-❂-

Anxiety scuttled about in Lynxpaw's stomach as she stood next to Nightfrost and explained her vision to Robinwing and Mousestar. More words slipped off of Nightfrost's tongue than they did Lynxpaw's though, for the molly was trapped in a swarm of thoughts that spiraled in her mind.

Memories of the shadow flitted through her mind and she felt her chest tighten. Why did the shadow lead her to the Moon Realm, where the air grew thin and every breath felt like her last? She stared down at her paws and squinted her eyes as her head ached with intrusive, anxiety bubbling thoughts. If the Star Realm wanted her to safe the Clans, why had they made her visions so perplexing? They were more difficult to decipher than ancient prophecies and as soon as she managed to figure them out, the startling events of them had already came to life.

Was the shadow representative of an enemy or a cat who would help her defeat the darkness looming over the Clans? She shivered when she remembered the haunting gazes of Violetberry and Olivewhisker. Were they the cats Lynxpaw was destined to follow, or were they suspicious of Nightfrost and Lynxpaw? She remembered the way they observed her and her mentor as if they were discussing something forbidden and menacing. Maybe not all the HeathClanners were very welcoming of RidgeClan guests.

"Lynxpaw?"

The molly blinked and uplifted her muzzle when her name was called. Robinwing watched her with an uneasy gaze, concern for the apprentice visible across the tom's wrinkled muzzle. Mousestar's gaze wavered between the three medicine cats until it finally settled on Lynxpaw, the leader breathing in a sharp intake of air before she spoke.

"I am no medicine cat or wise ancestor, but I believe your vision wants you to travel to the Moon Realm," Mousestar meowed, Nightfrost nodding in agreement. "I know it may seem startling to travel there because of what occurred in your vision but I trust that Robinwing and Nightfrost will keep you out of any danger." Lynxpaw clenched her teeth when Mousestar's gaze met her's, attempting to reassure the apprentice. "That shadow in your vision I don't believe is any real cat. The Star Realm just needed a way to lead you to the Moon Realm, in my opinion. There is nothing to be afraid of Lynxpaw, just follow the path the Star Realm has molded for you and we will be right there beside you."

Lynxpaw watched as a faint smile emerged upon Mousestar's muzzle. A small flutter of hope danced in Lynxpaw's chest at the leader's words. Lynxpaw was still so unsure of what the Star Realm wanted her to do, but she couldn't go and ignore the visions they had sent her. Not again.

"Robinwing, you will accompany Lynxpaw and Nightfrost to the Moon Realm tonight," Mousestar ordered, glancing sideways at the HeathClan medicine cat. "If I need to send any warriors I can as well. I know journeying into RidgeClan territory will be-"

"We'll be fine. If we come across any patrols, Lynxpaw and I can hide and Robinwing can talk to them," Nightfrost replied swiftly. "Plus, RidgeClan patrols normally don't journey that far out. As long as we take a trail along your border and wait until we get closer to the Moon Realm to cross into RidgeClan territory, we should be safe."

Mousestar blinked and Lynxpaw spotted a flicker of concern still visible in the mollies eyes. "Are you sure?"

Nightfrost dipped his head in response to her and she exhaled. She still has her doubts about our safety, Lynxpaw noted, watching Mousestar share a worried glance with Robinwing. I'm sure we'll be okay. After all, the Star Realm wouldn't send us there if it mean't our deaths... right?

Unease crawled down Lynxpaw's spine but she kept her fur flattened and her gaze focused on Mousestar. The russet molly nodded and flashed all the medicine cats a faltering smile. "Very well. I trust in my medicine cats, for I may have been granted nine lives but you still hold a power greater than mine," Mousestar stated, continuing on as her gaze locked with Lynxpaw's. "May the Star Realm ignite your path in stars to guide you, for you head off tonight and all of HeathClan leaves you blessings of safety."

With those final words, Mousestar turned and departed from the medicine cats den. Lynxpaw stared after her for a moment and through all of her worries, she felt as if Mousestar's words had left her with a sparking sensation of hope. The molly seemed to have faith in Lynxpaw even after hearing about the multiple occasions in which she failed to follow her visions. Did Mousestar believe just as much as the Star Realm that Lynxpaw could save the Clans?

In the end, I won't be saving the Clans, I'll just be aiding them, Lynxpaw thought, shuffling her paws. I'm not a warrior or a full fledged medicine cat with knowledge on every herb in existence. I'm just an apprentice with visions I can barely follow on my own!

"Lynxpaw, go and fetch yourself a quick bite from the fresh-kill pile. Robinwing and I will call you over when it's time to leave," Nightfrost suggested.

Lynxpaw slowly nodded with a flick of her tail, dismissed herself from the scene and exited the den. The clearing wasn't crawling with many cats at such a later time, the sun growing close to the horizon as a patrol or two returned from their duties. Lynxpaw felt comforted by the breach of such a quiet scenery though as the moon appeared faintly through the clouds. She needed some serenity and silence after such a long, few days to rummage through her thoughts.

She strode over to the fresh-kill pile that was relatively empty aside from two hares and a small mouse. Most had already had their prey for the day, but Lynxpaw's rumbling stomach signaled that she was one of the few that had not had a bite to eat. Her tongue rolled over her lips and across her teeth as she settled down and nudged the body of a rabbit close to her.

I've never tasted rabbit before, Lynxpaw thought to herself as she pondered on the possibilities of its taste. Through her last few days, she had only eaten thin shrews or birds. She avoided mice and never thought about tasting a rabbit. Perhaps it'll be a nice change... For once.

She grimaced for a moment as her gaze observed the carcass of the rabbit. Inhaling a deep breath, she then sunk her teeth into it's flesh and blood spilled between her teeth. She flinched at the taste for a moment as she chewed, but as she swallowed her ears perked and a satisfied grin rolled onto her face. That wasn't too b-

"Lynxpaw!"

Her ears titled towards the direction of the familiar voice that called her name. Lynxpaw peered out of the corner of her gaze to spot Hawkpaw bounding towards her, Fawnleap lagging behind. The tom flopped down beside Lynxpaw, the she-cat rolling her eyes at his kit-like behavior. He swiped a paw across her ear and she merely ducked away as Fawnleap stepped over to her other side.

"Will you ever grow up?" Lynxpaw grumbled at her brother.

"Aw, what? I never see you anymore! You're always hiding away in the medicine cat den. You never have any fun anymore! You'd rather talk about serious business with the older cats!" Hawkpaw meowed in reply.

Lynxpaw glanced away from Hawkpaw and back down at her prey. She couldn't understand how Hawkpaw could act so oblivious to the treachery storming beneath their paws. The tom had lost his mentor and was accused of his murder, nearly executed, and was now not even amongst their home anymore, yet a smile still stretched across his face and he shuddered in excitement. Did he simply just forget all of the past events?

"Hawkpaw, leave your sister alone," Fawnleap scoffed, settling beside Lynxpaw and drawing her tongue across her ears. Lynxpaw relished in the comfort of her mother's grooming and her irritation faded in the blink of an eye. "Are you just now eating?"

Lynxpaw nodded as she meowed a retort to her mother. "I was busy with Robinwing and Nightfrost all day. I have to eat now though, for I'm leaving for the Moon Realm in a few."

"The Moon Realm? But it's not even that time to go yet!" Hawkpaw chirped, gazing up at the night sky. "Don't you only go when the moon is split in half?"

Lynxpaw swallowed back a growl at her brother, noticing the bewildered look her mother held as well. "Well, yes but... The Star Realm sent me another vision and-"

"Another?" Hawkpaw interrupted, Lynxpaw taking the time to instead take a another bite of the rabbit. "Are you saying the Star Realm has been sending you visions and you haven't mentioned any of this to us? We're kin!"

Lynxpaw swallowed her prey and snorted at the tabby. "I thought you didn't want to be involved with my boring, medicine cat things."

"But this involves cool visions from the Star Realm!" Hawkpaw squeaked, his eyes beaming with excitement.

Lynxpaw's ears flattened at his words. Nothing about her visions was cool, instead they were haunting and left her trekking through a void of endless thoughts for days. Her neck fur fluffed and a shiver enveloped her body, to which Fawnleap noticed as she pressed her muzzle to Lynxpaw's cheek.

"You don't have to tell us about your visions," Fawnleap whispered softly to her, though Hawkpaw seemed mildly disappointed by her words.

Lynxpaw held her breath, memories of her visions dancing about in her thoughts. Hawkpaw was right, they were kin and those of blood needed to confide in one another with their troubles. How would Fawnleap and Hawkpaw react though to the truth about her visions? Would Hawkpaw blame her for the death of Marshleap and would her mother be disappointed in her utter failures? In the end though, she had already failed them and she knew so. There was nothing more they could say to prove her right.

The medicine cat apprentice took another bite of the rabbit, savoring it as if it was her last taste of actual prey. She knew that she would have had to tell Fawnleap and Hawkpaw about her visions eventually, whether it was in a form of a story about her success in the future or a tale of treacherous failure that allowed the destruction of the Clans.

"Recently, I have had visions. They have been so ominous and confusing. B-But... I even had visions that predicted the death of Marshleap and Heroncall," Lynxpaw managed to breathe out, pausing as she recognizing a shadow of grief fall over Hawkpaw and Fawnleap's faces. Guilt swirled about in Lynxpaw's chest which felt tight and pained as she continued on. "I wasn't able to decipher them in time to safe them but... I just had another last night and Mousestar believes that I must travel to the Moon Realm."

"Why would the Star Realm want you there now?" Hawkpaw questioned in a low voice.

"My last visit there, a she-cat by the name of Galeflower warned me of a darkness spreading over the Clans. She gave me a prophecy and told me that I had the power to change reality," Lynxpaw answered. She winced as the thought and her paws kneaded the grass below her anxiously. "I haven't been so good at changing it though... I could have prevented Marshleap and Heroncall's death but I failed them."

Fawnleap's tail rolled down her spine, her mother shuffling closer to her so their pelts brushed. "None of their deaths was your fault, my little flower. You may have had visions to predict it, but in the end the Star Realm has already had their fate molded for them since the moment they opened their eyes," Fawnleap reminded her. "You may be able to alter reality, but you cannot alter fate. They seem to be the same but in actuality, they are so much more different than you think."

Lynxpaw feebly smiled at her mother and turned to acknowledge her brother, her heart dropping to her paws at the sight of his melancholy expression. "Marshleap once told me that he hoped I could help his kits grow into strong warriors. He promised me the ability to mentor one once they were apprentices and he told me that if he was to die... He would want me to tell his kits stories of his mouse-brained jokes he made during training and his battle tales he told me before." Hawkpaw paused for a moment, a dry chuckle erupting from the tom at the heartwrenching memories of his mentor. "I know how he died was terrible and stars, I even blame myself, but you have no fault in his death, Lynxpaw, only the cat who enacted that terrible plan does. And trust me, no matter how much Mossflower still blames me for the death of her mate, I will try my hardest to tell those stories to his kits."

Lynxpaw felt comfort roll over her like a morning fog. She felt safe between her mother and brother, every foxlength of guilt slipping away from her and into the shadows. She parted her jaws to thank them for their words but then she heard Nightfrost's call from across the camp.

"Lynxpaw! It's time to go!"

Lynxpaw was agitated by the thought of leaving her kin within such a sweet moment, but she knew she had an important job to tend to. She wouldn't let any cat down ever again, and she would be sure to aid in protecting the Clans from the approaching darkness. She stood to her paws and shoved the rabbit towards her brother, flashing him a smile.

"Try it. It's not too bad," Lynxpaw purred to him.

Hawkpaw beamed and fixed his gaze on the rabbit. Lynxpaw no longer fretted about the excitement that vividly danced across her brother's expression, but she instead felt satisfied by her brother's happiness. After all they had fought for recently, Hawkpaw deserved moments where he could relax and spit silly remarks without any worries buzzing about in his brain. One day he would be an extravagant, fine warrior, and Lynxpaw could not wait to see him as a mentor or perhaps even a father to a few kits one day.

Lynxpaw grinned and whirled around to spot Robinwing and Nightfrost waiting for her near the exit to the camp. She glanced back over her shoulder at Fawnleap and Hawkpaw, who looked after her with smiles molded of pride and euphoria. For once Lynxpaw felt safe and all her worries fleed into the back of her mind. She had a vision to follow, cats to save, and a destiny to fulfill.

This time she would not let any cat down.