The newly named Stormpaw was practically shaking out of her skin in her excitement as her Clanmates came over one by one to congratulate her.
"I think you'll make a brilliant medicine cat Stormk-paw!" Nightshadow said with a smile, and Stormpaw chuckled under her breath as she reveled in her new name.
"Th-thank you!" Stormpaw was bursting with excitement. Turning to Featherstone, she said, " so what do we do first?"
Featherstone smiled, ""The first thing you need to know about being a medicine cat is the love and affection you need to save other cat's lives." Featherstone said to the apprentice, gesturing towards Hollypaw, Stripepaw, and Flashpaw and settling back herself.
Stormpaw turned to the new warrior apprentices, seeing the confused look on her friend's face as she approached, ""Stormpaw, thats great even though you're not a warrior it is still good to call you an apprentice now! Hey when I become leader and you're medicine cat we will be like even closer!" Flashpaw said, eyes losing their confusion for a flavor of excitement.
Stormpaw purred at her friend,"I don't know, Rainstar's not dead yet!"
Rainstar mrrowed at her apprentice appearing from her den once again, "Ah, Please don't wish me so dead yet." She smiled, a happy sidelong glance at her sister.
"Hey I didn't mean it that way! I just want to be like you when I grow up!" Flashpaw looked up at Rainstar. "Dosen't Flashstar sound cool!"
"Yeah sure." Stormpaw teased as Rainstar smiled at her apprentice.
Rainstar laughed, "Yeah, why dont you ask the real Flashstar at the next gathering?" Flashpaw's eyes grew wide.
"Oh yeah I know but do you really think I will talk to her? It's my first gathering and I don't even know what to do!" Flashpaw whined.
Stormpaw tensed as another clap of thunder sounded. "Featherstone, do I sleep in the medicine den with you? Or with the other Apprentices?"
Featherstone smiled as she stood, "With me, of course. You will have a different schedule than the other apprentices."
"I really can't wait to meet the other medicine cats!" Stormpaw exclaimed. Then she followed Featherstone into her den for some sleep.
OOOTHE NEXT DAYOOO
Stormpaw looked at Featherstone again. "What herb will I learn about first?" She was anxious to start her training.
Featherstone rumbled a laugh, "Well, as tonight is the half-moon, we will first be preparing to travel to the MoonFalls to get you acquainted with the other medicine cats and to StarClan."
Stormpaw wriggled in happiness, today they were going to the MoonFalls! Already! "Featherstone, when are we gonna leave?" She asked impatiently.
"Just as soon as we check to be sure the other cats will be okay. I need you to bring some prey to the elders, and then to check on Jaykit."
Stormpaw nodded, and then left the den, heading over to the elder's.
Once she had finished giving the old elder a small toucan, she returned, where she found Featherstone sitting and waiting for her, "We will tour the territory and then head over to the MoonFalls. Come." She said, leading the way out of camp.
Stormpaw followed her mentor as they made their way out of the camp. Once on the outside, she flicked her ears up, "Why can't I smell or hear the camp?" She asked, looking around. If she hadn't known where they came out, she wouldn't have even known the camp was there.
Featherstone laughed, "There is a reason we are DarkClan. We live in a fiercely aggressive environment, and therefore we must keep ourselves hidden and protected while at the same time being able to navigate without the worry that should a rival clan or rainforest predator try and attack, they will get lost and confused, and never find us."
Stormpaw nodded, a frown on her face, as she followed her mentor around the border, trying to memorize everything. When they came to a sheer rock cliff that angled sharply to the ocean below, she gasped, "What's Stormfang doing down there?" She asked, eyes wide.
Featherstone smiled, "He is a cliff-diver. He is practicing his skills."
Stormpaw nodded, and soon they came to a stream, which they followed until they reached a rocky terrain, and an overwhelming scent of a clan she did not know.
"That is FlameClan's territory, led by Logstar. They live mostly in the forested valleys of their home. We will be following their border until we come to FourRocks, and then will turn between theirs and SandClan's in order to reach the MoonFalls."
Stormpaw nodded and indeed they did, following the border on their side until reaching a clearing. She saw why it was called FourRocks, as four large rocks were interspaced between the clans.
She began to scent a salty smell, and soon lost their own as they followed FlameClan and SandClan's border up to a large, jagged, and rounded mountain.
"Be careful. The way up is dangerous for new paws." Featherstone stated, leading the way up a very narrow and winding path until she stopped where the path flattened out behind a waterfall, "Watch what I do, and follow my lead exactly." She ordered, and lay on her belly and wiggled forward. She stopped short of the spray, and waited for the other medicine cats to arrive.
When they did, she flicked her ears and looked up, staring at Stormpaw to begin the ceremony, "Stormpaw, is it your wish to enter the mysteries of StarClan as a medicine cat?"
Stormpaw nodded, excited, "Yes. It is."
Featherstone nodded, "Warriors of StarClan, I present you with this apprentice. She has chosen the path of a medicine cat. Grant her your wisdom and insight so that she may understand your ways and heal her Clan in accordance with your will." With that all of the medicine cats and other apprentices scooted forward, laying their heads on their paws and allowing the spray to touch them. They fell to sleep with StarClan dreams.
Featherstone looked at Stormpaw, gesturing her forward, and so she followed their lead. She, too,, soon fell to sleep.