Valerianpaw's Moonstone Journey

It was a neverending job, organizing the herbs and keeping them stocked. Even if he didn't have cats coming in and out of his den with illnesses, Logleap would have plenty to do between the herb stores and training Flashpaw. But this was the path StarClan had set out for him and no cat would hear Logleap complain about it - not that he held the courage to anyways. He was far happier, and less fearful,  sorting herbs than he ever would be hunting or, stars above, fighting.

As he sorted through the herbs, he sniffed them carefully, making sure they were still fresh and none were going bad. The last thing he needed was to contaminate his stash with a rotting leaf or mold. His tailtip twitched as he shifted a pile of leaves to the left. His store of borage was getting quite low, he'd have to send Flashpaw to fetch some more in case any of the queens needed it.

On the subject of Flashpaw, he turned to his now organized piles of daisy and burnet. Many of her sisters and brothers were due to set out on their moonstone journey. In fact, he had been meaning to take Valerianpaw, seeing as Badgerpaw himself was set to go on his own journey with the aid of Flashpaw. The tom padded over to the leaves, grabbing the necessary herbs, and more just in case, before he exited the den. Valerianpaw. The apprentice couldn't be that scary - he was the mirror image of his father, and Lightningstar was.. well actually, Lightningstar was terrifying.

Logleap, his worries not eased, approached the opening of the apprentice den with certain caution. "Valerianpaw? Moonstone?" he called. He cleared his throat. Truthfully, it was about all he could say.

Already having been awake and grooming himself for the day ahead, Valerianpaw stood up and padded out of the den when summoned by the medicine cat. He supposed today they would make the journey to Mothermouth for his moonstone journey, something he had looked forward to for many sunrises. "Good morning, Logleap," the regal tom mewed softly, his face stoic as he spoke. "We are going on my moonstone journey, correct?"

The apprentice was massive, there was no denying it. Logleap stepped backwards as the tom approached with his pelt already groomed. Of course it was. This was one of Lightningstar's children afterall. "Well.." Logleap held out the word for several heart-beats. Did he have to take Valerianpaw to the moonstone today? He racked his mind for a valid excuse, but his mind was utterly empty as his gaze darted to the apprentice again.

"Yes, I suppose so." the medicine cat pushed the herb bundle towards the fluffy giant with his paw, retracting it quickly just in case Valerianpaw was feeling even a little hungry. "Eat up." he offered. With his own herbs easily eaten, Logleap moved towards the entrance to camp, carefully watching his every step. At least he would be safe from attack on this journey what with the hulk of Valerianpaw traveling with him. Hopefully. The medicine cat glanced behind himself before venturing into the forest.

[so sorry for the wait!!]

Giving the medicine cat a nod, Valerianpaw leaned down and gulped up the provided herbs. They definitely didn't taste good, but he wasn't going to complain, seeing as though they would aid him on such a trek across the territories. Following the skittish tom out of camp, the apprentice stayed quiet, per usual. He pondered why exactly Logleap was so hesitant towards everything, maybe he was just fearful, or had something happened in the past that made him this way? Whatever the reason, it wasn't good to pry, and he would just have to come up with his own theory someday.

The journey was one of the easiest Logleap had ever ventured on. His paws had led the way quickly, and the reassurance of Valerianpaw at his side had slightly eased his worries of getting eaten or of being ambushed. If Valerianpaw scared him - he had no doubt the apprentice would frighten anyone who dared to approach them.

As they usually did, the Highstones caused a tremor of fear within Logleap the moment he spotted them. He could never seem to grasp how huge and foreboding the massive rocks were. They loomed high overhead yet managed to create equally impressive caverns underground with their intimidating size. And Mothermouth was the worst of all. The tom entered after several heart-beats of simply staring into the darkness and wishing to Starclan he could just teleport in and out.. hoping he could eliminate the walking factor of the journey, but his prayer was unanswered. Awkward and unsteady steps lead the way into the tunnel as Logleap plowed ahead.

When they finally reached the cavern, Logleap elected to remain further away from the stone. He gestured for Valerianpaw to go ahead. His dried throat made words difficult.

"The moonstone awaits your nose, young Valerianpaw." he managed, shifting his gaze to the gleaming stone behind them.

Giving Logleap a nod, Valerianpaw walked over to the stone. Laying down, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and touched his nose to the cool surface, in which his mind went blank and he faded up to the stars above.

Waking up in the starry plains, the grey and white tom stood up. Giving his pelt a shake, he looked around, soon spotting some-cat making their way towards him. 'I wonder who will talk to me,' he thought to himself, staying silent. StarClan was certainly a beautiful place, but this was no time to gawk, though, he wasn't one to every really show much 'awe' in things to begin with.

~~~~~

Making his way towards the apprentice, a black and white tom approached, and it was none other than ThunderStar himself. Thunderstar, Lightningstar's father and the founder of ThunderClan, was remembered as one of the most courageous and compassionate founding leaders, developing the sympathetic components of the warrior code. He hoped to be able to pass down such attributes and beliefs of the code to his kin for many more moons, and after watching Valerianpaw from the stars above, he had good faith and pride in his grandson.

Giving a dip of his head to the tom, a soft smile was held on his black and white muzzle. "Here for your moonstone journey, I presume? I am Thunderstar, the previous leader and founder of ThunderClan," he mewed. Valerianpaw sure did resemble his father, though of course there were several key differences between them that any-cat could've noticed.

~~~~~

Listening as the cat introduced himself, Valerianpaw dipped his head in a respectful manner. "It's an honor to meet you, Thunderstar," he mewed stoically as he lifted his olive gaze to meet the leader's once more. Thunderstar of all cats, what luck he had.

~~~~~

"It's good to finally meet you as well, young one," ThunderStar mewed with a nod, a smile still resting on his white and black maw. This tom certainly was everything he'd thought he'd be. "Valerianpaw, you are very knowledgeable. I'm assuming you know what it means to be a warrior, yes?" the large tom asked.

~~~~~

"To uphold the warrior code, even at the cost of your life, and to protect your clan and the code, no matter what," Valerianpaw replied. He'd known such knowledge even in his kithood days, so such a question wasn't anything to fumble over, seeing as though every-cat should know the answer to it by now.

~~~~~

"That is correct," Thunderstar mewed with a nod. "Valerianpaw, there is no doubt in my mind that you will stay faithful and true to your clan. If you do so, StarClan will be sure to bless you and your family," he added. With that, the black and white tom took a few steps back from the apprentice before fading away. "May StarClan light your path, and may it be righteous, young one," he spoke before fading into nothing but specks of stardust and leaving Valerianpaw to wake up.

~~~~~

Opening his eyes, Valerianpaw stood up and gave his fluffy pelt a shake. It sure was chilly down here, but his thick pelt sure helped with that. Meeting Thunderstar himself had been a nice encounter and he wondered how many other apprentices the former leader spoke with. Of course, it wasn't nice to pry, so he pushed away the thought. Whoever other apprentices spoke with was special to them individually, whether it be the leader or a clanmate.

Making his way over to Logleap, the apprentice prodded the medicine cat's side. "Logleap," the tom mewed softly before taking a step back. What the leader had told him had been nothing new and he assumed meeting with a StarClan cat was mostly to help those who might have been lacking in their beliefs, but even so, it had been a nice change of pace, going on such a journey to a foreign place.