Dovefrost's MCA Ceremony

Mossbloom had been a bit surprised, but honored when Daisyboom had approached her the day before. It seemed as though she had chosen to take on an apprentice, and Mossbloom was delighted at the news, even more so when she heard who it was. Dovefrost would make an excellent medicine cat, she was certain of it. With Newleaf bringing new growth, it seemed as though Daisyboom was taking every chance she could to gather herbs. Between the numerous injuries caused by asylum, including the final battle itself, Mossbloom couldn't blame her. She would have been doing the same thing. The old she-cat hadn't hesitated in offering her aid, and now eagerly waited by the camp's entrance for Dovefrost. She had requested the tom meet her at sunrise, and as the light of dawn slowly started to bring the new day to the forest she caught sight of his pelt. Familiar herbs sat at her white paws, and a smile formed on her face. She was old, and tired, but her heart soared at the idea of one more journey to Highstones. Nudging one of the herb bundles towards Dovefrost as he approached, Mossbloom purred. "You know what to do, they're still as bitter as I remember. We'll get going once you're done, I hope to make good time but StarClan knows I've slowed down in the last moons!"

Today was the day.. He didn't know how to feel. He knew that it was for the best. That this change was wanted. That Starclan and Thunderclan were calling him to step up into the role of Medicine Cat Apprentice, but he couldn't help the small pang in his heart. He would miss being a warrior. Miss being in the overly crowded den with the others, but he wasn't going to voice his complaints. He made his choice, and as long as it helped his clan at the end of the day he was going to do it.

The tom approached Mossbloom with a small nod, green eyes going to the herbs as she told him to eat them up for the upcoming journey. It was now or never. He quickly lapped up the herbs, ignoring the bitter taste as best as he could with a small shudder. "If you need any help, just let me know." He didn't want the elder to get hurt on his watch, though he was certain they would be just fine.

Dovefrost quickly ate his herbs, and as they moved to leave ThunderClan's camp, Mossbloom chuckled. "I'm old, Dovefrost, but I'm not frail yet. I will let you know if I need your help though, thank you." As they stepped into the forest, Mossbloom took a few moments to breath in the scents of the trees around her. She hadn't been out of the camp since Asylum's arrival, due mostly to their constant presence. The warm breeze carried fresh air to the pair, and Mossbloom's spirits lifted further as she turned her paws towards Fourtrees, motioning for Dovefrost to follow. The trip to Fourtrees didn't take long, and the old she-cat found herself comfortable with the pace she set. As they passed the clearing, her stomach lurched slightly as the scent of stale blood reached her nose. Blood always seemed to longer, often far longer than the wounds had healed. She looked over her shoulder to Dovefrost before pushing onwards through WindClan's territory, relishing in the feeling of the sun on her pelt. As they left the moor behind, she braced for the harshest part of their journey - crossing the Thunderpath. "When you come to Highstones, especially once you begin accompanying apprentices to them, you must keep in mind their status. Some are smaller, and as such will need more time. You'll get the hand of it with practice, but remain vigilant, monsters are unpredictable and dangerous, especially this far away."

The elder waited for a longer lull between the patrolling monsters before lurching forward, wincing at the harsh feel of the Thunderpath under her pads. She would have to clean them after this, it had been so long. Finally, they started up the path towards Highstones. The sun was just starting to set over the horizon as they reached the gaping hole of Mothermouth, and Mossbloom purred at the sight, her tail curling in excitement. Turning her back to Mothermouth, she faced Dovefrost and sat down, taking a few moments to catch her breath. Her paws and muscles ached, but they had reached their destination, and it was worth it. Once her heart had stopped racing, she took a final deep breath and smiled at the tom. "Dovefrost, you have trained as a warrior of ThunderClan. You took your place among them, but now you are preparing to walk down a new path. You'll have different rules to follow. It is rewarding, to heal your clanmates and all those of the clans, regardless of the borders that hold us. Once we reach the Moonstone, I will present you to StarClan as Daisybloom's, and ThunderClan's, choice as medicine cat apprentice, and you will speak to them directly to confirm that choice. So, Dovefrost, are you ready?"

The tom could feel a spark of anxiety settle in his chest. The question of if he was doing the right thing or not settling into his mind, but he still drove himself forward. Paw step by paw step. The only pause being at the start when Mossbloom wanted to take in the scents of the forest. Where he just watched. Watched the forest go by him, and wondered if he would see it differently in the coming moons. He follows after the former medicine cat once she began to move remaining silent. Even as the stale scent of blood passed them as they passed the fourtrees. He hadn't seen the gathering place in so long. The first and only time had been so many moons ago when he first became an apprentice, and here he was doing it again. The tom couldn't help but stiffen as the walked along the border of Windclan territory. He knew they were allowed to pass but he prayed they didn't run into a patrol. The warrior part of him told him that they weren't allowed to be here and they would have to fight their way out if they were caught, but he knew that wasn't the case. The white fluffy tom continued to push himself forward. Ignoring the his thoughts for the most part, and focused on memorizing the way to the high stones. Knowing he would be taking this path on a regular.

The tom listened intently as she explained what she could about the Thunderpath. He had seen it before on their own borders but here? It was different. While he was bigger than most cats, he could understand that crossing this could be even more dangerous for the apprentices. He would make sure on the future that everyone would be safe crossing with him. As they crossed, Dovefrost managed to cross the hard path in a few bounds before following Mossbloom further up High stones. The path hurt his paws that was for sure. It was going to take some getting used to, and was nothing like the soft forest floor. Once they reached their destination, he couldn't help but stare. This was mothermouth? He had only heard of it but getting to see it finally was really different, and he could only imagine the moonstone was the same.

He turned his attention to the elder once she had begun to speak. His ears alert, green eyes on her form as he took in her words. Was he ready? He wasn't super sure but he answered anyway. "As ready as I will ever be. I have never been here before."

Mossbloom blinked quizzically, her head tilting slightly at the tom's confession. "You've never be-..... Oh stars, that's right. You were a young apprentice when Asylum came, weren't you? They wouldn't have allowed you to come before becoming a warrior." The old she-cat sighed, shoulders hunching slightly. "A generation of warriors that never experienced the Moonstone.... I should probably brace you then. It's very bright, once the moonlight hits it. It blinds you for a moment, but then your eyes adjust and it is simply breathtaking. I encourage you to look at it, you can almost see twinkling stars in it's depths. You will lay next to the Moonstone and press your nose to it, and StarClan will send you a dream." She explained, her eyes glimmering with emotion. "I'll have to perform the ceremony first, though, you'll know when it's time. Come, let's go." Motioning with her tail, the elder turned to lead the way through Mothermouth and into the caves below. They finally reached the cavern that held the Moonstone, and after a heartbeat light filled their surroundings and Mossbloom gasped, temporarily awed once again by the brilliance of it. Even after all these moons.... Shaking her head, she turned to look back to Dovefrost. "Warriors of StarClan, I present to you this warrior. He has accepted the path of the medicine cat, even after his warrior training has completed. Please grant him your wisdom, guidance, and council, that he may understand your ways and heal his Clan in accordance with your will. Dovefrost, if you accept this path, and wish to walk it alongside Daisybloom and your clan, press your nose to the Moonstone. StarClan will speak to you and share their will." With her portion of the ceremony completed, the elder moved away from the Moonstone and settled against the nearby wall, gazing longingly at the glowing stone and waiting for the tom's decision.

He had never been to the moonstone before because of the Asylum. The came early in his apprenticeship, and oversaw a majority of his training. The only normal thing he got to do was attend a gathering, and even then he didn't remember much because off how many moons ago it was. As she spoke up about the stone inside the tom listened intently. Only to nod in response when she had informed him it was time to go.

Dovefrost followed the elder inside the cave, only to be meet with the exact sight she had described a heartbeat later. Stars seemed to dance inside the large stone, the light filled every corner of the once dark cavern. Medicine cats got to see this once a moon? At least? He could certainly get used to this. The voice of Mossbloom broke Dovefrost out of his wonder and he turned his gaze towards her as she spoke.

Did he accept this new path? Did he dare step away from being a warrior? "I do accept this path." He said more so for himself than he did for the Elder or for Starclan. He had to be confident in his choice and what he wanted. What was best for Thunderclan. Carefully the tom stepped up to the stone. As he settled down he looked at it curious as to what would meet him in his dreams, and what the stone would feel like but he didn't have much time to waste. With haste he pushed his nose to the cold stone and fell asleep.

A silver tabby arose from the starry plains of StarClan. His eyes shone a brilliant green as he arrived in the young medicine cat apprentice's dreams. His pelt was dappled by shining stars, and his posture was tall and powerful. He had met this cat before. The gray tom appeared in the soon-to-be medicine cat apprentice's StarClan dream when he was just a warrior apprentice. The StarClan warrior gave Dovefrost a curt nod, a smile on his face.

But on the inside, he was frustrated. Upon reaching StarClan all those moons ago, he learned some things about the starry cats that the Clans believed in. It turns out that whenever he asked what StarClan's plan was, the answer was always something like "Don't worry, we know what we are doing", and then cryptic prophecies were given to the medicine cats. It visibly frustrated them, and it visibly frustrated him as well. And by Dovefrost choosing this path, he unknowingly chose the path of having to decipher cryptic prophecies that should have been made more straightforward from the very beginning.

But it wasn't important now. Now, he needed to speak to Dovefrost. "I- uh... StarClan accepts you as the medicine cat of Ri- ThunderClan. ThunderClan. StarClan accepts you as the medicine cat apprentice of ThunderClan." Well, that was much more awkward than Heronflight would have liked it to be. Sighing, the gray tabby tom opened his mouth to defend himself. "As you can see, this is my first time ever doing this."

It was nice to see the familiar tom again. It was moons ago that he had last seen Heronflight, and it seemed like it would be the only time, but to his surprise the tom was the one to show up this time for his ceremony. He could get used to seeing the Riverclan tom more often. In fact he hoped it would be the case. "It's alright. It's good to see you again Heronflight. I'm glad you were here to accept me as medicine cat apprentice." The tom shuffled slightly in his spot before speaking again. "And it seems that this will be a new experience for both of us. Hopefully I will see you again sometime in the future?" It seems the question would be left unanswered since the white tom woke up, but it was done. He was accepted. He could officially start training under Daisybloom.