It was a quarter moon since he had said goodbye to Windpetal. He had settled in reasonably well into the duities of a medicine cat. Though he still was finding it difficult to remember all the herbs without a mentor. Though StarClan must have been guiding his pawsteps. Tonight was the night of the half moon when the medicine cats of SunClan, StoneClan and MoonClan would meet at the Moonfalls to share tongues with StarClan.
Maplestar padded into his den as he was storing some marigold he had found earlier. In his leader's jaws was a squirrel.
"I thought you might want to share." He mewed setting the squirrel down near the opening of the small cave.
"Sorry Maplestar. I'm not allowed to eat before going to the Moonfalls." Grasspelt said, pushing the rest of his marigold into a crack in the wall.
"But if you want to talk, we can."Maplestar nodded his broad red-brown head. "That's fine by me."
They padded out into the clearing outside his den. It was surrounded by ferns, and like the rest of their territory, the cool earth was covered by a layer of pine needles.
Maplestar lay his squirrel down and began to eat, the scent of the fresh-kill made his mouth water and his belly yowled with hunger, but he swallowed and lay down, folding his paws beneath him and waited for the tom to finish his meal.
Maplestar had been his mentor when he was still Clan deputy and the two still shared a close friendship. When the russet tom had finished, he lay down beside his friend.
"So," He mewed. "Are you doing alright?"
"I'm fine." He mewed quietly. "I haven't killed anyone yet have I?"
Maplestar looked at him. "Stupid furball."He mewed after a moment. "StarClan knew what they were doing when they chose you, they knew you wouldn't kill anyone."
Grasspelt sighed. "Are you sure Maplestar? I never showed any interest in being a medicine cat. And wouldn't Willowtail have had a sign long before and taken me on as an apprentice, rather than Swallowstar making you my mentor." He looked at his friend. "Not that I didn't like being your apprentice." He added.
Maplestar let out a mrrow of laughter. "True." He mewed. "StarClan doesn't make sense all the time. But they have their reasons. Maybe they'll explain to you tonight. He butted his head into the pale tabby's shoulder. The sun was beginning to set, staining the stony walls around his den red.
"It's time I got going." Grasspelt mewed.
Maplestar nodded. "Go well then, may StarClan Light your Path."
Grasspelt dipped his head and padded softly out of the clearing.
