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Ivypaw jolted awake, heart racing faster than a rabbit could run. Oh. She glanced around her, letting her heartbeat slow a little as her eyes grew used to the dim light of the medicine cat den. It was just a dream.
The creamy pale ginger apprentice let her neck fur lie flat and she took a deep breath. Judging by the amount of light coming in through the entrance to the den, it was just after moonhigh.
Sitting up; she smoothed her ruffled pelt a little. I’ll just get some fresh air, she decided. Stretching, she ambled to her paws and stepped out of the warm, musty den and into the cool of the night.
All around her was silence and air was completely still. She shivered a little at the sudden change in temperature and for a moment she considered retreating back into the den, but then she spotted movement.
Ivypaw frowned; green gaze a little concerned. Maybe it’s a night raid! she thought, heart beginning to race.
Her eyes began to scour the darkness for any life, and she found it almost immediately, in the shape of an apprentice sized cat.
She relaxed, sheathing her claws and releasing a breath she didn’t realise she’d been holding. Scenting the air, she realised that the cat bore the scent of StoneClan.
No enemy patrol after all then.
Ivypaw glanced behind her briefly at the medicine cat’s den, then back at the cat. I might as well go and say hello.
She ambled over, being careful not to trip and startle whoever this cat may be. As she got closer, she finally realised what he or she was doing.
Stargazing.
She frowned, stargazing? Why were they stargazing? Admittedly, Ivypaw often liked to gaze up at the stars and wonder when she was feeling down, but she was a medicine cat apprentice.
Perhaps Blackeagle snuck out of the den when I wasn’t looking?
But as she reached the cat’s side, she knew immediately that it wasn’t her mentor. In fact, this cat, as she had earlier noticed, was apprentice sized and certainly not black in colour as her mentor was. It was Umberpaw.
Ivypaw hadn’t really talked to the mottled black and white apprentice before, so this would be her first proper meeting really.
Smiling a little shyly, she mewed a welcome, "Uh, hi Umberpaw."

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U M B E R P A W

A dream had occurred during his pre-night nap, but upon waking Umberpaw couldn’t remember it. No matter; it was after moonrise, and he had more important things to do than attempting the impossible. The black-and-white cat snuck out of the apprentice’s den and traveled the familiar path up several boulders, ending up on the outskirts of camp. The certain flat rock was one of the highest points near camp, but was very easy to climb onto considering he had found this place when he was still a kit. Since then, he had tried coming here every night at the same time, but the time ended up hard to predict.

Still, tonight was a good, clear night, and quickly the tom was able to identify a few patterns of stars he had picked up on over the nights, and he cataloged their position as compared to their positions from prior nights, and he noticed which star patterns he couldn’t see anymore…

A soft voice interrupted his stargazing. Entirely surprised but too relaxed to jump, the black-and-white cat turned his gaze from SilverPelt to this cat that had followed him. A sandy-golden she-cat, who, after further pondering, Umberpaw remembered seeing sometimes around the medicine cat den when he asked Blackeagle questions about StarClan and SilverPelt. “Hello.” The strong green of her eyes prompted his memory of her name. “Ivypaw, right?” the tom meowed, friendly but quiet. It was still moonhigh, after all, and most cats were asleep.

Olive eyes returned to SilverPelt, but his curled-back ears remained focused on Ivypaw. “Did you come to stargaze too?”

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The pale ginger medicine cat wasn’t quite sure how to reply to Umberpaw’s welcome meow, so turned he attention the sky above their heads. She wasn’t normally antisocial, she was just a little tired.
Thankfully, though, the black-and-white apprentice made an attempt at starting a little conversations.
” Did you come to stargaze too?”
Ivypaw smiled, making a little eye contact with Umberpaw while she spoke, ”Yes, I couldn’t sleep, so...” she trailed off, it was self-explanatory.
She didn’t know how to explain it, but she found stargazing so calming, so tranquil. It was if it reassured her that she was not alone, that StarClan were watching her.
She let her green eyes wander the paths of stars through the clear, violet sky. She settled herself comfortably on the heap of rocks before speaking again.
”So, you come out stargazing often?” she asked, ears pointed towards Umberpaw, though her distant gaze remained on the starry sky.

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U M B E R P A W

As Ivypaw answered his question, Umberpaw turned his gaze temporarily from SilverPelt to her. He didn’t make the connection that she found stargazing calming or tranquil so she could go to sleep, but he didn’t feel the urge to question her, so he didn’t. Olive eyes made their way back to SilverPelt, and he picked out three more old patterns; the Tree kept moving down, along with the Mouse and the Small Bird. None of the patterns moved up. Just a moon ago, he had discovered that SilverPelt moved, and the question since then had been ‘in what way does it move?’ Did it move like ripples in a pond? Did it move like the sun and the moon? Currently, the answer seemed to be it moved like the sun or the moon, except slower. Not all patterns seemed to move, however. It was quite the puzzling situation.

His unusual ears, previously aimed at SilverPelt, snapped towards the apprentice medicine cat once she spoke. His eyes remained where they were, trying to search out possibilities for a new pattern among the “newer” stars. “Every night,” he confessed easily. After a few moments, an idea popped into the black and white tom’s head. “Did you know that SilverPelt moves?” He was curious to see if the medicine cats knew such. The question of how related StarClan and SilverPelt were didn’t need to be asked right away; he still had to figure out a way to collect evidence for one side or the other.

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Silverpelt moves?
Ivypaw stared at Umberpaw dumbstruck; green eyes wide, ”Silverpelt m-moves?” she stammered, still a little confused at what the black and white tom had just told her. Does Blackeagle know this?
Questions bombarded her brain; How does Silverpelt move? Why? How fast does it move? Luckily, the little she-cat managed to stop herself from blurting out.
Steadying herself, Ivypaw spoke again, ”When did you realise this?” she quickly added, ”Does Blackeagle know?”
What if he doesn’t know? The thought excited Ivypaw. If he didn’t know, then she knew something that he didn’t she realised gleefully.

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U M B E R P A W

Umberpaw had just spotted a pattern that looked something like a butterfly when Ivypaw repeated his question incredulously, like she couldn’t believe what he said. So, she hadn’t noticed it, then. “Yes,” he answered her probably-rhetorical question. Olive eyes remained trying to define the Butterfly pattern perfectly, but curled-back ears remained focused on the medicine cat apprentice. Apparently, this was not common knowledge among medicine cat apprentices, but that didn't mean full medicine cats didn't know.

"I figured it out last moon," Umberpaw mewed calmly. He didn't know if Blackeagle knew or not, but considering that he didn't mention it any of the times the black-and-white apprentice asked about SilverPelt and StarClan... "I never told him." Then again, perhaps Blackeagle did know, and he merely didn't tell cats to prevent them questioning the link between StarClan and SilverPelt as Umberpaw found himself doing now. "But if the Medicine Cat knows everything about StarClan, and if StarClan live in SilverPelt..." The tom sighed and tore his olive eyes from the stars and looked towards the cream tabby she-cat. He truly believed in StarClan's existence, but if SilverPelt moved, how could StarClan stay up there? The sheer lack of answers in this area was distressing, and the mottled tom licked some of his coat down. His eyes were off the night sky the longest time tonight.

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What Umberpaw said troubled Ivypaw a little; Silverpelt was where StarClan; their warrior ancestors lived, at least supposedly. If the stars, in actual fact, moved, then how did StarClan live there?
So many unanswered questions buzzed around in Ivypaw’s young mind that she was left speechless. With words unspoken between the pair, Ivypaw followed Umberpaw’s gaze to a cluster of stars.
The black-and-white tom seemed to interested in them, why?
The creamy ginger apprentice let her green gaze focus on the group of stars and after a few minutes, she realised why Umberpaw was so interested.
The cluster of stars was loosely the shape of a butterfly. Ivypaw smiled; she knew many of the constellations, but she had never spotted the butterfly before.
Perhaps it’s because Silverpelt moves? The pale ginger she-cat wondered, head tilted to one side as she pondered about it. Then another thought occurred.
Staring at Umberpaw with wide excited eyes, she spoke, ”Perhaps Silverpelt moves because of StarClan?”

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U M B E R P A W

Dejectedly, the black-and-white cat started grooming his fur. He wanted to believe in StarClan, and there were certainly signs in favor of it existing (leaders getting nine lives, medicine cats receiving prophesies, and the like), but everyone said that StarClan lived in SilverPelt, and if SilverPelt moved, how could any cat live there? Other animals were able to live in moving places, but cats were not fish. Maybe Blackeagle did know that SilverPelt moved? Umberpaw couldn't see any other way to confront the issue...

Olive eyes blinked and the warrior apprentice stared at the future medicine cat incredulously. StarClan... made SilverPelt move? After thinking about this for a few heartbeats, Umberpaw slowly started doubting it, and turned his eyes back to SilverPelt to better contemplate it. That would be the handy explanation, but if StarClan made it move, why would it only go one direction? No, he bet it was connected to the moon, just slower. Or maybe the patterns were Clans, traveling across the dark part, which was their territory? He had thought of that theory during the day, but wasn't sure about how it tested out. The unsatisfactory part was where did the stars, when no longer in the sky, go?

"I think we should ask Blackeagle," the tom decided finally, looking back down at Ivypaw. "Well, you should." She was his apprentice, after all, and Blackeagle had told him off more than once for paying more attention to Medicine Cat Things than warrior things. Or was that Hawkwing? Oh, but would the she-cat notice the right things regarding Blackwing's answer? "Or I could tomorrow, I guess." Torn on the issue, Umberpaw started the slightly-tricky task of grooming his curled-back ears. It was harder to do alone: Ghostflower always had other cats (toms, if he tried to think about it) do it for her, and he and Muddyfur helped each other out, but one cat could manage it.

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At Umberpaw's suggestion to ask her mentor, Ivypaw quickly made up her mind. She could sense the mottled black-and-white apprentice's doubt about StarClan actually being responsible for how Silverpelt moved, but that didn't stop the creamy ginger apprentice wondering about it.
Ivypaw had often wondered if StarClan actually lived in the Silverpelt, though she hated the idea of their warrior ancestors lying about their residence, she couldn't help but doubt it. How do StarClan live in the sky? The pale ginger apprentice didn't know much about the world around her as she was still learning, but she did know that it would be virtually impossible to live up in Silverpelt, at least to mortal cats.
After all, Silverpelt was just the sky and stars, you couldn't actually walk on it, let alone live and catch prey on it. How would the prey get there anyway? Perhaps they believe in StarClan too?
"I'll ask Blackeagle," she confirmed to her companion, though she didn't make eye contact with Umberpaw. There was no way Ivypaw would be able to get to sleep now with all those deep thoughts swimming around in her head.
Feeling a little troubled, she attempted to make conversation, "Who's your mentor then?" she asked, unsure of what else to say. It was strange how Umberpaw knew so much about Silverpelt and medicine cats, yet he wasn't one.
Maybe I took his place as medicine cat apprentice? Feeling a deep sense of guilt welling up inside of her, Ivypaw glanced briefly at the other apprentice. What if I've forced him to be something he doesn't want to be?
The creamy ginger she-cat wanted to confide in the tom, but decided against it. She barely knew him, he might not want to talk about that stuff. StarClan couldn't have decided for them both to be medicine cats, there couldn't be two medicine cats, could there?
Or could there? Ivypaw pondered about it. Perhaps, upon Blackeagle's death, Umberpaw could become her apprentice?
She shuddered; the thought of her mentor dying scared her, she still had so much to learn, he couldn't die, or at least not now.
Pushing away those dark thoughts to the corner of her mind, she turned her attention back to Umberpaw and forced a smile. All the same, Ivypaw couldn't help feeling that she was getting in the way of the mottled apprentice's destiny.

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U M B E R P A W

Umberpaw gave a small nod to show that he had heard her response, although he still wasn't completely sure about including the other cat into his... well, his hobby. Not many clan cats had hobbies, busy as they were with clan life, but the tom hadn't come across any conflicts yet (aside from a habit of sleeping late). "I can check in with you later about the answer, then." It usually took a few sunrises for the apprentice to have a spare afternoon and for him to find the medicine cat not looking super-busy.

The question took the black-and-white cat by surprise, and olive eyes blinked as he tried to figure out what his mentor had to do with anything. "Hawkwing," he meowed, still looking at the cream-and-white tabby in puzzlement. "He's one of the older warriors, but he's really nice." Briefly, Umberpaw wondered what Blackeagle was like as a mentor. Was he as patient as Hawkwing was? They were both older cats, and from what Umberpaw could tell, older cats were usually more relaxed than younger cats. Hawkwing didn't even scold him over his fascination with SilverPelt; only when it meant he slept a little too long.

His tail twitched in concern when he picked up the other cat's smile was forced. "Is something wrong?" Aside from the questions about SilverPelt, StarClan, and the unpleasant dreams that brought her here, obviously. A bit embarrassed with his oversight, Umberpaw averted his eyes from the she-cat and pretended to groom a bit of his chest fur.

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Ivypaw blinked, trying her best to look as if she had no idea what he was talking about, "Nothing's wrong," she lied, looking away from the mottled black-and-white apprentice. She could feel herself weakening a little inside, I might as well tell him.
The creamy pale ginger apprentice focused on Umberpaw again, "Okay, maybe something is wrong," she admitted. Sighing dejectedly, she tried to figure out how to tell the black-and-white tom.
In the end she resorted to blurting it out, ”You seem so interested in being a medicine cat and stuff, but your not an apprentice and-“ she managed to slow down the blur of words spilling out of her mouth, ”I took your place as medicine cat apprentice, didn’t I? If I hadn’t been born, you would be medicine cat apprentice and now you can’t because I am.”
Hanging her head low; Ivypaw felt more than just a little guilty.

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U M B E R P A W

Olive eyes glanced up when Ivypaw insisted nothing was wrong; but Umberpaw didn't push it; if she wanted to say, she would... Although that sigh was a good indicator she was going to tell him. Moons of stargazing had left the tom patient, however, so he was content to wait. Pushing was rude, anyway.

Curled ears focused on the cream-and-white she-cat as she blurted out what was on her mind. That's what has her upset? Umberpaw did his best not to laugh, instead offering a short amused purr. Now, it was his turn to figure out how to explain himself to her. "Did you know that one of my sisters is deathly afraid of getting sick?" the mottled tom started out, privately enjoying the little pun. "I'm not as bad as her, but sick cats are still..." Here he wrinkled his nose slightly, "Gross. And for all the times I've cut one of my ears, I still can't remember what Blackeagle uses on them." With a small purr, the fluffy black tail curled up in front of his paws, and Umberpaw blinked reassuringly at the medicine cat's apprentice. "Being a medicine cat isn't all about StarClan, and that's the only part I have any skill at."

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”Y-you don’t want to be a medicine cat?” the medicine cat apprentice stammered, not quite believing what she was hearing, ”But you know so much about Silverpelt and Stuff and...”- she broke off, a smile spreading across her face.
So he doesn’t want to be a medicine cat! Ivypaw thought gleefully. So I’m not getting in the way of his destiny or anything.
She purred a little, realising how stupid she’d been. Ivypaw was a bit of a worrier; she jumped to conclusions, she knew that because her mother had always said that, but she had never quite realised how easily she did it.
Finally seeing the humour in it, she smiled, ”Sorry about that, I just thought...” she trailed off, ”It doesn’t matter,” she finished with a sigh.
Turning her gaze back to the night sky, she fell silent. Ivypaw managed to pick out the shape of a bird before she spoke again, ”I think I might go back to my nest soon,” she told him.
She hadn’t realised quite how tired she was and now all she wanted to do was sleep; free from strangely frightening dreams. The message that had been given to her by Cloudsong, a StarClan warrior, at the Moon Tree still confused her and for a moment she considered telling it to Umberpaw, but then she remembered the promise she’d made.
Cloudsong had her promise not to tell anyone but Blackeagle, who had also received the message, or Fallingstar. No exceptions.
How much she longed to tell someone else, but she couldn’t. They still didn’t understand the prophecy; Ivypaw herself had a few ideas, but she didn’t say.
Blackeagle will find out it’s meaning, she reassured herself. Her mentor was a great medicine cat, he would discover the meaning of the words easily.

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U M B E R P A W

Umberpaw shook his head ‘no’, hoping that his point was finally driven home. He knew he wasn’t the best warrior, especially when even sparring was a challenge, but he still wouldn’t like to be a medicine cat. He would like to see the Moon Tree, however: the apprentice had never been there, and all the stories sounded… almost unbelievable. The Moon Tree was the only reason he was a bit envious of Ivypaw being Blackeagle’s apprentice, but maybe when Hawkwing became Leader he would take his former apprentice on the journey to receive his nine lives? Not that I want Fallingstar to die, of course! Just… eventually. If it happened.

The black-and-white tom tilted his head as Ivypaw purred but then sounded upset. “It’s alright,” he tried to reassure her, but she didn’t comment further, so he returned his gaze to SilverPelt. The silence continued for a while, long enough for him to pick out three new potential patterns. If he could remember and locate them the next day, Umberpaw would add them into his already extensive mental catalog.

Olive eyes flickered to Ivypaw– “Pleasant dreams,” –before returning to SilverPelt. Her words were easily interpreted by the tom as a goodbye, and while he wasn’t dissatisfied with his first actual conversation with the medicine cat’s apprentice, it definitely could have gone better. In a sunrise or two he could check in with her, and see if she asked Blackeagle about SilverPelt moving. For now, he still had stars to watch, and wouldn't return to the apprentice's den for quite some time.

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Ivypaw smiled, dipping her head to the mottled black-and-white apprentice, ”I hope so,” she mewed, glancing over at the medicine cat's den. Judging from the light, it was still a few hours until dawn; she might as well try and get some sleep.
"Well, see you tomorrow," smiling warmly at Umberpaw, she began to make her way down the tumble of rocks they had been seated on, heading for the medicine cat's den.
She felt much calmer, having spent time with the other apprentice. Before Umberpaw, she hadn’t really made any friends outside of her litter. It was... nice to have someone she could speak to.
Jaws parting in a yawn, she stepped back into den and quickly settled herself in her mossy nest. She couldn’t wait till tomorrow, perhaps Blackeagle would teach her more about being a medicine cat.
She smiled, closing her eyes, today had been a good day.