Author's Note: This chapter is a more slice of life like chapter. Don't actually try to make this. This is a fictional drug.

Chapter 17: Moonstone Edition

Yellowfang quickly padded over to Darkstripe.

"You made moonstone catnip? How am I somehow not surprised. I've tried to replicate it, but it always was missing something."

"I can't tell you. It's a secret, but I wouldn't mind telling Cinderpaw. I owe Fireheart a favor anyways."

Fireheart cut in.

"What's so special about moonstone catnip?"

"I was trying to replicate the catnip found in the Twoleg Place, experimented a bit, made something that causes catnip effects and hallucinations, and had some medicine cats test it to make sure it was safe. Turns out it acts as a one-use moonstone for them. Every other cat just chases imaginary butterflies for a while."

"Why isn't it made more?"

"One, its very difficult to make safely. Two, its not profitable enough. Three, the process to make it can often result in my blend being lost."

Yellowfang was already ushering Cinderpaw over. Cinderpaw was hobbling pretty horribly.

"Ah. Cinderpaw. Just the cat I wanted to see. I'm going to make something like medicine that is very difficult to make. Since you are a medicine cat apprentice and I owe Fireheart here a few favors, I'll teach you how to make it. Follow me."

Darkstripe led Cinderpaw out of camp. He didn't lead her far before he had her sit down. He then rushed off to gather some supplies. He grabbed catnip, a rock that could be held in the mouth, a sharp rock, and a mushroom Cinderpaw had been taught to avoid. He also grabbed some beech leaves to make bundles. Darkstripe was soon seated across from the now curious apprentice. A large flat boulder lay between them.

"Now Cinderpaw, has Yellowfang taught you yet about overdosing?"

Cinderpaw nodded before stating, "There is a point where too much medicine becomes a poison instead."

"Very good. Did you know the inverse is also true? In a little enough dose, many deadly things are instead relatively harmless or give off other effects. This mushroom is known to paralyze cats, poison them, and hallucinate wildly while they die."

"Then why use it if it will kill?"

"It won't if used in little amounts. It has no medicinal uses, so medicine cats write it off as dangerous. Its also hard to handle because out can't risk chewing it or carrying it in your mouth. Instead I am going to cut it with this rock and smash it until it is a paste."

Darkstripe proceeded to smash the mushroom until it was a brown goo.

"Now remember how I said dose size? This much is far too much. I only need about an a fourth of it."

Darkstripe pushed most of the goo into the grass.

"This much should make about 16 bundles of Moonstone catnip, but the catmip needs to be ground down a bit as well."

Darkstripe tore the catnip he brought apart until it was little flakes. The amount of catnip to mushroom was at a ratio of about 20:1. He then pushed the goo into the large pile of flakes.

"The amount of catnip is important as well. Too little can kill a cat/ Too much makes it so medicine cats don't get the trip. This next part is the worst since its like mousebile. You cannot lick your paws after doing this or you might die. You have to wash off in a stream."

Darkstripe began shoving around the pile of fine catnip and goo in an effort to evenly blend the goo throughout. After a while, Darkstripe seemed satisfied with the result.

"Now we let it dry while I go wash my paws off."

Darkstripe padded away while Cinderpaw just stared at the pile curiously. It looked too easy, but Darkstripe had made it sound so difficult. Soon Darkstripe padded back.

"Let's head back to camp."

"What about the catnip?"

"It isn't dry, and it won't be for at least three days. I usually put something heavy over it at night and take it off during the day."

Now Cinderpaw saw where the difficulty lied.

"I don't care what you have to tell any cat, but don't let any cat touch it. Right now, it would cause a cat to see living nightmarres. When the catnip itself dries, the blend will give the desired effects."

For three days Darkstripe led Cinderpaw to the catnip, fussed with it a bit, and would cover it at nighttime. On the final day Darkstripe would show her the final step. He brought with him 16 poppy seeds. He carefully separated the catnip pile into 16 smaller equal sized piles before putting a poppy seed in each one.

"The poppy seeds aren't actually necessary, but cats tend to freak out when a cat it walking with Starclan and the living at the same time."

Darkstripe then bundled each file up in a beech leaf carefully. He did not want to spill a flake. Darkstripe then pushed four of the bundles towards Cinderpaw.

"Keep these for emergencies. Sometimes a trip to the Moonstone is too long. One last thing. Don't teach any cat how this is done unless they're your apprentice. Swear it to me!"

Cinderpaw was frightened of his forcefulness.

"I swear on the code I won't teach anyone this but my apprentice."

Darkstripe softened.

"Thank you. I was watching you while I made this, and I know you were paying attention. You'll make a good medicine cat one day."

"How did you learn to do this?"

"Would it shock you to know I once considered being a medicine cat."

Cinderpaw couldn't picture it.

"And see cats dying instead of coming to you." Cinderpaw joked.

"Hey. That actually hurt a bit. I see Yellowfang is teaching you how to have a sharp tongue. Good. As a medicine cat, you are supposed to be the voice who can defy even the leader. You will be Thunderclan sure, but you will be more loyal to all clans. Don't let any cat tell you otherwise."

"You seem to have a lot to say on it. Why didn't you become a medicine cat?"

"Just wasn't my place. I was good with herbs sure but had no aptitude towards Starclan. Spottedleaf was young and not ready for an apprentice as well. Eventually I did well enough at Tigerclaw's training that I didn't need to hide in the medicine den anymore."

Darkstripe's statement puzzled her. Why would Darkstripe hide from training?

"Let's make our way back. I'm sure Yellowfang is eager to get her paws on a couple of these bundles. I'll take the rest out to my client after sundown."

Darkstripe made his way to Queen's that night and dropped off the bundles. He had a few laughs with her and ended up staying the night to reminisce about old times.