Yewpaw's Moonstone Journey

Yewpaw tried to swallow his irritation and reluctantly picked at the herbs scattered at his paws. He felt the weight of Hemlockfox's gaze, and he nodded silently. He couldn't help but feel a pang of frustration at the lack of effort from the tom, especially when it came to establishing any sort of rapport. It made him feel awful.

Once he was ready and they departed, he fell into step behind the medicine cat. He maintained a reasonable distance and remained quiet. The journey only fueled his resentment, and to be honest, he resisted the urge to snap at the older tom. It was his job, and yet he acted like Yewpaw was an inconvenience. Why even try at that point? Give up.

The moonstone was the prettiest thing he had ever seen. Hemlockfox's disinterested words barely registered. He obediently laid down in front of the moonstone. At that moment, he wondered why he couldn't have been paired with a more supportive medicine cat for this journey. Any other medicine cat would have been preferable, he thought bitterly. Shaking his head, he pressed his nose to the cold surface and closed his eyes - seeking guidance from StarClan.

His consciousness drifted away, and as he entered StarClan, a beautiful dreamscape unfolded around him. It was bathed in a beautiful, ethereal light. The ground beneath him felt solid - yet it was like he was stepping on clouds. It was odd. This was odd. He didn't really like it. Before him stood a clearing surrounded by towering trees, reaching to touch the sky. He approached cautiously, his eyes wide. The frustration was gone - and now it was time for adventure. What will he discover?

Breezewhisker hated it here. How long had he been pacing these same starry fields, trapped forever in a mere reflection of reality, while the progeny of his enemy still survived? They'd acted like they were doing some benevolent philanthropy allowing him into StarClan, when in reality it was more of a prison than the Dark Forest. He'd considered going over there, once or twice, but what would be the point? The real torture was being unable to influence anything. And at least here, in these endlessly glorious plains that he stalked like a captured lion, he was occasionally called upon to give advice. And there, there, he could have some real reason for existing again. Some semblance of purpose. Talking endlessly with Fawnsplash had lost its savor some time ago, as had watching every moment of SkyClan's history that had gone downhill ever since that fox-heart had been leader. But now... talking with someone? Someone who could actually make a difference? That was worth getting up for.

It didn't matter how close his stars were to fading, how little anyone remembered him--none of that mattered right now. Not when he was so close to life again, enough to taste it when the apprentice he was to speak with finally opened his eyes. Tall trees--the same ones Antdrop had fallen from--and endlessly clear skies. But Breezewhisker wasn't here to stare at the scenery he was so tired of. He was here to talk.

A lean blue-gray tabby tom, stars shining through his thin fur, was pacing back and forth in impatience by the time the apprentice saw him. He blinked once, taking Yewpaw in, then his dark yellow eyes narrowed. Most StarClan cats' eyes held "the wisdom of the ancestors," or some such nonsense. His gaze was piercing, unyielding, but seemed to be sizing him up more than anything. "So you're Yewpaw, huh?" he said unceremoniously. The tom stalked closer, putting his face right up close to the apprentice. "I was expecting you to be bigger for some reason. Not sure why." Then he sat back on his haunches. The apprentice had potential, that was for sure... but what would he do with it? Just sit around complacently like the rest of his kin? Snarl and yap at other Clans as if they were the enemies? "I'm Breezewhisker, not that it's important or anything. My kin died out long ago. No one remembers me, and if they did, it wouldn't be for anything good. My father, my siblings, even my mate--all of them betrayed me in the end. It'll happen to you too, kid, mark my words. The moment you're not good enough for them? They'll replace you with someone else. Doesn't matter who you are, where you come from, whether you're the leader's son or just some nobody. You're replaceable. But you don't have to take my word for it. You'll see soon enough." He lashed his thin tail behind him. Was he getting ahead of himself? Maybe. But if this kit couldn't stand up to him, he wasn't worth talking to anyway. "So, why're you here? What's your deal?"