Goosekit's Medicine Cat Apprentice Ceremony

Featherlight was starting to feel a little lonely. It wasn't exactly uncommon, given how much of her early apprenticeship had consisted only of herself hiding away in the medicine cat's den, terrified that she was only a disappointment to her Clanmates. Eventually, Mottleheart's presence had offered her comfort and companionship, as well as the knowledge she so desperately needed, but that was gone now, too. Well, Mottleheart wasn't gone, he was just back with the rest of the warriors. But Featherlight was alone in the medicine cat's den once more, and her nightmares took her back to the days when she was called Featherpaw, alone in healing an entire Clan with almost no knowledge at all, and blaming herself for every mistake.

Tonight, however, her dreams took her elsewhere. The moors stretched out before her, and there was nothing there. No Clanmates, not even a rabbit. Or at least, it seemed that way until she saw a shadow in the distance, and slowly began moving towards it. Eventually, as she moved closer, she could make out a shape - a bird of some sort? The answer was made clear when she finally reached it - a still, unmoving goose, watching her. When she took another step forward, however, it fled - leaving only a feather in its wake.

That was when she woke, the image of the goose feather still clear in her mind. It seemed StarClan had taken pity on her loneliness, if she was interpreting this sign - and she had no doubt at all that it was a sign - correctly. There was only one cat she could think of that the dream might have been referring to, and so she made her way to the nursery, wondering if the sense of likely-unnecessary urgency she felt now was how Sageleaf had felt when she came to offer Featherlight her apprenticeship so many moons ago.

"Goosekit," she said gently, nudging the small figure awake. "I have something for you."

Goosekit was snuggled up in the corner of the nursery, his eyes closed tight shut. The queens and kits around him were also asleep, a welcome change from the usual buzz that seemed to circle the younger cats. They always seemed to be talking about one thing or another, and gossip spread fast inside camp. The kit let out a tiny sigh and curled up tighter, still asleep. That was when a voice cut through his dreams and sent him up into the air, scared out of his fur. Bright yellow eyes opened wide as he struggled to focus on who had just awoken him. A fox? Or a badger, maybe? No, they weren’t grey, from what he could tell… it was a cat. Featherlight. He visibly calmed down at that. “H-hello. Y-yeah, s-sure.” He stuttered, paying close attention to the medicine cat. The kits had talked about how Mottleheart had stepped down from his position, and the queens were always talking about who might be the new medicine cat apprentice. None of them had mentioned how lonely Featherlight must feel now. Goosekit certainly felt sorry for her. She was used to the den always having him, but now he was with the warriors...

"It's something very special," Featherlight informed him sagely, keeping her voice low to not wake the other kits or the queens. "I believe StarClan is telling me I should ask you if you would like to become my apprentice, Goosekit."

She made sure to allow a few moments for her words to sink in. "It's not something to take lightly. Being a medicine cat is hard work, and you might find yourself feeling lost or alone. It's not the glorious path of a warrior. ...But all the same, there are certainly some benefits to the position. Especially for cats like you and I - the peace and quiet of the medicine cat's den is a lovely contrast to the rest of camp. I'm sorry to put the burden of this decision on you, but regardless of what path you choose... There will always be a quiet place in the medicine cat's den for you, Goosekit."

She had made her offer, and now she could only wait for the kit's answer.

Goosekit listened even closer to what she was saying. A medicine cat? Really? He was too stunned to speak for a few moments. What should he say? What should he say? The question bounced round and round his mind, but made even less sense when it did. He couldn’t even catch a leaf. How was he supposed to be an asset to Featherlight? Then again, he never took part in the play fights the other kits always loved. He hated seeing them pretend to hurt each other. He was too scared to lift a paw against any cat in camp. When he thought like that, the path of a medicine cat seemed like the best choice. What was it she said? That the job was lonely? Well, he didn’t mind that. He loved to be alone. The obvious answer was right there in front of him.
“Y-yes. I w-would love t-to.”

Featherlight's blue eyes sparkled in delight as Goosekit made his choice. "Well, in that case... You'll need these first," she told him, placing one of the bundles of travelling herbs down in front of him. "Especially since you've never traveled even outside of the camp, if you haven't been sneaking around." She chewed her own without complaint, waiting for Goosekit to be accosted by the awful taste.

The tom felt a shiver run through him at the realisation of what was to come. No time for that now, though. He bent down to lap up the herbs with his tongue. The look on Featherlight’s face showed… Amusement? Within a couple of heartbeats, he knew why. The foul taste flooded his mouth, making his face twist into an expression of disgust. He forced himself to swallow the herbs, and as soon as he had, he swiped his tongue round and round the inside of his mouth. He hoped that might be sufficient to get rid of that awful, awful taste.

Featherlight laughed, in a way she hadn't in a while. "You'll have to get used to that, I'm afraid. They don't get much better than that. Now, are you ready to go to the Moonstone? Before you wake half the nursery with your attempts to get rid of the taste."

”Y-yeah, I’m r-ready.” He carefully picked his way out of the crowd of sleeping cats, trying hard not to step on a tail or two. He went to stand with Featherlight, automatically trying to make himself invisible. Other cats terrified him always, it didn’t matter who it was. But he thought he was getting a bit better around the she-cat.

"Alright, now we begin our journey together," Featherlight declared, her voice still quiet as they left first the nursery and then the camp. "Most cats only make this trip once in their lives. Did you know that, Goosekit?"

Goosekit walked alongside Featherlight. He had never set paw outside of the camp before, so this was terrifying for the young tom. He was leaving the safety and the warmth of the nursery. His eyes widened considerably at the sight of it. The moors were more beautiful than he ever could have imagined. Stars dotted the night sky, shimmering and sparkling, the shiniest things the kit had ever seen. He just wanted to reach out and touch them. He looked to the medicine cat when she spoke. ”R-really?”

"Really," Featherlight confirmed as she led the way forward. "We're quite lucky. At least in that respect."

Time Skip

"Follow me inside, Goosekit, and stay close. It's very easy to get lost here if you're not careful," she whispered, taking slow, careful steps. "But we're almost there."

Goosekit flicked his tail as he continued forwards. Occasionally, he would spot something, like a butterfly floating past or the tips of a hare’s ears. Aside from that, it was just him, Featherlight, the moors and the star-speckled sky.

~ts~

The young kit was rather exhausted from the trek across WindClan territory, but Mothermouth was near now. A tall, intimidating stack of rocks with a black hole reaching inside. A small shiver ran through him, even though it was relatively warm. Featherlight’s warning seemed a little ominous, but he shook it off and followed her inside with quiet, tiny steps.

The cavern the entered into at last was illuminated by the shining stone. Featherlight stood before it, taking a moment to admire it before turning to face her companion with a solemn expression. "Goosekit, is it your wish to enter into the mysteries of StarClan as a medicine cat?"

When Goosekit emerged from the tunnel, he stopped walking. The Moonstone was even brighter and sparklier than the stars outside. It shone a bright, blue light across the cavern, taking his breath away. He only looked away when Featherlight spoke to him. He had chosen his destiny back in the nursery. “Y-yes. I-it is.”

Featherlight struggled to recall the words Sageleaf had spoken next, but she did manage. "StarClan, the time has come... For me to appoint an apprentice... I present to you... Goosekit. He has chosen this path despite its difficulties, and he will train hard to understand your ways..." At last, her attention shifted back to the smaller cat. "From this moment, until you receive your full name, you shall be known as Goosepaw. May StarClan light your path with their knowledge and wisdom."

With the ceremonial words spoken, Featherlight smiled at her new apprentice. "Now, touch your nose to the Moonstone. I'm certain that StarClan will be more than happy to greet you, Goosepaw."