A/N

Me, updating a story after a year and a half? It's more likely than you think.

Chapter 3: Moonlit Hearts

The black sky was perfectly clear, like a starry blanket hanging over Runningpaw. The silver moon was split in half, which meant it was time for the medicine cats to meet at the Moonfall.

"Runningpaw, where did you put the lungwort we collected the other day?" Cloverwing called.

"Er- near the mallow," Runningpaw shouted back to her.

She emerged with the speckled leaves in her mouth. "Alright, let's set out."

Leaving her sister, Grassclaw, in charge of keeping curious kits out of their herb stocks, they left camp. The smell of fresh water was heavy in the cool night air, and Runningpaw could hear the river rushing eagerly with it having thawed out finally not too long ago.

The nights were getting warmer as new-leaf went on, and Runningpaw eagerly awaited the warm breezes as he would run across the moors. As he thought, a cold gust of wind chilled him, and he shivered. He hated the cold.

"It seems like the other clans are waiting on us," Cloverwing fretted. "I hate making them wait."

"I'm sure they don't mind," Runningpaw assured her. He could smell ThunderClan, RiverClan, and ShadowClan fresh in the air. It mixed strangely in his nostrils.

There was a steep slope winding around the waterfall, dirt slicked from so many of their predecessors walking it before them. The waterfall was loud, echoing in his ears. He could feel the mist in the air as it crashed down, and it dusted his thin fur.

"Careful now," Cloverwing warned. She went first, inching her way down with moons of experience. She made it look easy.

The first few steps weren't that difficult, but as Runningpaw went further down, the more the path inclined and the more he felt as if he was going to slip. He didn't have the hard paw pads like Cloverwing did. Not yet. His pads were still pink and soft from kithood.

Stumbling on his last few steps, Runningpaw caught his balance in time to stagger right in front of the other medicine cats. He was able to pick them out by scent and process of elimination.

There was Milkpool, the ThunderClan medicine cat, petite and gentle. At her side was Fallowpaw, her apprentice. He was much larger, with broad shoulders and the build of a warrior, but his weepy eyes made him less intimidating.

Honeypool was easy to recognize beside them. Runningpaw remembered the description of the crazed Honeyheart, a Skyclan queen with a mate from Shadowclan. She had died after killing several cats to keep her relationship safe, and her mate had gone to raise his kits in Skyclan.

Their daughter was a dark, diluted tabby, with the skulking build he recognized in his own clanmates, and powerful hindquarters. Barely any older than a new warrior. Honeypool nodded at him. "Runningpaw, right?" Her eyes were deep, and knowing, and wry.

He sniffed and nodded, not daring to regard her, lest she flay him with her gaze. I don't ever have to worry about my mate or kits. Thank the stars.

Standing close to the water, was Seedcloud, the RiverClan medicine cat. Youngest of the bunch and yet to take an apprentice, he looked more confident in paws than Runningpaw was sure he would ever feel.

Then there was ShadowClan. Hazelstripe, a tall and skinny tom with a reassuring expression on his face. Beside him, strangely, the most handsome tom Runningpaw had ever laid his eyes on. His fur was black like midnight with orange amber eyes like a forest fire. His shoulders were strong, and his coat thick and shiny. He was Ravenpaw, only a little older than Runningpaw.

Suddenly, he felt as if he had stared too long at the tom, because his expression changed ever so slightly, and Runningpaw looked away instantly. He felt himself stealing glances when he hoped the ShadowClan apprentice wasn't looking.

"I brought the lungwort," Cloverwing mewed, breaking the tension. "Sorry to make you wait."

"It's nothing to worry about," Milkpool assured her, taking the lungwort and handing over some burnet and rosemary.

"It's nearly moonhigh," Hazelstripe said. "We should go in."

Leading the group of medicine cats, Hazelstripe circled around the back of the waterfall. There was a gap behind the cascading water; a small rocky cove that sparkled with moonlight. Everyone's pelt looked like it shimmered with silver, and the half-moon reflected in Cloverwing's eyes as she looked to her apprentice.

"Runningpaw, is it your wish to enter the mysteries of StarClan as a medicine cat?" Cloverwing asked.

Runningpaw felt his breath catch. "It is."

Cloverwing gave a small nod. "Then come forward." She beckoned him forth and he stepped before all the other medicine cats. He felt exposed under their scrutinizing stares.

"Warriors of StarClan, I present you with this apprentice. He has chosen the path of a medicine cat. Grant him your wisdom and insight so he may understand your ways and heal his clan in accordance with your will," Cloverwing spoke. Her voice echoed around the den.

Runningpaw laid down on the cold, stone floor. He closed his eyes, focusing on the rumble of the water just outside. It became rhythmic in his ears, until he heard nothing.

Sunlight warmed his back. Dazed, Runningpaw opened his eyes and looked around. Birds chirped and the grassy fields rolled, but though it felt familiar, he had no idea where he was.

"Runningpaw."

Runningpaw turned around in alarm, and came to face a thin, lanky white tom. His jaw almost dropped.

"Dad?" He choked out. "I- I know medicine cats talk to the dead but I didn't think I'd see you."

"I'm so proud of you, Runningpaw," his father purred.

He flicked an ear. "Thank you..." The praise felt empty.

The StarClan cat looked at him. "You're bothered by something. What is it?"

Runningpaw sighed. "It's not what I thought it was. I mean, I like helping others. I know it's what I'm meant to do. But…"

"But, what?" His father pressed.

"I know it's only been a moon, but I can't help feeling like- like I'm missing something," Runningpaw explained. He found it difficult to put into words.

"You're young," his father meowed. "It'll come to you."

"But what if it doesn't?" Runningpaw exclaimed. "What if I always feel like a piece of me isn't happy?"

The white tom let out a heavy sigh. "Oh, Runningpaw. Being a medicine cat isn't easy. I know you'll figure out what's holding you back. I believe in you."

Runningpaw didn't even have a chance to answer, because when he blinked, he was opening his eyes in the cove behind the waterfall. The other medicine cats were still dreaming.

He found his eyes drifting to wear Ravenpaw was laying, and jumped when he caught amber eyes staring back at him. Ravenpaw let out a little chuckle and sat up.

"Who did you see?" The ShadowClan cat asked.

"M- my father," Runningpaw answered. "He died of greencough."

Ravenpaw looked thoughtful. There was an uncomfortable silence broken by only the crash of the waterfall.

"You should jump on those last few steps," Ravenpaw said suddenly.

"Huh?" Runningpaw asked.

"You stumbled. Earlier," Ravenpaw pointed out. "If you jump off the slope you won't fall."

"Oh." Runningpaw was surprised. "Thanks."

The other medicine cats began to stir, first Seedcloud, with all the others following close behind. Cloverwing sat up, elegant as always, and looked to Runningpaw.

"You dreamt?" She asked.

Runningpaw nodded. "I- I saw my dad."

Cloverwing blinked. "Whitewhisker. That's good. StarClan has accepted you."

"I know," Runningpaw said. "I don't feel any different."

"You won't," Cloverwing said. "Not at first, at least. It's a slow adjustment. The hard part is telling your normal dreams apart from visions."

"It gets easier with time," Hazelstripe interjected. "So does interpreting their signs."

"My brother found a toad where the apprentices train," Honeypool said, both amused and pensive. "I think Toadcroak is trying to tell me to take on an apprentice."

The medicine cats all dipped their heads in respect. "He's resting well, and leaves a talented successor behind him."

"Doesn't SkyClan share a border with ShadowClan?" Ravenpaw muttered to Hazelstripe. His mentor shushed him.

"So young, to be responsible for a whole clan's health," Seedcloud said quietly.

"We should head back," Milkpool mewed. "Come now, Fallowpaw."

The large tom stood up and stretched, back fur standing up. "Yes, Milkpool." It was strange to see such a physically imposing tom listen so obediently to such a tiny she cat.

"We can all walk together," Milkpool said. She moved forward first, climbing up the rocks like an expert, with strong claws and legs from climbing trees like a true ThunderClanner.

Runningpaw followed after Cloverwing, scrambling up the steep incline with unsheathed claws to grip. He lost his footing for a moment, only for Cloverwing to help him up the rest of the way.

"I'm not made for climbing," Runningpaw admitted, a bit embarrassed.

"Not many WindClan cats are," Seedcloud chuckled.

"How are your clanmates, Cloverwing?" Milkpool asked. "Greencough only just left ThunderClan last quarter-moon.

"Fortunately, we didn't lose many," Cloverwing sighed. "Catmint always seems to bein short supply when the cold comes around."

"We lost most of our elders," Seedcloud said. Guilt dripped in his voice. "Only Rumblebelly made it."

"I'm sure you did all you could, Seedcloud," Hazelstripe assured the young medicine cat. "It was their time."

Seedcloud cleared his throat. "And you, Runningpaw," he said, turning to him as they walked. "How was your first moon of being an apprentice?"

Runningpaw felt put on the spot. "I- um- liked it, I guess? We're always running out of moss bedding and the other apprentices keep getting thorns in their paws. It's a bit... annoying."

"Runningpaw!" Cloverwing scolded. "It is the duty of a medicine cat to care for their clanmates!"

"It is annoying, isn't it?" Ravenpaw mewed. There was an understanding look in his eyes.

Runningpaw felt his embarrassment ebb away and managed a chuckle. "They're always complaining!"

Ravenpaw's lips twitched in a smile for a second, before he received a harsh glare from his mentor, and he went back to his neutral expression.

Runningpaw got a cuff on the ear from Cloverwing. "You treat your patients with kindness, Runningpaw. I will hear no more of this."

The WindClan apprentice let out a short huff but stayed quiet. He wasn't in the mood to get an earful from Cloverwing on the way back to camp when all the other medicine cats had gone. She had a rumored bad temper, and Runningpaw wasn't going to push her.

"This is where I leave you," Seedcloud mewed, leaping over the stones and crossing the river. "Milkpool, I'll be stopping by for some daisy soon if you don't mind? Nettlebranch has been having back pain and the ragwort I've been using has been no help."

Milkpool dipped her head as they parted ways, and her and Fallowpaw disappeared into the trees. Seedcloud was already bounding away, leaving just the WindClan and ShadowClan cats to continue on.

There was only the sound of quietly flowing water with the occasional cricket to fill the silence. Runningpaw could see Hazelstripe was exceptionally strict, and he was too worried if he spoke again Cloverwing might scold him again.

Hunger gnawed at his belly as they walked, having not been able to eat prior to speaking to StarClan. He wanted nothing more than a juicy rabbit and a good night's sleep.

"Try being more strict with Runningpaw," Hazelstripe whispered into Cloverwing's ear, clearly unaware that Runningpaw could hear him. He whispered like an elder telling gossip.

Cloverwing blinked thoughtfully and shook her head. She whispered back, but Runningpaw couldn't make out what she had said. He wondered if it had been good or bad.

"Come on, Runningpaw," Cloverwing meowed. "We have an early morning tomorrow if we're going to collect that tormentil."

Runningpaw started to move to cross over to the WindClan side of the border, but he felt a fluffy tail tickle his spine. He turned to see Ravenpaw looking at him expectantly.

"Hey."

"What?" Runningpaw felt nervous. Ravenpaw seemed so aloof with an air of irritation to him, Runningpaw found it difficult to read him.

Ravenpaw's intense look softened. "Bye."

"Uhm- oh, bye," Runningpaw stammered.

The two ShadowClan cats disappeared into the darkness of their territory. An owl hooted from somewhere in the shadowy pine trees, sending a chill down Runningpaw's back. He turned away and followed Cloverwing home.

Light breezes made the long grass ripple like water over the moors, and the silver moon made the grass shimmer with faint light. It was past moonhigh, and Runningpaw's body felt tired from the day's events, but his mind was wide awake.

Perhaps it was from visiting StarClan for the first time, but he felt his heart knotting itself over and over again. Or maybe he was just over hungry. Whatever the reason, there was one unexplainable thing. Ravenpaw's hot amber eyes would not leave his thoughts for the entire night.

A/N

Not really much to say other than apologizing for how late this update is. Though not many people are reading this story so it's really for my own enjoyment tbh.