Thrushpaw's Moonstone Journey

Softpaw gently nosed the apprentice, rousing her from a deep sleep. Her spotted nose nose pressed gently into her long calico fur. "Wake up, Thrushpaw. We won't reach Mothermouth by moonhigh at this rate!" She teased lightly, flicking her friend's ear with her tail. Swiftstream had a small bout of whitecough, so Softpaw had taken over duties like this. "You're herbs are outside the den," with a mischievous glint in her pale eyes she mewed softly, "And I ddon't want to hear any complaints about the taste!"

---

Softpaw padded gently up the slope towards Mothermouth. She'd been here before, and she was excited to see the Moonstone again. The beautiful crystal never failed to make her grin and marvel at it in wonder. She'd dreamed of this moment, the first ever apprentice to meet their warrior ancestors due to her. First, however, they'd need to make it past the dark and ominous tunnel between them and their ancestors. "S-stick close to me, Thrushpaw." Despite her best attempts to sound confident, her voice still wavered.



This would be her first time going through the tunnel in the lead; and that was a rather scary process. After what could've been a heartbeat or three leaf-bares, they finally made it into the cavern. At first, it was pitch black aside from a slight glimmer of starshine. "Three.... Two.... One..."
And then there was light.



The light of the Moonstone filled the cavern with a blinding light, and Softpaw blinked to adjust her eyes. For a couple heartbeats, she marvelled in the beauty of the radiant crystal. Bt, as she remembered, she had a job to be done. Shaking her head, she turned to instruct Thrushpaw. "Touch your nose to the Moonstone, Thrushpaw." Softpaw instructed, laying down and gesturing for Thrushpaw to do the same. It wouldn't hurt to share tongues with StarClan herself.

Thrushpaw awoke suddenly at her friends nudging, and she shook out her fur. She yawned, and settled onto her paws. Glaring at the gross assortment of herbs outside, shriveling up her nose. [i]Oh well[i], she thought, and did as she had to, carrying them along. She smiled at Softpaw, no complaints in sight. She chuckled a little before following after the she-cat.

---

The she-cat looked around at Mothermouth, a bit at a loss for words. It was huge and daunting, and... a bit scary. The walk had taken too long and her paws hurt a little, but she was soon to meet her ancestors, or something like that- pain was unnecessary, wasn't it. She took in Softpaws reaction as well, noticing that the fellow she-cat's expression changed as they approached... a tunnel? Oh. Fear didn't grip her throat as it seemed to grip Softpaw's, a little happy that they found something like this on the journey. They were comforting. "Bit dark, isn't it," she commented, muffled by herbs, for irony's sake.

Soon, the cat's approached a stone- it glimmered slightly, huge and regal. Looking to Softpaw curiously as she counted down, she was startled by the bright light that emanated from the once duller stone. "Woah-" she began, before noting Softpaw's silence. She quickly quieted down and stared, appreciating its beauty. She nodded at her words, swallowing down everything she felt, and touched her nose to the cold stone, closing her eyes and breathing out.