Frogpaw's Moonstone Journey

Frog listened to Mudfoot's other words. Though it was unlikely, it felt for a moment as though he had read her mind. His words made her a little bit nervous: "I've learned that loyalty means nothing unless it has, at its heart, the absolute principle of self-sacrifice." Frog wondered nervously what she could be expected to sacrifice. She had nothing to give but her hunting and fighting skills, and she already knew she would be swearing to protect her Clan at the cost of her life soon. She wasn't afraid of those sacrifices... So what could he mean? Frog just nodded slowly and responded, "Oh. Uh, alright. What else am I supposed to do?"

Thinking about what else he might be able to tell her, Mudfoot simply shook his head. "Stay loyal little one," he purred, meeting the apprentice's gaze and hoping his words would help her along her path. With that, he watched as the Frog began to fade away, most likely returning to the living world, her dark grey pelt leaving behind a starry silhouette. "May StarClan light your path," he added before she disappeared entirely from his sight, leaving the StarClan cat to go about his usual business in the stars above.

Frog stared at Mudfoot, but he just shook his head and replied, "Stay loyal little one." Part of her felt indignant at being referred to as such, but she was a bit on the smaller side and she was aware of it. Frog just nodded dutifully, and then suddenly it was as if the sky were growing darker, or... or I'm falling back to sleep, she realized. She gasped as Mudfoot began to fade from her sight, the stars of the hunting grounds going dim. His voice echoed in his ears as she slipped back into dreaming.

---

Frog woke up and jumped to her paws. Immediately she felt dizzy and dazed, but after a moment she gazed around the darkening cavern and remembered where she was and what had just happened. He didn't tell me anything I didn't already know, Frog thought bitterly. Then, she thought, He was kind, though. I appreciate that. The gray she-cat began to scan the darkness for Morningpaw.