Lichenpaw's Moonstone Journey

Lichenpaw could be found flat on his back next to his brother in the apprentices' den, mouth open, snoring gently. Every so often a paw would twitch, or he'd grunt as he dreamed, probably about beating something up, or... Darkspirit beating him up. Who knew? When he heard his name called, he didn't register it at first, but after a moment, he blinked awake, his subconscious finally telling him that, yes, that was real life, not a dream.

Rolling to his paws, the fluffy gray apprentice yawned, stretching out each limb in turn as he padded towards the entrance with bleary eyes. Was it time for training already? The sun wasn't even fully awake yet! But he knew better to complain, and as he poked his head into the camp expecting to see his mentor, instead he saw Fawnshine. Lichenpaw tilted his head. "Oh, hullo Fawnshine... Didja see Darkspirit anywhere? I could'a swore I heard him yellin' for me just now."

After the long journey to the Mothermouth, Lichenpaw was tired... but he was way, way more excited. Once it came into view, he bounded forward ahead of Fawnshine, paws thundering against the earth. He skidded to a halt just at the mouth of the cave and peered inside: dark. Excitement buzzed through his toes, all the way to the tips of his ears as he turned and waited for the medicine cat to catch up.

She did, and explained things to him that Lichenpaw accepted with an eager nod. "Okay, I'll follow right behin' ya!" and he did, until finally they were in the room with the central, glowing stone. Lichenpaw half-circled it, inspecting, and turned to Fawnshine again. "StarClan will talk to me here? For real?" Without waiting for an answer, he crawled forward on his belly, touching the stone. At first nothing happened, and he was left lying there with a chill creeping up his torso from the cold stone beneath him. It was silent, the only sound being the breathing of the two cats in the confined, dark space... and then slowly, Lichenpaw's eyes began to close.

When they opened, he was alone, but only for a second. Before his eyes, the shape of a cat materialized, stars blinking in his pelt. There stood a tall, lanky marbled tom with eyes of amber that held a smile bigger than the one that was plastered to his face.

"Hello, Lichenpaw," the stranger said. "My name is Crow-"

"Are you really from StarClan?" Lichenpaw interrupted, moving forward to inspect the other cat. He got close enough to touch, and with an amused expression, the older tom nodded.

"Yes, my name is Crow-"

"Right but you live here, in StarClan? An' it's real? There's a buncha dead cats up here?" His eyes swept the terrain behind Crow-whatever, but he didn't see any other cats. "Where's everyone else?"

"I do live here," the other tom continued. "My name is Crow-" he paused, eyeing Lichenpaw as if waiting to be cut off again. When the apprentice remained silent, he finished. "-caller. I'm the cat who was chosen to speak with you today. To give you advice, or... impart some wisdom."

Lichenpaw turned his attentions back to Crowcaller. "Advice? Wisdom?" He tilted his head. "Hm. I dunno. How'd you die?"

A snort of amusement left Crowcaller. "I got aquainted the wrong end of a snake... Those things don't mess around, that's for sure."

"Well, I guess there's my wisdom, then?" Lichenpaw grinned. "Don't mess with snakes?"

"I suppose that's true," Crowcaller laughed easily. "Do you have any questions or anything for me, young Lichenpaw? A worry I could ease?"

"Hmm. D'you think it's possible I could be leader some day?" Lichenpaw asked.

Crowcaller smiled. "You know what? I think you could be anything you'd like. You got the fire in you, kid." He moved forward to touch his nose to Lichenpaw's, and the apprentice lifted his head to accept the gesture.

"It was nice meetin' ya, Crowcaller."

"You too, Lichenpaw."

And that was the last thing he heard before he woke up, back in the cavern with Fawnshine.