Cicadiapaw's Moonstone Journey

It was time for Cicadiapaw's Moonstone journey, as she was told by Nightstar. The sun was warming the camp now, and the apprentice and Burdockroot should leave shortly. Lumbering her form over to the apprentice's den, she spotted the apprentice for today's trip. Not really caring if she woke anyone else, she only merely avoided stepping on paws and tails before standing above the sleeping form. Nudging her with her paw, the medicine cat flicked her tail. "Come. Moonstone." Burdockroot said flatly before retracing her steps back to the medicine cat den. A pile of herbs lay there for the apprentice.

When she was finally joined by the soon-to-be warrior, she nudged the small pile forward with her paws. "Eat. Yes, it's gross. You don't need to tell me." She flicked her tail and glanced towards the sun.

The medicine cat watched the apprentice scarf down the herbs and say they weren't so bad. She actually chuckled at the comment. "I feel the same way. Let's go." Burdockroot said, eyeing the apprentice before turning and stalking out of camp. Her badger pelt was left behind, so her mottled fur was left to bounce with every step. The trip was much like the others, uneventful and quiet. Burdockroot didn't speak unless spoken to, and if she was, it was quick replies with no context. The journey would eventually end, and the apprentice and medicine cat found themselves at the entrance of the cave.

"Follow my tail. It's dark." Plunging into the darkness, Burdockroot didn't hesitate and followed her paws through the winding cave. At this point, it was sheer habit. Eventually, they emerged into the large cave, where the Moonstone had just started to shine.

"Lay down and touch your nose to it. Wake me when you wake up." With another yawn, the mottled cat walked to her usual spot and plopped down, curling into a ball with her tail over her nose. She kept her mismatched eyes open to make sure Cicadiapaw did as she was told.

In a flurry of stars, Burningwing descended from the heavens and landed with a thump in front of Cicadapaw. His sulfuric yellow eyes blazed like small infernos set into his dark pelt. The rusty brown fur on his body darkened to black socks, which ended with ash white toes. He looked like a creature that had emerged from a forest fire and now carried the spirit of flames within him. He eyed the female apprentice for a moment before he spoke, and neither his tone nor his expression suggested he was thrilled to see her.

"Cicadapaw... Another carried that name once." One more worthy of Shadowclan than you... He circled her, his fur bristling once before allowing it to lie flat again. "Unfortunately for me, Starclan wanted me to be your guide. So. How can I, Burningwing, help you?" If she didn't have anything in mind, he'd be thrilled to leave this mud blood behind. No one knew about Marshmallow's true origins, but ever since Burningwing had died, the truth had been revealed. He had no problems expressing his distaste to the rest of Starclan, and now here they were to test him to see if he had been "rehabilitated." What a joke.