, but make sure to eat all of them."

Hollowpaw purred, shivering his tabby brown fur. He really was going to meet StarClan. Obediently the brown tom leaned down and lapped the leaves he was instructed to do so. They were in fact bitter, but theirstrength flowed through him and he felt strong and ready to take on the world. He took a deep breath before turning back to the deputy, who had worked her way up from rogue. "I'm ready to go, Brindlewhisker." Hollowpaw said with a dip of his head.

- time skip -

The sky was bleeding red behind the imposing outline of the Highstones and the faint light of Silverpelt was barely visible in the early night sky that unfolded around them. The gaping wound in the Earth that hungrily swallowed what little light remained in the late dusk of day eagerly awaiting their approach with an eerie calm. They had finally arrived to the Highstones a few hours earlier and spent the majority of the day lingering in the shade of nearby trees to escape the brutal heat that had followed them during their trip. Brindlewhisker's head lifted towards the night sky with wide eyes, watching as the rest of the light was finally swallowed whole by the darkness of night. It was time.

Rising to her paws and giving herself a brief shake, the Deputy strode away from where she had been previously resting. Twitching her tail in a signal for Hollowpaw to follow suit, the scarred she-cat quietly padded towards the Mothermouth. A part of her always seemed to envy the apprentices that were fortunate enough to speak with Starclan since all she wanted to do was to speak to Thistlefall or Goldenflame- but she knew that this was far too important an event for her to become caught up in her wistful fantasies.  Pausing at the entrance to the sacred cavern, Brindlewhisker turned to look back at Hollowpaw with intent eyes that gleamed sharply in the faint light of dusk before finally speaking. "Shall we begin?"

Hollowpaw stood and followed the deputy to the place she led him. The tall apprentice dipped his head to the she-cat and then nodded before whispering in a quiet voice. "I am." he said, and as the deputy led him in his heart raced. He would actually get to talk to StarClan. He didn't really know anyone in StarClan, besides his father, whom he was named after.

As they made their way through the dark tunnels, Hollowpaw felt cramped and claustrophobic. The walls grabbed at him from both sides, like a hungry hawk. Nervously, he followed the deputy by scent and touch. After a few minutes, or hours maybe, of walking Hollowpaw was greeted by the large cavern in which held a beautiful rock that lit up the cave. He was in awe of the beautiful light, and he took a few minutes to soak it in before he felt a nudge at his shoulder. With a nod, he somberly laid down and pressed his nose to the cool rock.

Instantly, he felt the cool was of sleep ride over him, and he woke up in a grassy meadow. Only one cat stood there, a solid grey she-cat. She was small, lithe, and very pretty. She took a step forward, and dipped her head. Hollowpaw dipped his head back.

"Greetings Hollowpaw." She said softly, her eyes borring into his. "My name is Softfeather, and you have grown into a fine apprentice." Hollowpaw dipped his head, finding himself unable to speak. The she-cat continued. However, young cat. You must remember to watch where you put your paws, as your path may not always be so easy." Softfeather said, almost with a smirk. Confusion creased Hollowpaw's face as he slowly woke up.

As he came to consciousnes, the advice to watch his paws played through his mind. Was this a life changing prophecy he was given? As they wound through the tunnels he scoffed. Of course he would watch his paws. One doesn't willy nilly put down their paws.

The sun was peaking over the horizon as Hollowpaw and Brindlewhisker emerged. The brown tom took in a deep breath, soaking in the fresh air. His stomach rumbled.

The two began to make their way down the rocks leading to the base of the cave. His mind was racing and not paying attention to, where he put his paws. Suddenly, he placed his paw too close to the edge and slipped on a pebble. Gravity took over and with a cry he fell forward, thudding hard on the rock below. As he fell, a sharp pain went through his face from his nose to the top of his head. Stunned, he sat up and shook his head, splattering blood droplets everywhere. "Brindlewhisker..." he groaned, swaying a little in his head.

Similar to most of her past journeys, Brindlewhisker had simply made herself comfortable in the Moonstone's cavern while she had waited for Hollowpaw to finish speaking to their ancestors. The Deputy had nearly dozed off once or twice as she waited for the young tom to wrap up the ceremonial journey, but she thankfully managed to keep her wits about her as the once starlight-drenched cavern was overtaken by the weak light of dawn. Once Hollowpaw finally awoke from his dreams, the she-cat had simply dutifully risen to her paws and refrained from pressing the young tom about whatever vision he had received as they slowly made their way out of the cavern.

Carefully placing her paws out in slow and graceful steps, Brindlewhisker seemingly made her way through the terrain out of instinct. After as many trips as she had made as of late, it was like she knew this area like she knew her own paws. However, a loud cry and the sound of an ungraceful fall caused the scarred Deputy to quickly halt in her steps and whip around to face Hollowpaw. Greeted with the sight of the apprentice struggling to his paws once more, the she-cat let out a soft sight of relief. It seemed like a fairly nasty cut, but luckily it wasn't anything worse. "Let me see that." Brindlewhisker mewed softly, leaning forward to inspect the new wound on Hollowpaw's face. Thankfully it didn't look deep- although it was still probably painful regardless. "I think you'll live," She finally affirmed after a moment of studying the patched tom's face, "Although we should probably hurry home so that Sageleaf can clean it up." Flicking her tail for emphasis, the Deputy resumed her slow-going pace that guided them back towards Windclan's camp.