Cardinalpaw's Moonstone Journey

Cardinalpaw was going to be honest. Thornstar scared her. A big, scarred cat, always scruffy, never really happy. Itching for vengeance. Cardinalpaw had come from Skyclan, and Skyclan had killed the deputy. There could very well be deathberries in these herbs right now. But Cardinalpaw ate them anyway- who was she to disobey a cat like Thornstar, who could kill her in one blow without thinking about it?

Cardinalpaw wanted to get the bad taste out of her mouth - it was disgusting, yes, but it didn't taste like deathberries. She'd had the tiniest nibble when she was younger and it had a unique taste, one she could not find in the entire herb bundle. So why give her herbs? The fear combined with confusion as she tried to figure out what was going on. You have a date with Starclan. Welp. That was it then. She was dead. Starclan let me in... Well, she hoped Scorchedbird lasted far longer.

Ooc: timeskip? :3

Cardinalpaw simply followed in silence, confused. Why outside of the Clans? Was this some connection to the fact that she had been a rogue at one point? And, how great, a pitch black cave. Paws shaking, she followed Thornstar. Yet... when she'd looked into her leader's eyes, there was the usual hardness, yes, but no malice or anger. Not like Poppyheart. Oh, poor Poppyheart. He'd lost his mate. She couldn't imagine how she'd feel if she lost Scorchedbird. She wouldn't be able to be left behind again. She wasn't strong enough.

There was a glow up ahead. Why..? What was up there? Where could Thornstar possibly be bringing Cardinalpaw? She stood in front of its shine, then looked up. The moon shone down on the stone. Oh. That was it. It was the moonstone. Thornstar was bringing her on her moonstone. Was Cardinalpaw completely sure she wouldn't be killed in her sleep? No. But most of her had started to trust Thornstar, even knowing how... scary she was.

Cardinalpaw pressed her nose to the stone, and when she opened her eyes again, she was standing in a most beautiful place. Was this... what Starclan looked like? Maybe she would see her father here - She'd never met him in life. Instead, a younger cat stood before her. Perhaps it was Snowkit or Cypresskit, the ones who didn't survive. No no... They would smell like Firflower. "Who are you?" She asked, sitting down. Their starry pelt glittered.

Another apprentice. Finally, finally Nettlesting was allowed to talk to more apprentices. After his visit with Mudpaw, Nettlesting decided to fight to keep his memory alive. The only way he knew how to do that was via these apprentice visits. The dark red medicine cat stood in wait for Cardinalpaw to join him. This time, in familiar land he had lived his entire life on.

"My name is Nettlesting. I am a medicine cat of ShadowClan, and I've been waiting to talk to you for many moons." That was a lie, but the she-cat wouldn't know. "Take a seat. I have an important story for you to know, and for you to pass on to your kits..." His fading pelt shimmered slightly at the mention of story telling. Though slightly brighter than before, he was still fading. This was urgent.

"I was born Sycamorekit to a mother who had lost her mate before I was born. When I was less than six moons old, my mother and I both got sick. I came out of it, but she did not. I was orphaned, no parents. Scorchstar bullied me back then, so I had no friends either. I found my place in the medicine den, and when I became six moons my mentor brought me to the Moonstone and named me Sycamorepaw, Medicine Cat Apprentice of ShadowClan. Two moons later I found him dead and frozen. StarClan then trained me, and it was lonely as anything. I became bitter, and my tongue scared away any of those who did try to get close to me. When I traveled to the Moonstone one time, I was renamed Nettlesting. Back then, name changes weren't as common so this was unusual. But it fit me, I'd say. One day, I recieved an omen from a StarClan cat. A former medicine cat, that was murdered. I thought she wanted me to out her murderer- and I did. I got him exiled from the clan. I traveled to each of the others, warning them about his crimes. Ultimately, he was saved by RiverClan." He huffed, but continued. "I got my first apprentice, Silentpaw. I... I was weak. After a threat from a clanmate, I ate the deathberries and killed myself. I... I regret that every moment of my life." He looked down, training his green eyes to the marsh. "I tell you this Cardinalpaw because I need to be remembered. My story is important- to you, to your kits. To the clan. Please remember me."

The dream started to fade and he sighed. His time was up. Nettlesting looked up, his eyes mournful. "I'm sorry for what's to come."

And with that, Cardinalpaw would wake.

At the tom's words, Cardinalpaw couldn't help but wonder if Starclan had known she would go to Starclan all along. She listened to the story. A renamed kit like she, destined to be a medicine cat. What a sad story. Why was it important? Wait. Kits? That far in the future? Well, Starclan had to be quite knowledgeable to see all that. Her head jerked back up. I'm sorry for what's to come. What was to come? Cardinalpaw didn't know. And she wasn't sure she wanted to.