Minkpaw and Eaglepaw's Moonstone Journey

With two bundles of traveling herbs hanging from his jaws, Leopardclaw padded across the finally snow-less clearing towards the apprentice den, and placed the piles of leaves and stems down carefully on the ground. Two apprentices had finally reached the point in their training when they traveled to meet with StarClan, and the spotted deputy was prepared to escort them. "Minkpaw, Eaglepaw, it's time to head out!"

When he heard that he was to travel to the moonstone, Eaglepaw couldn't have been more relieved. After not being immediately made a warrior, the tom had begun to push himself as hard as he could to prove his worth. And what better way than to travel with his friend. Leopardclaw was a respectable warrior, but he was glad that Minkpaw would be along to make the journey interesting.

His yellow eyes had immediately snapped open at the deputy's call. This was it. He hadn't been able to sleep much in anticipation and was quickly up on all four paws. As he padded into the now fading light of day, the apprentice blinked a few times. Noticing the travel herbs on the ground, the tabby quickly scarfed one bundle down. Face screwing up in disgust, he nearly spat but fought to keep his expression neutral. Before the taste faded, Eaglepaw meowed, "I'm more than ready, Leopardclaw."

Minkpaw for one had been able to sleep, despite the upcoming travel to the moonstone. She was working her tail off these past few days, so she took the much needed rest she deserved. Though she wasn't too happy about Eaglepaw coming along. She thought she would have gone alone.

The large brown apprentice stood from her nest at the deputies call, and stretched out with a yawn. She wandered out of the den and over to where the deputy was looking at the stack of herbs meant for her. Oh. Yeah.. Travel herbs that was a thing. The apprentice quickly bent down and ate up the herbs, the taste was bitter but it wasn't too bad. Everyone made them out to be the worst thing in the world clearly she was different or they were liars. "Good to go." She said to the deputy not really paying any mind to Eaglepaw.

Once both apprentices had appeared and scarfed down their herbs without complaint, Leopardclaw extended his spine in a long stretch and flicked his tail in the direction of the camp entrance.  "Alright, let's get going then.  We have a ways to go."  Setting out at a mild pace, the golden spotted tom slipped through the spiny gorse tunnel and began to climb up the ravine, checking behind him occasionally to make sure the near fully-grown cats were keeping up okay.  Once they had reached the top of the cliff, the small party were enveloped by the underbrush as they entered the forest, heading in the direction of Fourtrees.

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At long last, after a long trek across moorland and untamed territory, the three cats came to rest at the entrance to Mothermouth, where the Moonstone lay deep underground.  With a long, tired sigh, Leopardclaw gazed up at the sky, before looking over to the apprentices.  "The moon is rising, let's keep going."  Though his sore limbs protested, the deputy took a tentative step into the stone tunnel, sniffed the air, before flicking his tail instructively.  "Follow me."  With that he began the downward decent into the cavern, his bright pelt vanishing into the darkness.

The fact his denmate chose to ignore him most of the way left a mixture of aggravation and hurt within the young tabby. He thought this would make it more exciting, but rather it left him in a sour mood. Even though he was about to meet the warrior ancestors, that did not seem to matter as much as Minkpaw's attitude. Each one of his pawsteps fell heavy and rather noisy today. Eaglepaw did not care. Of course, any sadness within the apprentice was usually projected as anger. Every glance over at Minkpaw was filled with a certain fire. He could not understand why she had chosen today of all days to ignore him. So, he said nothing and just trudged along silently behind the deputy. If she did not want to talk to him, he would not talk to her.

As they reached the moonstone, however, the excitement did build in his chest once more. Although the distance caused his muscles to start aching slightly, his energy felt almost renewed at the sight of their goal. Eaglepaw barely hesitated behind Leopardclaw as he waited for the golden warrior's instruction. As soon as their deputy disappeared into the darkness, he followed suit. The apprentice made sure to charge in ahead of his friend. He wanted to make sure he met Starclan before her. The pressing darkness and the cool chill of the cavern caused him to shiver slightly. It was unlike anything else he had seen before. He found himself thanking Starclan for the pure darkness so that Minkpaw could not see his fur fluff up briefly as he followed after Leopardclaw.

Minkpaw didn't mind all of the walking though Eaglepaw's stomping was more irritating to listen to. Why couldn't he just walk like everyone else? It was annoying. She let out a low growl and walked behind the deputy with her head lowered in irritation. Meeting Starclan wasn't going to be anything exciting for her.. Seeing how they already made her out to look like someone recently dead. Even if she wanted to ask why they probably wouldn't tell her.

Once they reached the entrance Minkpaw wasn't in a rush like Eaglepaw was. It was annoying. With a small sigh the large apprentice followed in the other cats following their scent and letting her whiskers help her find her way. Once they reached the cavern, Minkpaw held a little awe for the massive glowing stone, but it soon faded as she waited on Leopardclaw to tell them what to do now.

After a long walk down the twisting tunnels, the three cats emerged into the cavern of the Moonstone, already glowing with holy light. Leopardclaw beckoned the two apprentices forward with a flick of his tail and meowed in a hushed tone; "Touch your noses to the Moonstone, and StarClan will be waiting for you once you fall asleep." Motioning them on, the deputy found a spot to sit nearby and wait out the night.

The tabby's eyes widened as he took in the glow of the stone. It was so close. For a brief moment, he wondered what glorious Starclan warrior he would get. They would likely be battle-scarred from all the many ferocious times they had fought relentlessly to defend their clan. Which Thunderclan cat would it be? His eyes flickered towards the deputy as Leopardclaw spoke. As soon as he was done, the apprentice padded forwards and touched his nose to the stone as he settled down. Excitement pounding in his heart threatened to keep him awake, but exhaustion from the journey finally won out. Within a few moments, Eaglepaw was sound asleep in the physical world.

"Welcome, Eaglepaw." His amber eyes blinked away to settle on a tall, battle-scarred, ginger tom with a long tail. He reminded the apprentice of someone he had seen once... but he couldn't quite place the name. Although, this was exactly the kind of cat he hoped to see. The Thunderclan apprentice stood a little taller, just as proud as he was down in the forest. However, his expression fell at the next words, "My name is Flamestrike of Shadowclan."

A Shadowclan cat? For a moment, his head tilted in confusion until he realized the name attached to it. Oh. This was the cat who had killed that rogue who terrorized the clans. He had heard of him from the elder's tales. His ears heated up in a bit of embarrassment that wormed in his stomach, although he fought to cover it up. So quickly he jumped to the conclusion because he was a Shadowclan cat that he was bad. Flamestrike's ear twitched and Eaglepaw glanced away. When the Starclan warrior spoke up once more, "Your expression gave you away, apprentice, I could see your assumptions about me. A Skyclan warrior had a very similar reaction. However, your respect is surprising. It is a good thing you revere Starclan don't lose that. But, also I hope you realize what we have come to talk about today. Your assumptions."

"My what?" Eaglepaw shot back immediately, engaged but not quite catching on to what happened.

"Your assumptions, your preconceived notions. I seem to remember you being very outspoken about rogues not being allowed to join the clans. And yet, your recognition of my name caused you to have respect for me. Why was that?"

The Thunderclan tom stared at him for a second. Was this a joke? Was there something he was missing? It was impossible not to respect a warrior who helped to bring down a fox-hearted rogue. His eyes narrowed for a moment and a sarcastic response threatened to spill from his tongue. However, he simply meowed, "Well, its because you were a great and respect warrior. Born within the code. Nothing like the scum rogues outside." Although he tried to keep the poison out of his mouth, it slowly crept in and he almost hissed at the end.

"And that is where you're wrong." Flamestrike's voice grew less smooth and instantly more stern. The orange tom padded closer to the apprentice he had been called to speak to. His green eyes narrowed as he looked him over. If it weren't for the fact he needed to get this over with quickly, he would have taken a moment to stand in awe of the fact that Starclan had made him much more confident and eloquent with words. For a brief moment, the scarred-warrior let the declaration hang in the air, "I was rogue-born. Not a trace of precious warrior blood flowed through my veins, Eaglepaw. Remember that." The moment was tense as they weighed each other's response. Internally, Eaglepaw's gut wanted to protest or buck back against the insinuation that hung heavily in the air. To explain away the idea that cats could be decent as rogues. But, the words didn't come and the uneasiness settled in his stomach.

With that, Flamestrike realized the conflict in his eyes slowly settle and he turned away. But, before the Starclan tom could leave, another cat stepped through the starry forests. His eyes widened. What was she doing here?

Specklefang would not let the opportunity slide to speak to Coyotefangs son that was for certain, green eyes glared into Flamestrikes as she dared the orange tom to challenge her authority, though she had youth compared to the tom, she would regardless not go down without a verbal fight. When no resistance came, she dipped her head respectfully and continued to make her way to Eaglepaw, her muscles rippling under her pelt as she stopped to glower down at Eaglepaw.

Specklefang laid her scrutiny on Eaglepaw for a few moments as she collected her thoughts. With a swish of her fluffy tail, the Starclan warrior kicked up shrouds of cloud and mist to hide the two from any cats that wished to get in on their... private conversation. Specklefang reached a large paw forwards and dragged the apprentice towards her, "You are Coyotefangs boy? It saddens me that I never got to meet you." She meowed softly, a bit strange for her. "I am Specklefang. Surely you know me, just as I know you?" Specklefang raised her scarred brow, hoping that the young tom knew of her tale, despite how wrong it was.

Minkpaw nodded in response to her deputy even though the tom couldn't see her all to well. He would probably get she understood as soon as she laid down. The large brown apprentice settled down as well as she could against the stone floor before pressing her nose to the shockingly cold stone.

For a moment it felt as if this was any other sleep, but for a split second it felt as if the life was getting drained out of her, and then she woke up, but not at the moonstone. In a starry lit plain. This was Starclan? Green eyes glanced around looking around for the cat she was supposed to talk to but no one was there yet.. Was she not supposed to meet anyone?

His eyes did not widen, but inside the tom was stuck with awe. From one great warrior to the next. A she-cat stepped forward this time. Her bulky frame and mess of battle scars were striking. There were similarities in their features, notably a similar mass of muscle and a bit in the coat. But, Eaglepaw would have never picked up on that. Any questions of protests for Flamestrike immediately died out. The apprentice stood with his head higher and chest out as he assumed that not just any apprentice got to speak to two cats. He had never heard of that before. Perhaps Starclan did see him as special after all. Although, when she referred to him as Coyotefang's son, a hiss immediately escaped his maw. That filthy useless rogue should have never been his father; he couldn't even manage to attempt to raise his kits.

"Coyotefang was never a father, barely a clan cat. I doubt he is even here." Venom was obvious in the young tom's words as he practically cursed the name of the cat who had helped to bring him into the world. He barely knew Coyotefang, just his heritage and his pathetic means of death. And that he had left the clan for a while. All of these left a sour taste in Eaglepaw's mouth. So, when he heard this warrior follow it up with her disappointment at not meeting him, he couldn't help but wonder if it was because of him or his father. Hopefully just the former. As she spoke her name, it finally evoked something other than anger or a mild curiosity in the apprentice. This was the cat who had been killed by Ivystar, wasn't it? The method of deathberries did not matter as much as the fact that it was the Riverclan leader who had called for her death.

Cats killed each other in border skirmishes all the time. Death was simply the way of life for clan cats. Hearing that old tale of injustice, of Specklefang's death, always stirred the disdain for Riverclan within him. It was true... she killed a cat, which was wrong in its own right, but to kill her? The questions of justice always confused him, but he knew for sure that a clanmate should not have been put to death by another clan. When he finally spoke, it was simply to reaffirm the thoughts bouncing through his head, "You're the Thunderclan cat that Ivystar killed, right? They say you murder a cat or something. If Starclan cares so much about murderers, why are you here?" He hadn't meant to challenge her, but underneath it all there was a demand for answers. Eaglepaw was her kin after all, and that certainly showed now.

Specklefang smiled as the tom finished, though she did not know why the falsities of her death brought a smile to her face. "That is true... as well as false. Starclan does not welcome murderers that is true, that is why I am here." Specklefang let the tom piece it together himself, or try to at least before speaking again. "I am here on my own terms. I did not murder that apprentice, I took the blame to save my clan because of the true murderer's lack of willingness to put themselves forwards, to save the last of their nobility." Specklefang knew who murdered the apprentice now, but that did not make her any more willing to say who it was. She would protect her family, no matter the cost.

"Riverclan would have torn Thunderclan apart had no cat stepped forwards, I sacrificed my life for my clan, my family so they could live with no more misery. Because of my sacrifice, the war that was destroying Riverclan and Thunderclan ended. I'm the reason you got to live to this day, Eaglepaw." Specklefang meowed, her eyes softening as she leaned down so her muzzle rested beside his ear. "Ivystar must never know of this lest she desires to rip into Thunderclan once more. Do not let Blizzardstar or any cat of authority know of this, they'll demand penance and Leafstorm... Thunderclan cannot take much more. They need peace. But I want my name cleared. It pains me to hear tales told of falsities. But most of all..." Specklefang paused, straightening back up.

"Most of all... I want Otterleaps family and the rest of Riverclan to pay for murdering my daughter." Specklefang growled, swiping away the mist that veiled them. As if nothing happened Specklefang made her way to Minkpaw, her eyes widening as she first saw her best friends daughter, what happened to have the young apprentice cursed to look like her? Specklefang made her way over until she was standing in front of the she-cat, thoughts racing through her head as she settled down.

But Specklefang refused to let it show. "What do you need, young Minkpaw?" The large brute of a she-cat was at a loss for words, no doubt did she had questions.

"You!" The apprentice shouted. This was the warrior she was doomed to look like. "You are the reason everyone keeps staring at me. Why? Why did you do this to me?" The large apprentice asked. The instant she saw this cats pelt she knew that there was no doubt in her mind that this was Specklefang. Doomed to look like a murderer, doomed to only bring the wrath of Riverclan.

As she explained, his heart pounded and his claws slid into the dirt, more in shock than in anger. Specklefang hadn't killed the Riverclan cat? Was everything a lie? As he considered all of this and let it run through his mind, his eyes narrowed. They needed to pay. Ivystar had sacrificed an innocent warrior and great cat. His kin was dead because of her and Otterleap. Caught somewhere between a growing rage and the process to realize what all this mean. After nodding in a silent vow to avenge her death and the other injustices dealt to their family, he found himself meowing, "Why did you choose me? " But, when he glanced back up at Specklefang, she was gone.

The tabby tom blinked awake against the fading light of the moonstone. He remembered her words, her message. It was something he would not soon forget. Specklefang, the cat whose story had been told wrong for so long, had come to him for help. Eaglepaw stood up slowly. Although, as he straightened up there was a new purpose in his step. All of him longed to shout the truth at the deputy who was just off to the side of the cavern, but he was told to stay silent. Allowing his claws to unsheath onto the hard stone, he padded a short ways away from the stone to wait and his mind raced. This was the beginning of something.

"I had nothing to do with what you look like, Minkpaw. All I see is a beautiful young she-cat, a kit of one of my best friends. My only friend. It is not my fault that the clan mourns, their perception of me tainted by the label I took on. 'Murderer' it saddens me to hear them all call me that. Minkpaw, they are all grieving. Leafstorm was my mate, Blizzardstar was my friend, Tatteredleaf my best friend, I have countless kits down there. I left them all behind, for them. Believe me, Minkpaw, when I say that you should be proud to bear a striking resemblance to me, if not now, you certainly will later." Specklefang stepped forwards, a large paw coming up to brush the apprentice's cheek fur back.

"I love you as if you were my own kit. You need to embrace yourself, become your own cat, break from that shadow I left to cover you. They will understand." Specklefang stepped away, her gaze hardening, all her tenderness vanishing like the breeze. "I know that on your moonstone trip, you aren't allowed to speak about your experience. But- don't let Blizzardstar know I'm here, or I'll kill you and Eaglepaw." Specklefang snapped before the wind whisked her away, disappearing into a smattering of stars that settled among the dew on the grass.