Amberkit's Medicine Cat Apprentice Cermony

Mintwhisker sighed, stretching her short legs as she wandered through Skyclan territory. It was that magical time between darkness and dawn, where the world was bathed in quiet purple-gray and fog clung to the trunks of the towering oak trees. Despite her many moons as the only Medicine Cat of Skyclan, it felt like just yesterday she had been patrolling with Rippedstar, a young starry-eyed Warrior Apprentice filled with hope and high expectations. So much had changed since then.
The young she-cat blinked, turning her face toward the sky. The first streaks of pink had begun to burst over the horizon, determined to bring light back to the world. Mintwhisker sighed as the last stars began to fade, pointing her paws hesitantly in the direction of Skyclan's camp. Goodbye to the peace and quiet, hello to the constant fear of what would happen to Skyclan without her. Time was running out, and the string of deaths in Skyclan had made Mintwhisker only more aware of the fact that she wasn't going to be around forever. It was time to do what Oceanlight had done, what Rabbitfoot was going to do.
She hadn't shared a den with someone since her Medicine Cat apprentice ceremony, and had gotten used to the calmness that filled her little home when she was the only one inside. She supposed it was goodbye to that as well, along with the night sky. She closed her eyes for a moment, wishing the darkness and the quiet that it brought with it.

Her feet carried her faster than she would've liked, and soon she had arrived at the entrance to camp. With another sigh, the she-cat pushed her way through the bramble tunnel and emerged into the already-bustling clearing. She weaved her way among the warriors, lifting her paws as apprentices and kits scampered around. Queens peered out of the nursery, looking exhausted. Mintwhisker shot them a sympathetic glance. She supposed that Apprentice Ceremony would have to wait.
"Your clan's looking awfully thin," Mintwhisker jumped, looking around as her clanmates slumped over, evidently asleep. The background faded away, and her entire clan was floating in the stars.
Starclan. "H-hello?" Great, her stutter was back.
The strange voice spoke again. "You'd better wake them up before you forget how to."


Mintwhisker leapt to her feet, nearly hitting her head on the low ceiling of her den. "What? Where..." Her panic faded as she realized where she was.
Just a dream... She tried to reassure herself, hugging her tail around her body and leaning against the wall of the den. The first hints of sunrise were beginning to show when she finally moved, this time with purpose. They were right. She had to get an apprentice, and soon.
She already had a cat in mind; she hardly had to think as she padded toward the Nursery. The lithe she-cat ducked inside, her murky green eyes trained on a small golden she-kit curled up at the back of the den.
"Amberkit, wake up."

Mintwhisker cast her mind back to her own Apprentice Ceremony, many moons ago. There was no use keeping their destination a secret, but she didn't want to tell the young she-cat everything right there in the Nursery. "Come with me." She beckoned with her tail, and slid out of the nursery and into the night. They stopped at her quaint den, where Mintwhisker offered her a bundle of herbs. "Careful. They taste nasty." She mewed after quickly eating her bundle.

Before they left camp, the tabby sat down at the entrance. "Amberkit," She began. "Do you remember when you first met me, how you told me that you didn't wish to fight like the others? Well, I just had a dream, a message from Starclan.
Tonight, we travel to Highstones. There, you will meet with StarClan and become a Medicine Cat apprentice- My apprentice, if you wish."
It was all out in the open. Mintwhisker remembered the terrible pressure she had been under. She was glad that she had chosen a cat so young, one who had yet to travel down either path and was free to choose without any qualms or worry.

Mintwhisker blinked at Amberkit's wonder, smiling slightly as her concern melted away into relief. Amberkit was more than ready to travel down the path Starclan had set out for her. Mintwhisker shouldn't have doubted her for a second.
"Wonderful." She mewed, nudging the small she-cat's forehead before stepping back. "Let's not waste any more time. Luckily, we're close to Windclan's border, so we'll be able to cut across their territory with relative ease. I think you'll love Windclan- the sky stretches on for miles..." She continued to speak as they wandered through Skyclan territory, the short-legged she-cat leading by just a few pawsteps. It would be Amberkit's first time out of camp, and Mintwhisker didn't feel the need to rush. The sun was rising; they had all day to make it to Highstones.

The only time the she-cat's steps faltered was at the border. She hesitated, glancing down at the golden tabby for a moment. Amberkit had accepted her destiny so blindly... did she know what she had just agreed to? It was a great honor to be a Medicine Cat, but it was also incredibly lonely. Mintwhisker would be lying if she said she didn't miss the kinship she felt, sleeping in the Apprentice's Den with all her friends.
The Medicine Cat shook herself, stepping across the border with determination. This was what Starclan wanted. This was what Amberkit was born for.

---

Mintwhisker huffed as she lead the way to the top of Mothermouth, out of breath from the laborious climb.
"We're here," The she-cat mewed, once they had both finally made it to the top. Ahead, the Moonstone. Behind, the Forest. There was only one way to go. "The Moonstone is right through here." She began, slowly making her way into the tunnels. "I'll keep my tail stretched behind me in case you need any extra guidance. I nearly got lost my first time navigating the tunnels."

A few minutes later, the pair emerged into the open cavern that contained the Moonstone. All was dark; the Moon had yet to rise.
They didn't have long to wait. A cloud drifted across the sky, and suddenly the entire cave was filled with light. In the brilliance of the Moon, Mintwhisker spoke the ceremonial words that Crowstar had spoken to her. "Amberkit." She began. "Is it your wish to enter the mysteries of Starclan as a Medicine Cat Apprentice?"

Mintwhisker nodded her approval, her murky green eyes bright as she remembered her own ceremony. "Come forward." She mewed, looking down at the golden she-kit with a small smile.

The taupe tabby she-cat took a deep breath and continued with Amberkit's ceremony. "Warriors of StarClan, I present you with this kit. She has chosen the path of a medicine cat. Grant her your wisdom and insight so that she may understand your ways and heal her Clan in accordance with your will." The words came easily to her, although she hadn't practiced, nor spoken the ceremonial words, before. The she-cat flicked her tail, walking gracefully closer to the Moonstone and drawing Amberkit closer with her tail. Press your nose to the Moonstone." She instructed. "And you will feel a strong urge to fall asleep. Don't fight it; you'll meet with a Warrior from Starclan soon. There, you'll be given your new name."