Bleh. I realize that the drama in this story is very much dampened by the fact that you can only read the chapters once I write them. And I'm writing them very slowly. I'm sorry! I think that the next chapter will be faster, now that Christmas is over.
"And then there's burdock root. For rat bites and other infection." Twigpelt lifted his head. "Ah, there's Thornflower. And that's her apprentice, Hollyheart."
Moonpaw leapt into the air with excitment. For all her various misgivings about becoming a medicine cat apprentice, she couldn't wait until she got to dream at the Moonstone.
"Hello, Twigpelt," said one of them, an elderly brown tabby she-cat. She spotted Moonpaw. "Greetings. It's Moonpaw, right?" The small gray she-cat beside the ThunderClanner gave Moonpaw a curious sniff.
"Yes." Moonpaw respectfully dipped her head, trying to leave a good first impression.
"But her name-" Hollyheart started.
"She's my new apprentice," Twigpelt interrupted.
"Ah," said Thornflower. "Congratulations!"
"Um, thanks."
"There's Shineheart," Hollyheart said.
Moonpaw wipped her head around and looked cooly at the RiverClan medicine cat, a round yellow she-cat.
"Greetings, everybody!" She waved her golden tail cheerfully. "Twigpelt, what's Moonpaw doing here?"
"New apprentice," said Hollyheart.
"Oh. Good luck." The she-cat gave a curt nod.
Moonpaw gave the tiniest of nods, too, and stood up straighter. Twigpelt nudged her and growled, "Relax. She's another medicine cat."
Moonpaw shrugged.
"Come on, everyone!" Thornflower nudged her apprentice and bounded off. Moonpaw gave another excited hop and followed. After a few hours, they were at Mothermouth. The silver tabby had never seen the sacred cave before. She shivered slightly.
Two cats stood outside, one smelling of WindClan and the other ShadowClan.
"Poolsplash is the one on the right," Twigpelt whispered. "The other one's Elmbark, the WindClan medicine cat."
Moonpaw nodded. The other medicine cats exchanged small talk during the journey through the black tunnels, but nothing particularly interesting. Hopefully she wouldn't have long to wait before the good part started.
The fact that she really truly would meet with StarClan in a few minutes suddenly struck her with new force.
As the pathway wound this way and that, Moonpaw spotted a brilliant white light reflecting off a wall. She heard Hollyheart bounce excitedly, but Poolsplash wasn't impressed. She sighed. "We're late."
"Nonsense," Thornflower said. "The Moonstone may already be prepared, but we'll have plenty of time. Now hush; you know that we aren't to talk too much in here."
Twigpelt picked up his pace. Moonpaw pushed herself to keep up. Maybe light was now in sight, but she still didn't want to leave her guide.
The tunnel curved sharply. Moonpaw approached it and peered around. A light met her gaze. It was both calm and twinkly like a star, and fierce and bright like a raging fire. She blinked against the beautiful silver-white glow.
"Moonpaw," Twigpelt started, "is it your wish to enter the mysteries of StarClan as a medicine cat?"
"Yes."
"Then come here," Twigpelt said. Moonpaw complied. "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."
"Stick your nose against the stone," Twigpelt commanded. Moonpaw instinctively drew back for a heartbeat. What if her name was an insult to StarClan? What if her ancestors made her change it? Or would they simply refuse to let her be a medicine cat?
"Go on!" Twigpelt nudged her forward.
Moonpaw gulped.
Then she plunged forward.
The cavern melted away underneath her paws.
She opened her eyes. Golden light filled the forest. It wasn't night here. But... it couldn't be day; there were stars in the sky.
And the stars were coming down.
To her.
"Greetings." The whole crowd of cats seemed to say the word as one.
"Greetings," Moonpaw whispered.
Twigpelt wasn't there with her, Moonpaw realized. He wasn't there. Why wasn't he there?
"Welcome," they said, all as one, "to the realm of the stars. We welcome you to prophecies. We welcome you to omens. We welcome you to this path."
"Do... do you have something to say to me?"
A black cat stepped forward. Briarpaw's father, Jumpfoot, who died of greencough. "Walk with me."
Moonpaw followed him through the forest.
"StarClan is glad of your decision to become a medicine cat."
"It was the right one, then?"
"You already know that it was."
Moonpaw looked at her paws. "It is good to see you again, Jumpfoot." Here she was, talking to a cat who was dead! "Tell me, please. What does StarClan think about my name?"
Jumpfoot sighed. "Your mother was unwise to pick it."
"But... it's my name, Jumpfoot. I can't do anything about it."
"Mistblossom's heart wasn't in the right place when she named you. But one day, you will have a choice. A choice to do something about it."
A choice? To change her name? Moonpaw would think that she could do that on any day. Why "one day"?
"When? When will I know it's time to change my name?"
Jumpfoot blinked. "Your choice shall be made after the battle in which Twigpelt and Mistblossom die. And then you must die also."
"What?!" All three of them would die?
"But listen!" Jumpfoot gaze grew severe. "The reason why I tell you this is because you must put StarClan and SkyClan first. And you must give up your life."
Then the starlit forest began to fade away.
"Apprentice, you must learn from other's mistakes. And you must learn from their successes. Then you will make your choice correctly."
Merry Christmas, everyone. I know I haven't updated for a really, really long time - sorry! If I were you, I would be convinced that this story was dying. But worry not. Even though I am updating very, VERY slowly, I promise that, barring death and divine intervention, I'll finish this story.
Also, I was reading Yellowfang's Secret for the first time yesterday (still haven't quite finished), and I thought "dang, this a lot like Moonlit Path." And it is, isn't it?
Reveiws are much enjoyed!