Chapter 22: To The Moon(stone)

It was barely dawn of the next morning when Bluestar announced a trip to the Moonstone. I didn't really know if it was a clever choice or a terrible one. Maybe she was banking on the day after the Gathering to be safe. I had mixed feelings about the choice. On one paw, it was the safest choice when to do it before Shadowclan invades, but on the other is the potential for Shadowclan to still invade while 'we' are out. Yes we. She seemed to have made up her mind to bring all the apprentices sans Dustpaw and Sandpaw since they made the trip before. The only accompanying full warrior was Tigerclaw. Maybe she was testing him to see if he was ready for the change in position.

Either way, we were directed to Spottedleaf for travelling herbs. Ugh. Just being in her presence gave me a headache. Again, it wasn't her personality. She just stank severely of mint. It is almost amusing how much my despise for the scent matched every other cat's like of the scent. I took my herbs and left quickly. It wasn't a pleasant taste, but it was not the foulest thing I'd ever tasted. I've had some of the most efficiently created food in the world specifically designed to fill the body's needs and that stuff was awful. Never let a calory counting scientist make a meal. It's probably the origin of MREs.

Anyways, Bluestar set the pace, a slow trot. We were soon at the edge of Thunderclan territory where Bluestar had to hush Firepaw and Graypaw. The two were just excited for the once in an apprenticeship trip. Meanwhile Ravenpaw was tense, more tense than usual. As we ventured into the now Shadowclan territory, once Windclan, I slid in beside Ravenpaw.

Keeping my voice low I asked, "Ravenpaw, what's up? You don't look so good."

Ravenpaw tried to keep his voice quiet as he gave his response. "I'm worried. What will Tigerclaw do to me once I'm a warrior and no longer needed to keep up his rep? Do you think he'd try to kill me?"

I shook my head softly in response. "He'd be a fool to do so. Even when you become a warrior, he and the others in the clan will still see you as a result of his teachings. If you die so soon, it'll reflect poorly on him. Even if you fear him as a threat, he wants and needs you to succeed. I'll make sure he knows that too."

The tension lifted from his shoulders. "Thanks Smudgepaw. Even if you don't see me as a friend, I know I can count on you."

Before Ravenpaw could move away, a feeling inside myself made me stop him, like if I didn't say anything, I'd never get the chance again. "Wait! I've… had some time to reevaluate my thoughts on our relationship. I now do consider you… a friend." I said with much difficulty, but I quickly snapped after it with, "but Firepaw is still my best friend, so he's got a higher priority."

I winced at how childish, or kittish, I sounded. Ravenpaw must not have noticed or not cared as he pressed into me firmly with a soft purr that was near inaudible unless you were right up against him. The vibrations of the purr were somehow both comforting and seemed to bring up a warmness in my body. What was this odd feeling? Like all odd things I deem not pertinent, I penciled in ruminating on it later.

It took me a minute to realize the path we were on curved a bit. Despite how it was a straight shot to where we were going, Bluestar seemed to be going out of her way to make this trip a little longer. Why? Then I remembered where we were. We were in old Windclan territory and the path we took happened to pass awfully close to the center of it. Bluestar was trying to Investigate the missing clan and what happened to them under the guise of visiting the Moonstone. Clever. Now I had a reason to look out.

We were part way there when we heard dogs barking. It sounded like two midsized ones.

"Don't worry. They're tied up." Bluestar stated calmly.

Now the two dogs wouldn't be a problem if it weren't for the sheep I could see in the distance. The dogs didn't sound like herding breeds. They were likely night cattle guards. They'd be an issue on the return trip, but hey, as long as we didn't need to rush, we could stay overnight somewhere else to avoid the problem. I ignored the pending problem as we came upon a highway. Yes. A two-lane highway. It looked to be running out from 'Twoleg Place' or the town out this direction. Based on how well kept it was despite how low traffic it seemed to have, the highway probably lead to an on ramp for a freeway or multilane highway. Regardless, we had to cross it. The tall grasses wouldn't make it easy for us and given the few ruts nearby, the local drivers didn't mind a bit of off-roading.

I half expected Tigerclaw to push Ravenpaw to go first, but in a strange show of confidence, he decided to go first. First, he waited for a car to pass before bolting across. When he was on the other side, he turned confidently like that was how it was supposed to be done. I shook my head in annoyance. No wonder these cats feared the road so much. They didn't know any crossing etiquette. Bluestar was next. She waited for the sounds of vehicles to die down before crossing herself. At least she was closer to correct. I turned to Ravenpaw who was lightly shaking again.

"Cross with me. I'll find out when to go."

Unlike Bluestar and Tigerclaw, I jumped in place to get a view of the road in both directions. A truck was coming from the town's direction and a family sedan was coming from the other. Then there'd be probably a twenty second gap before an SUV would come from the town. It was a perfectly reasonable gap to cross in. I waited for the two vehicles to pass before signaling Ravenpaw. While Ravenpaw ran, I walked at a very quick trot. We got across safely with time to spare. Firepaw seemed to have not learned from me, because he did a mixture of Bluestar's and Tigerclaw's technique. The SUV passed and he waited a second before bolting across. Barely even a second later, a motor bike passed showing he'd not been really paying attention.

We made it to Mothermouth with ease after that. Bluestar instructed Graypaw and Ravenpaw to stand guard as she lead the rest of us in. The air was cool and damp in the tunnel. I could feel some other paths branch off the one we took as we headed deeper. Then we were in a cavern. The cavern must not have been very deep underground because a hole was in the roof. Probably once was a sinkhole. What lay below it was a large structure of uncut quartz. The crystal was of low clarity but seemed to be pocketed with high clarity crystal as well. As the moon raised higher, the quartz took on an almost ethereal quality, but that was the least of my worries because I was instantly knocked out by the light.

"Smudgepaw, good to see you again. How goes your plan?" Asked a very familiar voice.

I turned to face a familiar deceased tom. "Redtail. As nice as it is to see you, shouldn't you be talking to someone else like, I don't know, Bluestar instead of pestering me?"

"Bluestar's getting the guidance she needs. You on the other paw, are a hard cat to contact. We've tried to get into your dreams, but you seem to be of low connectivity. Firepaw is much easier." He responded.

I hissed as I asked, "What do you want?"

Redtail backpedaled slightly before replying. "Calm down. I'm not threatening you. I just wanted to check in, make sure everything is ok."

I scoffed at his response. "If you must know, the plan is going well. Tigerclaw is taking a much less malicious approach to getting his desires. If I had gotten to him sooner, I bet he wouldn't have offed you. Now he's determined to outshine Lionheart instead of merc him."

Redtail decided to leave me with some cryptic words. "Then you better move quickly or else he won't get the chance."

I must have woken at the same time as Bluestar because she spoke quickly with urgency. "We must leave now! Thunderclan is in danger!"