Coyotepaw's Moonstone Journey

The clan lacked a medicine cat, but duties still needed to be done, and apprentices still needed to be taken to the moonstone. Swiftspirit swallowed the bitter traveling herbs, lips curling in disgust, then quickly exited the den in search of Coyotepaw with the second bundle carefully held between her teeth.

"Eat these, we don't have time to waste if we want to get to the moonstone." And it was too foxing cold out to stand around wasting time. Once Coyotepaw had eaten the bitter, obnoxious herbs, she quickly led him from camp, setting a brisk pace.

---

"Stay close, the tunnel will be dark enough you can't see. Use your whiskers or grab my tail. When we reach the stone, touch your nose to it and lay down." She didn't allow a moment to pause as they reached mothermouth, a vicious, biting wind sinking into her too-short fur. Turning, she led Coyotepaw down the now-familiar pathway, stopping only when the pair reached the brilliantly glowing moonstone itself to step aside and nudge him forward. At least at the moonstone they would be out of it.

Coyotepaw willingly ate the herbs gifted to her by Swiftspirit. The small apprentice did everything in her power to swallow the bitterly tasting herbs as gracefully and regally as she could, only a small wince crossing her face as she chewed. Her pelt was groomed to perfection- she had woken up extra early to do so. The daughter of a leader would show up to StarClan, make her first appearance, nothing less than perfect.

As the pair trekked across the territory, she kept pace with the much older cat, sneakily and quickly licking down ruffled spots. She wasn't normally this desperate to maintain good looks, but this occasion was different. Unusual nerves wore down on her chest that resulting in quick flutters in her heart.

Finally, they were there, and soon enough, Coyotepaw was weaving her way through the tunnels. She chose to use her whiskers as opposed to grabbing onto Swiftspirit's tails. As she came face to face with the Moonstone, she took in the beauty with a small gasp. Peering side to side, Coyotepaw wondered what Swiftspirit would do as she met with StarClan. Laying down in front of the stone as instructed, her mind whirrled. She hoped this wouldn't be the last time she came here.

Touching her nose to the stone, she immediately sank into sleep. Waking up, she blinked herself into a starry version of WindClan. Eyes darted side to side as she looked for the cat destined to speak to her tonight.

"Good evening, Coyotepaw." A cat came down from the stars, his paws shimmering as he walked towards the apprentice (and soon to be warrior). Falconstar stood before her, smiling. "These lands are where our ancestors roamed," he remarked, looking around at the wide expanse of the moors. "So too will you roam them as a warrior of WindClan. I know you will make your clan proud." He gently touched noses with her before stepping back. "Just remember to believe in your clan above all others. Fight for them, nurture them, and make sure to never waver in your loyalty to them." He didn't want to put too much pressure on her, as the daughter of the leader and all.

A starry cat came to her, and started speaking. Her whiskers twitched. She had heard this advice so many times before, from every warrior in her clan. Couldn't she get something more? She needed it. Coyotepaw respectfully touched noses with the cat but didn't take a step back as she did. "Respectfully, I need more. Something deep. I hear that all the time. I'm desperate for more... Some more... Meaning." Her claws dug into the ground slightly. She needed this.

"Meaning? You need more meaning than that?" A gruff voice came from behind Falconstar. The former leader cocked his head, seeing his son Eaglethorn padding over to the two cats. His pelt, similar to Falconstar's in both fur color and covered in stars, glowed beneath the stars. He padded straight up to Coyotepaw, his eyes holding a harder edge than his father's. "WindClan has reaped what it has sown for its lack of loyalty to the code, and to the cats who hold our blood. Do you need something deeper than to protect what makes us special?" He lashed his tail, ignoring the warning look from Falconstar. "Then know this: from order comes chaos. If you choose who you keep close wisely, you can restore order to WindClan. Otherwise, we will fall to chaos. Choose wisely, little one. Or you'll be seeing me again soon, and you do not want that."

Now this, this is what she needed. Another cat stepped forward, more headstrong and straightforward. This was real advice she could really mull over. "I didn't mean it in that way. I meant, nobody tells you really how to do it. Besides fight... Hunt... There had to be more to it. Thank you." Coyotepaw dipped her head out of respect to both cats and then took a step back. She got what she came here for, and she had a feeling her time was coming up.

She blinked. When she opened them again, she was sitting in front of the Moonstone. Standing stiffly, Coyotepaw glanced around and gently nudged Swiftspirit. She was ready.