Briarpaw's Moonstone Journey

Oh, how the winds had changed. Briarpaw was to meet with StarClan one last time before he was to become a fully named warrior. Aspenheart was sure this wasn't what the tom had expected his life to be. He went through the motions, finding Briarpaw at sunhigh and studying him as he swallowed his herbs without much issue.

"I hope you're happy where you ended up," Aspenheart said. "This isn't what either of us expected, huh?" Briarpaw's decision to step down from the life of a medicine cat had been an unorthodox one, but the liberalism of WindClan prevailed as always. Aspenheart could tell Finchstar that he was madly in love with Mossbloom tomorrow and the leader would tell him to follow his heart. The thought of coupling up at all was strange and... kind of icky to think about. "Well, off we go, Briarpaw!"

Briarpaw had been grooming himself in the weakening leaf-fall sun, pondering the battle that had occurred a few days prior. He had never been in a real fight before and yet… It hadn’t been all that hard. He had never been any good in the training Deerhawk had given him. But, when he had leaped at Salmonpaw at the border… Something just clicked in his mind, and he had been able to fight well. It was, well, confusing. Briarpaw was shaken out of his thoughts by Aspenheart talking to him. Time for my moonstone? Okay. Maybe I can talk to that old WindClan she-cat again. What was her name…? Oh yeah. Ashstar. He followed the newly named medicine cat into the medicin den, looking around nostalgically. Briarpaw ate herbs Aspenheart gave him, remembering the apprentices he had taken to the Moonstone. Now it was his turn to be taken there by a Medicine Cat… Ironic, wasn’t it? As Aspenheart started to talk to him, he was startled out of his thoughts again. “Oh- um, yeah!” He replied to the younger tom’s question. “I didn't expect this at all, especially when I first became a Medicine Cat.” He intentionally avoided the first question as he followed Aspenheart out of camp.

It was a lovely walk for the waning days of Greenleaf. It wasn't long before the moon shone bright over Highstones and they were wiggling through the dark cavern. The sight was always pleasant, even if it wasn't Aspenheart's to behold. He was glad that Briarpaw was happy in his new position. He prayed silently for his strength of spirit as he beckoned the apprentice closer. He didn't need instruction. He had done this many times before.

Briarpaw padded behind Aspenheart the whole time, occasionally engaging in small talk or answering questions. He wasn’t hungry, thanks to the herbs, but his mind wandered. The look on Salmonpaw’s face as he's attacked him… The fear in those eyes… Briarpaw involuntarily shook his pelt as he entered mothermouth. The moonstone shone with all of its glory, calling to him. He laid down, touching his nose to the cool surface of the large stone, closing his eyes. Immediately he woke up in a grassy field. Briarpaw gazed around, never ceasing to wonder at the beauty of StarClan. It was then he saw the gray she-cat padding up to him. He recognized her, walking up to meet her. "Hey, Ashstar," he said as he came face to face with her. "I was wondering... How come I suddenly got good at fighting, after only one training session? I wasn’t even that good at it then..." He shuddered, thinking about his recent battle.

Ashstar turned around, her spring-green eyes glowing as they stared into the tom's. Her plain gray fur was alight with stars, and she seemed to radiate the wisdom of the ages. Thoughtfully, her thick tail swept from side to side as a cool breeze ruffled her pelt. By her regal bearing, she was obviously a leader... but her gaze was benevolent and kind. "It's partially because of the reason you were made medicine cat apprentice in the first place," she meowed finally, blinking slowly. She considered the apprentice in front of her. "You have natural skill at fighting. It doesn't mean that you don't need training, of course, but it's instinctive for you. If we'd let you train as a warrior immediately, it would've sent you down a path that you wouldn't want to be on." Hmm, how should she say this? Maybe she ought to leave it at that. Wouldn't want to give too much information. She waited patiently for a moment, knowing Briarpaw might have more questions.