Spottedleaf fussed over the apprentice, looking him over with worried eyes. "You're sure you'll be alright without me? I can ask Bluestar to send someone else, WindClan have their own medicine cat."
Firepaw gave his mentor a reassuring look, though doubt settled in his stomach. "I'll be okay. We don't know if Barkface is even alive at this point, Spottedleaf. They'll need help, that's why I'm going. I can handle any wounds or illness I come across, and with any luck Barkface will be fine and can handle it with my assistance."
They touched noses, the she-cat calming a bit.
He tilted his head, curious. "Did Bluestar say who was going to escort me? You said it'd be me, a warrior, and another apprentice right?"
Blinking, the she-cat slowly nodded. "Yes, she mentioned her choices. Tigerclaw heard about it and volunteered, actually. Said something about protecting the future of ThunderClan. That'd be you, I suppose. As for the apprentice, she picked Dustpaw. Since he, Graypaw, and Sandpaw are nearing the end of their training, this'll be Dustpaw's warrior assessment and Tigerclaw will be monitoring him since Redtail can't come. Graypaw and Sandpaw are going to have their normal assessment back here in ThunderClan territory."
Firepaw smiled, his tail flicking. "Alright. When do I leave?"
"Tomorrow."
...
Firepaw lapped up the herbs, barely wincing from the taste at this point.
Tigerclaw lifted his head, licking the plant juices from his lips with a scowl.
Dustpaw nearly gagged, swallowing his herbs with a pained expression.
The warrior led the way out of camp after that, the two apprentices following quickly behind.
They traveled in relative silence the entire way to Fourtrees.
Tigerclaw spoke up once they'd reached the edge of WindClan territory. "It'll be hard to track them since it's been nearly a moon, but the scent of an entire Clan will linger. Dustpaw, this is the first part of your assessment. Try to lead us on WindClan's trail."
The apprentice gulped, but nodded. He took the lead and began by finding the camp in the heart of WindClan territory.
Firepaw parted his jaws, keen to see how he'd compare to a warrior apprentice when tracking. He picked up on the scents of herbs, comfrey and nettle, and the faint scents of many different cats.
Dustpaw kept the lead and moved past the camp, leading them towards Highstones.
The warrior nodded, his tail flicking as they walked. "Makes sense. Perhaps they tried to consult with StarClan about where to go from here."
Frowning, the ginger flicked his tail. "But. If StarClan knew where they went, perhaps they'd have told us?"
Pausing, the tabby glanced at the medicine cat apprentice. "Perhaps you should ask, then? They wouldn't have shared that with you at your half-moon gathering, but if you ask them now, on the journey to find WindClan, perhaps they'll share that information with you?"
He hesitated at this, fur prickling as Highstones came into view. "If you think it's worth a try."
Tigerclaw nodded, reassuring the young tom with a smile. "You're to be ThunderClan's bridge to StarClan. It'd give us the best chance possible to finish our mission."
Taking a deep breath, Firepaw nodded. "Alright. Remember, no talking when we go in. Tigerclaw, perhaps you should guard the entrance?"
The warrior seemed a bit off put by this, but nodded. "Very well. Dustpaw, you go in and scent around to see if WindClan were in there."
The two apprentices padded in. Firepaw led the way, using his tail to guide Dustpaw behind him.
Firepaw broke off from the gray tom to head towards the moonstone. They'd left camp at midday, so it was nearly night anyways. Settling near the crystal, he waited for the moon to show its face in the skylight.
...
He blinked stars from his eyes as he looked around, his tail twitching.
Firepaw stretched, getting up from his laying position to look around for whatever StarClan cat would greet him.
A vague figure appeared over the crest of the hill, his form becoming clearer as he came closer to the apprentice.
The ginger tom dipped his head, respectful towards the StarClan warrior.
Tilting his head, the light ginger tom smiled. "Greetings, Firepaw. I am Sunstar. I was leader of ThunderClan before Bluestar. Why have you sought out StarClan's guidance tonight?"
Blinking, the apprentice looked back up at the past leader. "It's WindClan. Brokenstar drove them away from their land. We were hoping you'd know where they'd gone."
Sunstar frowned, his tail flicking to and fro. "I myself do not, but I may know of someone who does. Come, Firepaw. We will need to journey to the edge of StarClan's border for this."
The two ran across the hills, a light breeze ruffling their fur as they flew through the territory.
The leader slowed as they neared a line of gorse, his brow furrowed. "We're here. He, however, may not be. Wait here, Firepaw, I will return shortly."
Firepaw nodded and sat down, ear flicking.
After a moment, movement caught his eye.
A dark tortoiseshell she-cat approached him slowly with a friendly demeanor.
He stood and dipped his head, not wanting to disrespect any StarClan warriors while he was here.
She chuckled and stopped a couple tail-lengths away. "Awfully close to the border for a living cat, aren't ya little apprentice?"
Smiling, he nodded. "Yeah, Sunstar is getting a cat who knows where WindClan is, but they're across the StarClan border apparently."
Sitting, she tilted her head, curiosity masking something else in her gaze. "Oh? Have WindClan moved from their territory?"
Firepaw's brow furrowed, a little confused. "I thought StarClan knew what was happening in the clans all the time?"
She snorted, ear flicking dismissively. "I don't always follow what's going on. Speaking of, I don't know your name, apprentice. You're Spottedleaf's 'paw', yes?"
He beamed, brightening up at the mention of his mentor. "Yes! My name is Firepaw. What's yours?"
She looked past him, stiffening ever so slightly before getting up as she looked at him. "Looks like old Sunstar is just about back. I'm sure we'll see each other again, though. I'll tell you my name then."
Firepaw turned to look as Sunstar returned. He glanced over his shoulder and saw that the she-cat had left. Shrugging, he looked back towards the past leader as the tom led a dark ginger through the gorse.
The newcomer blinked, surprised, when he saw Firepaw. "Are you Clanborn? You look just like another house cat I used to know."
Ducking his head in slight shame, the apprentice felt his fur prickle. "Oh, um... I was born a house cat, actually."
Grinning, the dark ginger bounded over. "Really? Did you know Nutmeg?"
Sunstar gave the tom an unimpressed look. "Jake, focus. He only has so much time left to speak."
Firepaw looked between them before nodding at Jake. "Nutmeg was my mother. If you don't mind, do you know where WindClan are?"
Jake's eyes darkened, his tail flicking unhappily. "Yes. Tallstar led them to the same place he went moons ago. I can tell you how to get there, but StarClan won't be able to reach you out there. I may be able to guide you in your dreams, but that land is past StarClan's territory."
The apprentice nodded vigorously, eyes brightening with hope. "Yes! Please, tell me how we can get there!"
The kittypet nodded, tail flicking. "You'll need to go towards the Housefolk farm at the edge of WindClan's territory, on the far edge of the farm, there's a small forest and a gorge. Follow the gorge and you'll eventually come across them."
Firepaw thanked him profusely, feeling darkness creeping in the edges of his vision.
Sunstar thanked Jake as the apprentice slipped unconsious.
...
Firepaw woke up, perking up and looking around before spotting Dustpaw sitting at the edge of the cave.
The apprentice looked up, seeing him awake, and happily got up to leave.
Both toms left, exiting Mothermouth and finding Tigerclaw waiting.
The tabby blinked down at them before looking at Firepaw. "Well?"
Firepaw perked up, smiling. "I got directions. I can lead us there."
Tigerclaw nodded and looked at Dustpaw. "And you?"
The apprentice ducked his head a little. "They never came here. There's no sign of any WindClan cat."
The warrior nodded and stood, stretching. "We'll make camp until tomorrow, then. It's no use traveling with none of us getting any proper sleep. Let's find a good spot and get ready to hunt."
Firepaw ended up staying in their camp spot getting nests ready since he wasn't really great at hunting, Tigerclaw and Dustpaw leaving to get food before night fell.