Lionpaw's Moonstone Journey

Mistedsong's fluffy tail swished as he led the apprentice into the cave, the familiar white gleam of the Moonstone illuminating the cavern with a comforting glow. He watched Lionpaw follow him, and gave the tom a reassuring smile. The medicine cat had been a little nervous-- this was the first time he'd been solely responsible for one of these-- but as always, StarClan made him feel safe. "Touch your nose to the stone when you are ready to visit StarClan," he meowed. "I will be right behind you." Mistedsong followed after the apprentice, pressing his nose to the cold stone, darkness quickly overtaking him.

Excitement had kept his paws moving throughout the journey, and it also helped to fight the apprehension that worked its way up his paws and into every part of his body. Steadying himself with a deep breath, he had dutifully followed the medicine cat into the cave, absolute wonderment greeting him as he gazed upon the moonstone. Initially, it had taken his breath away, and the cream tom noticed the way Mistedsong's anxiety had given way to calm at the sight of it - he could definitely understand why. The absolute beauty of it enchanted him, and Lionpaw settled down next to it, tucking his paws underneath him as he readied himself. At the medicine cat's instructions, he pressed his nose to the cold surface, and his vision went black as the dream realm took hold of him.

The rolling hills of StarClan's territory were always an absolutely breathtaking sight, and tonight was no exception. Mistedsong couldn't remember if Spottednose had actually joined the apprentices in visiting StarClan, or whether she'd even told him at all, so he figured it wouldn't hurt to join Lionpaw. He liked the tom, anyway, and moral support never hurt. However, when he awoke, he did not see the orange apprentice anywhere, and to say that was unexpected was an understatement. The medicine cat furrowed his brow, turning in another circle before quite literally smacking into another cat. Mistedsong yelped in surprise, and his ears fell flat in pure shock at the sight of Oakleaf with stars in his pelt. A tail laid over his mouth muffled Mistedsong's immediate barrage of questions. "I do not have much time, so listen closely, Mistedsong. I was too sick to train another medicine cat for ShadowClan before I joined StarClan, and now they have none at all. There is a kit, Blackkit, that I feel would be a suitable candidate. Are you willing to train him?"

If you were looking at Mistedsong, you could nearly hear the gears turning in his head. "I-- Yes, of course I will," the tom replied, still in utter shock. "Good," Oakleaf said, turning on his heel, and when Mistedsong blinked next, he was sat next to Lionpaw with a red she-cat approaching them.

To say the medicine cat was frazzled was an understatement, but this was a conversation to be had with Silverstar, not an apprentice. He focused on the she-cat that had just reached them, and smiled at her sadly. Mistedsong had greatly enjoyed Flamefur's presence, and SkyClan definitely felt a little bit less warm without her.

"You've gotten so big!" she meowed to Lionpaw, exuding motherly pride. "And you're such a great brother to Breezebranch's kits. I couldn't be prouder of you," she mewed, rubbing against the apprentice affectionately. "You're so full of love, I can't wait to see how great of a father you'll be. Just know that sometimes love hurts, sometimes it's not what you expect and sometimes it's not what others say it should be but it's all a part of real love and it's normal." Flamefur stopped to groom a few stray hairs in Lionpaw's pelt into place, resting her chin on top of his head. "You're gonna do great," she told him, purrs audible. She squeezed her eyes shut, not ready to let her kit go, but knew it was time for him to return to the land of the living, and she would see him again in time anyway. "I love you, safe traveling home," the she-cat said, and with that their vision faded to black.

The light blinded him for a moment, and he blinked rapidly as his body adjusted to the greenleaf warmth StarClan was privy to at all times, the bone-chilling iciness of leafbare reluctantly releasing him for the duration of his visit. Instinctively a purr broke from his chest as the delectable scents of prey washed his muzzle, wreathing around him and giving strength to the creamy tom. Standing tall, he looked around for Mistedsong, wondering what was taking him so long to arrive - perhaps there was another thing medicine cats had to do before settling down at the moonstone, he wasn't sure. As the other tom shimmered into sight, Lionpaw barely had time to acknowledge the waves of confusion flowing from him as a familiar scent overcame him.

Flamefur.

His heart seized involuntarily, and he felt his breath catch in his throat as her ginger form came into sight, alabaster paws so lithe and different to his own catching the light filtered in from the sky, and the purr that had gently rumbled now burst from him like thunder in a storm. It filled his ears and drowned out everything else, and the tom wasn't surprised to find himself immobilised by the sheer weight of his emotions as she made her way over. His memories of her weren't clear, they consisted of a weightless bliss and the taste of her milk, before she had been forced to join the ranks of StarClan and all he had left of her was the faint scent of her in their shared nest, and the tufts of fur hidden in the moss. In an attempt to never forget her, Lionpaw had seared her scent into his brain as a kit, and he hated to say it, but over the past 9 moons he had found it harder and harder to recall. But now here she was, standing tall and healthy, complimenting him on his height - he was now taller than her - and a quick message on love.

"Of course, I'll-" he choked up, the purr that had so fiercely tore itself from him stopping as grief and longing overwhelmed him. He didn't want her to go, StarClan no please he was only just back with her, please. Clarity quickly settled into his bones, replacing the whirling storm that had gathered at the thought of leaving her again, and he lifted his head as tears steadily gathered in his eyes, meeting her own green depths. "I'll never forget you. I love you," His voice came out as no more than a whisper as everything faded around him, and her words echoed in his head as he woke up on the floor in front of the dimming light of the moonstone.

"...Sometimes love hurts, sometimes it's not what you expect and sometimes it's not what others say it should be but it's all a part of real love and it's normal." He would live by those words, and keep them in mind for the rest of his life until he was able to join his mother in StarClan.

"Let's go home," the apprentice murmured, lifting a ginger paw to dab at the tears that still lingered in his eyes, a little scared to meet Mistedsong's gaze. While he was fairly open with his emotions, he wasn't ready to be completely open and honest with the grief she still felt over the loss of his biological mother. No matter how much he loved Breezebranch, Flamefur was the one who had given birth to him, and he couldn't shake away the numbing sadness that had clutched onto his heart. He was so glad he had gotten to see her again, and Lionpaw would live his life the best he could in an attempt to make her proud.