Galepaw's Moonstone Journey

Once again, Mosspaw woke early. ThunderClan certainly had a lot of apprentices ready to become warriors - but first they needed to speak with their ancestors. As she padded sleepily into the medicine den, she slowly got out the necessary herbs, pulling feverfew out as well and adding some to her own bundle. Her head was pounding, paws shaky as she returned the herbs to their proper places, and sniffled as she brought the two bundles out into the main clearing of the camp. Setting them by the entrance of the camp, she then shuffled to the apprentice den, poking her head in. Her voice voice was hoarse, hardly a whisper as she called for Galepaw. "Galepaw, today is the day. We'll have to leave soon." Backing out of the dark, quiet den, she returned to where the herbs lay, opening them both before making sure she licked up the one with the feverfew added. Of all the days and times to catch a cold....

Personally, Galepaw felt he’d spent long enough in the apprentice den as it was. When he’d heard the day of his Moonstone journey was approaching, he’d been nothing short of ecstatic. So many younger apprentices had gone on theirs before him… All right, maybe not that many. Too many for Galepaw’s taste, which was what mattered. The wounds from his battle with Sagepaw were gone, as was the memory of how they’d felt; following the no-wandering-alone rule Emberheart had set for him was almost as hard as it had been in the first days of his apprenticeship.

As he walked (almost bounded) out of the den, he made sure to give Houndpaw a flick on the shoulder with his tail. He emerged into the early morning light, stretching until he’d managed to school his expression into something approaching dignified. Only then did he meet Mosspaw at the camp’s entrance. He didn’t know her well enough to detect any changes in her—but, whether he’d picked up on something subconsciously or just didn’t want to wake up half of ThunderClan, his own voice was slightly softer than normal. ”How far is it to the Moonstone?” Of course, there was no hiding the eagerness in his dark amber eyes.

With the way the tom had come bounding out of the apprentice den, Mosspaw was pleasantly surprised by the softness to his voice. He looked so eager, ready to go, so Mosspaw didn't hesitate to place the herbs in front of him. The feverfew was already helping a little bit, and she felt some strength from the herbs surging into her paws. The trip home, however, would be a different story... Of that she was certain. "It'll take us all day to get there, we should arrive just as the sun is setting, that way we can be there as soon as the Moonstone is struck and return home before next sunrise. Here, eat your herbs, they'll help with your strength and hunger." She paused, coughing lightly but passing it off as the morning air. In doing so, she almost forgot to warn the young tom. "Oh! They're bitter, but we'll stop so you can drink some water on the way to get rid of the taste."

~~~Time Skip~~~

The walk had been long, the Thunderpath proving the most difficult part for Mosspaw. It had been busy today, and she was having trouble concentrating. She'd have to make sure she rested the next day, if she hoped to kick this cold quickly... However, they had made it to the outside of Mothermouth just as the sun finished setting - a little later than usual, but not too off-track. She smiled slightly at Galepaw. "I'll lead the way through the tunnels, and once the Moonstone is lit you just have to press your nose to it and StarClan will come to speak with you. I'll give you a signal when it's time, and when you wake we'll make our way back here silently, and head home. Do you have any questions?" Her voice grew more and more hoarse as she spoke, barely above a whisper.

All day? Galepaw wrinkled his nose. That explained why they were leaving so early…and why it was called the Moonstone. A few brief coughs redirected his attention. His eyes narrowed slightly, but he let it pass without comment; he’d never been one for mornings, either. Mosspaw deposited an open bundle of herbs before him, warning him of their bitterness. As he leaned down to lap them up, a faint memory stirred. Part of the scent was familiar, lamb’s ear or daisy; he couldn’t tell which, nor could he ask.

It was clear when the herbs’ flavor hit him from how his tail, which had been swaying gently before, went very still. He swallowed, cleared his throat. ”Water would be great.”

---

On the first day of his apprenticeship, Galepaw had thought touring ThunderClan’s borders was draining. He’d been right—and this was worse. With every step he took, he couldn’t help but resent WindClan for being so much closer to Highstones. Never for long, because Emberheart had said they were ThunderClan’s allies and no WindClanners were within complaining distance, but it gave him something to think about when the scenery and the quiet began to bore him. Even as he’d woken up completely, the gray tabby had for the most part kept his mouth shut.

He stopped when Mosspaw did, narrowing his eyes in an attempt to see into Mothermouth; as Mosspaw had yet to lead him inside, he didn’t find much of anything. Apprehension sparked in his chest and was promptly smothered, hopefully before it had a chance to show on his face. Galepaw didn’t do apprehension. Even though one’s Moonstone was a big thing, and his training hadn’t exactly covered tunnels, and he’d be talking to StarClan for the only time in his life—no apprehension whatsoever. No questions, either. At least, not about what awaited him at the end of the tunnel. "What's wrong with your voice?” Galepaw met Mosspaw's smile with a frown, ears standing tall. Concern wasn't the only reason behind it, or even the biggest one; he knew any medicine cat worthy of the title could treat their own sore throat, and Mosspaw's training had outlasted his own. She knew what she was doing. It was just about the only question that wouldn't require negotiating with his pride, though, and so he asked.

Her tail twitched at his pointed question, asking what was wrong with her voice. The journey had been made in almost complete silence, but the explanation of what was to come had certainly taken it's toll. She wasn't about to admit that she was coming down with a cold, however, so she simply smiled lightly. "Just a bit of a cough, I think a feather might have found it's way into my throat from my nest last night. Don't worry, I'm fine." She responded, even as her voice continued to betray her with the way it grated on her throat. Not leaving much time for further questions, she continued. "It's time to head down, let's get going." She led the way through the tunnels, twisting and turning with the curves of the unseen walls around them. It didn't take long before a brilliant light started emanating from further in the tunnel, and only a few heartbeats later the two cats stepped into the cavern that held the Moonstone, shining radiantly with the blinding light from the moon. After giving the apprentice a few heartbeats to gaze around, she caught his eye and nodded to him. It was time. As he settled in, she did as well, laying her head on her paws as she stared into the Moonstone and waited.

Satisfied with Mosspaw’s explanation (and certain bombarding her with questions would only make the problem worse), Galepaw set the issue aside with a sharp nod. He was eager to get this over with. Sure, most cats only got one chance to meet their ancestors, but having to talk to some ancient, long-dead cat about…whatever cats discussed at the Moonstone didn’t strike him as fun. He knew how to hunt and fight and track, things that had concrete value; he’d watched himself get better by the day through Emberheart’s efforts and his own. What else was there to learn?

The tunnels, though dark and rocky, weren’t half as bad as he’d thought. He kept pace with Mosspaw easily, only hesitating when a turn brought them to something that looked suspiciously similar to moonlight. A few more steps, and that light surrounded them, casting a silver glow over Galepaw’s dark gray pelt. Galepaw wasn’t used to feeling small. As he tried to stare down the towering hunk of stone before him, he decided he didn’t like it. Narrowing his eyes, the apprentice crouched beside the Moonstone. Then he lurched forward. His nose collided with the stone—he winced to the tip of his tail—but he must have done something right; his last thought before falling unconscious was of how cold it was.

StarClan's hunting grounds spanned out around the ThunderClan cat as he slowly appeared in the  dream world. The forest that sprang up from the stardust wasn't quite like ThunderClan territory, but it was heavily reminiscent with the thick brambles and other foliage scattered around in tangled clumps. There was a rattle in a wild rose bush, and slowly a lean, tight-muscled gray warrior padded out, moss-green eyes glinting as they scanned the new arrival. "You really are a ThunderClan cat, aren't ya, Galepaw?" the gray cat teased, knowing soon he would be able to scent the ShadowClan on her. "Slick as a snake in the forest but clumsy as a kit on a flat surface. I'm going to laugh if you have a nose-bleed when you wake up at the Moonstone."

The she-cat gave him another moment to recover himself before she meowed, "The name's Frog. Frogmarsh, for any of you sticklers listening out there." Her head whipped around for an instant or two, glaring stubbornly at the misty trees around them. Then Frog's face split in a grin that made her eyes flash with starlight as she looked to Galepaw and added, "Really though, it's just Frog. Welcome to StarClan."

When he blinked, he wasn’t in the cavern anymore. If he hadn’t already seen most of ThunderClan’s territory, Galepaw would have thought he’d woken up there. However, this place didn’t look like any of the borders he’d walked, nor the various landmarks Emberheart had led him to over the course of his training. A rustling noise caught his attention; he looked ahead just in time to spot a gray-furred shape emerging into the starlight. A cat (what else?). A ShadowClan cat, by the muddy scent. Her eyes were bright against her plain pelt as they swept over him.

For once, Galepaw didn’t have a retort, though his own eyes narrowed at the StarClanner’s comment. ”How do you know my name?” His expression turned equal parts intrigued and suspicious as she went on. She’d seen that? He’d barely been awake long enough to feel it—wait. Somehow, there was no pain. Not in his muzzle, nor in his previously sore paws and legs. This seemed important enough to mention, and so he did, indignant: ”My nose doesn’t hurt at all.”

Frog turned to glare at something—someone?—Galepaw couldn’t see; he barely suppressed a smile before she looked back. What a weird introduction. It was a gross animal to be named after (at least, that was what Galepaw had heard; he’d never eaten frog himself), but there were worse names than “Frog.” And there were worse StarClanners than Frog, probably. He’d been expecting some stuffy old ThunderClanner; though Frog had started this off by making fun of him, she was interesting, at least. ”Okay, Frog.” He set his stance wide, chin high, the last of his nerves finally doused. ”What’ve you got?” Maybe tips on being stealthier, considering her Clan. Now that would be useful.

The ThunderClan's initial response was a dubious question, and typical: "How do you know my name?" While Frog herself would've asked the same question if she were in the young tom's position, she still found it amusing for him to ask. "I was told I'd have a visitor," she answered vaguely, smirking as she sat and curled her slender tail over her paws. At her comment about his nose, he replied that he didn't hurt and that he felt fine. Frog nodded and her ear twitched as she replied, barely masking a chuckle, "I'm sure it doesn't, bud." But it will, trust me. She had been watching his journey throughout the day, of course. How else would she know what he needed to hear?

Once the introductions were completed, Galepaw addressed her. "What've you got?" he asked. Frog smiled and stood, practically gliding towards the tom with her tail raised high. "I've got a question for you, actually," she responded. "I mean, I know a lot because I'm in StarClan now and so I get to see and talk to a lot of cats, but this is something you'd have to tell me." Frog leaned in as she circled him once, and she asked, "Is it hard to know everything all the time?"

Her eyes glimmered playfully, but a subtle sadness lurked in the depths. Frog sat beside the ThunderClan apprentice and commented, "You seem pretty smart. In fact, you seem like the sort who has everything figured out. You know your stuff. Right?" She leaned aside to nudge him a little, and a few specks of stardust flew off and disappeared.

Though Galepaw had grown up believing in StarClan—most cats did unless they had bees in their brain or were raised outside the Clans—he’d never been forced to think about them this much before. It had never occurred to him that they might know in advance who they’d be talking to, or that they could observe cats to see just what advice they needed. Did they only see within the boundaries of the Mothermouth, or… He decided some mysteries didn’t need to be solved.

A question for him? Confusion flashed across Galepaw’s face. He twisted his head to watch Frog as she circled him, but refused to move his paws. ”Is it hard to know everything all the time?” Something about the phrasing struck him as odd, and he swallowed a knee-jerk response, opting instead for something more careful. "Why would it be?" Experience had never been a burden. Now, he thought, he could take Sagepaw on and win with ease; he could pin down every squirrel or mouse or bird that had evaded him in the early days of his apprenticeship. What could be hard about that?

Frog seated herself beside him. Her nudge moved him only slightly; he remained standing, remained unaffected, despite the unease settling within him. Nice as all these words were, he had no clue what to make of them or the look on Frog’s face. ”Of course I do,” Galepaw said, watching fine grains of stardust fly off of Frog and vanish like…well, not unlike normal dust. Something like resentment crept into his tone. "It's been twelve moons. And I'm a fast learner, but you probably know that." He drew a paw lightly through the dirt, then leveled his dark orange stare at the StarClanner. Her eyes were difficult to ignore because of their color alone, but now that he looked at her properly, he could see that they, too, were star-speckled. ”What’s the point of this?”

Galepaw's response hadn't been expected; then again, she hadn't set expectations. What he said made her laugh nonetheless, a short burst of a sharp amusement. It was a good response, and she nodded in acknowledgement. No, of course it wasn't hard knowing everything all the time. When Frog sat, the ThunderClan cat didn't sit to join her. That made her tail twitch, but she said nothing. Her creeping comments, laced with compliments, didn't seem to put him at ease. Galepaw was as clever as he seemed, sensing the hidden intention; it probably didn't help that most Clan cats expected some kind of trick or misguidance from StarClan nowadays. It was better than following blindly, in Frog's opinion. He asked bluntly as he gazed into her eyes, "What's the point of this?"

The StarClan warrior chuckled, and she answered, "I used to know everything." There was almost a wistful tone in Frog's voice, but such a tender emotion was out of place on such a proud figure. "My mentor was lazy and worthless, but I didn't need him to teach me anyways. When I discovered something I didn't know, I made it my business to know. I got to know my Clanmates - even other Clan cats - just to have an edge on the knowledge. I earned my name on my own. You're bold and brilliant like that, I can tell." Her tail flicked his and she leaned over to add, "And undervalued, too."

As Frog leaned away, though, she sighed and added, "Well, then I died. I was killed." The ShadowClan rolled her eyes dramatically, as if the fact were simply a major inconvenience. "Killed doing something I'd done a million times before and was always absolutely certain I knew best about. Oh, there had been some rules made by other, older cats - my mentor included - that it was dangerous now, but why should I listen to them? I'd never been wrong." There was a distant look in her eye as she added a bit more softly, "That time I was, though."

Frog immediately shrugged her sleek gray shoulders, her mood lightening a little. "When I got to StarClan, that was when I found out how much I really don't know. I know basically nothing at all compared to all the cats here who've been looking down and watching for generations. Suddenly I went from knowing everything about the forest to knowing almost nothing about my own Clan." The ShadowClan cat turned to face Galepaw now, and she smirked. "It's nice to be free to learn so much, but here I can't do anything with that knowledge. So, here's my point: You're brilliant, but you'll be even more brilliant if you take a different path than I did."

As the she-cat began to speak her final words, the smell of smoke and fire began to permeate the air. Frog stated, "Sometimes other cats may have knowledge that you don't; it doesn't mean they're smarter than you. However, if you shut your ears to their knowledge, you ensure your place as a mouse-brain." The ShadowClan cat's body began to radiate thick, black smoke; the forest around them suddenly began to catch ablaze. Bright fire mingled with a swelling darkness. "The wisest cats know when to go it alone..."

StarClan disappeared in a blinding explosion.

"... and when to seek wisdom and strength in others."