Orchidpaw's and Poppypaw's Moonstone Journey

With the return of the sun and the moon brought by the defeat of Lichenmask and his followers came the safety of traveling to Highstones for apprentices to partake in their rite of passages into warriorhood with their warrior ancestors. Since so many of ShadowClan's apprentices would love nothing more than to travel to the Moonstone to dream with StarClan, and as she was the Clan's only medicine cat, Morningpaw had so much responsibility on her shoulders. Having escorted his own fair share of apprentices to the Moonstone and back as deputy, Scorchstar figured it would be best for her if he helped her by taking over some of the responsibility of bringing apprentices up to Highstones.

It had been a few days since his own leadership ceremony held at the Moonstone, and he was ready to return with his two sons Orchidpaw and Poppypaw. They had been ready to ascend into warriorhood for about a moon now, but with Lichenmask and the rest of the Exiles roaming about, it had been far too unsafe to travel such a long distance and leave ShadowClan vulnerable. But now he couldn't think of a better time to bring the two up to dream with their warrior ancestors.

Having requested the two brothers to meet him by the camp entrance, Scorchstar brought over two bundles of herbs that Morningpaw had prepared for the long journey ahead. He had already consumed the third bundle offered. It seemed his time away from taking over Moonstone journeys had restored his taste buds again after the constant burn of bitter leaves, and they tasted even worse than he could ever remember. Licking his lips many times over to wipe away the awful taste from his tongue, he sat by the entrance and waited for his sons.

Poppypaw raced out of the apprentices' den, his amber eyes sparkling with excitement, a wide grin stretched across his muzzle. Finally, today was the day he and his brother would travel to the Moonstone to speak with StarClan, and after today they would be able to become warriors! He wondered just what his warrior name would be. Perhaps Poppysong for his melodious voice, or Poppyfire for his fiery passion. He also liked the idea of Poppystrike for his quick reflexes, and Poppyshine for his endless optimism. Perhaps the name he liked the most was Poppyheart, for his love and compassion he held for his Clanmates and life itself. The possibilities were endless!

He approached Scorchstar and beamed up at him, feeling immense pride wash over him. His father had finally become a full-fledged leader of ShadowClan with nine lives instead of just one, and it made him so proud and happy to see him look so proud and happy himself, almost as if he had just fulfilled his own personal prophecy. Looking down at the herbs, he sniffed at one of them and wrinkled his nose. "Ewww, those smell really bad! I don't have to eat them, do I?"

---

Orchidpaw followed out behind his littermate much slower in comparison. His eyes were droopy with exhaustion, and his walking pattern was constantly faltered by little trips and missteps. He hadn't been able to get much sleep at all ever since Sparkfeather's death. Every time he closed his eyes to try and sleep, all he could see was her body being flung into those flames. These nightmares constantly kept him awake at night, and though cats were nocturnal by nature he had grown accustomed to sleeping at night and training during the day, so this really disrupted his routine.

Without his crush and best friend -- aside from Poppypaw -- at his side to nag him to get up and work, or to insist she must continue providing for the Clan so he could try and put a stop to her antics, the bluish-gray tom fell into a state of depression. Well, it had always been there, but now it was really beginning to rear its ugly head. He tried to cover up his sadness with a fake smile and a joke or two, playing it off that he was just growing very lazy with age -- though he didn't know how many cats other than kits actually bought those excuses. The only reason why he wasn't outright refusing to travel to the Moonstone today was that this could be the only chance he could get at reuniting with Sparkfeather when he dreamed with StarClan. Hopefully he would be able to see her again, even if it's just for a little bit. Plus, he could do with a good night's sleep.

Hearing Poppypaw's whining, he gave a soft, half-hearted chuckle and grinned for his brother. "Yeah, sorry, bro, but I'm pretty sure we gotta eat these. We wouldn't be able to leaf without them." Snorting softly at his littermate's groan of annoyance, he bent down to lap up the bundle, trying to ignore the awfully bitter taste. He noticed Poppypaw struggling to do the same when he ate his.

Scorchstar smiled as his two sons approached and watched as they ate their given herbs. He was completely expecting Poppypaw to be very excited and eager to make this trip, but it saddened him to see Orchidpaw so tired and depressed. He knew losing Sparkfeather took a heavy toll on him, but he didn't think it would be this heavy. Then again, he would probably feel the same way if he ever lost Minnowcall.

"I hope you two are ready, because this is going to be a long journey," the large tabby tom meowed, standing up again and beginning to lead the way out of camp.

---

(Time Skip)

---

The sun began to set over the horizon, the moon beginning to show in the cloudless sky, as the three toms came close to finishing the first half of their long journey. Scorchstar knew the path to take to reach the Moonstone through Mothermouth like the back of his paw. He turned back to look at his sons and mewed, "Make sure you both stay close to me. I wouldn't want either of you getting lost in here." Making sure they understood, he began leading the way into the dark cave.

It didn't take too long before they reached the large room with the hole cut out of the ceiling, positioned perfectly over a large stone sitting in the very center of the room. As the moon rose over the hole, its light shining through into the cave, the Moonstone burst into a piercing, cold white light that turned everyone's pelts silver. Scorchstar squinted his eyes until they became adjusted to the sudden bright light after being so used to darkness, and he turned to his sons. "This is where you must finish your journey alone, my sons. Touch your noses to the Moonstone's surface, and you will begin to dream with StarClan. I will be here when you wake back up." He gestured with his tail for Orchidpaw and Poppypaw to approach the mystical stone.

Eagerness and anticipation fluttered in Poppypaw's stomach, and he almost felt like he was going to get sick out of sheer excitement. However, he managed to maintain his professionalism, and he walked over to the Moonstone as calmly as he could, Orchidpaw padding right alongside him. The two brothers nestled down in front of the stone and placed their noses on it.

Immediately, Poppypaw felt a shockwave of freezing cold blast through his entire body and he stiffened, eyes shutting tight and gritting his teeth as to not shriek. The coldness in his pelt quickly mellowed out into a calm, serene warmth, and when the tom opened his eyes he found he was no longer in Mothermouth, but on a magical plain of grass that swished calmly in the gentle warm breeze, countless fireflies dancing around and making the entire place glow. Up above the stars sparkled brightly, and it almost seemed like they were moving. Wait a minute... They are moving!

The apprentice watched in awe as the stars began to swirl together and take shape on the grassy ground. The clear, yet transparent body of a skinny, long-limbed cat with amber eyes and a tortoiseshell black and ginger coat stood in front of Poppypaw, and he offered the young tom a smile.

"Welcome to StarClan, little one," the tom meowed. "My name is Spiderpounce."

"Spiderpounce? Wowie! So you really are a StarClan cat!" Poppypaw squeaked in excited awe. "Do you have any super cool sage advice for me, Spiderpounce?"

Spiderpounce's whiskers twitched with amusement, and his eyes seemed to grow wistful, as if the apprentice before him reminded him of someone else he used to know. "I'm not sure I would call my advice sage or anything that big, but I do want to tell you to always cherish your bond with your brother Orchidpaw. Difficult times are headed their way towards ShadowClan, and towards you and your brother, and you must always make sure you support him no matter what may happen."

Poppypaw blinked in astonishment. "What? Of course I'll always cherish and love my brother! As if you had to tell me that! He and I are the closest of brothers you'll ever see!"

The StarClan cat purred. "You are certainly one of the closest, I'll definitely say that." His outline began to slowly fade away, assured by Poppypaw's promise, and the world grew blindingly white, too bright for Poppypaw to keep his eyes open.

When the young tom opened them again, he found he was laying beside Orchidpaw in front of the Moonstone again. His entire body felt cold and stiff, and he looked up to see the moon had already long passed, the sky growing a fiery pinkish-orange in the approach of dawn. Wait, it's over already? It only took a few heartbeats, but now the sun is beginning to rise! But... Why would Spiderpounce tell me what I already knew? It doesn't really make much sense. He looked over at his still sleeping brother, and he smiled gently. I suppose it doesn't matter. So long as I'm with by brother and my best friend, I'm sure everything will be alright.

Orchidpaw couldn't seem to keep a soft yelp of pain and cold when he touched his nose to the Moonstone alongside Poppypaw, and when he opened his eyes after shutting them closed to endure the pain he found himself on a grassy plain with dancing fireflies and gentle warm breezes akin to newleaf. Immediately, he looked all around the empty land that seemed to stretch on forever. Where's Sparkfeather? I don't see her anywhere!

"I'm afraid you will not find Sparkfeather among us tonight, Orchidpaw."

Orchidpaw whipped around behind him at the unexpected voice, eyes widening. Standing before him was a cat who seemed to come from absolutely nowhere. She had a sandy pale coat and bright amber eyes, and a couple of small scars along her face. She offered him a kind and loving smile. "Welcome to StarClan. My name is Dawnpetal of ThunderClan."

"Dawnpetal? Of ThunderClan?" The bluish-gray tom shook his head quickly. "N-No offense, but there must be some kind of mistake. I'm supposed to be seeing Sparkfeather of ShadowClan."

"As I said, she will not be here tonight, but rest assured she was still able to find her way to us in StarClan when she died," Dawnpetal mewed gently. "Besides, I have something much more important to tell you."

What could anything this cat say even come close to being nearly as important as seeing Sparkfeather? Orchidpaw thought grouchily, his ear flicking irritably. However, he refrained from speaking and listened.

"Orchidpaw, you know as well as I do that family is just as important to a cat as their Clan," the StarClan molly began. "Your Clan makes you strong, but family gives you strength. They are the cats who have always been with you and always will be, even once they have moved on from the world of the living. They are your shoulders to cry on, the pride and joy of your accomplishments, your best friends above all else. But the path you're heading down, Orchidpaw, and the decisions you are making may rob you of your closest kin."

Orchidpaw was only half-listening to Dawnpetal's little monologue, his tail-tip twitching in disgust. If family was supposed to be just as important as the Clan a cat was born into, then why did Blazeflight decide to give him and Poppypaw up to Minnowcall? It didn't seem like family meant much of anything to his true mother. Really, the only cats who ever held a close place in his heart were Poppypaw and Sparkfeather -- though, of course, his crush was already dead, so now he only had his brother; his true littermate.

The last thing Dawnpetal said, however, caught his attention. What did she mean by the decisions he was making? What decisions was he making that would make him lose Poppypaw? ...Did she mean the truth about Blazeflight being their actual mother? But he couldn't tell Poppypaw, he just couldn't! That knowledge would only burden him and weigh him down, just as it did him. He was keeping this large and heavy secret from him for his own good, to preserve his happiness and false illusion that Clan life -- at least from an internal standpoint -- was flawless. Besides, he would make absolutely sure that his brother would never find out anyway, and he would make sure no cat tells him, either. This molly had no idea what she was talking about. He would have much rather seen Sparkfeather tonight.

"Consider every possible outcome before making your choices, Orchidpaw," Dawnpetal meowed, a tone of warning carrying on in her voice. After taking a few steps back, the StarClan cat began to glow radiantly, filling the entire world with a bright light, and Orchidpaw had to shut his eyes tightly to avoid being completely blinded.

When he opened them again, he found he was laying next to Poppypaw within Mothermouth, a dim light filtering into the cave through the hole in the roof as dawn approached. He looked up and saw that his littermate was already awake, and he offered him a smile. "Well, it looks like our Moonstone journey's finished, bro. Let's wake Scorchstar up and head back to camp for our warrior ceremonies." He struggled up to his paws, his legs stiff and trembling from the crouched position he lay in throughout the night, and watched as Poppypaw bounded past him up to his father, who could barely be recognizable in the darkness.

Consider every possible outcome before making your choices, Orchidpaw. Dawnpetal's warning rang through his head once again, but he shook his head stubbornly to clear it away. He knew he was making the right decision in keeping this huge secret from Poppypaw. It would only weigh him down with unnecessary knowledge, knowledge that he himself shouldn't have ever known. He was making already making the right choice, he just knew it.