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Pale midday light spilled into NightClan's dim camp through the entrance, illuminating Hiddenheart's dark pelt with a soft yellow light as he exited the camp, tailing the patrol that was leaving. Near the freshkill pile, Quaildapple and Wolverineheart shared tongues. Featherpaw padded calmly towards the medicine cat's den, the herb she'd found in her nest held delicately in her jaws. Upon reaching the den's entrance, she peered inside, relieved to see Smokefur within the cave's rocky walls. She paused there for a second, staring at the medicine cat's gray pelt for a heartbeat longer. It bore a strange resemblance to the ghost cat she'd seen at her apprenticeship ceremony, in the forest, and in fleeting moments within insignificant dreams.

Speaking of dreams... the young cat could still remember every detail of the starry forest that she'd dreamed of last night. Molepelt, Littlecloud, and Redscar... The names flowed to her mind easily. She twitched her tail, drawing her thoughts away from silly dreams and her odd imagination.

She couldn't speak around the sharp-scented plant she held carefully in her jaws, so she took a few of her small steps forward, just inside the den. The diluted tabby carefully set the bristly stalk on the floor of the den. "I found this in my nest this morning. You must have forgotten it in the apprentice's den," she said pleasantly, taking a step back so that Smokefur could retrieve the herb. "I'm sorry that I didn't notice it before I went to sleep; I was a little worn out. I must have missed it somehow."

Character; Featherpaw
Word count; 249
Notes; It's horsetail~ :)

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Smokefur was busy sorting herbs, as she spent much of her time doing, more out of boredom then anything else. However this time it was also used to clear her head so she could think about the weird incident that had occurred upon her waking up that morning, the incident in question being a small feather in her maw. She hadn’t eaten a feathered creature recently so she had no explanation for it being there, the real part that had her thinking was the taste. It tasted like her former mentor, which she may or may not have once bitten as an apprentice in a fit of anger. This little detail let her know that the feather was much more then a coincidence, it was in fact a sign but for the life of her she couldn’t figure out its meaning.

Just then one of the clan’s apprentices sauntered into her den speaking of sleeping with a herb, she felt a cold bolt shoot down her spine and she zoned out not really hearing what the young she-cat was saying. Turning she said with her mouth hanging slightly agape, “Featherpaw…” ‘You had to do all the work didn’t you, didn’t trust me to figure it out on my own.” He mentally growled at her aunt. “Come and sit, I think we should have a talk.”

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The medicine cat's reaction alarmed her, and Featherpaw's eyes grew concerned as she took a step back. The tip of her tail twitched nervously at Smokefur's shocked expression. Did I do something wrong? she wondered. The diluted tabby hadn't expected much of an exchange between them, let alone... this. She glanced at the herb. Had it upset her? Had she lost it? She doesn't think I stole it, does she? Feeling slightly panicky, she stepped further into the den, feeling uncertain.

"Okay," she spoke hesitantly, sitting before the small she-cat. "Have I done something wrong?" Confused, she tried to think back to anything she could have done to upset Smokefur. Is she angry at me for dreaming about the starry forest? No, that was just a dream. But she remembered it so vividly. Feeling foolish, she blurted out, "If it's about the starry forest, I swear I didn't go there on purpose. It was just a dream, really..." she trailed off, avoiding Smokefur's gaze, instead staring at the stack of dried yellow flowers to her right. She felt stupid for bringing it up, but she was the medicine cat. Maybe she was angry with a common cat like her dreaming about StarClan... if that's what the forest even was.

Character; Featherpaw
Word count; 176
Notes; ~

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The small she-cats outburst about ‘the starry forest’ did nothing but drive home how big a moment this was for Smokefur, after her aunt had told her to seek an apprentice she felt all but lost in the sea of mediocre potential medicine cats. She knew that if she waited long enough everything would fall into place and a cat with a strong connection to starclan would stumble into her paws, and Featherpaw had. “You are not in trouble.” She cooed softly as she walked over to her nest and sat down getting herself comfortable, she then patted a spot next to her with her tail signaling for Featherpaw to lay with her.
“Featherpaw how many cats do you think ever get to dream about this starry forest?” She asked simply giving the younger she-cat a gentle gaze. She hoped that if she could make the cat realize just how special she was there wouldn’t be resistance when she spoke of her being Nightclan’s newest medicine cat.

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Relief washed over her when the gray tabby told her that she wasn't getting into trouble, though her stomach was still in knots. She padded forward to settle with Smokefur, feeling odd. This was strange for her. No cat ever gave her a second thought, unless it was to consider what a poor warrior she was. The she-cat's question intrigued her, but she didn't answer it directly.

"I just thought I had an overactive imagination," she mewed quietly. "Between that ghost cat at my ceremony, and Littlecloud and Redscar and Molepelt..." It wasn't Smokefur that was making her uneasy, rather the idea growing in the back of her mind that perhaps she was more than just a bad hunter. She stared at a scrap of moss that lay on the cave floor, trying to look anywhere but into the eyes of the medicine cat. What if she thinks I'm crazy? Maybe Redscar, Molepelt, and Littlecloud are just figments of my imagination, and she wants to make me eat some kind of herb to make me stop thinking of them?

Character; Featherpaw
Word count; 179
Notes; ~

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Smokefur had found her opportunity to exploit, she knew the cat wasn’t looking at her and the medicine cat figured she still thought she was in trouble. This was of course not true at all, this was in fact one of the greatest moments she would ever experience as the Nightclan medicine cat. “Those aren’t names of cats that were ever even part of Nightclan, no they came before from when we called ourselves Shadowclan…” She couldn’t help but smile as she prodded the cat with a gentle paw trying to get her to make eye contact, “Do you have any idea what it means that you know those names, it’s not like its common knowledge.” She couldn’t help but head butt her trying to get her to lighten up a bit, “Do you realize how special you really are Featherpaw? You may have a very bright future ahead of you…”

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Do you have any idea what it means to know those names? She glanced sheepishly at the small tabby beside her. She'd heard the elders tell stories of how their ancestors called themselves ShadowClan, but it seemed so distant and far gone. Why would they speak to her now?

Smokefur's words set off a flurry of butterflies in her belly. No, she didn't have any idea how "special" she was. A bright future? What did she mean?

As she recalled Molepelt's words, they fell involuntarily from her tongue in a low whisper, her voice not her own, but the ancient cat's. "Look to the stars, Featherpaw. They will show you the way." Her eyes widened. Did she just... did that just... huh?

Bewildered, but not frightened, she sat in shocked silence. Then, ever so slowly, she turned her head to look up at Smokefur. Her mouth was agape. She opened it, then closed it, suspiciously resembling a fish, and then burst out into laughter. Completely overcome with mirth, her giggles shook her body until she was gasping for air. She rose to her paws, snorting, and stepped back. Struggling for breath, she looked at the medicine cat, a tear falling from her eye, and said, in between giggles, "I- D-did yo-ou hear me? I so- I sounded like Molepelt!" Tears were streaming from Featherpaw's eyes, laughter shaking her small kittenlike frame.

Character; Featherpaw
Word count; 231
Notes; ~

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Smokefur in fact didn’t hear what Featherpaw had, and this made her laughing outburst all the more strange. She wasn’t rushing off to have her committed however yet, she was actually quite pleased to see she was having moments that normal cats would find strange. She knew well that medicine cats were not normal and when Featherpaw had finally stopped her little fit and explained that she had sounded like Molepelt Smokefur let out a soft purr of laughter with her for a few moments. “It seems like Starclan is fond of you, this is very good. They should have a liking for their next medicine cat…” She said becoming serious and looking directly into the small she-cat’s eyes. “That is if you decide to apprentice with me.” It was a big moment and she wasted no time working up to the offer, she laid everything out on the table for Featherpaw. “Do understand what you would be giving up if you were to say yes, a mate and kits are forbidden to our kind.”

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It seems that StarClan is fond of you. The words took Featherpaw by surprise. Had the dream really meant that much? Composed once more, the silvery she-cat considered Smokefur's words. They should have a liking for their next medicine cat... Wait. Was Smokefur asking her to be her apprentice? Eyes widened, she looked up to the medicine cat. An unfamiliar feeling filled her. Suddenly everything felt so... right.

That is, if you decide to apprentice with me. She'd already decided. No mate or kits. She had no desire for such relationships. This was her destiny: of that she was absolutely certain. Meeting the the she-cat's brilliant blue eyes, she spoke with conviction, her own light green eyes reflecting wisdom beyond her days. "Of course." She fell silent, thoughts rushing into her mind. The young cat examined them as they flew by, appearing absent for a moment before she paused from her thoughts and gazed back up at Smokefur. "Should I move to your den today?"

Character; Featherpaw
Word count; 165
Notes; ~

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Smokefur was more than a little relieved that Featherpaw had accepted the idea of being a medicine cat so quickly. In all honesty she was getting ready for a long discussion about what it was to mean for the young cats future and what a huge decision it was going to be and how it was going to change the rest of her life. At the same time she found it a little unnerving she didn’t have to have the conversation as it was a life changing decision. She decided that her sister and her could tag-team that whole situation and answered Featherpaw simply, “I think we should have a talk with Ravenstar first, she needs to know if we plan to switch your apprenticeship.” She did want to make sure everyone was well informed, it was never good to step on a mentors paws especially with a cat such as Featherpaw. When a mentor was trying hard with a cat that was having a hard time being successful as a warrior taking that cat away could cause more then hurt feelings.

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"Of course," the young she-cat agreed, blinking at Smokefur. Thoughts of Snowlark flooded her mind, but she was rather sure that her mentor would be relieved to no longer have to train her. She was a terrible warrior, and she knew it. Or was she? She recalled the prey fleeing from her, even when she was completely still. Falling off balance when she'd been doing everything fine. Did they... sabotage me? The notion was humorous to her, and she directed the thought towards the starry cats she'd met. Was it you interfering with my training? she asked, all but speaking the words aloud. The answer came to her in an amused whisper, Redscar's presence making her pelt tingle. "Blame Dapplecloud."

Featherpaw felt strangely familiar with the spirits that she'd met only briefly, and her rapid acclimation made her think that perhaps her paws were meant to walk in the starry forest all along. Reaching out to the cats came so naturally, though she still found herself with questions. One such question reached the edge of her tongue, rolling off in an inquisitive tone, light green eyes looking up to the medicine cat's light blue ones. "Who is Dapplecloud, anyways?"

Character; Featherpaw
Word count; 199
Notes; ~

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After receiving a quick answer from Featherpaw Smokefur nodded her approval, “I will arrange so we can both have a chance to speak with Ravenstar.” She said with a soft purr emanating from her chest, it was obvious she was more then a little pleased that her apprentice had manifested. “I am sure she will be very pleased to talk about a potential medicine cat apprentice.” After her comment a silence ensued which Smokefur didn’t find at all strange until she saw he apprentices fur prickle before she asked a rather strange question out of the blue. Even as strange as it was Smokefur had no problems answering as the apprentices eyes met hers, “She was my aunt and my mentor; she taught me everything I know about being a medicine cat.” She paused before elaborating more then Featherpaw’s question had asked, “She may be the most important cat I have ever had in my life… and I miss her very, very much.” Even with Dappleclouds visits on occasion from the beyond Smokefur missed not having an everyday relationship with her anymore.

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Her mentor. Featherpaw nodded. Naturally Smokefur's mentor and aunt would try to guide her paws in the right direction, though she'd not paid any mind to it.  But the tabby's obvious closeness with the deceased she-cat made her wonder if perhaps Smokefur might feel that way about her, someday. Or perhaps that affection was reserved for family members. No matter, though, for the gossamer world she was entering was filling her with a new sort of wonder as it materialized under her vestal paws.

"Did she look similar to you?" she asked, a quick wave of regret washing over her as she realized that perhaps she shouldn't have asked. What if Smokefur doesn't want to think about her? However, a feeling of reassurance mixed with her hesitation, and she relaxed a bit. She didn't need to feel nervous about speaking to her.

While the she-cat's life had always been spent fairly in a fairly solitary manner, she found the frequent company of the starry ancestors pleasant. It was only days ago that she'd befriended Starlingpaw, but now perhaps she'd made a new friend in the medicine cat, her to-be mentor?

Character; Featherpaw
Word count; 190
Notes; ~

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Smokefur answered Featherpaw almost on reflex, “Not particularly no… she was long furred and white with black splotches. She looked a lot closer to Ravenstar then she did to me.” It was as if Smokefur always had the image of Dapplecloud in her mind, and she did. She would never forget any detail about her aunt and if she did she would never forgive herself because she was one of the most important cats in her life. She cared for Ravenstar much the same way however it wasn’t the same, her and Dapplecloud didn’t were frictionless when they were together. If either became rough the other would become even smoother to make up for it, and she missed that more than anything. It was a relationship she figured she would never share with any other cat again… but perhaps that would change with Featherpaw, it could be possible they make just as good a team as the previous medicine cat and apprentice duo.