Applepaw's Moonstone

It was time for Applepaw'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.

Applepaw nearly shot out of his nest at Burdockroot's voice, carelessly trodding on tails as he scrambled out of the den. He was excited to finally meet with Starclan, but the sight of the herbs the medicine cat motioned to made him pause. He remembered those leaves all too well from his time spent in the medicine den healing from a raccoon bite, and he had no desire to eat them again if he could avoid it. However, one glance at the medicine cats face told him protesting would get him nowhere, so he obediently crouched down to lick up the herbs, grumbling under his breath as he did so.

"I could make it to Highstones without these awful herbs..." He insisted, swiping his tongue over his chest fur to get rid of the bitter taste.

"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. Finally, she sighed and realized she needed to do more to make herself more friendly. "So... Warrior soon."

Applepaw followed Burdockroot out of camp, filled with a surge of energy thanks to the herbs he'd previously complained about.

"Yea, I can't wait!" He replied. "I'm gonna be the best, strongest, scariest warrior in the whole clan! I hope I get something cool for my warrior name, like Appletalon- or maybe even Applestrike! As soon as the other clans hear it they'll be so scared that they won't dare mess with Shadowclan!" Applepaw said, triumph gleaming in his gaze. "Hey Burdockroot, d'you think I'll be as cool and strong as Nightstar someday? I've been practicing my "leader face"- watch!" Stopping momentarily, Applepaw drew himself up to his full height and glared downward as if he was scolding a troublesome kit. Squinting slightly, he raised his chin and tried to look as intimidating as possible.

"Cool, right?" He said, breaking character as a grin spread across his face.

Oh StarClan, give her strength. The kit was a talkative one. Holding in all of her sighs and groans, she just nodded. "Appleshriek." She murmured to add to his name queries. Now, he stopped so she stopped as well, watching the kit try to imitate Nightstar. The medicine cat let out a dry chuckle. "You look terrifying. But you don't want to be like Nightstar. You won't be. Probably better. Every leader is different... And if you ever want to get your warrior name to be leader, we have to keep moving." Her usually flat voice at the slightest hint of intentional and attempted inflection, and she flicked the apprentice with her tail and started moving once more.

"Better than Nightstar?" Applepaw echoed. He was a bit skeptical, but Burdockroot was a medicine cat, and medicine cats knew everything, so there was a chance! He couldn't keep the satisfied grin off his face as he caught up to the medicine cat, though it dropped when he realized they'd reached Highstones, replaced by a look of awe.

"Wow, look at those mountains!" He said, craning his neck to look up at the towering peaks that held the moonstone within their depths. And to think when he was younger he'd been impressed with the Jaggedrock! He followed the medicine cat into the gaping tunnel, a shiver passing through him as he was enclosed in darkness. It was thankfully short-lived though, and before long the tunnel began to lighten. They got closer and closer to the source of the light, until it became so bright Applepaw had to narrow his eyes against it's brilliance. When they finally adjusted, he was able to take in the moonstone in all it's glory. A towering stone lit by moonlight, glittering brightly in the enclosed space. He stumbled toward it, in awe and suddenly nervous about meeting his ancestors. Despite his hesitance, he laid in front of the stone and pressed his nose to it, closing his eyes. Applepaw waited with bated breath for something to happen, but his only company was the sound of his own breathing and the darkness behind his eyelids. Confused, he blinked them open, finding himself standing in the deep marshes of Shadowclan territory.

"Hello?" He called, unnerved by the eerie silence and rushing to fill it. A dark gray shape slid out from behind a pine tree in front of Applepaw, revealing a broad shouldered gray warrior with warm yellow eyes. He stepped toward the young cat, his pelt glittering with starshine as he did.

"Hello, young Applepaw." He said, beckoning Applepaw closer with his tail. "Welcome to Starclan. My name is Sootwhisker." He sat down, his fluffy tail resting on his paws.