Daypaw padded along beside her mentor, anxiety cruelly twisting her stomach. The half moon was high in the sky as the padded towards Fourtrees. Today was the day that Daypaw would go to Moonstone and see if Starclan accepted her. She was almost positive that they wouldn't. Despite Nightpaw's encouragement, she just couldn't get the weight off her shoulders.
Her mind seemed to be whirling with all the things she had learned in the last three days. She already knew more then half the herbs off by heart and what they did. Still, despite the depth of her wisdom already, she just couldn't stop thinking of what Starclan would say to turn her down.
Fumbletounges tail sudden fell across her shoulder and when she looked up at her mentor she found him looking down at her sympathy, "I-it will b-be okay in the e-end. There's n-no need to w-worry," Despite how much her mentor had annoyed her at first, he had grown on her and she now felt that she shared a kinship with him.
Daypaw gave a small nod, but before she could say anything, Fourtree's came into view. Slickface and Pinetail, the medicine cats of Riverclan and Shadowclan, were just making their way into Windclan territory, their heads close together as they talked. Fumbletounge bounded forward to catch up with them and Daypaw scrambled after him, nervousness squeezing her heart.
The two other cats stopped to wait for them. When they reached them, they both touched noses with Fumbletounge, before turning to inspect her. Daypaw could feel her fur warming in embarrasment as they appraised her.
Pinetail spoke first, her harsh tone instantly making Daypaw's tail droop and her ears flatten against her head, "She's kind of scrawny, isn't she?" Taking a step forward, the she-cat prodded her in the side, causing Daypaw to stumble.
Slickface purred, swatted Pinetail with a paw, "Go easy on her, Pinetail," He then turned to face Daypaw, "Ignore her, she's always a grump. She treats apprentices like their mouse dung. There's nothing wrong with you," He turned to look at Fumbletounge, "You chose well,"
Fumbletongue dipped his head, "I believe so. From the moment she could walk she was drawn to the medicine den," He fell silent, looking at his apprentice proudly, before walking towards Windclan territory, "Come, I've heard that Feebleleap has a new apprentice," He glanced back at Daypaw, "Your not the only one, don't worry,"
Daypaw followed her mentor, the two other cats walking on either side of him in comfortable silence. Daypaw couldn't help feeling like she was invading a long earned relationship.
They had barely stepped onto Windclan territory when another cat came bounding over, obviously Feebleleap. Behind her was a long legged, but very small cat, who must have been only out of the nursery for a day. Then again, Daypaw obviously still looked like a kit. The Windclan apprentice had short, orange tabby fur and green eyes, which kept flickering across the territory.
The moment Pinetail caught spot of the apprentice, she opened her maw to mew out a sharp reply, but Feebleleap spoke up before she could, cutting off the cranky Shadowclan Medicine cat and saving the small, nervous apprentice from the same fate as her, "This is Hollypaw. She was apprenticed six sunrise's ago,"
Hollypaw looked up nervously, dipping her head. Slickface nodded in greeting, Fumbletounge blinking kindly, before they all moved on. Hollypaw walking along behind Feebleleap, so close she almost kept treading on the older cats tail. Daypaw moved forward to stand beside the scared shecat.
Daypaw blinked kindly at her as Hollypaw glanced at her nervous, "Hi, I'm Daypaw! I'm Fumbletounges new apprentice,"
Hollypaw swallowed, before nodded, "Y-yeah. Feebleleap told me that I wasn't the only apprentice getting accepted,"
Daypaw mrrowed in amusement, "Are you as nervous as me?"
Hollypaw's green eyes clouded, "I'm guessing that I'm even more so,"
Hollypaw fell silent after that, not speaking despite all of Daypaw's coaxing. After a while Daypaw stopped trying, padding along in silence. They soon passed out of Windclan's territory. In the distance, a twoleg building rose in sight, but they didn't stop at it, even though the prey smell was plentiful. Instead, they approached a Thunderpath, which was alive with Monsters.
Stopping in the bushes at the edge of the Thunderpath, Daypaw gulped, staring across the vast expanse. Pinetail stepped forward, her confident mew showing that she must have done this many times before, "I'll go first,"
Hollypaw was crouched down beside her, trembling so hard Daypaw could feel her against her own fur. She began to mew something to comfort her, but then her attention was trapped as Pinetail launched herself across the Thunderpath. A monster missed her by a tails length, but soon she was across and diseappearing across the Thunderpath.
Slickface stepped forward, crouching by the side of the Thunderpath. Monsters rushed by, flattening his fur to his body. A sudden gap appeared in the rush of monsters and Slickface streaked across the Thunderpath, reaching the other side just as two more monsters rushed by.
Daypaw gulped, beginning to step forward, but Fumbletounges tail stopped her. He was looking kindly at Feebleleap, "Let them go first," Feebleleap dipped his head to Fumbletounge before approaching the Thunderpath, coaxing Hollypaw forward.
Suddenly, Daypaw's stomach twisted and she knew. Something bad was going to happen, here, now. She dug her claws into the ground and began to yowl for them to stop, but it was to late. Feebleleap was already streaking across the Thunderpath, but Daypaw had eyes only for Hollypaw.
She did good until she got halfway across the Thunderpath, then an incoming monster made her freeze. Eyes wide, she crouched down, staring at the monster with wide eyes. Feebleleap was lunging into the bushes on the other side, to preoccupied to notice her apprentice missing.
Fumbletounge tensed beside her, but before he could move, Daypaw followed her instinct, "Move!" She screeched, launching herself forward toward Hollypaw. Fumbletounges screech of protest was drowned out by the roar of the monster rushing towards her. Gritting her teeth, Daypaw barreled into Hollypaw, sending them both flying forward.
A moment later, the Monster whisked by, missing them by less then a whiskerlength. But it wasn't over yet, leaping to her feet, Daypaw took in the fast approaching monster and the gasping Hollypaw, before gripping the small apprentice by the scruff and dragging her across the Thunderpath.
Reaching the grass, Daypaw dropped Hollypaw and stumbled forward a few steps, collapsing into a heap and gasping loudly. Her fur was covered with soot from the Thunderpath and her sense's were clogged by the scent of the monsters.
Feebleleap lunged forward, frantically checking her apprentice over. When she found her uninjured but just in shock, she turned to Daypaw, who was looking up at her with a wary expression on her face.
Feebleleap's whiskers trembled for a moment, then she dipped her head at Daypaw, "Thank you. I am in your debt,"
Suddenly, Fumbletounge came skidding across the grass, turning around to face Daypaw. He frantically sniffed her and found only scratched pads. The anger in his mew took away his stutter, "Stupid! Fox dung! Great Starclan, what were you thinking?" Daypaw crouched down, ducking her head.
Hollypaw's small, weak mew rose up in the air around them, "Don't be mad at her. It's not her fault, I was the one who froze. If she hadn't ran across, I would have been going to Starclan,"
Fumbletounge hissed, before spinning and slipping into the bushes, Where Pinetail and Slickface were sticking their heads out in curiousity. Heaving herself to her paws, she followed him, tail dragging in the dust.
Slipping through the bushes, Highstone's came into sight. She began to follow Fumbletounge, but a tail across her shoulders made her look up. Pinetail's whiskers were quivering and something shown in her eyes that Daypaw could pin down, "Well, kit, you've earned my respect. Don't worry about Fumbletounges anger, he's just mad because you turning out to be like him when he was an apprentice,"
Daypaw nodded, before bounding forward to walk beside her mentor, the rest of the Medicine cats falling into line behind them. Slickface came up to Fumbletongue's other side, looking up at the moon, "If we don't hurry, we're not going to make it in time,"
Fumbletounge looked up, before giving a small nod and bounding forward towards the large, gaping hole of Mothermouth. Daypaw's stomach twisted in anxiety as she realized that they'd arrived. Wishing that she had Nightpaw by her side to give her strength she followed Fumbletounge as the darkness swallowed him up.
Pinetail bound forward to pad beside her, letting her tail fall across her shoulders, "I'll lead you, its hard the first time," Daypaw gave a small nod as they stepped into the darkness.
It enveloped them, seeming to blot out the very world. Ears flat against her head, Daypaw had the feeling of being pressed down on. The only thing the showed her surroundings was the rocks under her paws and the dull scents flooding over her.
Suddenly, they seemed to enter a large space. The only light in the large cavern was from a small hole in the roof. There was a large, black shape in front of her and Daypaw realized that it must be the Moonstone. Pinetail's tail slip from her shoulders and her presence suddenly seemed gone.
Staring at the Moonstone, Daypaw took one paw step forward, then a shaft of light, directly from the moon, shone through the hole, illuminating the Moonstone. Daypaw crouched down as if blazed into brilliance. She squeezed her eyes shut, letting out a gasp, but when she opened them again, she found it was easier to bare.
Pinetail and Slickface were already settling down and touching their nose's to the sparkling stone. Fumbletounge was just sitting down in front of it. Glancing back, he beckoned her with his tail and Daypaw slipped forward, still crouching low to the ground at the magnificenty of the stone in front of her. Fumbletounges warm tail draped across her shoulders before he knelt down beside it.
His voice was quiet, but it comforted her, "Your going to touch you nose to the stone. Starclan should send you sleep and you will dream, possibly speak with Starclan warriors," Daypaw nodded, before kneeling down beside her mentor. Taking a large breath, she pressed her nose to the Moonstone.
A chill ran through her whole body, causing shudder, then she found herself immobile. Quickly, darkness flooded over her and she was spiraling, spiraling, spiraling...
She was standing at Fourtrees. That was the first thing she knew. The four oaks towered above her, casting dark shadows across the clearing. A large rock towered over her, directly to her left. Looking around, she couldn't seem to spot any cats. Taking a deep breath, she padded out from under the tree's, following her gut as she slipped into the tree's of Thunderclan territory.
Suddenly a booming voice radiated around her, causing her to crouch down, "Two will come, different as day is to night and send waves of chaos back where they belong!" Darkness seemed to rise around her and cats flashed past her, yowling in fear and horror. The scent of blood washed over her, causing her ears to flatten.
Lunging forward, she streaked towards the Thunderclan camp. Bursting through the gorse tunnel, she skidded to a halt, a horrified yowl catching in her throat.
Lying in the middle of the clearing, her sisters body lay sprawled across the ground, her pelt torn. She didn't seem to be breathing, but a large, black clawed shape was rearing in the sky above her. Crouching down, Daypaw squeezed her eyes shut.
Suddenly, the horrible scent of blood was replaced with a sweet scent and wind blew across her fur. Opening her eyes, Daypaw found herself standing in a middle of a large moor, grass whispering against her legs. Another cat sat in front of her. Daypaw leaped to her paws, taking in the shecat in front of her.
Her fur was a light brown and sleek, obviously well fed. Amber eyes glittered in the glowing moonlight and there was a calm wisdom radiating. Daypaw's whole body seemed to be trembling as she spoke, "W-who are you?"
The shecat blinked affectionately at Daypaw and when she spoke, her voice was like the whispering wind all around her, "I am Settingsoul, the last Medicine cat of Thunderclan. I was also the mentor of Fumbletounge,"
A sudden, horrible realization washed over Daypaw, "I haven't been excepted by Starclan, have I?" Her voice rose into a wail at the end of the sentence, despite her attempts to stop it, "That's why I had that horrible dream, right?"
Settingsoul let out a small mrrow of amusement, "My darling Daypaw. Of course you've been accepted! We would have had a more subtle way of showing we didn't approve of you then showing you that vision. No, that vision is what is to come. It is a warning,"
Daypaw felt a flash of relief, then horror washed over her again, "Nightpaw was dead... is my sister going to die?"
Settingsoul looked at Daypaw sympathetically, but didn't come closer to try and comfort her, "Nightpaw is going to have a hard journey ahead of her, but things change. Do not see the absolute worst ending to everything,"
Daypaw gave a small nod, "My clan was running from their home... and there was a claw! A horrible, black, shadowy claw,"
Settingsoul gave a small dip of her head, her amber eyes blinking gently, "Don't forget this dream, Daypaw. Never forget the prophecy. Never," Settingsoul began to fade, her very body becoming transluctant
Daypaw lunged forward, anguish heavy in her mew, "No! Don't leave me! Explain it to me! Please!" Settingsoul was already gone. Daypaw crouched down, squeezing her eyes shut in horror.
The next moment, Daypaw found herself opening her eyes to the light of the Moonstone. She leaped to her feet, turning to Fumbletounge, who was just standing up, but then remembered that she had been instructed not to say anything about her dream. The rest of the Medicine cats were padding into the tunnel.
Fumbletounges eyes were dark with worry, but after a moment he turned and followed the rest of the cats as well. Daypaw didn't hesitate, padding after him. Her mind was whirling with what she had seen and how she was going to deal with it.