Cinderpaw's Dream

Dovefrost would try again, he would keep trying with all of the apprentices.. Maybe.. eventually one of them would see their ancestors.. And if one of them did, then he would have some hope again. It was beginning to fade, and fast, but he wasn't going to let that show. He would show a strong resolve in front of his clanmates.

The large white tom glanced to Cinderpaw as he continued to sort his herbs. "Just try to get some rest, if you see Starclan then great! If not then well at least you had a good rest." He glanced to the entrance of his den, before turning back fully to his herbs. "They shouldn't bother us in here. So at least there is that peace of mind."

The usually feisty she-cat entered the tom's den with dark, dead eyes. She barely lifted her head to greet him and just walked to the moss bed prepared for her sleep. The molly had heard of the medicine cat's attempts to have the apprentices sleep and communicate with Starclan. But it was hopeless. The stars were gone and her father had decided to submit and aid the Dark Forest invasors. She was furious but more than that... she felt betrayed. This wasn't the Stoatstar she admired. When did he go wrong? When did Softpaw become the cat he is now? This was a nightmare and Cinderpaw had little hope of waking up.

"Okay." She mewed dryly, laying down on the moss bed and preparing herself to sleep. Her eyes kept looking at the white tom working until her exhaustion was enough to knock her out of reality. Unsurprisingly, Cinderpaw was only met with darkness and the night passed like a flash to her.

---

When morning arrived, the apprentice woke and looked at Dovefrost, still working through his herbs. Cinderpaw quickly stood up and gave him a grim negative shook of her head. "I didn't see anything..." She confessed, more angry and frustrated than when she arrived. Cinderpaw knew this was wrong but couldn't understand why nobody in the clan did anything to stop this madness. Would Starclan really want them to hide like rabbits who are scared of wolves lurking in their home? They were warriors, for Starclan's sake! Even if it was useless, they had to fight back and find a way to bring back the stars.

The white tom let out a sigh upon hearing Cinderpaw's response. He felt completely useless right now.. sure he could heal, but it felt like a part of him was missing. Starclan being gone.. Part of being a medicine cat was communicating with Starclan help the leader's make the best choices, but it seemed that he had failed in that aspect too..

"I'm sorry Cinderpaw.. I'm trying.. I really am." He was defeated. He could tell she was frustrated with this whole mess just as he was. What could he do though? Keep recruiting apprentices and trying to talk with starclan? Stars.. it seemed useless. He felt useless.. "You are free to return to your duties now."