Aspenpaw's Moonstone Journey

"Aspenpaw!" Fallowpaw's sweet voice rang out across the camp, aimed at the handsome young tom that she'd be assisting to Highstones today. In her mouth, she carried a large bundle, laced with a small amount of honey to aid with the taste and digestion of the foul traveling herbs. When she approached the tom, she gently placed them at his paws and flicked her tail towards her den. "As soon as you're ready, we can head out to get there as soon as possible." Once Aspenpaw had eaten all of the herbs, she motioned for him to follow her out of camp, and the two made their way all the way to Highstones.

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When they finally reached the brightly glowing Moonstone, Fallowpaw gazed at it for a moment before looking to Aspenpaw to give him his instructions. "Lay down next to the stone, and get comfortable. When you're ready to speak to StarClan, touch your nose to the stone. You're gonna feel real tired, but don't fight it. I'll be here when you wake up to escort you back home." She mewed, and settled herself down beside the stone as sleep overcame her.

Aspenpaw heard Fallowpaw's voice ring out across the clearing towards him. Finally - today was his Moonstone journey. He hoped he would see his mom in Starclan, he'd never seen her or heard her. Just stories that his father had told him. He watched her come over to him and drop a bundle of herbs at his feet. He'd seen other apprentices eat them before, he knew what he had to do. He ate them quickly, the bitterness of them being overcome by the sweetness of the honey. "Alright. Let's go then" He smiled at her, she was nice to do this for the apprentices who had to go to Highstones. She was an apprentice too after all.


He followed her into the cave, it was a bit uncomfortable. The tightness of the cave which they went through. He followed her instructions carefully. He lay down and looked at the bright stone for a moment. He looked over, seeing that Fallowpaw had already fallen into the deep slumber she had said would happen to him. He looked back at the stone and pressed his nose to it carefully. Suddenly drowsiness fell over him, and he had fallen asleep. Though when he awoke, he was in a completely different place. A bit of a sparkle to it as well. This must be Starclan, it's so beautiful...

Soft, sweet stalks of grass dipped towards the cool earth, weighted down by both the lusciousness provided by eternal Greenleaf and the faint rivulets of dew that stubbornly clung to the fuzzy edges of the nonexistent grass. The muted, ethereal light that composed the unearthly realm before the young Apprentice seemed buttery and oddly colored at first at first, bathing the rich foliage and undergrowth in deeply colored shadows. The soft hum and chatter of various unseen insects buzzed lightly, softly droning on constantly, unperturbed by the latest visitor in their ghostly residence. For several heartbeats, while Aspenpaw was preoccupied with merely gazing about the starry realm of StarClan, the only movement that swayed the lush territory was a gentle breeze. And then, with all the grace and subtly of a star bursting into life in the night sky, a pair of ears was just barely discernible among the tall grasses that unfolded around the younger RiverClanner.

The grasses, already bowing under the added weight of moisture, swayed and easily gave way to the being that passed by, eventually ruffling back into place within a few moments. Faint specks of starlight were scuffed up by the movements of the ghostly creature, hanging heavily in the air like snow during the first torrential downpour of the cold season. Deep amber eyes, more closely resembling the rich color of fresh honey, were suddenly peering at Aspenpaw. Fully sliding away from the swaying grass, Sunfish's rounded features held a wistful trace of exuberance as she peered down at the long-furred tom who so closely resembled her. A young molly, whose stark resemblance to Aspenpaw only deviated at the slight grey coloration within her fur, skipped about her mother's paws eagerly, peeking up at her littermate with wide eyes. "Aspenpaw!" Sunfish's purr, while soft, was blatantly effervescent.

Aspenpaw has been watching the landscape of Starclan intently, only looking up when he had heard the noises of grass being pushed aside from some other being. He jumped back, startled, by the cat who had appeared in front of him. He looked the cat up and down, suddenly seeing a resemblance. He breathed inwards sharply and released it. Upon hearing his name he realized - this must be his mother. She purred out his name, and he smiled at her. “S-sunfish? M-mom? Is- is that you? Are you really here... talking to me?” He padded closer, brushing his head against hers. Tears sparkled in his green eyes as he withdrew. He wished he could tell her everything that had transpired in his life. Yet he knew he was here on business. He could not stay with his mother and talk forever. No.. no he would save that for when Starclan took him. He hoped that wouldn't be for a long, long time.

“I’m so glad I’m talking to you. I-I’ve always been told I look like you, but I never knew what you looked like or what you sounded like truly. I can only hope that Lightpaw will see you as well someday...” The breeze rustled his brown fur as he sat to listen to his mother’s words. He had come to the Moonstone for a purpose, to meet a Starclan cat who would tell him his or her wisdom. Unfortunately, he had to listen, or else he would have wasted his visit. Well, not wasted, he's seen his mother now. That's one of his greatest wishes now granted.

Although breathing was merely a comfortable novelty that Sunfish wasn't ready to give up just yet, it felt as though the nonexistent oxygen she wheezed in was stuck somewhere within the fathoms of her throat. It was so easy to feel as though you know someone whenever all you did was simply watch as an impartial observer, but it was quite daunting when you were finally given a chance to see them. The soft flames of excitement still radiated a gentle heat throughout her starry being, but there was a niggling pinprick of apprehension nestled within her heart. She had been so angry at her own mother whenever they had first met, what if Aspenpaw was the same way? However, her son merely pressed their foreheads together with a soft exhale. Sunkit, slightly oblivious to the events transpiring before her, happily bumbled around her mother and older brother's paws, squealing happily as she did so.

"There's no need to worry over Lightpaw," Sunfish mewed softly, dark eyes alight with a warmth that radiated a kind heat, "I shall walk within his dreams soon." Gathering her starry daughter back towards the confines of her belly, the Queen was content to simply gaze at her son for a moment or two- almost as though she was attempting to memorize every last strand of his fur. He had already changed so much since she had last seen him, who knows what he would look like the next time they were able to see each other. The soft simper that graced her features was touched by a slight note of sorrow. It was slightly overwhelming to make up for a lifetime of absence in only a few moments. "If I was able to spend every last moment of my existence in your company, I would. But I cannot, no matter how much I wish I could do so." A sour taste of grief lingered upon her tongue as she spoke, but she only forced herself to swallow down the unpleasant feeling. "My son, I want you to know that no matter what happens in your life, never lose sight of the light. Fate is only what you make of it, regardless of whatever accidents or cruelty that may befall you. Only you can make the choices that come next."