Gingerpaw and Willowshine padded down the hill and into the edge of Windclan territory as a black and white figure appeared.
"Darkpatch!" Gingerpaw said
The she-cat turned and saw him bound over.
"Why are you so excited?" She asked
"No reason." Gingerpaw said
"It's because you know we're not late." Willowshine said
"Where's Emberpaw?" He asked
"Over here." The tom said
He bounded out of the bracken with happiness in his yellow eyes.
"Guess what!" He said
"Alright, what?" Gingerpaw said
"My sister, Ambereye, had her kits today! Her mate is Blackfrost. The two loved each other since they were apprentices and I am happy for her." Emberpaw said
"How old is she?" He asked
"Seventeen moons. Same as me." Emberpaw said
"You're seventeen moons!" Gingerpaw said
"Yeah, and Darkpatch said I'll make a great medicine cat." Emberpaw said
"Well, that's wonderful."
Gingerpaw saw a gray cat walk into the area.
"Jayfeather!" He said
"Hello Gingerpaw. I'd like you to meet Flowerpaw. My new apprentice." Jayfeather said
A red she-cat with a hint of ginger around her tail-tip and muzzle followed Jayfeather. Her blue eyes beamed with curiosity.
"Hi! I'm Flowerpaw." She said
"I'm Gingerpaw and this is my mentor, Willowshine." The ginger tabby said
"Hello little apprentice." She said
"Come on Snowpaw, we can't be late, the moon is halfway there."
The old brown/gray tom walked into the clearing. His pelt's white patches had spread out and his stomach had white as well.
"I must say something in front of all of you." He said
"What?" Emberpaw asked
"I had a dream, I saw a kestrel bird fly around, young as can be. I saw his life go by and in four days, saw him retire to his nest for good. Then his son took over the nest after the four days had passed." Kestrelflight said
"And that means?" Snowpaw asked
"I am thinking that in four moons, I must retire as well. Snowpaw shall become the medicine cat of Windclan." Kestrelflight said
"I also have something to share, but it'll be said when we are at the Moonpool. Now, let's go!" Darkpatch hissed
All the cats nodded and began heading out. Gingerpaw looked down at the stream and saw the millions of stars glimmer in the night sky. He marveled at the beauty of each star and how it could sit there forever. He soon bumped into Snowpaw who was sniffing a patch of ground.
"Sorry." Gingerpaw said
"Oh it's fine. I just thought I smelled a rabbit. I love them!" Snowpaw said
Gingerpaw padded forwards and saw the ancient paw prints appear on the beach of the Moonpool's entrance. He entered the area along with the other cats as the Moonpool came into notice.
"Whoa! It's amazing." Flowerpaw said
"It is, I wish I could see it now. But, I do see it in my dreams." Jayfeather said
Jayfeather stood in front of all the cats and began.
"Flowerpaw, is it your wish to enter the mysteries of Starclan as a medicine cat?"
"It is." Flowerpaw said
"Then come forward." Jayfeather said
The little she-cat walked up to her mentor and looked up at him.
"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." Jayfeather said
Jayfeather motioned for her to drink from the Moonpool, but Darkpatch stopped him.
"Stop! I have something to do before anyone drinks from the Moonpool." Darkpatch said
Everyone looked up.
"Emberpaw, come forward." She said
The old apprentice walked up to his mentor and looked into her green eyes.
"I, Darkpatch, medicine cat of Shadowclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of a medicine cat, and with your help he will serve his clan for many moons." She said
"Emberpaw, do you promise to uphold the ways of a medicine cat, to stand apart from rivalry between Clan and Clan and to protect all cats equally, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do." He said
"Then by the powers of Starclan I give you your true name as a medicine cat. Emberpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Emberclaw. Starclan honors your strength and spirit and welcomes you as a full medicine cat of Shadowclan." She said
"Emberclaw! Emberclaw!" The medicine cats said
"Willowshine, how old is she?" Gingerpaw asked
"About sixty five moons." She replied.
Gingerpaw nodded and knew why she chose to do Emberclaw's ceremony.
"Okay, now we can share tongues with Starclan." Jayfeather said
Flowerpaw and Jayfeather walked up first and drank from the Moonpool, then Emberclaw and Darkpatch. Gingerpaw padded over with Willowshine and lapped up the icy water. Then, Kestrelflight walked up with Snowpaw as Gingerpaw closed his eyes and waited for Starclan.
Gingerpaw awoke in a dark area with a dim light peeking through no-where. He became frightened until he saw a pure black cat walk out of the trees.
"Who...Who are you?" He asked
"I am Nightpaw young cat. I came here to warn you." The tom said
Gingerpaw noticed the orange eyes and quickly hissed at him.
"No need to fear me for now. Just watch for changes in the sun as blackness creeps into the water and evil runs ramped through the territories!" He shouted
Nightpaw had a smirk of happiness as he crept back into the bushes, revealing an evil glint in his orange eyes.
"Gingerpaw!"
He turned and saw Leafpool come out of the sky. She grabbed him and carried him up into the clouds and where he saw cats who's pelts glimmered like stars.
"Where was I?" He asked
"You were in the Dark Forest. That's were the evil cats go and live for eternity."
He turned and saw a ginger tom walk up to him. His emerald eyes stared at him.
"Who are you?" Gingerpaw asked
"Firestar, my father." Leafpool said
"Yes, I was passing by." Firestar said
The tabby bounded off to where a pale ginger she-cat was playing with a smaller version of himself.
"That's my mother, Sandstorm and my sister Squirrelflight." Leafpool said
"Was there anything to tell me.'' Gingerpaw asked
"No. Nothing but watch for signs. You'll find them where you'd least expect it." She said
She began to dissolve but he quickly asked-
"Wait! Have you speaked to Jayfeather? He misses you Leafpool."He said
"I know, and I have. Tell him that I am watching over him and all the cats of Thunderclan. You too Gingerpaw." She said
The she-cat disappeared as Gingerpaw woke up. He saw Kestrelflight and Snowpaw still in their dreams as Willowshine awoke. Jayfeather was grooming his fur near the entrance as Flowerpaw played with a moth. Gingerpaw walked over to Jayfeather and he looked up.
"Jayfeather, I saw Leafpool in my dream. She said that she is still watching over you and Thunderclan." Gingerpaw said
Jayfeather's blind eyes showed happiness as he remembered the gentle medicine cat.
"I know, she told me that after she died in my dream. I haven't seen her in a while and I still miss her. But I do not grieve, knowing that her time had come." Jayfeather said
"I want you to know something." Gingerpaw said
"What?"
"Leafpool gave me a prophecy. She was vague about which clan, but watch out. It told of danger." He said
"I shall tell Squirrelstar about it and she'll alert the clan. Gingerpaw, there is something that I want to share with you." Jayfeather said
They walked away from the other cats and Jayfeather sat.
"I have a special connection with Leafpool. Not because she was my mentor, but because she was my mother." Jayfeather said
"But, medicine cats can't have kits or mate!" Gingerpaw said
"She knew, but she loved Crowfeather and without him, I wouldn't be here. Please, don't tell the others. I told you because I trusted you." Jayfeather said
"I won't. I promise." Gingerpaw said
The two friends walked out into the open and saw the other medicine cats waiting for them.
"Well, now that your done chatting, we can move on." Darkpatch said
"Very well, come Snowpaw. Windclan can't wait." Kestrelflight said
"Nor can Shadowclan." Darkpatch said
"Stupid greencough. Will Nighttail be okay?" Emberclaw asked
"She may. You never know with greencough. But, your mother is strong, she has a great chance of making it." Darkpatch said
"Alright, I'll check near the twoleg place for the remainder of the catmint." Emberclaw said
"Let's go already! My paws hurt." Flowerpaw said
"Okay, let's go." Emberclaw said
The cats headed back down the path and towards the meeting place. Gingerpaw walked over to Snowpaw.
"What happened in your dream?" He asked
"I saw Barkface. Kestrelflight's mentor. He told me- Stars to combine into Sun, as Night takes in dark souls." Snowpaw said
"Wow, in mine I saw Nightpaw. I don't know who he is, but he was in the Dark Forest." Gingerpaw said
"The Dark Forest!" Snowpaw exclaimed
"What about the Dark Forest?" Jayfeather asked
"In my dream, I was in the Dark Forest. I saw a cat called Nightpaw and told me to beware!" Gingerpaw said
"Then be on alert." Jayfeather said
"Come along Emberclaw. Time for the clan to meet the newest medicine cat when I'm gone." Darkpatch said
The black/red tom ran towards his mentor as he said his goodbyes.
"Come on Jayfeather! The clan should want to know that I was accepted by Starclan!" Flowerpaw said
"Very well. See ya Gingerpaw." Jayfeather said
The cats walked towards their camp as Gingerpaw turned to follow Willowshine. He saw the sun begin to rise and knew that the patrols will be wondering who is on their territory.
"Come this way, we can get a little bite from the river." Willowshine said
She walked towards the territory's boundaries and stepped into Riverclan's. They turned west and he saw the western stream come into view. It had a thin layer of ice, but it seemed breakable.
"I'll head back to camp. I kinda want to talk to Reedstar." Gingerpaw said
"Very well. I shall see you back there." Willowshine said
She looked into the water as she carved a little hole in the ice. Gingerpaw padded up a rocky hill as the dawn patrol came into view.
"Gingerpaw? Where's Willowshine?" Riverheart asked
"She's fishing. I wanted to talk to Reedstar." He answered
"Very well." Mothstripe said
He walked into camp and into his den. Reedstar wasn't in there.
"I guess he's out hunting." Gingerpaw said
He walked out of the den and into his own. The fresh smell of herbs hit his face. He looked over at the brown/ginger tom that laid there. He coughed viciously in his sleep and Gingerpaw decided to let him rest.
"When he wakes, I'll give him some chickweed." He thought
He walked over to the chickweed and grabbed some. He laid them down next to his paw and began grooming himself. He began thinking of what Nightpaw said.
"You don't need to fear me yet... Why?" Gingerpaw thought