Ivypaw's Moonstone Journey

A neatly wrapped bundle of travelling herbs clamped firmly in his jaws, Scorchclaw emerged from the medicine den. The large tabby swept his gaze across the clearing. It was sometime after the sun had reached its highest peak in the sky, and the camp central was full of RiverClan warriors resting after their patrols in the earlier half of the day. While some cats dozed in the shade, others were engaged in sharing tongues. The soft murmur of voices drifted in the sultry air. It did not take long before Scorchclaw spotted the particular she-cat he was after. "Ivypaw." He called the apprentice's name, beckoning her over with a flick of his dark-tipped tail. "It is time to leave." Upon her approach, he set the herb bundle down on a flat rock conveniently located nearby. "This is your share of the herbs. I believe you know what you need to do." He meowed stiffly. The bundle was smaller than it was usually supposed to be, but there was no helping that difference. Because the forest was still recovering from the damage done by the flood, these herbs were not easy to find.

Rising from her spot near the fresh-kill pile, Ivypaw stretched slightly and looked to Scorchclaw and then to her herbs, and back at the Deputy again. If this was for her Moonstone journey... that must mean her warrior ceremony was coming up soon! Finally, after so much training and hard work, she would be able to join her brothers in the rank of a warrior, and serve her Clan truly and to the fullest extent. She nodded gratefully, keeping her excitement toned down as she gulped the bitter herbs down with only the smallest grimace noticeable upon her features. She nodded to Scorchclaw, signaling that she was ready to head out whenever he was ready.

Scorchclaw watched in silence as Ivypaw lowered her head to dutifully swallow the herbs. The taste was undoubtedly as terrible as it had always been. He knew, for he had just eaten his own share in the Medicine Den. The bitterness seemed to spread over one's tongue, clinging to every tooth and even to the roof of one's mouth. If an apprentice were eating these herbs for the first time, he could be tempted to throw them back up. Fortunately, Ivypaw showed barely a trace of her discomfort. In a matter of moments, she was looking up at him again, clearly ready to head out. The RiverClan deputy returned her nod with a firm one of his own, an obvious "well done." "Let us set off." He rumbled. With those simple words, he headed towards the camp exit.

Once the two RiverClan cats were past the small stream that surrounded their camp, they were out in the vast expanse of the main territory. Scorchclaw, mindful of the sun's position in the sky, set a swift pace for the two of them. He took care not to let the apprentice fall behind him. Whenever she did, he would turn to seek her out, simultaneously slowing his stride so she could catch up again. Despite the ravages of the flood, the old trail to Fourtrees remained more or less unchanged. He had been to Highstones so many times by now that it would not be impossible for him to find his way there in thick fog. Already, he had selected the shortest route to their destination. They had lapsed into silence as they padded along, but he spoke to the apprentice now. "Is there anything you still wish to know about the Moonstone?" He asked, green gaze flicking towards her. "It would be best to ask these questions soon, before we arrive."

A slight grin wiggled its way onto her face at the Deputy's silent praise, and she nodded at his next words. Following Scorchclaw quickly out of RiverClan's camp and into the territory, Ivypaw smiled gently as they set out on their journey. Thankful for the times when the older tom would slow down, she found herself compelled to say something to him whenever she fell behind, but shook it off and tried to catch up the best that she could. The silence between the two of them was dreadful to her. Constant thoughts that she had done something wrong or that Scorchclaw was displeased with her plagued her brain, but she shook those off also. She jumped just slightly when he finally decided to break the silence, finding it unexpected. She listened to his words intently, though, thinking of his question and trying to come up with an answer. "No, I don't think I've got any." She replied with a slight shake of her head. If she did, they had already been answered by Berrycloud or Sparkfrost, before he lost his memory.

Scorchclaw's response was a simple "I see." He was unaware of the discomfort their earlier silence stirred in Ivypaw. The large tom had never been given to much idle chatter; one could say that he was generally rather reserved. A lack of conversation meant peace to him, and most of the Moonstone Journeys he led apprentices on had passed in such a manner. For the start of this particular journey, it had also been so. However, having spoken up now, he was not quite ready to let go of the conversation. The reason for this difference was that he had been interested in Ivypaw for a while now. It was not just the apprentice; he had been keeping a similar eye on her littermates. Once, he had believed that they were rogue kits picked up in twolegplace. But then Jaystar had confessed the truth: they were the RiverClan leader's kits, and their mother was the former medicine cat Goldeneye. As much as he remained unable to forgive their parents for breaking the Code, he knew that the kits bore no share of the blame. If anything, they were victims who had been abandoned by the guilty parties. What must it feel like, to find out that everything you believe about yourself is a lie? Even the cutting betrayal Scorchclaw had felt when facing Jaystar could not be as painful, as world-shattering. He did not know if Ivypaw and her siblings would ever find out. But perhaps it was that undeniable concern for kits whose parents had abandoned them, just as his had abandoned him, that prompted him to speak to her. Despite his usual cold demeanor, he still had a heart capable of compassion. There had been enough hurt, enough pain in RiverClan. It was not difficult for him to continue the conversation. "Following this journey, you will be one step closer to becoming a warrior. Most cats will only have this one chance to speak to StarClan during their lifetime, so you should carefully consider what you want to say to the ancestors. Do you have a question in mind?" Under his breath, he muttered darkly, "Although the ancient flea-bags will likely ramble on even without your taking the initiative."

Appreciative of the older tom's continuation of the conversation, Ivypaw listened intently to what he had to say. Before he had even finished his question, though, she knew the answer. "I'm gonna ask them about my parents." She said solemnly, frowning a bit at his last comment. "I've got to ask them, it's the only hope I've got for ever knowing anything about my parents. And if I don't get an answer from StarClan... then I guess I'll never get to know." Her eyes drifted from the taller deputy to the path in front of them, keeping the same pace as him. "Sometimes I feel like not knowing is better, so if what you say about them is true, then I guess that'll be all right, too."  She muttered quietly, an intense glare shot up towards the stars, which were beginning to glow as night fell. Sparkfrost and Berrycloud deserved to know where they came from as well, so maybe if StarClan was able to give her any information... She could tell them, as well. Sometimes it felt as if they'd never get an answer, after all, if anyone actually knew anything about their parents, they would've spoken up by now, surely. So all that the three of them had left was StarClan, and she doubted that they would be able to tell her much. She looked up to the fluffy deputy, their green eyes meeting for a moment before she looked back down to her paws.

Ivypaw's words sunk like claws into the deputy's heart. He should have known; he really should have known. Of course she was curious about her origins. The desire was only too natural, for kits who had never known their parents. Without realizing it, Scorchclaw had clenched his jaws. He must have made a strange expression for a moment. His features had contorted, almost giving away the pain he felt within. Forcefully, he shoved the stony mask back on. "I see." His voice sounded strangled to his own ears. Would StarClan reveal to the young she-cat the truth she was seeking for? There was no telling with the ancestors. His cynical sense of reality maintained the belief that it was only a matter of time before Jaystar's misdeeds were revealed. There was another side of him, however―the side that sympathized with Ivypaw and her siblings. When they found out, just how hurt would they be? They had been lied to their whole lives, deceived by their very own parents. Scorchclaw suddenly thought of Gingerstripe, the former ShadowClanner whose mother had been a medicine cat. It was tainted blood that these young cats bore in their veins. Once again, he felt the flames of anger rise within him; Jaystar and Goldeneye had caused all this. Some parent the RiverClan leader had turned out to be. "Knowledge does not always lead to joy." He rumbled, carefully choosing his words, "Whatever your origins, however, wherever you have come from, remember this. You and your littermates are warriors of RiverClan. You have chosen to dedicate your lives to this clan; therefore, the common loyalty binds us together as clanmates. You have a home here. As long as your heart does not change, that will always be the case."

The rushing of river water had been hailing the two cats for a while now, and the border now drew into view. Scorchclaw led Ivypaw to the section of the river where the stepping stones peeked above the surface of the swiftly flowing current. "We will cross here." He informed her solemnly. "Follow my lead carefully. The stones are slippery, but we can make it across with enough caution."

Despite the fact that Scorchclaw's expression had only faltered for a mere few seconds, Ivypaw noticed it. The way his features contorted to reveal his emotions showed her a side of Scorchclaw that she didn't realize existed. Everything had always remained consistent with the tom, and it was only on a rare occasion that he ever dropped his facade to give away what he was truly feeling. Talking about her origins must've stirred something within the tom, which had piqued her curiosity. Did all of the other RiverClanner's see herself and her siblings differently than the rest of the Clan? Shaking her head, she listened to what the older tom had to say, nodding her head at the more important points as she laid eyes on the stepping stones in front of her.

She nodded her head once more at the tom's instructions, following him over the stones with the skill that she had picked up from the moons she'd spent training as an apprentice. When she had finally reached the last stone, she waited for Scorchclaw's command and then jumped to the other side of the river. When the two of them had settled back into their normal pace, she looked to the tom and asked the question that had been nagging her since before the stepping stones. "Scorchclaw, er... Does the rest of RiverClan see it that way, too? I mean, about us being true RiverClanners and everything... What if they don't see it the same as you do?" Flashbacks to the war during her early apprentice-hood flashed through her head. "It's clear that L-Lichenmask didn't, so isn't it perfectly reasonable to believe that maybe some other cats share his views?" Her voice faltered slightly at the name, the fear of just the memory of him evident in her words.

As deputy and apprentice crossed the stepping stones, Scorchclaw kept a hawk-like gaze on Ivypaw. Claws clicked against moss and damp stone; the dark water swirled powerfully around them, barely a paw's reach away. Fortunately, they made their way with enough care, and neither one of them ended up taking a dip. It was not long before they were once again standing on solid ground. When his charge had successfully made the last leap from stone to shore, he released a soft breath. Once again, he took up the lead. Their next destination was Fourtrees; the place was not far away, now that they had already crossed the main river. In fact, he knew the tops of the Great Oaks would soon show up in the horizon. Ivypaw spoke up again, and he twitched one ear at the sound of her voice. This time, he barely needed to muse over her question. An answer came to him almost immediately, the belief that had guided him during the Lichenmask incident. Those had been dark days, both figuratively and literally. Faced with Lichenmask's fear-inspiring supernatural power, some may even have wavered in their principles. He, however, had not. He still held to that same belief now. "I do not know." He admitted solemnly. "You and I are ordinary cats; we lack the power to peer into the hearts of our clanmates. They may have the same view, or they may not. There is no easy way to find out." He was not going to deceive the younger cat. Every warrior of RiverClan was considered a clanmate of his, but sometimes a heart could hide unspeakable darkness. His thoughts drifted toward the many RiverClan cats that had sided with Lichenmask. He had never expected some of them to hold such twisted views. "However, any one of them who would reject a cat willing to fight and die for RiverClan should be deeply ashamed." To the large deputy who bore his identity as a RiverClanner with great pride, loyalty was everything. A cat who would throw everything away and cleave to the identity of a RiverClan warrior was good enough for him. Otherwise, what would have been the point of risking so many lives to face Lichenmask? The strong feelings with which he had made that last statement had caused his expression to grow harsh; now, however, his features softened and he directed an inquiring glance towards Ivypaw. "But what about you, Ivypaw? Do you see yourself as one of us?"

Finally, someone who was honest with her. Ivypaw had fully expected the RiverClan deputy to treat her just as everyone else did- telling her that no one would ever deny that she was a RiverClanner through and through and that she deserved a place in the Clan in the eyes of each and every Clanmate. Instead, however, Scorchclaw gave the young she-cat the truth that she had been searching for almost her entire life. Even if the truth hurt, it was exactly what she wanted. Why else would she have asked? An expression of gratitude mixed with just a bit of fear mounted her features, her face contorting slightly once more at the thought of Lichenmask. But her attention was grasped immediately by the question that the deputy posed before her, one that she had shied away from for the entirety of her existence. She wanted so badly to see herself as a RiverClan cat, but growing up in the age of Lichenmask had done so much harm to her mindset and crushed her confidence. She was constantly told that she was an outsider; she didn't belong in the Clan because her blood was not pure. She was an outsider- and for a long time, she believed that she would be cast out as one. Even now that Lichenmask was gone, the mentality that he had implanted into her head still remained. Not knowing who her parents were or where she came from was a major setback to the she-cat, whether she wanted to admit it or not. Suddenly remembering where she was and who she was speaking to, she gave a slight shake of her head to clear her thoughts. "I-I'm sorry, of course I do... It's just..." Tears pricked at the back of her eyes as she struggled to find the words to explain what she was feeling. She shook her head, guilt taking over her usual mask of pride. "I love RiverClan, I truly do, and I would give my life to save it if it came down to it. And in my mind, that makes me a RiverClan cat. Doesn't it?" She looked back up to the older tom inquisitively, continuing to walk alongside him as the Great Oaks finally appeared just above the horizon.

The emotion in Ivypaw's voice did not quite escape Scorchclaw's ears. The RiverClan deputy gazed down at the younger cat for a moment or two, seeming to search her chartreuse eyes. Then he nodded. For the briefest of moments, the corners of his maw quirked up. A slight smile flickered over his features. "I believe it does." He affirmed. With those words, silence once more fell over the two. Scorchclaw's gaze grew distant, and it was easy to tell he was lost in thought. Above the two cats, the Great Oaks' silhouettes were painted darkly against the warm afternoon sky. Before long, the breeze would carry the acrid scent of the Thunderpath.


Night had fallen barely an hour ago, and the mountainside was swathed in shadows. The stars of Silverpelt, glittering brilliantly high above, were the only illumination the two cats had. Scorchclaw and Ivypaw had finally arrived at their destination. Before them gaped Mothermouth, darker than the night itself. "Stay close to me, Ivypaw." The large tabby gave the apprentice the final instructions, "Follow my scent, and call out if you fall too far behind. When we arrive in the cavern, just touch your nose to the Moonstone. You will be in StarClan the next time you open your eyes. Until you wake up, I will wait. Are we clear?"

With Scorchclaw's words of encouragement, Ivypaw felt slightly better about the situation at paw. Although it was barely noticeable, she walked with just a bit more confidence than usual.

When the pair of RiverClanners finally reached the Mothermouth, its looming darkness chilling Ivypaw down to the bone. Nodding at the deputy's words, she followed him into the darkness, keeping her jaws parted to better follow the familiar smell of the older tom. It wasn't long before they reached the Moonstone, and Ivypaw's eyes widened as she laid eyes on the sacred rock. Looking to Scorchclaw for confirmation, she stepped towards it slowly. She settled down next to the rock, gazing into it for just a moment before she gently pressed her nose to it and instantly was overcome by drowsiness.

Before she knew it, her eyelids parted once more and she was overwhelmed by the beautiful sight that was StarClan.

In the beautiful starry plains, next to a serene moonlit pool, the small calico she-cat was easy to miss. Her fur was dark, black with orange patches, though some slightly dulled stars shone through it. The she-cat had small ears, a stub for a tail, and tiny scars that were only visible through her thin pelt when she moved. Her almond-shaped, burnished orange eyes glowed in the dark, one of the only things distinguishing her from the far more graceful background. The former elder smiled at Jaystar's daughter, standing up from where she sat. It didn't change her short height very much. "Hello, Ivypaw," she greeted the apprentice. Her voice was low and melodic. "My name is Shellwater of RiverClan. It's nice to meet you."

After gazing about at the beautiful starlit terrain for just a moment, Ivypaw was distracted by the sweet voice of a small calico she-cat, whose pelt was speckled with stars. "Hi, Shellwater. It's an honor to meet you." She bowed her head just a little before lifting it once more to make eye contact with the short she-cat. Thinking back to what Scorchclaw said about possibly not being able to wiggle her question in, she quickly spoke up before Shellwater could get a chance, hoping she didn't seem too rude. "I suppose this isn't how Moonstones usually go, and I assume you already know what I'm about to ask you, being a StarClan cat and all, but..." Taking a deep breath, Ivypaw mentally prepared herself for the myriad of possibilities that could come of this particular inquiry. "I'd like to know about my origins... You know, my parents." Exhaling through her maw, she kept eye-contact with the short calico she-cat, her mind racing in a thousand different directions.

Shellwater had been about to say something, after her greeting was returned, but the apprentice quickly continued speaking, asking the question that she had known would be asked... but had still dared to hope that it wouldn't happen. The small she-cat's smile faltered just a little bit, knowing the misery that the answer might bring, but also knowing that she couldn't just come outright and say it. The rules of StarClan... the ancestors who had put her through so much in her own life. Those rules were a pain, but she supposed that they made sense, in a roundabout, twisted sort of way. The calico squared her shoulders, and let out a tiny exhale. Her orange eyes still glowed, though, but with a different kind of intensity than the welcoming light they had emanated earlier. "So be it," she meowed, her voice solemn. The former elder closed her eyes, inhaled, and then opened them again. "You are descended from two very powerful cats, Ivypaw. But pairings with that much power can only cause disaster. Your father sits above the Clan like a bird, and your fiery mother has been gone since the flood, but left a trail in her wake. Some secrets are best left untold, and this one unburied may destroy the Clan. It is already tearing at the seams from the knowledge, and bringing it back to light may shatter the fragile peace. But the truth cannot be held so easily." With those ominous words, and the lack of comfort they brought, the prophecy finished, and Shellwater seemed herself again. Her eyes were a little sad. "Good luck, Ivypaw." Then, as quickly as she had appeared, the StarClan she-cat was gone.