"What are the other medicine cats like?"
"They're like us, mostly. Just a little different," Spottedpaw explained. "You'll like them. Yellowfang is a bit crabby, though."
"Are there any other apprentices?"
"Runningnose, I guess. But he's older."
"The others are Barkface from WindClan and Mudfur from RiverClan, right?
"Right."
Mosspaw sighed. "I'm nervous."
Spottedpaw purred. "You'll be fine! Just be yourself."
I don't know what 'myself' is like, Mosspaw thought.
They began to see the other medicine cats in the distance. They were standing in front of a giant cave, with gray stones hanging high above. The ThunderClan cats were the last to arrive, and Mosspaw knew it was because she was slow and out of shape.
"We better hurry," an unusual looking cat grumbled. Her fur was gray and messy, and her face was broad and flat. "The moon will be passing soon."
"We have time," Featherwhisker argued. "I have a new apprentice to introduce."
"And you're sure StarClan has accepted her?" A dark brown tom asked, staring at Mosspaw.
"Positive, Barkface. This is Mosspaw." Featherwhisker pointed with his tail at each of the cats. "That's Barkface. And that's Mudfur," he pointed at a cat with light brown fur and amber eyes. "And Yellowfang," he gestured at the cat with the broad face. "And Runningnose." Runningnose looked a bit like Mosspaw, but his fur was gray with white spots instead of white with gray spots. His nose was crusted and wet.
"Nice to meet you all," Mosspaw mewed politely, Spottedpaw stifled a purr.
"Can we get on with it?" Yellowfang growled, stepping into the looming, dark cave in front of them.
Featherwhisker rolled his eyes and stepped into the cave. Mosspaw followed closely behind him, worried about getting lost in the darkness.
"We're almost there," Spottedpaw whispered.
After what felt like moons of walking in darkness, they approached a glowing blue crystal, which stretched up halfway to the ceiling.
"Wow," Mosspaw breathed.
"Mosspaw, touch your nose to the stone," Featherwhisker instructed. Mosspaw stepped forward and touched her nose to the crystal, which felt ice cold.
"Now lay down and go to sleep." Featherwhisker and Spottedpaw touched their noses and laid down next to her. Mosspaw closed her eyes.
When she opened them, she was in the familiar lush forest of StarClan.
"Welcome, Mosspaw," Snowfur mewed, stepping out of the overgrowth. She was followed by the small tortoiseshell cat she had seen at the StarClan meeting, and a white, fuzzy cat that Mosspaw had never seen before.
"What are we going to do?" Mosspaw asked. She was used to visiting the starry forest, but she wasn't sure what to do this time.
It has to be special, right?
"We have something to teach you. Close your eyes," the white cat mewed.
Mosspaw took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
"Long ago, all the cats that live in the forest, by the river, and in the moors lived together in a faraway mountain."
A mountain, as tall as the clouds, appeared in front of Mosspaw. She was staggered by the sheer size of it, and the cold winds against her fur kept her locked in place.
"During a starvation, half the Clan decided to leave and find somewhere better to live," the cat explained. Mosspaw saw a group of cats walking together, through terrain she had never seen before.
"When they arrived here, conflict broke out, and the cats split into five Clans."
Five?
Mosspaw saw five cats sitting on the Highrock at Fourtrees.
"Four of the Clans drove the fifth Clan out. They had to go far away, and they found a new home."
There was suddenly a cliffside in front of Mosspaw, with a clearing at the bottom of it.
"The cats in the mountains still live on, and they are known as the Tribe of Rushing Water."
Mosspaw was inside the cave in the mountains now, listening to the sound of water flowing from the rocks, and the echoes of meows bouncing off the walls.
"You can open your eyes."
Mosspaw slowly opened her eyes, blinking to adjust back. She shook her head to clear it.
"Why are you telling me all of this?" Mosspaw felt heavy with the weight of her new knowledge. It was nearly strong enough to bring her down to the ground.
"Every cat learns this once they join StarClan. But you are already halfway here," Snowfur sighed. "So we decided it was time for you to learn. The cat who explained this to you was Moth Flight. She was the first medicine cat."
Mosspaw gazed at the fuzzy white cat. Her eyes were sparkling green, and deep with wisdom. She was startlingly beautiful.
"T-Thank you," Mosspaw stuttered.
"You're welcome," Moth Flight mewed simply. "Take care of yourself, Mosspaw. Remember the warrior code, and follow it well."
Was that a warning? Before she could ask, Moth Flight disappeared into the bracken.
"And I wanted you to meet Sweetpaw." Snowfur nodded to the small tortoiseshell. "She was a friend of Bluefur and I, and Thistleclaw's sister."
Sweetpaw dipped her head.
"She wanted to meet you. There aren't a lot of cats her age in StarClan."
"I hope we can be friends," Sweetpaw mewed.
"Me, too." Mosspaw touched noses with the apprentice.
"Oh, and Mosspaw," Snowfur mewed, "Tell Bluefur I love her, and that I miss her dearly."
Mosspaw nodded. She blinked and opened her eyes to find herself in Mothermouth.
"Come, Mosspaw."
Mosspaw looked behind herself to see Featherwhisker waiting. He was illuminated blue by the Moonstone. She followed him closely outside, where the rest of the medicine cats were waiting.
"Good dreams?" Runningnose asked, standing next to Yellowfang.
"All is well," Barkface mewed.
"Same for RiverClan," Mudfur nodded.
"Good," Runningnose mewed.
"And for ThunderClan?" Barkface looked down at Mosspaw. She felt small under his gaze.
"ThunderClan is good," Featherwhisker answered. "We will see you at the next half-moon."
They said their goodbyes and left for home. The sky was starting to turn purple and pink.
"Were we really in there that long?" Mosspaw asked.
"It doesn't feel like it, does it?" Spottedpaw agreed. "We'll be home soon, at least. I could use a real sleep!"
You have no idea, Mosspaw thought.
They arrived back to camp after a long walk and sat outside the medicine den, sharing tongues. Spottedpaw was the first to speak.
"What did you dream about, Mosspaw? Usually we share our dreams to try and figure out what they mean. But since it was your first time, I'm curious what yours was!"
Mosspaw hesitated. Did she really want her Clanmates to know that she was accepted as half-StarClan?
"I met my ancestors," she lied. "I met Daisytoe and Rooktail."
"That can't be true," Spottedpaw's eyes narrowed. "Usually cats learn about StarClan on their first visit."
Fox-dung! Mosspaw searched for another lie, but was interrupted.
"Featherwhisker, can I have a word?" Sunstar's mew sounded behind her
Thank you, StarClan!
Featherwhisker hurried off with her leader, and after the relief of being brought away from that conversation wore off, she began to wonder what her leader could want from him.