A Tour of The Darkness [C]

Honeypaw bounced after Iceheart. Despite his shorter legs, he kept up with Iceheart through sheer energy levels. He’s an apprentice and he’s getting his very first lesson! He could not be happier. He’s so excited to be out of the camp, exploring the territory he’ll be defending and fighting for as a warrior, learning more about his clan and territory… Oh it’s just all so exciting!

He slowed when Iceheart did and his nose immediately wrinkled at the stench. He sticks his tongue out for a moment in disgust before shaking his head and looking over the side with wide eyes. “What made this?” He meowed with wide eyes. “Did the twolegs..?” He looked back up at Iceheart.

Seeing Iceheart’s serious expression and hearing her serious tone made Honeypaw actually sit up and look more focused and serious rather than continue staring over the edge of the carrionplace with curiosity. He shuddered as Iceheart explained what the monsters could do, a brief chill running up his spine and he actually looked subdued for a minute. “Yes, Iceheart. I understand.” He meowed seriously, hiding the fear he felt as best as he could as he met her eyes.

Honeypaw was quite grateful when Iceheart turned away from the carrionplace. He suddenly really did not want to be there. He hopped back to his feet and eagerly fell into place beside her, his cheer quickly returning to him. He admires the scenery as they walk, opening his mouth and breathing in all the new scents! There’s so many new scents and sights and he wants to take them all in. His tail quivered, posed high in the air above him.

However, when they pulled to a stop and Iceheart began describing the Moonstone and Starclan, Honeypaw sat down slowly next to her, following her gaze. He’s heard Moonstone mentioned, but Starclan he’s… heard whispered at best. He doesn’t know what it means, just that the queens in the nursery seem nervous whenever they talk about it. He had been scolded for asking questions once or twice, but... well, Iceheart's put up with his curiosity so far.

“Iceheart, what’s Starclan?” He mewed softly.

Honeypaw looked up at the sky, his nose wrinkling as he tried to understand what Iceheart was telling him. Dead cats looking down at them from above? Mystical warnings from beyond? He can’t even begin to comprehend what this ‘silverpelt’ is. The night sky has always just been an inky blackness in his living memory. It all just seems so…unreal. Like a fantasy, some story made up by the queens in the nursery to entertain the kits.

But as he looked at Iceheart, he could tell that she was serious about this. Well, Iceheart looked like she was serious about everything, but still. Honeypaw’s ears twitched anxiously, a sense of dread in his stomach as Iceheart described the way they weren’t to talk about Starclan anymore.

“Why not?” He asked, trusting Iceheart to answer his questions as honestly as she can. “What changed?”

Honeypaw frowned. He hated being shot down like that, and it made his tail lash a bit. The less answers he gets, the more curious and frustrated he becomes. But Iceheart is his mentor, and he’s supposed to listen to her. So after a minute, he huffed softly and got to his feet, resuming his place behind her.

He listened to her lecture, shaking his head to refocus it and chase away thoughts of the strange Starclan. He looked out across the thunderpath and his ear twitched as another unsettling feeling fell over him. A monster raced past and Honeypaw squeaked, crouching on the ground and folding his ears back on his head, watching it go with wide, terrified eyes. He almost missed Iceheart’s next words, the pounding of his heart was so loud.

He swallowed hard and shifted just a bit closer to Iceheart as he slowly straightened back out. “I will.” He promised simply, pulling his eyes away from the thunderpath. He had no idea there were so many dangers lurking in their own territory.

Honeypaw listened to her lecture on territories with dutiful attention. He followed her gaze to the other side of the thunderpath for a moment, and allowed himself to fantasize about what cats from Thunderclan or Skyclan might be like. To him, they’re as mystical and fantastical as Starclan.

He brightened as Iceheart showed him the secret path. “Woah!” He cried, wiggling past Iceheart to dive underneath the tunnel, exploring it and sniffing around eagerly. He smelled the scent of many different Shadowclan cats, though it's all stale now, which excites him. He allowed himself to daydream about going to a gathering for a moment, side by side with his fellow clanmates in this very tunnel. Then he looked back at Iceheart with bright eyes. “That’s so cool!”

Then he hesitated. He’s a little more reluctant to ask questions now, in case it’s something else they shouldn’t speak of, but curiosity wins out over sense as he asked, “Iceheart, what’s a gathering like? Have you been to one? What are the other clans like?” He realized quickly he had asked more than one question, but, oh well.

Honeypaw settled down too in front of Iceheart, tucking his paws underneath himself. His eyes practically sparkled as Iceheart told him of the gatherings, his mind wandering with daydreams as he tried to imagine what it was like. As he thought about getting to attend one himself.

Then the other clans… Honeypaw tried to imagine what it was like, living in a different territory, with different leaders and clanmates. The open plains he’s been told of in Windclan or going swimming to hunt in Riverclan… it’s all so strange to him.

But when Iceheart indicated they should get moving, he shook his head out of his daydreams and got back to his feet. “Yes, Iceheart!” He said cheerfully, trotting after her.

He took in the pine grove with wide eyes, opening his mouth so he could drink in the scents of foliage and the fainter scents of prey. Then he looked at Iceheart eagerly. “Oooh I can’t wait to go hunting!” He said, bouncing a bit on his paws. “Can we go tomorrow? Maybe?”

Honeypaw beamed and he fell into step beside Iceheart as they headed back to camp, thoughts buzzing as he thought about all he learned today. Iceheart is a good mentor, and Honeypaw knew that he was lucky to have her. He nudged his shoulder against hers as they walked and beamed at her. “Thanks for showing me around. I’m excited for tomorrow!” He said, tail twitching with his delight.