"Come on, Honeypaw!" Her brother was shouldering his mentor, Stonewind, out of the way, eager to be a part of the dawn patrol. Honeypaw stifled a yawn as she padded after Streamleaf, her own mentor.
"I don't know why you're so eager to spray some trees," she grumbled, pausing to stretch her legs after she exited the bracken tunnel in the camp barrier. The air was crisp and the world dull and gray around her, as if even the trees were upset that leaf-bare had arrived. "We've never even managed to meet another patrol."
Beepaw's ears twitched, clearly annoyed with his littermate's grumpiness. "Maybe we'll meet one today," he chirped after a second, and raced toward the Mountainclan border. Honeypaw groaned and followed him, their mentors purring at the tail end of the patrol.
By the time they'd returned to camp, it was nearly sunhigh, the weak sun casting short shadows across the grassy clearing that Honeypaw called home. She settled in to her afternoon washing, eager to remove the dirt and dust from the morning's patrol.
"Honeypaw!" The pale she-cat turned her head at the sound of her mentor's voice. "Come here! Fallenstar would like to speak with us."
"Coming!" She called, her paws prickling as she walked. Why does Fallenstar want to talk to me? She wondered, her anxiety growing with every pawstep across the clearing. Has she decided I can't train after all? I'm all recovered from the sickness from moons ago! She can't change her mind now!
She hurried into the leader's den, nearly hitting her head off of the thick roots of the tree that Fallenstar lived under. Inside the den was surprisingly large, the roof of the den arching nearly a tail length above Fallenstar's ears, supported by an intricate tangle of roots and stones. Had it not been for her leader's impatient tail-flick, she could have stared around her for moons.
"I'm sure you're wondering why I've called you here," Fallenstar began, her gaze burning into Honeypaw's pelt. Honeypaw nodded. "Well," the older she-cat continued. "There is a part of every apprentice's training that must not be forgotten, and I have decided that it is time you took your turn. You, Streamleaf and I will be going to The Place of Thunder. Or, as you call it, the Moonfalls."
Honeypaw widened her eyes. "Thank you!" She purred, excitement bubbling up inside her. "I didn't think I would get to go so soon! Flowershine said she went almost two seasons after she had started her training!"
Fallenstar nodded, her eyes still burning into Honeypaw's pelt. "Normally, you would just visit while I share tongues with Starclan, but I'd like to start a new tradition where the apprentices, too, will be able to share tongues with our ancestors." Honeypaw grew cold at the thought of meeting with her ancestors. Would she get to see Milkstar? Or perhaps she'd get to meet her mother's parents, or cat's she'd never even heard of before! The thought terrified her, but it made her pelt tingle with excitement.
"When do we get to leave?" The golden apprentice mewed excitedly. Streamleaf flicked her tail dismissively, as if she was annoyed at her apprentice's excitement.
"We'll have to leave shortly after the dawn patrol tomorrow. We could leave today, but with it being more than just me traveling, I'd like to travel along the borders of Owlclan and Beachclan until we get there." Fallenstar twitched her ears. "Make sure you eat well tonight and get your traveling herbs in the morning. It is a longer journey than you will expect, and we don't want to be late because you decided to hunt."
Honeypaw nodded, eager to boast to her brother that she would finally be first at something. Mintleap had always chided them when they bickered, saying that they would each get their chance to outshine the other, but it was always Beepaw who was better. He was bigger, he caught the first piece of prey out of the two of them. Even during their apprentice ceremony, which they were at together, Fallenstar had called his name first.
After being dismissed from her leader's den, she raced to where her kin was sunbathing in what little sun they had and sharing prey. "Guess what!" She called loudly, causing her father to look up as she came careening in front of him.
"What is it? Is your tail on fire?" While Brackenfall's tone sounded annoyed, his eyes shone and his whiskers twitched with amusement. Honeypaw shook her head vigorously before sitting down and wrapping her tail around her paws.
"I get to go to the Moonfalls," she purred, secretly enjoying the jealous look on her brother's face. Mintleap jumped to her paws and licked her kit's ears furiously.
"Are you sure you're ready for that journey? Usually most 'paws are a bit older when they make that journey." Her yellow eyes were wide with anxiety as she turned to her mate. "What is Fallenstar thinking?"
Honeypaw puffed out her chest with indignation. "I'm not some sickly kit anymore, mama. Fallenstar thinks I'm ready, and she says I'm the first apprentice who will get to share tongues with Starclan while I'm there." She paused, upset her mother still looked worried. "Aren't you excited for me?"
Mintleap shook her pelt briefly. "Of course I am, my sweet daughter," she purred, giving Honeypaw's ears another affectionate lick. "It's just such a long way, and I'd have hoped you'd be a bit older before you made this journey. That's all."
Brackenfall nodded, though he looked less concerned than her mother. "I know you will do just fine," he murmured. "You are such a strong cat who has overcome so much in your short life. This will be like jumping over a small brook."
The pale she-cat closed her eyes and purred once more, relishing her father's praise. Beepaw's face was still twisted with jealousy. It'll be your turn soon, she thought, nudging her brother with her shoulder. His face seemed to melt, as if he could hear her, and he settled in beside her. But it's my turn first.
Honeypaw sleepily blinked open her eyes, shoving the cat who was prodding her flank off of her, until she realized what today was.
I'm going to the Moonfalls! She thought, jumping to her paws. Streamleaf was beside her, motioning for her to keep quiet as they sneaked past the still-sleeping Beepaw. The sun was just barely above the horizon, causing the sky to turn a pale gray color as they quietly tiptoed into Pricklestream's den.
"Good morning!" The medicine cat was fully awake, and though her tone was hushed, Honeypaw could hear the excitement in her mew. "Here's a bundle for you, Streamleaf, and one for you Honeypaw." The tabby's yellow eyes glimmered as she watched the apprentice gobble up the foul-tasting leaves. "Remember, Honeypaw, if you need some cat to talk to you about what you see tonight, I'm always here."
Honeypaw nodded, confused at the offer. She was certain she would just see some of her passed on kin and get to know them. She didn't need guidance from her warrior ancestors on anything else! She wasn't a medicine cat! "T-thanks," she stuttered, turning to head out of the den. Fallenstar was already waiting in the center of the clearing, her dark-gray pelt well groomed and regal in case they met any challenging patrols on the trek to the ocean's edge.
"Are you ready?" The leader's orange eyes met hers calmly. "Are you nervous?"
Honeypaw nodded. "I've never traveled this far in a day before," she confessed. "And I've never shared dreams with our warrior ancestors. I don't know what to expect."
Fallenstar flicked her tail dismissively. "I cannot give you any words to soothe you," she meowed, her tone sympathetic. "I just know that where we are going we will be safe. I am sure that Starclan is anxious to speak with you."
The apprentice blinked, confused for a moment, but brushed it off. Once Fallenstar and Streamleaf rose, she quickly followed them, matching their pace. Excitement continued to bubble beneath her as they headed south toward the Owlclan border.
By the time they'd reached the border, the sun was already well on it's way into the sky. "We'd best not stop," Fallenstar remarked, before heading along the line where Mapleclan marked their border. Suddenly, the leader stopped, raising her black-tipped tail to warn her party to wait. "Owlclan warriors!"
Streamleaf looked at Honeypaw. "Remember to keep your claws sheathed. We are on our way to the Moonfalls, and we are blessed a safe passage by Starclan."
The enemy patrol approached them, hackles raised and teeth bared. "Fallenstar!" A gray tabby hissed, his black-tipped tail lashing back and forth. He was followed closely by a black apprentice and a dark brown tabby she-cat. "What are you doing here?"
Fallenstar met his eyes, her cool gaze unwavering. "Put your claws away, Falconwing," she scoffed. "We are on our way to the Moonfalls. We do not wish to pass through your territory, only along the borders. Unless, of course, you decide to grant us safe passage through your territory."
Falconwing's green eyes blazed with fury. "You may be on your way to the Moonfalls, but we offer you no safety within our borders. Put one hair inside our scent markers," he added, looking Honeypaw and Streamleaf top to bottom as if they were rabid foxes, "we will shred you."
Honeypaw watched in awe, her eyes wide. The hostility from the Owlclan warrior seemed unwarranted to her, they weren't even in their territory. Just as she opened her mouth to spit something at the harsh tom, Fallenstar whisked her tail across her mouth.
"As you wish, Falconwing," the Mapleclan leader said calmly, while dipping her head. She moved another fox length within Mapleclan territory and then beckoned her party to come with her.
"Why was he such a fox heart?" Honeypaw asked, her fur bristling with fury. Streamleaf shot her a look of warning for her harsh words, but Fallenstar looked amused.
"Falconwing has always been touchy," the gray cat mewed, her whiskers twitching. "But since the recent battles, I imagine Talonstar has told her deputy and his patrols to shred any and all Mapleclan cats found within the borders."
That was the deputy? Honeypaw thought, bewildered that someone so harsh could be entrusted with the care of the clan. "What have the battles been over?"
Streamleaf looked at her apprentice, as if warning her to tread lightly while Fallenstar continued to explain. "Many moons ago, when I was just a young warrior, Milkstar and Talonstar got into a border skirmish over fresh-kill being caught within Owlclan borders. Milkstar always maintained that the prey theft was not a result of our hunting, but Talonstar is headstrong. Anyway," she glanced back, her orange eyes clouded. "One of the skirmishes resulted in the death of the former Owlclan deputy, Snowfoot, and an Owlclan apprentice, Volepaw. None of our warriors killed them in battle, mind you, but their injuries were too extensive to heal before infection set in."
Honeypaw nodded. She believed that Mapleclan would never hunt outside it's borders; it was against the warrior code, after all. She allowed the rest of the journey to travel in silence, only stopping once to allow for making dirt before continuing on.
Just as the sun was beginning to slip below the trees, casting long shadows on the three she-cats, Honeypaw began to hear a faint thundering in the distance. As they approached, it only grew louder.
"Is that the Moonfalls?" Her mew was laced with fear; she was not used to such loud sounds and unusual smells all at once. Streamleaf nodded and gave her ear a comforting lick.
"It's a harsh sound, but you will get used to it quickly." Her mentor's eyes betrayed a glimmer of excitement, and Honeypaw realized as they padded onwards that it must have been a privilege for her to go on this patrol as well.
At last, a thick river which glowed orange in the sunset became visible through the trees. Honeypaw watched it's course with her eyes and could not stifle her gasp of shock when she saw it disappear into a thundering hole in the ground.
"Come on, then," Fallenstar ordered briskly, turning around. Ahead of her was a vast expanse of sparkling blue water which smelled of salt, it's white waves crashing loudly onto the shore below them.
The leader jumped over the edge of the ridge, seemingly disappearing into where the ocean met the land. Honeypaw let out a cry of horror and raced to the edge, relieved to see her leader only a couple of tail lengths below her. She and her mentor followed the gray she-cat's path to where there was a stream flowing from the stone wall of the ridge.
Fallenstar slipped into a hole about a fox length away from the stream, her dark figure disappearing into the shadows. The pale apprentice hesitated before following her leader and plunging into the pitch black of the Moonfalls.
