Chapter 11: The moonpool
The sun rose early that morning casting an orange glow on the pelts of the two newest warriors. Cherryblossom and Molewhisker sat in silence staring into the forest as the first light of dawn illuminated the trees like fire. Jayfeather and Leafpool were the first cats to walk into the clearing signaling the end of the night's vigil.
"Morning Cherryblossom!" meowed Jayfeather cheerfully "tired?"
Cherryblossom nodded, her jaws spread wide in a yawn. "It's ok," purred Jayfeather "your vigil is over."
"Thank goodness!" Molewhisker yawned, shaking the dust off his pelt "I'm exhausted!"
"C'mon Jayfeather!" Leafpool meowed from the camp entrance flicking her tail towards the forest.
"Oh where are you guys off to?" Asked Cherryblossom looking at Leafpool "it's half-moon," responded Jayfeather "time for the medicine cats to speak with Starclan."
"Oh, well have fun" meowed Molewhisker as Jayfeather padded out of the stone hollow and into the forest.
Jayfeather and Leafpool walked along the border between Windclan and Thunderclan. They soon saw Kestrelflight, Windclan's medicine cat padding toward them over the rough-trodden moor grass.
"Hi!" meowed Kestrelflight in a friendly, casual tone "I haven't seen hide nor hair of Thunderclan since the gathering!" He smiled "how's that apprentice of yours, Cherrypaw?"
Jayfeather stiffened it was only right, he thought, for Kestrelflight to be concerned. But the mention of Cherryblossom as Cherrypaw again set his fur on end.
"Cherryblossom!" he snapped moving further over towards Leafpool.
Kestrelflight looked hurt but when he spoke again it was in a friendly tone. "Oh so she's a warrior now is she!" he meowed. "Offer her my congratulations. It must have been a peaceful vigil in this warm weather!" He smiled cheerfully "Mine was in leaf-bare." The mottled brown tom shuddered as if remembering the cold.
Leafpool walked silently beside Jayfeather staring at the horizon.
Jayfeather was the first to step down into the stone clearing followed by Kestrelflight and Leafpool. The moon glowed on the surface of the moonpool casting a silver glow onto the surrounding stones.
"We should wait for Mothwing and Littlecloud." meowed Leafpool.
Jayfeather sat down on the edge of the rocky beach and watched his reflection ripple from the small waterfall trickling into the pool.
Minutes later the other medicine cats arrived stepping gingerly into the hollow and walking along the stones, dimpled from generations of pawprints. Mothwing lay down beside the pool, the silver glow turning her golden pelt copper. Littlecloud did the same, smiling at Jayfeather as he did so. Leafpool dipped her head and lapped up some water, the rest of the medicine cats did as well. The night wind rustled Jayfeather's mottled gray coat as he lapped up the water and closed his eyes in sleep.