It was just after sundown when the group made it to the Moon Cavern. Snowfrost's paws ached terribly from the journey. Between the weight she had gained during her pregnancy and the lack of stamina from having lazed around for a whole moon and a half, she had hardly been fit enough to travel. Perhaps this is another punishment I must endure. Curse Goldenpaw for even thinking that I was well enough to walk this far!
Whitestar turned around and spoke with the guards; ordering the toms to stand outside the cave to ensure Snowfrost would not run out. Snowfrost snapped out of her bitter thoughts long enough to register this order. She growled as the guards gave her one final shove into the Moon Cavern to follow Whitestar's lead.
The three she-cats crawled through the narrow path which led to the cavern, greeted by glittering light as they emerged into the cave. Snowfrost felt sick as she stepped into the open, freezing cold air surrounding her. She'd never known the Moon Cavern to be chilly, even in the heart of Leaf-bare. The cold must have been for her sake, as Whitestar and Goldenpaw didn't even shiver. Snowfrost felt shame.
"Let's all lay by the Star Willow," Goldenpaw instructed, demonstrating exactly how to rub against the tree's leaves. Snowfost inevitably copied, knowing that she would not be able to dream of her ancestors like the other cats could. Still, sleep came to her as it always did, pulling her into a rich darkness.
When she opened her eyes, Snowfrost was standing in a foggy forest. Howls of pain echoed around her, fearscent and bloodscent flooding her nostrils. Instinct kicked in, driving Snowfrost to stand and look for the injured. There was a battle going on; cats were dying. In a flash, Snowfrost arrived into a clearing. Cats scrambled all around her, crying, yowling, throwing themselves at an unseeable foe. Some lay bleeding on the ground. Others, like the queens and elders, cowered in their dens. In the distance, the black silhouette of a single cat stood out most to Snowfrost. Their fur was long, body lean. Could this be the shadow of one of her kits, all grown up?The cat seemed to lift her head and cry out "Come and get me you fithly piece of fox-dung!" to the enemy before dashing off. The beast charged after them, and Snowfrost followed suit, feeling a strange pull in her pelt. Like she was meant to witness what would happen next.In another heartbeat the three of them appeared at a cliff. The brave cat continued to race ahead, despite the obstical in her way. Snowfrost found herself suddenly frozen in place, unable to rush to the other cat's aid. Look out! Snowfrost tried to yowl, but her voice was trapped inside her throat. The other didn't even seem to notice her presence. And by now, it was too late. The brave warrior had rocketed themself off the edge of the cliff, caught midair by the creature that was pursuing them, and dragged down to the unkown below by gravity. No! Snowfrost tried to wail before being thrown back into the waking world.
Snowfrost woke with a start. Her chest heaved as if she'd just ran here all the way from Oceanclan. Her heart beat just the same; rapid and thunderous. Her gaze was blurry, tears pooling at the corners of her eyes. Was her dream predicting the death of one of her newborns? Impossible. Starclan does not determin a cat's destiny, they can only predict various outcomes. And yet, Snowfrost could not shake the feeling that this was a fate set in stone. If she thought it would help, Snowfrost would pray to Starclan that it wouldn't be so. But they were no longer in contact. As far as she knew, Starclan wouldn't even want to hear her pleas. For some reason this made Snowfrost angry. Angrier than she'd ever been before. This isn't fair...
Speaking of unfair, Whitestar and Goldenpaw were waking up from their dreams now. They seemed much more calm and rested than Snowfrost did. With a stretch, both mollies rose to their paws, padding over to Snowfrost.
"Has Starclan spoken to you?" Snowfrost asked bitterly. She firced herself into an upright position, giving her chest fur a few vigorous licks. Whitestar answered her with a curt nod.
"Our ancestors have helped me decide what fate you should face. They were merciful, moreso than I thought they'd be."
Surprising, thought Snowfrost.
"With their help, it has been decided that you shall face a Warriorpaw ceremony. Truth be told, I hadn't known medicine cats could be punished this way."
"And how do you suppose this is going to work out?" Snowfrost growled, rising to her paws. "There are no other trained medicine cats in Grassclan to 'reteach' me. Unless you plan on making me a warrior."
"I will do no such thing. You've chosen to be a medicine cat, I cannot force you into doing another job. However, you are incorrect when you say there are no trained medicine cats in the clan. One stands before you right now." Whitestar gestured to Goldenpaw with her tail, making the younger molly lift her chin a little. Though it was obvious she was suppressing a smile, the young medicine cat's eyes shined with guilt. Snowfrost let out a mrrow of laughter.
"Goldenpaw? You cannot be serious. She's an apprentice!"
"Not for long." Whitestar turned to face Goldenpaw, lifting her muzzle a little. Her voice echoed clearly off the walls of the Moon Cavern as she spoke. "I, Whitestar, leader of Grassclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of a medicine cat, and with your help she will serve her Clan for many moons. Goldenpaw, 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?"
Goldenpaw's mouth hung open a little, surprise and bewilderment showing in her features. Her pale green eyes twinkled like stars as a smile slowly grew on her muzzle at last.
"I-I do..!" She responded with a studder, tail-tip twitching anxiously.
"Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your true name as a medicine cat. Goldenpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Goldensong. Starclan honors your talent and vocalness, and we welcome you as Grassclan's full medicine cat." Whitestar stepped forward to rest her chin on top of Goldensong's head. Goldensong in turn licked the leader's shoulder respectfully. "When we return to camp, I will grant you your head medicine cat's herb," the leader informed her. Goldensong nodded enthusiastically.
Snowfrost couldn't believe what she had witnessed. Her pelt bristled, eyes narrowed bitterly. "Inconceivable! You cannot possibly believe Starclan will accept this ceremony to be vaild."
"And yet, they have," Whitestar replied, voice sounding monotone, colder than usual. She gave Snowfrost an uncaringbl glance that made the medicine cat's stomach drop into her paws. "They were the ones to instruct me to name Goldensong. The rest of your punishment was left for me to have the final say about once our ancestors gave me their advice."
And with that Whitestar cleared her throat, lifting her head once more.
"I, Whitestar, call upon the spirits of Starclan to look down in shame upon this cat. She has foolishly broken your nobel codes, and I bring her forth to you not as a loyal medicine cat, but as an apprentice once again. From this day forward, until she has earned back her true name, this apprentice shall be known as Snowpaw."
The siamese she-cat lowered her head to look Snowpaw right in the eye as she continued with the ceremony. "Snowpaw, may you learn from your mistakes and properly follow the star paved path that you have been granted to walk upon. You have disgraced our ancestors, and I trust you will try to redeem yourself. For now you will train under Goldensong."
Goldensing stepped up, eyes round with nervousness. She tried to touch noses with her new "apprentice" only to be met with a scoff. Snowpaw turned her muzzle away, drawing her lips back in a snarl. She took a pace from her clanmates, ears lowered.
Whitestar's tail wagged impatiently. She stepped forward and quickly touched Snowpaw's nose in Goldensong's place. With that motion, the ceremony was completed. Snowpaw let out a hiss, which made Goldensong shrink in place. Whitestar, however, stood strong.
"Come, you two. We should return back to camp." She prompted, turning towards the exit. Goldensong raced after, practically pressing herself into the other molly's side as they headed through the tunnel. Snowpaw knew she was afraid. Most likely she didn't want to face the wrath of her new apprentice. Though Snowpaw was more than ready to give Goldensong a piece of her mind, with or without Whitestar there to bare witness. But when she opened her mouth to spit out her displease, no words seemed to find their way from her throat. Instead, Snowpaw growled. There was no use wasting her breath now. Insults and cries of injustice would not undo that which had already been done. She was an apprentice again. She had to accept that, even if she felt humiliated by it. If this was the sacrifice she'd have to make for her kits to live within the Land's Star then so be it. Snowpaw lingered within the Moon Cavern for a few moments more, apprehensive about returning to the clan. But she knew if she didn't leave soon the guards would come in to drag her out against her will. So Snowpaw finally padded after her clanmates, tail and head lowered in shame.