Mintpaw's Moonstone Journey

“Rise and shine, Mintpaw!” Wolfblossom’s softly-called greeting into the den was cheerful. It had taken her some moments in the medicine den, gathering the correct herb bundles and trying to fight back the mental exhaustion she felt to come up with even that much, a warm smile plastering itself across the deputy’s face before she’d ducked her head into the apprentice’s den to rouse Mintpaw. It had been some time since she’d taken an apprentice to the moonstone, the last one having been Smokepetal herself, for her medicine cat ceremony. Today she would be taking the cheerful apprentice as well, after a short discussion and well-earned praise from her mentor, who did not give out praise easily. She was ready, it seemed, and Wolfblossom was glad to hear it. After recent days, such news had been very much welcomed, and the deputy clung to the idea that this was something positive.

When Mintpaw made an appearance outside of the den, Wolfblossom lapped up her own share of the traveling herbs, keeping the grimace of distaste off of her expression as she nudged the second bundle toward the young she-cat. “We’re going to the moonstone. These will give you strength for the journey... They’re not so bad, really.” She chirped, forced cheer in every word, “Well... They are bitter. Really bitter. But they’re good for you!” She mewed. Once the apprentice had eaten the herbs, Wolfblossom was quick to lead the way from camp.

---

Their walk was thankfully uneventful, quiet conversation about Mintpaw’s training and anything at all to not think about recent events filling the gaps of silence between them. The sun was beginning to set as the pair stood in front of mothermouth’s entrance, and Wolfblossom glanced up at the sky for a moment. “It'll be dark in the tunnels, so stay close to me, okay? Grab my tail if you need to. When we get to the moonstone, you just press your nose to it and lay down. You’ll dream of the stars, and in the morning, we’ll make our way back home.” She instructed softly, offering the apprentice what she hoped was a reassuring smile. Turning, Wolfblossom led the way through the narrow tunnels until they reached the moonstone itself, glowing brightly under the moonlight.

The very moment that Wolfblossom came into the apprentice's den, the silver tabby was already half-awake. As soon as her name was uttered, any sense of sleep seemed to be whisked away into the ether, replaced entirely by adrenaline-filled excitement. Practically leaping to her paws and directly on top of one of her den-mates, Mintpaw couldn't keep the grin off of her face. Though, her ears pinned right back as she realized her near-mistake, quietly whispering an apology under her beath before trotting her way out. Tail held high, she was practically vibrating with excitement as she sat in front of the deputy. Facts about her recalled through her mind: This was the molly that had taught her how to climb trees. Also, she was the daughter of her mentor, Beechfang. Not to mention the obvious that this was the deputy, her future leader. Swaying from side to side as she sat, it wasn't hard to figure out just what Wolfblossom wanted with her.

As she leaned forward to sniff the second bundle, her nose wrinkled. It smelled odd, to say the least. Nevertheless, she followed instructions, only to find Wolfblossom's description to be painfully accurate. Nearly gagging as she swallowed them down, her shakes of excitement turned to a shake of disgust. "Eugh, how did Beechfang put up with these for so long?! Her tongue must have gone numb!" Another tidbit of information she'd learned: her mentor was once a medicine cat. Useful, truth be told, in knowing basic ways to keep herself put-together should things go wrong in the forest. "I think I'm ready, though."

---

She was thankful to be journeying with Wolfblossom. The deputy's welcoming aura was certainly what made it easier, even as her paws ached. She'd been training for moons to know how to be a proper warrior, and this felt like it was day one of learning to climb a tree all over again! Still, she ignored the way her muscles screamed at her to take a rest. After all, if she was to earn her full name, she couldn't complain over something as petty as muscle aches. Her ears went to full attention towards her deputy as the instructions came her way. "Yes, ma'am!" Mintpaw gave an enthusiastic nod, following right along her tail. True to the deputy's word, darkness was quick to meet them, and it was only because of her whiskers did the apprentice know just where to follow.

That was, until they got to the Moonstone. Starlit wonder registered plainly in her features, a deep urge to reach out and paw at the stone nearly getting the best of her. Somehow, she kept herself together. After all, she was Beechfang's apprentice. She wanted to do good by her. So, kneeling down as per Wolfblossom's instructions, she made herself comfortable. It felt cold. Chilly. Thankfully, her thick pelt was doing its job, having now properly grown in. There was still a little bit of growing left for her to do, but at least for now, her body was much better proportioned.

With her nose to the stone, it wasn't long before the weariness pulled her into the sweet lull of sleep, where she would soon meet with her ancestors.

The apprentice of her former clan would awake to a star-speckled strip of land with tall trees, the soft bubbling of a creek heard but not in direct view. A fluffy gray tabby with light green eyes sat, with fur just as wreathed in starlight as her surroundings. A flicker of a gentle smile crossed her face as the apprentice opened her eyes. "Hello, Mintpaw." The tabby mewed softly, "I am Birdsong. I was born Skyclan, but I died a Riverclanner long before your time, or that of Wolfblossom." She had no shame in admitting that to most of the apprentices she talked to.

"You are mentored by my mother... You've been surprising her, in a good way. Surprising us too, honestly." Her whiskers twitched, "She's not the easiest cat to get along with, nor does she give praise often. For all of Beechfang's mistakes, she knows when she has a good cat on her paws. Both in training and in spirit."

Comfort was the very first thing that came to Mintpaw's mind as she stirred into the dream-scape. Familiarity, but also strangeness was the next. Blinking as she took in everything around her, it took the she-cat a few moments before it clicked into her mind. Yes- she was among her ancestors. No- it wasn't just nursery tales that the young warriors shared. They in fact did get to talk to their ancestors. Her attention quickly focused on the one who had come to speak with her, and her ears seemed to somehow raise even taller at just who it was. A Skyclan cat, who had gone to Riverclan? Interesting.

And this cat was Beechfang's daughter, too? Oh, she liked her already. "Birdsong. I like your name." She stated simply, committing it to memory as thoroughly as her young mind could. "I... Uhm, could you answer this for me? Why do so many cats have a hard time getting along with her? She's... been nothing but good to me. I know she has a lot of scars, but... What has she done wrong?" The question she could never squeeze out of herself to even manage to ask her mentor. It felt ill-fated, to ask such a thing, but... Well, if anyone would have the answer, it would be those in the Stars.

The comment about her name brought a small smile to the fluffy tabby. Wolfstar had not been known for his skill at naming cats, between Copperfox and Blazingkit... She had been one of the lucky ones. "Thank you." She inclined her head.

Many apprentices often had questions, and it seemed that Mintpaw was similar. Except the questions she asked were not the typical sort. Beechfang had always been a contentious sort, reactive and combative. Her reappearance in Skyclan was certainly not what Birdsong had expected, though it did seem as if the former medicine cat had learned a few things. Always though, Birdsong watched, wondering when she would fall back into old defense mechanisms and nasty habits. It wasn't something she should explain to the apprentice standing in front of her - that should have been Beechfang's responsibility, to own up to her faults. Oh, she was trying, of course, but that the apprentice hadn't asked her directly was telling, in Birdsong's opinion. "There was a time where she wasn't always nice to be around." She began, "She was not cut out for being a medicine cat, to put it bluntly. Oh, she cared for her clanmates - still does - but you wouldn't have known it with how combative she could be. It was a stressful job, one that she was ill-suited for... But she handled stress in about the worst way one can handle it. Often to the result of just adding to it instead of anything productive. And on and on. She knows how to dig her heels in and ignore all sense, to her own detriment." Birdsong let out a soft huff, tail flicking. There had been plenty of circumstances beyond Beechfang's control, of course, but to Birdsong that still was no excuse. "There is a lot to be said for simply being kinder to others, no matter the circumstances. That tends to lead to getting along with others more, too."