Jayfeather slunk down against the cold pale stones of the moonpool, exhaustion claiming his body like a hawk claiming its kill. Tortoiseshell fur slid down next to him, Honeypaw was eagerly awaiting her first visit with her warrior ancestors. Willowshine sat at his other side, Lionblaze's golden tabby fur stood rigid at the edge of the pool, Cinderheart's gray fur twitched in agitation. Finally, Jayfeather stood in front of the other cats and cleared his throat.
"Honeypaw, is it your wish to enter the mysteries of Starclan as a medicine cat?" Jayfeather mewed proudly to Dovepelt's kit and his own apprentice.
Honeypaw's voice quivered,"It is,"
"Then come forward," He felt Honeypaw's fur brush against his own as she stepped forward,"Warriors of Starclan, I present to you this apprentice, she has chosen the path of a medicine cat. Grant her the wisdom and insight so that she may understand your ways and heal her clan in accordance to your will. Now lay down next to the pool," Jayfeather felt her dip her nose into the pool and fall sleep instantly into the blackness of dreams. He turned back to Lionblaze,"You may join us," Lionblaze padded forward and dipped his nose in as well; he would have to join Cinderheart in Starclan. He could tell by the breathing of Willowshine and Cinderheart they had already fallen asleep. For Honeypaw's sake, he couldn't go with Lionblaze into Cinderheart's dreams, and who knows what Willowshine would see. He lapped at the cold water, his eyes closing instantly. He didn't mind the cold, deep blackness that tugged at his fur, he was used to it. He opened his eyes and breathed in the sweet scent of Starclan. Birds rustled in the trees around him, the leaves blew in the slight breeze that past. The tall grass came up to his belly fur as he ran through the thick forest, sunlight warming his pelt. He could see his apprentice up ahead, her bright amber eyes glistening in the daylight. He had never known what a pretty she-cat she was, her long flowing tail sweeping delicately across the ferns. Rows of cats stood in front of her, Bluestar, Firestar, and Yellowfang to name a few. Jayfeather joined her, sweeping his tail around her shoulders.
"Who are they Jayfeather?" She whispered in amazement, he remembered his own apprentice ceremony, and was still amazed by how many cats lived in Starclan. He nodded to Spottedleaf as she stepped forward and dipped her head gracefully.
"Greetings dear ones," Spottedleaf mewed, her voice thick and sweet as honey,"We've come to welcome to the ranks of medicine cats Honeypaw," Hundreds of cats stepped forward, all medicine cats from every clan. Kestrelflight, Flametail, Brambleberry, Yellowfang, Runningnose, Littlecloud, Featherwhisker, and the first medicine cat to join the ranks of Starclan, Mothflight. He even saw Mothwing, even though in life she did not believe in her warrior ancestors.
"Honeypaw, you have a great destiny in front of you, and we will all guide you," Spottedleaf purred sweetly, stepping backward to let another cat take her spot.
"I am Yellowfang, I will help you through the hardest decisions you may face as a medicine cat," the old gray she-cat stpped forward and touched noses with the younger she-cat. She stepped back and Brambleberry took a step to the front.
"My name is Brambleberry, you are a wise young she-cat already Honeypaw, but you have much to learn, I will be there to help you through the most stressful of days," Her whiskers twitched as she stepped forward and offered her nose to Honeypaw, who eagerly touched it to the old Riverclan medicine cat.
Flametail stepped forward, dipping his head,"Every clan rejoices when new apprentices are made, especially Starclan, I will help you unravel the tangled thoughts and dreams of your warrior ancestors," He touched his nose to hers and stepped back, letting Featherwhisker take his place.
"I was the medicine cat many moons ago, my name is Featherwhisker. Starclan honors you and approves of your wish to become a medicine cat, but there is nothing more important than listening to Jayfeather and learning what he can teach you. Though all of Starclan is here to help you, Jayfeather alone can help you decide what is best for your clan and all the clans. Do not depend on us more than yourself and your clanmates, they will help guide you through life. Good luck to you Honeypaw, Starclan gives you the best of wishes and will always be in the night sky, in every clan cats heart, and even in yours," Jayfeather sat there in awe, this was nothing like his own ceremony many moons ago with Leafpool. There were no glorious speeches by multiple cats of old. Honeypaw was granted the approval of all of Starclan, that was sure, and she was given the gift of knowing she had multiple cats to turn to. The shimmer of Starclan was fading quickly as Honeypaw rushed to Jayfeather's side.
"It was wonderful Jayfeather!" Honeypaw purred, her eyes closing as she leaned into his chest. He licked her forehead and waited for the chilling blackness and to be woken by the side of the pool once more. Finally it came like swift wave at the lake. He woke next to Willowshine, Honeypaw was already stretching and gearing to leave. Willowshine's body jerked as she woke next to Jayfeather, he tried to scan her mind, but all that was there was visions of starry cats in front of her. He got up and did a luxurious stretch of his back and flicked the dust off his ears. Cinderheart and Lionblaze were still asleep, there breathing slow and steady.
"Starclan must have a lot to say to them both," Honeypaw commented wearily. Willowshine finally stood next to them.
"Starclan has high moral, there were nothing but laughter and eager chatter during my visit." Willowshine purred, swiping a paw over her head.
"I noticed that as well," Jayfeather shifted his paws and twitched his tail impatiently. He wondered wahat was going on, and without a moments hesitation he dived into Lionblaze's dream.
He could see Bluestar and Honeyfern in front of Lionblaze, their fur twitching slowly. Wind blew across the moor they were sitting in. Next to Lionblaze were two gray she-cats. One was fluffy like Cinderheart and the other was a smaller, big blue-eyed she-cat with an old leg injury. That must've been Cinderpelt.
"Do you understand, the both of you?" Bluestar glanced at the two gray she-cats. They both looked at each other.
"Y-yes, I think so," Cinderheart nodded to the older blue gray she-cat.
"Yes Bluestar," Cinderpelt dipped her head. The two Starclan warriors nodded to both the she-cats and drifted away into the background, their starry pelts vanishing from sight. Jayfeather still didn't know what happened here, but he left Lionblaze's mind and traveled back to the darkness of the moonpool. Jayfeather shuffled his paws and waited for Lionblaze to stir once more. He could hear Lionblaze scrabbling at the water's edge and rushed forward to help his brother up.
"So, what happened?" Jayfeather murmured into his brother's ear. Lionblaze turned to him.
"Fine, I guess," He grumbled.
"Jayfeather? Lionblaze?" Cinderheart rasped, her voice confused as always.
"Cinderheart do you remember what you dreamed of?" Jayfeather tested Cinderheart's memory.
"I'm not Cinderheart," She rasped,"But, I'm in her body aren't I?" Jayfeather nodded solemnly. "And, and you're my mate, aren't you?" Cinderheart turned to Lionblaze, Jayfeather could feel apprehension buzzing around the moonpool.
"Yes, we have two kits together, Mountainpaw and Leopardkit," Lionblaze murmured, Jayfeather felt his brother step past him.
"Lets go back to the clans, it'll be better to talk there," Willowshine murmured, ushering the shocked Honeypaw out of the hollow. Jayfeather nodded and followed after, only waiting for Lioblaze to help Cinderheart out.
"I remember how to get back," Cinderheart murmured, pacing herself in front of Lionblaze and Jayfeather. Jayfeather almost went into her thoughts, but he didn't feel comfortable eaves dropping on such a fragile mind.
"How was Honeypaw's ceremony?" Lionblaze rumbled, though Jayfeather could feel new hope growing inside his chest. Jayfeather rolled his eyes.
"You know I can't tell you what goes on," Jayfeather growled, trying to keep up with Willowshine will trying to remember where to set his paws so he didn't trip over the moorland grasses tugging at his paws. The sun dappled on his pelt, the grasses where at his shoulder now, he could feel their lush stems tickling at his whiskers.
"Fine," Lionblaze sighed,"When do you think the other clans are going back to their homes? I was talking to Heathertail the other day, she said she didn't like sleeping under all these trees we have in the forest," He quickly changed the subject. Jayfeather felt his pelt prickle.
"Some cats don't want to go back," Jayfeather mumbled. He could feel his brother's eyes burning through him.
"Like who?" Lionblaze muttered.
"Just some cats," Jayfetaher tried to switch the focus off him. "What happened in your dream last night?"
Friday, December 31, 2010
Chapter 12
Posted by Firefoot at 11:45 PM
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