Fawnpaw's Starclan Dream

Although he would never admit it, Smallbean was beginning to grow into the role of medicine cat apprentice. It even helped his mood in some ways. For example, he found that he quite enjoyed collecting and sorting herbs. Sure, he liked to run, but he seemed to like doing this with his paws more- he found peace more often doing that than taking walks. Maybe that was why he felt so calm as he sat over piles of herbs, carefully sorting each leaf. Softbreeze had been an excellent teacher, he knew many of the herbs quite quickly.  

As he looked toward the setting sun, the tom immediately remembered something he was supposed to do that evening. Since the clans weren't allowed to visit Highstones, meetings with Starclan cats had been happening in the medicine den instead. A certain apprentice- Fawnpaw- has seeked him out in specific to help him with his dream. He really couldn't see why he wanted him instead of Softbreeze to do it, but he wouldn't deny him. It was the job of a medicine cat to assist apprentices on their journeys to speak to the cats of Starclan- even if said medicine cat would prefer to not speak to Starclan.

The tom bitterly frowned at the thought of their ancestors. Although his anger had dulled, he still blamed much of his loss on them. His thoughts began to run wild, just as they had thousands of times before, toxicity pouring from each one. It was only when he heard a voice that they broke. Turning around, his eyes met Fawnpaw's. "Oh, Fawnpaw! Come in, come in." His words were rushed with an panicky tone to them. Backing up to make space for the apprentice, he gestured to the extra nest on the other side of the den. "You can sleep there... I haven't done one of these before, so if you need something that i don't offer, please let me know." Turning back around to the herbs in the back of the den, he pawed through the piles of herbs and picked up a few poppy seeds, bringing them to Fawnpaw. "I don't know if you have trouble with sleeping or anything, but if you find yourself growing restless, you can take a few poppy seeds. They'll make you sleepy." He sat uncomfortably and watched Fawnpaw with an uncertain expression. He knew that Softbreeze was under a lot of pressure right now, all he wanted to do was be able to handle a Starclan dream without her help.

"I swear you squeak louder than a mouse, Smallbean." Fawnpaw muttered as he padded past the medicine cat and towards the prepared nest. Starclan knew that their meetings with the stars were outlaw, along with the journeys to the moonstones. What would happen if the Asylum cats knew what was happening in these dens and right under their noses. The young tom hardly knew, besides, he had only heard a mouse squeak once anyways. Hearing the flustered tone of the former warrior set his claws on edge. This whole scenario hardly made for a peaceful night's sleep. Regardless, he settled down and flexed his claws into the earth.

Once he woke from speaking to whatever great, former warrior had to bestow knowledge of the world upon, some cat better make him a warrior. With circumstances changing, Windclan found itself struggling harder than ever to thrive underneath the oppressive claws of Asylum. Admittedly, this life had softened Fawnpaw and allowed him to grow more fervent in dreams of strength. This was the most peculiar leafbare - to the apprentice it offered the normal harsh elements, but with their rogue companions lurking about, there was more prey and further protection of a sort. He had yet to sort out where he stood with them and leaned into the driving goals of strength and warriorhood. Soon his time would come and once he had more say in things, some cats would start listening to him. If it was Asylum or Windclan, he didn't entirely care.

"Just keep quiet and I'll sleep eventually. I don't need your herbs, save them for some weaker cat." Rusting the nest ever so slightly, he found the most comfortable position before wrapping his tail over his nose. Fawnpaw found the harder he tried, the more difficult the task at paw seemed to be. Just as he began to grow agitated, the exhaustion of that morning's trainings began to take over and he drifted into a peaceful sleep. The stars would be there to greet him.

Goldengale was a little more prepared this time, and she stood in the starry meado waiting. Before long, the apprentice's form took shape in front of her, and she waited for the tom to wake up. The stars glistening in her fur reflected on the golden color she was named for, and her blue eyes were piercing, yet warm. Fawnpaw, she had been told his name was. She hummed quietly to herself as she waited for his eyes to open.