Starlingpaw's paws ached as she and Cinderpelt made there way to the Moonstone to meet the other medicine cats. But she didn't want to complain to her mentor because it would make her sound like a whiny kit. They've been walking for a long period of time, and she wasn't sure how far they were. After all, she'd never been to the Moonstone. So far, they have passed Fourtrees, making her feel smaller compared to them. The night sky were filled with countless stars without a single cloud in sight. The full moon hung high, shining its light on them, making Cinderpelt more gray and beautiful than she already was.
"Are you okay, Starlingpaw?" Cinderpelt mewed, stopping and turning her head to face her apprentice.
The sable-furred she-cat heaved a little, padding up to her side, "Just... just not used to walking, is all." She hated to complain, especially those moons ago back in ShadowClan, when she complained to her mother.
"Well don't worry," said Cinderpelt comfortingly, "We're nearly there."
It was silent for a while before the sable-furred apprentice spoke up once more. "Are you doing okay, Cinderpelt?" She meowed to her mentor with a worried look on her face. Cinderpelt paused and turned her head to face her apprentice. "Yes, I'm fine," she mewed softly with a flick of her tail.
Suddenly, they heard a rustling of bushes nearby. The young she-cat turned her head as a black shape leapt toward her. Starlingpaw hissed and leapt away from the older cat. "Nightfur!" She yowled angrily at her former clanmate. Cinderpelt blinked and stared down at her apprentice.
"Starlingpaw, you know this tomcat?" She mewed, surprised to see such hostility in her apprentice's eyes. "Yes, yes I do!" Starlingpaw meowed angrily. "So, Cinderpelt, I assume this mangy rat is your new apprentice?" Nightfur meowed, anger and disgust were clearly heard in his tone.
"I'm sorry! Am I late?!" A she-cat meowed hurriedly. Starlingpaw turned to face the newcomer, who was a gray white-striped tabby she-cat. She looked similar to her mentor, only she didn't have thick fur and had amber eyes.
"No Larkwing, you're right on time," Cinderpelt replied, an amused purr rumbling in her throat. Larkwing panted for breath, but seemed relived.
"Are you of WindClan?" Starlingpaw asked the tabby she-cat.
Larkwing nodded, "Indeed, and are you Cinderpelt's new apprentice?"
"I'm Starlingpaw," the sable-furred she-cat answered. "And is that your apprentice?" The dark-furred she-cat pointed with her tail to a dark-gray-and-white striped tabby tom with dark blue eyes. Larkwing nodded and mewed, "Yes, this is my apprentice, Stonepaw." She informed the sable-furred she-cat.
"And this is my apprentice," came Nightfur's cold meow from beside Cinderpelt. "Her name's Batpaw," he continued. "She's so timid and shy that I wonder why in StarClan's name did Lunastar give her to me?!" The black tom mewed while lashing his tail. Poor Batpaw looked about ready to bolt at her mentor's harsh words. Starlingpaw remembered Nightfur's mentor, Moonwing, who was bitter due to her permanent leg injury that she got as a kit from a tree-climbing accident. And her bitter attitude seemed to have rubbed off on Nightfur.
Nightfur's whiskers twitched in impatience, "We should get moving. Icepetal and Polarpaw might already be at the Moonstone by now."
Slipping through the bracken, the small group of cats found their way towards Highstones. Starlingpaw could feel her pads going numb, and she groaned at the idea of walking onto rock, but Cinderpelt kept encouraging her to go on. They traveled for a short while until Starlingpaw saw the gaping hole of Mothermouth. Instantly, a wave of alarm surged into her, her tail bristling up.
"Come on, kit," Nightfur grumbled, "Enough with your scaredy-cat behavior."
Cinderpelt shoved her shoulder with hers, "Leave her alone, this is her first time being here. She'll get used to it."
Starlingpaw felt Larkwing whisper, "Don't worry, I was scared of Mothermouth too when I first came here."
They entered into the dark maw, and Starlingpaw shuddered when she couldn't see anything. Was this really where the Moonstone was? She pressed closer to Cinderpelt and kept silent. She already felt embarrassed about yowling at Nightfur and annoying him with her snarky and sassy remarks. She wondered if Cinderpelt was annoyed with this too, but something caught her eye.
There was a large blue boulder in the end of the cavern. It glowed brightly in the silver light, leaving Starlingpaw awestruck. This time, a surge of confidence made her leap forward, eager to get closer to the crystal. She slowed down her pace however, as she saw two familiar shapes crouched in front of the stone.
Icepetal and Polarpaw.
"Starlingpaw!" The white tabby meowed happily, racing over and touching noses with the sable-furred she-cat. "You two know one another?" Nightfur mewed in both shock and surprise. "Yes, we do, Nightfur. What do you care?" She mewed bitterly to the black tom with narrowed amber eyes. Cinderpelt put her tail over her apprentice's shoulder and Starlingpaw felt herself begin to relax and her fur flattened out and settled back down.
Cinderpelt began to speak, her tone now quiet and serene, "I, Cinderpelt of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of a medicine cat, and with your help, she will serve her clanmates well."
"Starlingpaw," she mewed as she gazed at her. "Do you promise to uphold the ways of a medicine cat, to help any cats regardless of their Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
Starlingpaw stared back at her, "I promise."
Her eyes full of satisfaction, Cinderpelt pressed her muzzle against her head, "Then I hereby declare you as a medicine cat apprentice, Starlingpaw. Let StarClan guide you through your dreams, and show mercy to every cat alike. We welcome you, Starlingpaw."
Pride swelled in Starlingpaw's chest as she heard the three other medicine cats and their apprentices cheer her name, "Starlingpaw! Starlingpaw!"
Starlingpaw had never felt so alive. The thoughts of treating her fellow warriors felt just right. The claws of the past seemed to loosen from her heart. When the cheering ended, the other medicine cats pressed their noses to the blue stone, and seemed to fall asleep. Starlingpaw caught on what she was supposed to do, laying down and pressing her nose against the cold crystal.
As darkness swirled around her, Starlingpaw sensed that she was standing again. Slowly opening her eyes, she almost gaped from the sight. It was an empty clearing, similar to ThunderClan, but not quite. She looked around for Cinderpelt or the other medicine cats, but they were gone. Looking down at her paws, she nearly saw small stars glowing around them.
Starlingpaw awoke to the sound of meowing and bright lights. Slowly letting her eyes adjust to the light, she gasped in shock and aw at what she saw. All around her were cats with stars in there fur. Was this StarClan?
"Ah, so you must be Cinderpelt's new apprentice," came a raspy mew from somewhere behind her. Starlingpaw spun around to see a long-haired she-cat with long dark gray fur and bright yellow-orange eyes. "Yellowfang," she gasped, staring with wide eyes at the old ThunderClan medicine cat.
"I have a message for you, Starlingpaw." The long-haired dark gray molly meowed calmly while curling her tail over her front paws.
Starlingpaw's eyes popped wide open in shock and her jaw dropped. "A-A prophecy? For me?" She mewled in surprised bewilderment. Yellowfang nodded with an amused pur and a twitch of her whiskers. "Yes, that's what I said, wasn't it?" The dark gray molly mewed with a purr of amusement.
"When darkness falls upon the land, when Clan cats fight for a rightful leader, four young cats will come together to stop the fighting. Claws and teeth soak in blood and tears, while many cats stand frozen with fear. To stop this incoming doom, the four Clans must fight together as one, and only then will the darkness flee."
"Starlingpaw, there is one more thing that you must know." Yellowfang mewed. Starlingpaw's ears pricked and she nodded for the older cat to continue. "Mistrust will be your downfall when the storm of water and ice rises to combat the flames of the past." Those were the last words she heard before the StarClan cats began to fade and everything went dark.
Starlingpaw awoke with a sharp gasp, her black fur fluffing up in fear and her amber eyes scanning her surroundings. The haunting words of Yellowfang echoed in her mind. "Mistrust will be your downfall when the storm of water and ice rises to combat the flames of the past." What does that mean, and what about the prophecy? Starlingpaw could feel herself shaking at the cryptic words that were told to her.
Gasping for air, Starlingpaw woke up. She could hardly believed what happened. She had just been in StarClan! It didn't feel like a dream, she indeed felt the grass beneath her paws and the sweet scent of her mentor's former mentor that was still fresh in her mind. It felt so real...
"Starlingpaw? Are you okay?" Icepetal's mew interuppted her thoughts.
Turning to face the white she-cat, Starlingpaw could only muster, "... M-Ma..."
Starlingpaw tilted her head in confusion when they heard the other cats waking up. Standing up, Starlingpaw stretched her legs, letting out a soundless yawn.
Her ear flicked as she heard Cinderpelt slowly standing up and turned to face her, "Did you see StarClan too?"
She looked back at her, a small smile on her lip, "Indeed. But I believe we should head back now."
Nightfur appeared from the other side of the stone, "I agree, Dustclaw has the coughs again, so I should check up on him." He was already heading up the tunnel with Batpaw close behind him. There was still no sign of it being day.
Larkwing and Stonepaw past by Starlingpaw, "I'll see you soon, Starlingpaw. It was nice meeting you!" She meowed before following Nightfur and Batpaw out of the tunnel.