[Deleted]

Come on now
I hear you're feeling down
Well, I can ease your pain
And get you on your feet again

---

The sun was slowly fading from the sky overhead, splashing the normally blue pallet in oranges, pinks and purples that clashed rather well with the pale white clouds that floated leisurely beside it. At what seemed to be the edges of the sky, a dark, murky black was starting to eat away at the bright colors, dimming the light and preparing to transform day to night. And at this moment, the first twinkling of stars peeked out of their hiding placing, guiding those who looked up to them for advice and comfort.

The pathway through the trees seemed unfamiliar, though only because the paws walking it had only completed this journey a pawful of times. Once when he was an apprentice with Lionstar leading the way, and the other couple of times by himself as he traveled to meet the other cats in his position. The last few meetings he was unable to attend, due to him being the only one taking care of the deathly sick cats of his clan, and so now, finally returning, he had an extra set of paws, trampling happily behind him.

Littletimber's small body slipped in and out of the shadows of trees as he padded silently through the forest at the bottom of the mountains. From small experience, he knew that the next part of this particularly long journey could be seen as difficult, especially to one such as Honeypaw, who was just now taking her longest journey away from home. To Littletimber, however, it was merely another piece of land to cross to get to the Moon Tree.

With a flick of his ears, the sandy brown tom glanced over his shoulders with his eerie teal blue eyes, pausing where mountains met forest, to wait for his young and new apprentice to catch up. He slightly debated on stopping for a couple of moments to let the young she-cat rest, however with the sky growing ominously darker and darker by the second, he figured her rest would have to wait until they reached the cavern that held the sacred tree.

"Come." Littletimber opened his jaws to let the word leak out in his high pitched mew. Turning his head, the small tom picked his way up the base of the mountain, placing his paws in places that could be trusted not to trap him nor send him back down in a rocky heap. He figured that Honeypaw would follow his lead, and so continued with his silent journey, letting his apprentice bask in the silence.

The two Treeclanners had left their camp early that morning, before the sun had arrived, after Lionstar had tried to insist to send a warrior to two with them, especially now, since Grayowl was banished from his birthclan on the charges of attempted murder. The sandy brown tabby simply refused on the fact that he doesn't like to be in crowds, or around any cats in facts. And now he must learn to live with yet another feline, his apprentice, Honeypaw.

His conversation with the young she-cat was short and to the point, as always when it comes to Littletimber, otherwise he wouldn't talk.

"The journey to Moon Tree will be long." He had said, which was why they would be leaving so early.

"We shall stop some, but not often nor a lot, so be prepared." He warned, because he did not care to wander, he preferred to get there and get it over with.

"We will not eat until we get back tomorrow." He stated, and so they ate their herbs that would sustain them for there long journey.

And so, with little question or comments, Honeypaw had followed Littletimber as they left the camp and started their tediously long walk to the Moon Tree.

The cold breeze from the mountains brought now scents from different clans as they neared their destination, he figured as a normal mentor, he should have asked which clan each scent belonged too, but alas he was not a normal mentor, nor a normal cat for that matter. However, he assumed Lionstar would ask what Honeypaw thought of the different clans and so, as he pulled himself up towards the cavern entrance he proceeded to ask her.

"Tell me." He said, "What do you smell?"

---

Relax

I'll need some information first

Just the basic facts

Can you show me where it hurts?

[Deleted]

Featherpaw sat alone in her den, gazing thoughtfully at a small heap of herbs before her. Her silver tabby pelt was groomed neatly, her belly full with the just-caught shrew her traveling companion had brought her. She prepared for her first medicine cat meeting alone; it was never meant to be like this. Mumbling softly to herself, she bent and began chewing the herbs she'd set out for her travels. Sorrel, daisy leaves, and juniper berries.

Smokefur wasn't here to remind her which herbs she should use, or to guide her to the Moon Tree. Instead, she relied solely on the stars. Nettlefur entered the den. He'd traveled with her the single time she'd traveled there before, when she'd met Snowheart, the LightningClan medicine cat apprentice, and she'd again sought his company. He was the kind of warrior she could trust not to start trouble. A cat like that could be difficult to find within NightClan's borders. He was flanked by Starlingcry. Though Starlingcry was among the more fiery of warriors, she was an old friend. She'll behave, she reassured herself as she nodded to each of them, gesturing to their respective serving of herbs with her wispy tail. "We'll leave when you're through," she mewed quietly, rising.

Padding towards the dimly lit entrance, the dilute tabby paused to glance back at her den. It was clean, the herbs sorted and fresh, though her nest had once more grown sparse. She waited near the entrance for her escorts, promptly getting to her paws as they approached. It was time.

She remembered most of the journey from before, though Nettlefur gently corrected her when she began to walk in the wrong direction. Completely consumed in thought, she was mostly silent, ignoring the casual chat between Starlingcry and Nettlefur. Featherpaw had a lot on her mind. Tonight was the first time she'd be meeting the other medicine cats, besides her encounter with Snowheart. She hadn't the slightest clue what to expect.

Would they quiz her on her knowledge of herbs? She knew most of them pretty well, but what if there was something Smokefur or Littlecloud or Molepelt hadn't mentioned yet? Were they going to ask her about her dreams? Ask her to read an omen? She swallowed hard. Agonizing over it wouldn't do her any good. She was NightClan's medicine cat. She was chosen by StarClan.

And, as she approached the cavern, she knew it was time to follow in the pawsteps of so many before her. She nodded to Nettlefur and Starlingcry. "This is where you wait," she murmured absent-mindedly before slipping through the entrance.

Her paws fell almost cautiously upon the still-unfamiliar path, but with every step she took, she grew less afraid. By the time she'd entered the cavern, her pale green eyes once more filled with the sight of the Moon Tree, she stepped boldly. Featherpaw belonged here. It was written in the stars.

Character; Featherpaw
Word count; 487
Notes; ~

[Hellion]

Swanfeather

---

"Do not get up from that nest unless it is to drink or eat. You need to rest the others will understand." Swanfeather spoke softly to the blind she-cat before giving her a gentle nudge against her heated cheek then departing out of her den. It gave her an uneasy feeling to realize that she'd be leaving a still-recovering cat alone. If she had her way she'd be sending her apprentice in her place but it just so happened that Fernpaw was the sick cat. Flicking her tail she turned to a young apprentice that just so happened to past by her. Giving the young tom instructions to ensure Fernpaw had all the water she needed without having to get it herself, the seal-pointed she-cat looked toward the warriors waiting for her. Tideripple and Whitewater where some of RainClan's strongest warriors and she admired both of them for their strength. She had seen been there when Tideripple's mate brougth their daughter into the world. However, Swanfeather was sadly unable to help Brighteyes during a terrible raid that took place shortly after and lost the new mother. Whitewater stood a little to the side with a stern look on his face and greeted the she-cat with a curt nod. They shared a history as well but it was best she wasn't reminded of it so soon.

"We better hurry." That was her signal for them to join her and out of camp they went, the pace set at a brisk jog, knowing that she wouldn't need to watch out for her blind apprentice. It wasn't meant as an insult to Fernpaw but rather a reminder to Swanfeather how much her life had changed with the addition of the young she-cat. It was positive thought when she realized just how well travelled this path was for her, it was like second nature and she awaited the day that Fernpaw would find comfort in it and be able to travel without fear even in her blindness.

Swanfeather made no small talk with her escorts and preferred to feel their presence rather than hear their voices. It wasn't until they came upon the cavern did she flick her tail and halt the party. She opened her maw to speak but it was Whitewater he talked instead. Expressing his knowledge of how things happened and offered to sit with Tideripple near a rock with a good view of the entrance. Her ears flicked in annoyance to his attitude but figured it be best not to case a scene and nodded to both of them before turning quickly and hurrying down into the cavern.

---

Give me love like never before,
'Cause lately I've been craving more,
And it's been a while but I still feel the same,
Maybe I should let you go,

Word Count:: ---
Tag::@insertname
Notes:: ---

[Fate Admin]

Snowheart had been looking forward to this medicine cat meeting for a while. It had been some time since the medicine cats had gathered properly, and it would be Featherpaw’s first meeting as well. He couldn’t help but think of his own first medicine cat meeting, before he’d learned how… unmedicine cat like Rookfrost was, back when he was a bouncing bundle of fluff so excited about the path his paws had been set upon, so relieved he would never have to lift a claw against another cat in some needless battle. Rookfrost had been somewhat intimidating then, but he had still given his mentor the benefit of the doubt. The dark tom had proven time and again that he hardly even deserved the title of medicine cat.

He had reluctantly turned to the older medicine cat to remind him how it was nearly time to leave for the meeting only to have Rookfrost tell him he wasn’t going. He had not even questioned his mentor and Rookfrost had offered no explanation. He didn’t honestly care and besides, he was pretty sure he already knew why he wasn’t going anyway. Rookfrost’s connection to StarClan was broken. He still didn’t know why and he had stopped caring about that too. He had simply turned away to seek out an escort and leave his dark mentor far behind. Perhaps he could even enjoy the journey again without having to follow Rookfrost’s pawsteps every step of the way.

He had found his littermates sharing tongues and asked them to be his escort to the Moon Tree. Neither of them had hesitated and so had mixed the strengthening herbs for the journey, Rookfrost hadn’t been in their shared den anymore and Snowheart was so excited at the prospect of a medicine cat meeting without his dark shadow looming over him that he hadn’t even spared a thought for where he may have gone. The three white furred siblings had soon set off for the mountains and Snowheart had indeed enjoyed the journey, catching up with his brother and sister. The three of them had had so little interaction lately, what with greencough keeping all of them busy, him healing and them taking on extra warrior duties to pull for all the sick warriors.

They arrived at the cavern entrance and Snowheart had dipped his head to them both, waving his tail as he disappeared into the darkness. He could already smell TreeClan ahead, Littletimber and… a new scent, but definitely TreeClan. Perhaps he’d found an apprentice to take up the second medicine cat post in TreeClan. The distinctive scent of RainClan was also there and the headier scent of NightClan. He parted his jaws, searching for StoneClan, for Ivywhisker, but he couldn’t scent her. His ears flicked back as he hoped she was all right. StoneClan was the closest to the Moon Tree… if all was well she should have been one of the first to arrive. The tunnel down into the mountain opened up into the great Moon Tree Cavern and Snowheart spotted Littletimber and a young she-cat that must be his apprentice, Swanfeather, and Featherpaw. He dipped his head to them all and padded up to stand near Featherpaw, giving her an encouraging smile as he sat, curling his fluffy tail over his paws to wait for Ivywhisker, hoping she would make it.

[Deleted]

been dreaming of this since a kit
i’m on top of the world

Honeypaw eagerly lapped up the traveling herbs, but cringed at their bitter taste. As she followed the sandy tom in front of her, she realized the reason for the herbs and stored the information in her mind. The journey stretched out before her, and without the strength the herbs gave her, there was no way the young apprentice would have made the journey. Littletimber's warnings did little to help her, but she appreciated them all the same.

"What do you smell?"

Her mentor's high voice broke the silence that enveloped their journey so far. Obediently, Honeypaw sniffed the air, and a huge rush of scents hit her nose. They all smelled similar -- feline, she decided -- but each was distinctly different. There was one of water, one of dirt, one of rock, and one of grass. "I smell the other Clans," she mewed finally, after rolling each scent over in her mind. "RainClan smells wet. There's a constant clinging dampness to it. I smell one like earth. That's NightClan. They smell like they live underground." Ironic, then, that she didn't know the truth of NightClan's camp. "StoneClan smells exactly like stones. And LightningClan smells like...nothing. Grass, maybe? I guess it's because of their open territory. It's like a scent can't cling to their pelts." She trailed off suddenly, hoping that she did well.

What would the other medicine cats be like? she wondered suddenly. I hope they like me. What does a medicine cat do at a meeting? Would they test her skills to see if she was worthy of being a medicine cat? She hoped not, as Littletimber hadn't really started her training. Her fears didn't have time to take root as they reached the cavern of the Moon Tree. She followed Littletimber over the uneven ground and sat next to him, waiting. Anxiety rolled off of her in waves, but as the other medicine cats filed into the cavern to join them, their calm demeanor abated her fears. She settled down fully, waiting for the meeting to start, ready to begin her new life.

honeypaw § medicine cat apprentice § treeclan
medicine cats ! § tagged
351 § wordcount
idc what raven said about SC i'm a rebel! § notes
i'm on top of the world § lyrics

[Deleted]

Come on now
I hear you're feeling down
Well, I can ease your pain
And get you on your feet again

---

His apprentice had done well with the identification of the other scents with such little training and knowledge of the four other clans that occupied the valley. He figured that with the logical reasoning behind how she recognized them that she would easily be able to excel in the scents of herbs and berries in her later trainings. She had been able to pin point the smells of Grass, Earth, Dampness and Stone to each of the matching clans with little to no reference and she had done it quite well.

While he himself, could not smell the Stoneclan Medicine Cat among the scents of the others below him on the mountain, he expected that Honeypaw had been able to use the faint scent of Stoneclan, who was the closest to the Moon Tree mountain, to match it to what she figured was neither of the other clans. As the small, sandy brown tom led his apprentice down through the deep, long and black cavern that opened out into the presence of the Moon Tree, he was not surprised to find that they were the first to arrive.

With a small nod, he let Honeypaw know that she was correct in naming the scents to the clans as Littletimber took a seat next to one of the white tree roots that reached out like a claw of Starclan. His eerie teal blue eyes watched as different cats piled in, and so he decided to let his apprentice be aware of each, including their name and their clan.

"Smokefur of Nightclan," Littletimber said in a high pitched whisper as Honeypaw remained at his side, almost an amusing sight since she was as big if not bigger than him and she was only at her sixth moon. As Honeypaw had mentioned earlier, this she-cat's scent held an earthy smell. "I don't smell Smokefur though." As he spoke, he could barley smell the scent of the smokey gray she-cat on the apprentice. Curious, where could the Nightclan Medicine Cat be.

Next was a cream and black colored she-cat who held a wet scent, as Honeypaw had stated it as. "Swanfeather of Rainclan." Littletimber's voice broke again, mouth near her ear as he kept his voice down. Yet only one of two had arrive, the same as Nightclan. Even more Curious. "Her apprentice is Fernpaw..." One of the small tom's ears twitched, all this speaking was rather dull to him. And soon he would have to speak more, and to all the cats who were filling inside the cavern of the Moon Tree, to perform Honeypaw's ceremony.

And lastly, a snowy tom entered, the scent of grass and wind flowing from his pelt as he made his way to the others. "And Snowheart of Lightningclan." The sight of the Lightningclanner on his own didn't peak what Littletimber would call as a curious emotion, since the other Medicine Cat of Lightningclan had the same unfondness of cats as he did. Maybe even more. "His mentor is Rookfrost, though he never comes to these meetings." His teal eyes glanced at Honeypaw before he flicked his tail. It seemed as if Ivywhisker was not coming, nor perhaps she would not come.

So now, was his time to speak to all the cats, and if he had to pick an emotion, something he didn't have, it would be annoyance. "Welcome Medicine Cats." Littletimber's high pitched voice echoed off of the cold walls as he stood, looking no taller than when he was sitting down. His tail flickered behind him as he took a breath. "This is Honeypaw. And she had decided to follow in the steps of becoming a Medicine Cat." His teal eyes turned to his apprentice as he continued with Honeypaw's ceremony that had originally started back in Treeclan's camp with Lionstar and all their other clanmates.

"Honeypaw." Pause. "Is it your wish to enter the mysteries of Starclan as a Medicine Cat?" He asked, emotionless teal blue eyes staring into the more life-full eyes of his apprentice, awaiting for her answer as the other cats watched on in silence.

---

Relax

I'll need some information first

Just the basic facts

Can you show me where it hurts?

[Deleted]

 Ivywhisker

---

“Hawk-dung! Hawk-dung! Hawk-dung!” as the creamy-furred she-cat raced along the familiar path to the moon-tree, she repeated the words to herself, “I’m late, oh hawk-dung!”
As StoneClan’s only medicine cat and having only just received her medicine cat name, Ivywhisker’s paws had been constantly kept busy in the last few moons, so much so that when she’d been treating her latest patient that night, a kit with a thorn in their paw, any thoughts regarding the medicine cats’ meeting had been tossed out the window. I’m such a beetle-brain. How could I forget? Oh great StarClan, this is going to be awkward. Ugh, how could I be so forgetful?

Paws thrumming furiously against the ground, her flanks heaving, Ivywhisker was travelling as fast as she could. It was luck that StoneClan were the closest the Moon Tree of all five clans, maybe if she was really fast she might make it? It was a unlikely possibility, but the young medicine cat remained hopeful, Maybe one of the other cats will be late? Maybe they’ll-
Reality hit her cold in the face, or it might have been a tree. Ivywhisker couldn’t tell, everything was a blur. Reeling backwards, the creamy ginger she-cat noted that in fact, it was a tree. Oh hawk-dung.
Her head throbbing slightly, Ivywhisker hissed, “Note to self, trees hurt.”

Shaking it off, the pale ginger she-cat realised, with a slight relief, she had almost reached the sacred meeting place. Ignoring the pain, Ivywhisker was careful to avoid the tree, a gnarled oak tree that twisted and spread its branches up towards the sky, and was quickly on her way once more. Drinking in a breath, she detected scents of the other medicine cats and she cursed inwardly. Oh, hawk-dung, hawk-dung.
Racing as fast as she could, the StoneClan medicine cat narrowly missed tripping over a tree root before at last rounding a small copse of beech trees, the cavern that hosted the moon-tree at last coming into sight. Ivywhisker smiled breathlessly, not hesitating before racing forwards and bursting into the cavern.

Darkness flooding her vision, the creamy-pelted medicine cat stumbled hopelessly, accidentally catching her footing on what she could only guess was a tail and tripping into a cat. Her sides heaving, she tried to catch her breath whilst apologising hopelessly, “Oh my StarClan, I’m…” she gasped for breath, “I’m so sorry… Late… I didn’t mean to…”
As her eyes adjusted, the moon-tree at last caught her gaze, brilliant and bursting with light. She had managed to fall right into the middle of the group of medicine cats. Great job, Ivywhisker.

She flinched, her ears growing hot with embarrassment. Way to go. What a brilliant start to your first medicine cat meeting as a full medicine cat. She realised, painfully, that she’d also managed to interrupt a ceremony. A young apprentice with a black, white and orange pelt sat before Littletimber, TreeClan’s medicine cat.
Ivywhisker ducked her head apologetically, her ears flattening against her head. She pulled herself to her paws, retreating to sit at the edge of the group of medicine cats, “I am so sorry, I didn’t… Oh my StarClan, I just… I totally forgot. One of the kits managed to get a thorn in his paw and I forgot and…” she trailed off, apologies spilling from her jaws. Avoiding making any direct eye contact, her gaze flicked down to her paws and she apologised one last time, murmuring, “I’m sorry. I’m a hare-brain. I’ll just shut up now.”

---

Notes: Oops. I didn’t realise the medicine cat meeting had started,

 I was away on holiday. I hope you don’t mind me jumping in!
Word Count: 584 (ish)

[Deleted]

Inside the cavern, cats gathered. Her pale green eyes slid over the group calmly. As she inhaled, their scents filled her senses. The small tabby and the black and white she-kit beside him were of TreeClan. She nodded warmly to them, unwilling to let their clans' ridiculous rivalry stand between them. She was NightClan's medicine cat and she didn't intend to allow such frivolous things rule her. The cream she-cat was of RainClan, her aroma exotic and fishy. Featherpaw twitched her ears in acknowledgement, padding towards a short distance away, where she proceeded to sit, draping her tail across her paws.

She listened as the older TreeClan medicine cat mewed inaudibly to his apprentice, probably introducing her to the other cats.

She remained silent, no occasion quite calling forth her voice until Snowheart entered. She lit up as he approached, mewing a quiet greeting, then glancing quickly to the TreeClan tom as he spoke, welcoming them. Now seemed like an appropriate time to introduce herself, but instead the cat continued, beginning what Featherpaw could only assume was a ceremony. Shifting uncomfortably, she watched, her own unceremonious induction to her position as a medicine cat nagging at her belly. Shrugging it off, she returned her attention Honeypaw's ceremony. Suddenly, a small orange she-cat came bounding in to the den. She must be StoneClan's medicine cat. Nervous apologies fell from the young cat's maw, and Featherpaw's whiskers twitched with amusement. The ceremony continued.

Character; Featherpaw
Word count; 241
Notes; idk why I can't write jack shit but hey you know how it goes

[Deleted]

been dreaming of this since a kit
i’m on top of the world

"Honeypaw. Is it your wish to enter the mysteries of Starclan as a Medicine Cat?"

She opened her mouth to speak, ready to give her answer. Yes! she wanted to yowl. Let all the Clans know about her decision! Honeypaw knew exactly where she wanted to go in life. She had no fear, no inhibitions. Nothing was holding her back. Drawing in her breath, she began to speak the words that would change her life forever.

"I--"

A creamy-furred she-cat rushed into her field of view, breathing heavily and offering apologies and reasons for her delay. Utterly thrown off guard, the apprentice watched her with her jaw still open. As the other medicine cat continued her explanations, a gnat flew into Honeypaw's open mouth and she spat it out quickly, realizing how silly she looked with a slack jaw. But then again, she wasn't the cat showing up late and interrupting a ceremony. Honeypaw looked at the she-cat with renewed vision, feeling the embarrassment coming off of her in waves.

With a soft purr and friendly tail flick, Honeypaw offered her encouragement. "It's okay, really. Things happen. Don't worry about it." She then turned her attention back to her mentor, and finished her end of the ceremony.

"It is." And so it shall be, for the rest of her life. She would be a medicine cat, and she would make a difference.

honeypaw § medicine cat apprentice § treeclan
medicine cats unite § tagged
239 § wordcount
sorry it took me so long~ § notes
i'm on top of the world § lyrics