Patchpaw's Moonstone Journey

"Patchpaw," a rough voice called into the apprentice's den. "It's your time time to journey to the Moonstone." Spinestalker sat just outside the entrance, hard blue eyes watching for the cat he'd called for. "Swiftstream is otherwise preoccupied, so I will be escorting you to Highstones."

Patchpaw left the apprentice den his eyes sparkling with awe at thought of seeing the Moonstone for the first time. His tail twitched with happiness, he stared at the StarClan warrior. Stars glittered and danced throughout their fur. He felt giddy, a bundle of nerves and joy. "Have you been sent from StarClan?".

Spinestalker frowned at the apprentice. "No, I'm just doing a favor for Swiftstream," he replied gruffly, flicking Patchpaw with his tail before padding out of camp.

[skip to highstones]

"This is the Mothermouth," Spinestalker meowed, indicating the gaping cavern ahead of them with his ears. "Stay close to me, there are branches in the path and you do not want to get lost." With that, he headed into the darkness of the caves, following the path on muscle memory alone, ducking into the right tunnel at the large split. Time seemed to pass without any real measure as they traveled further and further into the earth, but in time the Moonstone's light reached their eyes, and the tunnel opened up into the huge cavern that possessed the large, glowing stone.

"Touch your nose to the stone when you are ready to visit StarClan," the huge tom meowed. "I will be here when you awake."

Patchpaw stared at the moonstone, amazed at the sheer power he could feel radiating off it. He nodded to Spinestalker. He lay beside the moonstone and touched his nose against the cold stone.

The world faded to black, and then to green; the moors stretched out before Patchpaw, green in a way that it had not been in the apprentice's lifetime. A cat padded into his view, stars decorating its pelt. "You've grown so much," the cat meowed. "I don't know if you remember me, but my name is Cindergoose." The grey she-cat regarded Patchpaw with curiosity. "I've watched over you and the other apprentices with much interest. You are shaping up to be a fine warrior."

She tilted her head, eyes narrowing a little. "But, you could afford to take some things a little more seriously. There is always something you could be doing, and there is no excuse for boredom." Cindergoose smiled, remembering the incident of Patchpaw rolling in the dirt. "I have no doubt that you'll be great."

Patchpaw was lost for words, he looked at the starry cat with his mouth wide open. He never realised just how much StarClan was involved in his life. He wanted to speak but all he could do was nod to the warrior.

Cindergoose smiled at the apprentice. "It is time for you to return to your Clan now. Be great," she meowed, and the world faded to black.

Spinestalker eyed the apprentice as he awoke, tail swishing gently. "Come, let us go home," he said, turning to leave, assuming the apprentice would follow him.