Vixenpaw's Moonstone Trip

This was it. The first time taking an apprentice to the Moonstone and it was HIS apprentice. The first time making one of the most important duties of a deputy. During Fishstar's leadership, his mother always did these kinds of trips and now it was his turn to do the same. That's why he was nervous. Would he be as great as Ivystar? Would he be worthy of his new rank? However, even with all his insecurities, he was relieved that Vixenpaw was the first cat that he was going to lead to the Moonstone. Somehow, it was better this way for him because at least he was going with a cat he already knew and liked. They had a bond and he knew that the young she-cat already respected him a lot. He wasn't afraid anymore... thanks to Vixenpaw.

With that thought in mind, he picked the travel herbs that Cloudstone gave him and walked to the center of the camp where Vixenpaw was waiting just like he told her. With a calm smile, he put the herbs in front of her and pushed her part with one paw. "Eat this. They're not as tasty as a fish but they would give the strength necessary for our long travel." With that being said, the deputy grabbed his portion of herbs and put them into his jaws, gulping them quickly so he wouldn't feel so much the bitter taste. He never liked the taste of the herbs even after many times eating them for medical purposes. He waited for the she-cat to finish as he licked his right paw cleaning it a bit. "Are you ready?" He asked once he saw that the apprentice finished her herbs.

Vixenpaw grimaced at the bitter taste of the herbs, but she knew it was neccesary. She forced the herbs down, then nodded. "Ready as I'll ever be, I guess!"

The warrior nodded and stood up just to leave the camp with Vixenpaw by his side. The Riverclan territory covered by the moonlight welcomed them as they walked between the reeds. He did this trip once in his life when he was an apprentice but he would never forget the path he had to follow to reach the Windclan territory. Most of the apprentices never forget their first time speaking to Starclan and he doubted that Vixenpaw was the exception. After all... she lost her mother at a very young age so it wouldn't be strange that she might be excited by the idea of meeting her like she deserved.

When his eyes finally found the Twoleg bridge, he changed the direction of his steps to the rocks next to the building and jumped over the path of rocks in the river that led him to the other side. "That is the bridge of the Twoleg, Vixenpaw. I know we visited it before but let me remind you that you must never cross that place. During the day, Twolegs and dogs cross that path and are dangerous for any apprentice or warrior. That's why we must always use this path of rocks." He said when his apprentice reached his side. Without looking back at the bridge, he continued the travel quietly. They had no time to lose.

Vixenpaw listened intently to what Jaystream was saying. Looking at the bridge, she made a mental note to herself never to set foot on it. Then she sped up and began to think about who she would meet at the Moonstone. Maybe a leader, or a grandparent or... her eyes lit up. Her mother! Maybe she would finally get to meet Willowpetal! She walked even faster at the thought, almost running. "I'm so excited!" she meowed excitedly to herself.

At first, the tom chuckled happy to see her so happy but soon, when he noticed she was walking too fast toward the Thunderpath, Jaystream worried for her safety and ran quickly, stopping her a few steps before they could reach the hard gray path that caused the death of a lot of warriors in the past. "Hey... Calm down a bit, Vixenpaw. We still have time before the dawn." He smiling a bit before he turned his sight back to the Thunderpath. "Here's the place where cats from all clans had found the death. Horrible huge monsters cross this path at high speed and sometimes we can't avoid them in time if we're in the middle. The first rule... feel the ground under your paws. The monsters cause the trembling of the ground before you can see them or hear them. Once you're sure that no one is coming, ran as fast as you can and don't ever stop in the path. No matter if you see a bright light, just keep going without looking back." Saying that with serious eyes, the deputy waited a few seconds making sure that it was safe and then he trotted to the other side as fast as he could. Once he felt the soft ground of Windclan's territory, he looked back, waiting for Vixenpaw to join him on the other side.

Vixenpaw stopped abrubtly and stared at the deputy. Oops. She followed Jaystream across the Thunderpath, trusting his judgement. Once in WinClan territory, Vixenpaw had a good look around. "Whoa!" there were hills and moors as far as the eye could see.

The tom looked at the moors just like Vixenpaw's did. "Welcome to Windclan's territory, Vixenpaw. I honestly don't enjoy too much the plains but I have to admit they had their own beauty, as well as our territory. Now let's go. There's is still too much to walk before arriving." The grey tabby cat flicked his tail excited and then he started to ran. Even if he wasn't too experienced at running like Windclan's cats, he actually enjoyed somehow the breeze on his face. But it would never replace the amazing feeling of swimming.

(time skip)

After some time travelling, they finally reached the Mothermouth. The dark entrance of the cave welcomed with silence as they approached it slowly. Before entering, the warrior looked back at his apprentice making sure she was following him. "This cave will guide us to the Moonstone, Vixenpaw. You must be careful. Is really dark inside so you must trust your other senses but not your eyes. Follow my scent and the sound of my voice and steps as we walk. Don't you get too separated from me, okay?" Without waiting for an answer, the deputy entered the cave already knowing which path he had to follow. The hard rocks felt awkward under his paw's pads and he was careful about not stepping into sharp stones that could cause him unnecessary wounds.

The small she-cat hesitantly stepped into the cave and instantly got plunged into pitch-black darkness. She followed her mentor's scent and voice, avoiding serious injury but hitting the walls every so often. After what seemed like an age of walking blindly among sharp stones, a warm blue light filled her vision. Once her vision cleared up, she saw a large rock that radiated blue light. It was spectacular.

"W-wow! It's the Moonstone!" she gasped, then turned to her mentor for further instruction.

The tom glanced the bright light of the stone a few seconds before the young she-cat gasped. He approached the Moonstone with serious eyes... it had been a while since he was here for the last time but it was just like he remembered it: beautiful. He turned his head back to the apprentice, smiling solemnly. "Come closer, Vixenpaw. Now is your time to speak to Starclan. Press your nose against the stone. Starclan is waiting for you." He laid down next to the rock, waiting for Vixenpaw to touch the stone and fell into a deep sleep. Soon... she would meet a Starclan that would guide her in her future path as a warrior.

OOC: Did you already talk with Willowpetal's rper about this? Just asking so Vixenpaw can talk with her mother from now on ;)

Vixenpaw obeyed and pressed her nose against the stone. Her limbs began to go limp and her eyelids went heavy. She slowly sank to the ground, her mind filled with a fuzzy blue light as she drifted into a deep sleep.

Ooc: Heh... heh... better... go do that... hehehehehe...

Willowpetal sat with her starry tail flicking leisurely back and forth, waiting for Vixenpaw to reach StarClan. She was so proud of the young cat her daughter was becoming, and she only wished she could have lived to watch from RiverClan instead of StarClan. Finally, it was time. She smiled as her young daughter opened her eyes, joining her in StarClan "Vixenpaw." She called softly into the Starry plains, summoning her daughter for their special meeting before she becomes a warrior.

Vixenpaw opened her eyes and breathed in sharply. It was mesmerising up here. As she looked around, she heard her name being callen. Could it be? Vixenpaw padded up to the cat and gasped. Maybe it was instinct, but the ginger apprentice knew that this must be her mother. "Y-you're Willowpetal!"

Willowpetal smiled warmly at her daughter. "Yes. I am." She said, nodded her head while taking several steps closer to her. "Vixenpaw.. I am so proud of the young she-cat you have become. You have grown a lot since you were a small kit, and I was with you the whole time. I watched you become an apprentice, and I watched you playing with your siblings. You have no idea how happy you and your siblings have made me." She meowed softly, blinking her starry blue gaze. "I'm so sorry that I can't be there to raise you and shape you into the warrior I see you becoming. I know it was hard growing up without me and your father, but I believe it's made you stronger." She purred, a mixture of sadness and fondness. Bending down to nuzzle Vixenpaw, she opened her mouth to speak, "No matter what anybody tells you, Vixenpaw, know that I love you and know that you will be a great warrior to RiverClan. They are lucky to have you." She whispered softly before pulling back to look into her young daughter's eyes.

Vixenpaw smiled up at Willowpetal and blinked, finding tears in her eyes. This was the moment she had dreamed of her entire life, and it was finally happening. She nuzzled her mother's soft, starry fur. "What's StarClan like?" the light brown she-cat asked curiously."Did you meet any great warriors? I-is Fishstar here?" she hadn't known Fishstar too well, as she had died soon after Vixenpaw's birth, but she had heard stories from Jaystream and some of the elders. She looked into her mother's glimmering, star-filled eyes.

Willowpetal smiled, her gentle eyes lit up with amusement at her daughter's questions. "It's beautiful." She murmured, her blue gaze glancing around her with happiness. "Everyone here is, of course, wonderful, though some can be a bit grumpy." She laughed, thinking back to the other StarClan cats she had met. "I've met plenty of great warriors and medicine cats. And, yes, that includes Fishstar. She is here." She purred, thinking fondly of her former leader. Fishstar of course had her faults, but overall, she had been a great leader to her clan. She knew their time was about up, so she bent her head slowly to say her parting words. "Vixenpaw, I cannot wait to see what an incredible warrior you will become, and remember, I will always be there to watch over and guide you." She meowed, her voice becoming a whisper towards the end as she began to fade in front of the young she-cat's eyes.