Duskpaw's Moonstone Journey

The warrior left the den happily with two packs of herbs on his jaws. Vixenpaw was preparing for her warrior ceremony and now his other apprentice, Duskpaw, was ready for the last stage to become a warrior. The night hadn't arrived when he sat down in front of the entrance, waiting with a smile on his muzzle for the brownish tom. Riverclan was getting stronger each day with every new warrior and Duskpaw had proven to be an exceptional fighter after the fight they had with that fox.

Jaystream ate the herbs quickly, not minding the bitter taste, and then he took a look at the leg that was bitten by that huge predator. The wounds weren't so deep as he thought so he wouldn't have big scars like the ones on his chest. He glanced back at the camp, waiting for the apprentice patiently.

Duskpaw didn't waste his time as the tom padded over to his mentor. He had watched as he ate the herbs and pricked his ears curiously. The tom was excited and yet nervous for the trip they were about to embark on.

Jaystream smiled when he finally saw his apprentice coming. With one paw, he pushed the herbs toward him. "Good night,
Duskpaw. Before we leave, you must eat these herbs. They will give you the strength you need for our long travel." The tall tom stood up waiting for the young to do what he said. The warrior watched the sky changing its colours from orange to the dark blue of the night slowly. Soon, the stars would be there to guide them to the Windclan's mountains where the Moonstone were.

He nodded smiling before he hesitantly lapped up the herbs his face twisted up in disgust for a split second before he smiled eager to get started."those were kind of nasty but I'm ready to go"He mewed eager.

The tom smiled, remembering all the times were other apprentices did the same disgusted face like his. "They are, indeed,
but after a while eating them for each trip they don't taste as bad as the first time. Now, let's go." Jaystream walked away from the camp being followed by the young tom.

As they walked, the night started to fall down over their heads slowly and when they reached the Twoleg bridge, the stars were already shining and the moon was starting to appear in the distance. "It's getting dark so you must pay attention to each one of moves and where the rocks are so you can cross the river. Remember that we don't usually use the Twoleg bridge because is dangerous so, instead, we use the stones to reach the other side." After saying that, the warrior jumped to the first rock, making sure it wasn't so slippery, and then he continued leaping slowly so the apprentice would see where he had to do it. Once he was on the other shore, Jaystream waited for him with his tail flicking so he would know it was his turn.

Duskpaw nodded and followed after him quietly eager. After they got to the river the brown furred tom watched intently with his golden yellow eyes. Then he leapt onto the rock catching it. He moved across each stone carefully before he made it to the other side.

The warrior continued the journey once the apprentice was safe and sound on the ground. They walked following the Twoleg path to the Fourtrees and then to the Thunderpath. Jaystream stopped Duskpaw a few steps before reaching the hard path and looked at both sides, being careful to sense with his paws any trembling that could announce the coming of a monster. And that's when he felt.

Crouching down instinctively, is green eyes narrowed as a fast roaring monster crossed the path at high speed. Only when the red light of that thing disappeared in the distance, he glanced back at Duskpaw. "That thing is a monster, Duskpaw. Attacking it is just suicide so you must never engage a dumb battle against that thing. If you keep away from their way, then you'll be safe. That's why we must be careful here and always be sure that no one is coming. For this, you must feel the ground and be sure that is not trembling and keep your ears ready to hear any roaring, okay?" The experienced warrior did everything he said, showing his apprentice how to do it, and then he rushed to the other side without stopping in any moment until he felt the soft ground beneath his paws. Turning back his head, Jaystream talked again. "Keep your eyes on your objective all the time and don't stop even if you hear or see a monster."

Duskpaw's nerves began to take held as he nervously watched his mentor. When he crossed and told him to do the same time nervously listened looking before he thought it was clear and crossed quickly just barely getting across.

The cold breeze welcomed them when they arrived at Windclan's territory, where their next walking was going to be. "Thunderpath is really scary and dangerous so I hope you can avoid it in the future if you can. Now, let's keep going. We're getting closer."

Walking through the moors silently, the warrior guided Duskpaw for a long time. For him, this was the longest and most boring part of the journey because Windclan's moors were kind of flat and plain for his taste. He prefered more Riverclan's reeds, streams and willows.

But the landscape soon changed when he reached the rocky mountains at the edge of Windclan's lands. The deputy soon found the Mothermouth and he entered the dark cave saying the instructions that Duskpaw needed. "Here is dark so follow my voice and try to walk where I walk. If you manage to do what I say, then we should arrive soon without any problems."

Duskpaw smiled but suppressed a shiver as he followed quietly. He didn't much like the cold breeze that welcomed him. Following his mentor quietly he looked around at the flat moors of Windclan and he blinked"how can Windclan stand something so open"He mumbled to himself as he followed his mentor. As they reach the entrance to mothermouth he followed his mentor inside"ok..."He mewed entering into the darkness as he followed his mentor by scent and sound alone.

A light showed up at the end of the tunnel, announcing the end of their journey. With a smile, Jaystream entered the cave and he saw the bright, white stone shining beautifully like always. "Welcome to the Moonstone, Duskpaw. This shiny stone that you see is the bridge we have to communicate with Starclan and that's why you're here." The tom approached the rock with calm steps and he laid down, making himself comfortable in his usual spot: a large and plane rock with not so many sharp and annoying sides.

He pointed with a move of his head the Moonstone, inviting Duskpaw to approach it. "This is the last step to become a full warrior. Touch the Moonstone with your nose while you close your eyes and soon you'll be welcomed by our ancestors. Remember everything I taught you and you'll be okay. Good luck, Duskpaw. I'll wait for you all the time you need."

Duskpaw followed until he saw the moonstone. His nerves skyrocted and he flattened his ears. At his mentor motioning him forward he moved with slow steps. Working up his courage again the tom laid down and as his mentor said to he pressed his nose against the stone and his eyes closed and he drifted into a sleep or what he thought was sleep. As he opened his eyes he found himself standing in the starry lands of Starclan

In the centre of the field, there was a cat that looked oddly familiar and similar to the aforementioned apprentice. He was a handsome tom, all solid muscle and with sleek fur that clung to his body. His fur was a rich brown, dusky like the sunset, and he had two white forepaws. His eyes were a warm yellowish green, that caught the silverpelt's light to almost sparkle as he flicked his tail high in greeting to the apprentice.

"Hello there, Duskpaw. It's nice to finally meet you."

It had took Duskpaw a moment to notice the starry tom that he knew he looks almost identical to. Blinking his big golden yellow eyes as he finally noticed him and moved towards when he was greeted. At first Duskpaw didn't know what to say so he only said the first thing he thought to say"hi....i...er who are you? Are we related?"He asked moving towards the dusk brown tom with white forepaws.

"Yes, we are related. Though I don't imagine you know who I am. It's probably for the best." Duskfall wistfully meowed, it was hard to hide the blatant truth but it was necessary. For both their sakes, and  of course for his daughter, Ivystar's sake. Just seeing Duskpaw was enough of a luxury. "How are you finding being an apprentice? If you're anything like me, you're probably an excellent hunter."