Oakpaw's Moonstone Journey

The once chubby tom now emerged as a massive, full-grown cat. The exercise he got from training allowing to acquire some musculature in his legs, making him look even bigger and more intimidating, despite his emotionless face. However, Oakpaw wasn't one to choose that path of violence. The red-furred cat was just a quiet and hard-working apprentice that just hope to provide for his clan. Battles and wars were far from his mind.

He fixed his blue eyes on the thin medicine cat who called his name. It was finally time for him to meet his ancestors. Without uttering a single word, the large tom nodded in response to the she-cat's question. Oakpaw noticed the herbs once Sandyshell pointed to him and remembered that other apprentice talked about eating them before the travel. He approached the bundle and was ready for the bitter taste of the plants, not even flinching a bit.

The apprentice followed the medicine cat quietly, his eyes fixed on their destination. He looked at her occasionally to check that they were going the right path. When they reached the cave after travelling in darkness, Oakpaw's pupils dilated at the sight of the Moonstone. It really did shine like the moon... The red-furred tom listened to Sandyshell's words and nodded quietly. He made his way to the shiny rock and closed his eyes, letting his thoughts rest.

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Oakpaw's eyes opened in a completely different place: a starry river in front of him, with a beach rich in reeds and prey as he had never seen before. The apprentice walked to the river and touched it with one paw just to check it was real. As he shook his wet paws, a golden-grey dilute calico cat made its appearance from the other side of the river. The she-cat gracefully jumped from rock to rock to meet the apprentice and she looked at him with serious eyes. "You must be Oakpaw." She mewed and the blue-eyed tom nodded in response, his face emotionless as always. He had always believed in Starclan so seeing one of his ancestors didn't really surprise him. Oakpaw was mostly relieved that they decided to speak with him... it meant he was ready. "My name is Hailsong, a former warrior of Riverclan. I've seen you from here. You're a hard-working cat, which reminds me of myself. However...." The smaller cat approached the apprentice, her gaze softened a little, showing her concern. "You really don't know your clan, do you? I see you barely interact with your clanmates, Oakpaw. I'm not asking to be the most extroverted cat ever. Starclan knows I wasn't. But you have to see your clan as your family. I died alone, away from my clan and family because I isolated myself... don't let that happen to you. You still can be better."

Oakpaw listened carefully to her advice and he shuffled his paws uncomfortably. The big cat had a really hard time talking to others because it felt... unnecessary. But Hailsong's words did leave him thinking. He looked into her green eyes and saw the regret in the older warrior. She managed to get to Starclan, so she must have been a good warrior... but her life didn't let her satisfied. Was this what Oakpaw wanted? He opened his mouth but it seemed that their time was over. The dilute calico molly started to fade, just like the rest of the starry forest. The apprentice was engulfed in darkness and suddenly fell back inside the Moonstone cave.

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The red-furred tom woke up confused and disoriented. He took a few seconds to stand properly and find Sandyshell just by his side. He made his way to her and touched her with one big paw, to inform them he was ready. At first, the young cat was going to walk to the cave's entrance and wait for her to stand, not saying anything. But he quickly remember his meeting with Hailsong and stopped. "Thank you... Sandyshell." The tom mewed quietly.