Timberpaw's Moonstone Journey

So this was Hollypaw's first Moonstone.

Wolfstar told him what herbs were necessary for the journey - burnet, sorrel, lamb's ear, ragweed, with honey to soothe the taste - and Hollypaw was ready to take someone himself.

Stepping into the apprentice den, the ginger tom placed the bundle of herbs at the entrance, before nudging Timberpaw awake. "Hey," he said. "It's time for your moonstone journey." Once Timberpaw was up, he showed them one of the packets he had made. "Eat these. They're for the journey ahead."

It was early. Even earlier than Sunfire woke him up for training, usually. Timberpaw lifted his head and blinked at Hollypaw through sleep-crusted eyes, hardly registering the words he'd spoken until they were in one ear and out the other. Herbs? He looked down at his paws, and then scooped them into his mouth, barely tasting them before they were down his gullet.

Then he climbed clumsily to his paws and padded after the medicine cat, wondering where, exactly, they were going, and why.

Once Timberpaw ate his herbs, Hollypaw led him out of camp and towards Highstones. It was awkward, leading him through the journey with no conversation at all.

When they reached the edge of SkyClan territory, the ginger tom felt so awkward that he had to break the ice. "So," he said. "How do you feel about being close to being a warrior?" That was one of the more awkward ways he could have worded that question, but it was something that he found alright for now.