The future's in your paws. Shape it well.Roleplay in a cat Clan of warriors. Based off the Warriors series by Erin Hunter. Takes place in an AU before the cats in the books existed.
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Characters : [F]awnshine, [Fe]nnelbreeze, [T]hrushnose, [H]arrierpaw Number of posts : 1477 Gender : Gender fluid, She/They Age : 15
Subject: Echopaw's Moonstone Journey Tue 7 Feb 2023 - 5:26
Fawnshine
Fawnshine had made sure to rise from early morning, preparing for yet another Moonstone journey of one of the apprentices in the clan. She wrapped up the rest of the herb bundle, making sure it would be secure before heading over to the apprentices' den. Heterochromia eyes sought out the sight of the fellow cream-and-brown tom, and once she spotted her, she made sure to speak in a loud enough tone to awaken him, yet also soft enough for the other apprentices to be unbothered.
"Echopaw? It's time for your Moonstone journey." She meowed, taking a step back and setting the herb bundle down in front of the den.
Echopaw gently stirred awake, stretching his body as long as it could go before peeling his eyes open to look at Fawnshine. He met his medicine cat's gaze with his own, a smile on his maw as he got up, "Yes!" he replied, leaning down to consume the bundle of herbs. They were as bitter as licking tree sap but he swallowed them diligently, knowing they were quite important. "It's time."
With a nod, Fawnshine would wait for Echopaw to finish eating the herbs before leading him out of camp. They followed along the trail of the Thunderpath, though she made sure to keep the apprentice on the safer side of the territory. Her paws were already too familiar with the path here, and soon enough, they would've made their way up to Highstones. Stopping in front of the Mothermouth to instruct him over some things. "Inside the tunnel is dark. Follow closely behind me, and we'll soon reach the Moonstone."
With that, Fawnshine headed in first, her figure slipping into the darkness as she entered the cave. There was only a blanket of shadows covering them, making it hard to see — until they approached the Moonstone. It shone brightly, illuminating the dark atmosphere of the cave. Stepping aside, she allowed Echopaw to approach the stone, gesturing for him to go near it. "Touch your nose to the stone, and StarClan will do the rest. I'll be here for you when you awake."
Subject: Re: Echopaw's Moonstone Journey Sat 18 Feb 2023 - 11:27
Echopaw stayed close to Fawnshine, humming quietly as he walked. The scent of the Thunderpath burned his nostrils and reminded him of when he was a kit, left on the Thunderpath. As Mothermouth came into view he flattened his ears and moved closer to Fawnshine, giving her a brisk nod as she gave him instructions.
The apprentice hesitated slightly, though when the cave opened up, the stone glowing in front of him he approached it like a moth to a flame. His figure gently collapsed next to the stone and he pressed his nose to it, his vision going dark.
Subject: Re: Echopaw's Moonstone Journey Sun 19 Feb 2023 - 11:28
This was it... this was the first time that Pricklebush had asked to speak with an apprentice at the Moonstone. Usually his almighty and all-stupid warrior ancestors coerced him in one way or another to offer some kind of pithy advice, which he complained about, but did his best to provide anyway. But this time was different. This tom was on the verge of becoming a warrior... and yet, the stars planned to steal that away from him. Just like Mossbloom. Just like himself. He would never understand why StarClan insisted on going about things this way rather than just being straightforward from the start. So much pain could be avoided... but, no, they just had to be mysterious. But not if Pricklebush could help it. He wanted to help this poor apprentice so that the sudden change of life plans might not be so blindsiding.
And so it was that the tom sat in the starry plains, awaiting the moment that Echopaw would arrive--which, soon, he did. When he opened his eyes, he would be greeted by the sight of a mountainously large pile of spiky tan fur, looking almost sharp to the touch despite its volume. A closer look would yield the information that this cat-shaped furball was in fact a tom, with large pointy ears and a jagged tail that swept imperiously around his paws. Two eyes became visible, narrowed sage-green boring into the apprentice's own face. "Hey. You're Echopaw, right?" Of course, he knew who the apprentice was, but it wouldn't hurt to make sure. These kits were usually put at ease by the demonstration of knowing their name. And this one needed all the ease he could get. "I'm Pricklebush. Former medicine cat of ThunderClan." Stars... this was so hard. That look in the tom's eyes reminded him so much of Mossbloom that he almost staggered backward. Why did the stars force cats like this to go through warrior training, anyway? Why lead them on? Why make them feel inadequate when it eventually never came to pass how they expected? Normally he would open with some kind of snide remark or grumpy defamation of his warrior ancestors, but instead he found his irritation directed upward. This pattern pained him. "Go on, speak. Your problems don't affect you in the world of dreams, so no need to get all nervous about it. I won't bite you unless you bite me first."
Starry grass tickled his nose, the bright light of Starclan warmed his pelt, the warmth was a stark contrast to the biting winter the clans experienced. He awoke with a giggle, the plains caressing him as he slowly rose to his paws. As if he wasn't in control of his body, the apprentice floated forward, the tan fur of Pricklebush slowly coming into view. As if he emerged from a starry fog, the face of the previous medicine cat became clear to Echopaw. Although he didn't recognize him, he felt at ease-albeit a bit unsure. The nerves he may have had before had been washed clean. It took him a moment to realized Pricklebush had spoken to him before he opened his maw," I'm Echopaw, right? Yes." he repeated confirming the inquiry. Surely the magical cats knew this. Echopaw was sure they knew everything. They even taught medicine cats how to read minds. He was sure. Echopaw's wide blue eyes stared deep into Pricklebush's eager for any information he had to share. Was this how he became a warrior? No.. He watched his clan mates get their names, Mottlestar did it. What could Pricklebush have to share?
The gruffness of Pricklebush's voice was lost on the sweet apprentice, instead, he found it quite liberating. The straightforwardness of his speech left Echopaw with no questioning whether or not his words had any sort of double meaning. It was refreshing. He truly relaxed as he pondered what to ask. He flattened his ears and shuffled his paws against the starry terrain. He was moons behind cats his age. He was due for his warrior ceremony ages ago...and yet here he was. It meant something. It had to. He thought it had been simply because he was born an outsider, a Twoleg plaything. He thought he wasn't worthy enough to become a warrior. Or perhaps it was his speech that wasn't allowing him to progress? Or his lack of fire-thought in battle? There were many reasons Echopaw had found that he could use to excuse why he hadn't received his warrior name yet. He swallowed the lump in his throat, "Will...will I help my clan? Yes?" he asked, his voice soft and pleading. It was all he wanted, to help his clan. It didn't matter to him what his name was. Only that he was doing his part. "Will I make a difference?" he asked next, his voice strong as he forced himself to make eye-contact with Pricklebush .
Pricklebush sat and listened, his large triangular ears directed completely toward the young apprentice who was nearly dwarfed in comparison. The quiet question that bubbled forth should have been the one that he was expecting. Of course. Of course it was always cats like this that the stars would twist to their own ends. And still they make me do their dirty work. Just like Mossbloom. He was... just like Mossbloom. Light sage-green eyes still stared at Echopaw, as if sizing him up, as if there was nothing he could do but just sit and look. As if. As if.
He wanted to say it. Just spill out the whole long convoluted plans the stars had been discussing, spoil the life twists that their ancestors had decided would work best to let him become a medicine cat as was his fate. But Pricklebush found that the words would not leave him. Even now, the sentimentality choked his throat. Pathetic. The one chance he had to ruin StarClan's fun and he just couldn't take it. The raw need in Echopaw's eyes was too much. A quiet sigh left him. His tall frame seemed almost to deflate for a moment. "...Yes. You will be invaluable to ThunderClan," he promised, the honesty so ironic that it nearly tore his heart. It was true. He wasn't lying. "Your help may not come in the way you expected. But you will be of great service. You will make a difference. That much I can promise you." His large tail uncurled from his paws, waving for a moment behind him. Why couldn't he say more? They'll make you medicine cat. They'll take you and use you and you will see dreams that you will never understand. You will taste wisdom and feel it ripped away from you as you wake. A million herbs and remedies will dance forever in your mind and yet you will never save everyone. Your task is impossible and unthankful and you will resent every moment and yet come to love it. There is nothing more fulfilling. He couldn't say it. Instead, Pricklebush found himself shaking his head. "Believe me, Echopaw. You will change them. And I will be with you in the stars as you see it happen."
