half-moon at summer's end

[. s p o r e l e t t ♪]

On this warm greenleaf evening, the waxing moon sits half-filled in the sky, its pale face just beginning to glow more boldly in a darkening sky. Stars are barely visible as soft glimmers in the dusky heavens, but by nightfall the clear night will be awash with them. StarClan waits within the shelter of Mothermouth; it is time for medicine cats of all Clans to make their arrivals.

[Ki]

Small paws carried Feathercloud to Highstones. She was eager to share dreams with StarClan. Some much was swirling in her head. There was the war, the fact she would probably need an apprentice by the time the war was started...she was desperately seeking guidance. She trotted the entire way to Highstones, not quite running but not quite walking. The stars shone brightly overhead as she approached Mothermouth. No one else seemed to have arrived yet. Great. Feathercloud let out a small sigh. She'd hoped the others would already be gathered so they could descend into the cave. But she would just have to have patience. The others would get there in good time. She would just have to wait. So Feathercloud sat down and curled her fluffy tail around herself. The day had been a long one. She'd stocked up on herbs, checked on each of her patients, gathered more herbs, stored them, checked on her patients, then went out to practice with Twistedclaw. (She was still horrible at fighting.) Part of her just wanted to lay down and sleep under the stars. But what kind of message would that send to the other medicine cats?

For ShadowClan's sake, she had to act normal. If they thought something was wrong, they'd start asking questions. And Feathercloud was a terrible liar. It always made her feel exceptionally guilty, like she'd just killed a cat. So she blinked sleep out of her eyes, looked up at the stars, and waited.

[Yoko]

Birchnose made his way along the moor. Although the first of StarClan's warriors were out, he did not scurry or rush. With long proud strides, he made his way to the sacred grounds. He could see a shape a long distance away. Apparently he and his apprentice were not the first to arrive. Although they were running a little later than usual, the scent carried by the wind surprised him. Feathercloud? As he steadily grew near her, he was more certain. Finally within speaking distance, he called to her.

"Well, Feathercloud. All the way from ShadowClan, so soon? You must be eager to speak with out ancestors," he mewed with a hint of amusement, He glanced to her side. "No apprentice yet, hmm? Well, StarClan will send one along soon for you I bet."

The others had not arrived yet. Oh well, they had all nightt. In all honesty, he wasn't looking forward to squeezing into those tunnels. Moonstone was beautiful and its hollow cave felt like home. But the tunnels were bit at all his favorite part of these nights. His thick fur made it a tight squeeze in certain places. And even more convenient were the times when it would snag. No, best to be patient and wait for the others to arrive.

[hedgie]

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[atrb=background,http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu267/Winterfish_Summerswan/crowmiddle.png] This was something Crowpaw looked forward to, even if he'd only done this once before. It was interesting, and even if it seemed like a tame experience to some cats, it wasn't just a nap under the stars. Though he wouldn't mind a nap every now and again, but he had too much to cover. Too much to learn, and he was going to take it all in. Even if that meant running around when he wasn't supposed to with someone he wasn't supposed to be running about with. But that was another story, and at least he was learning something. Though it really wasn't that big of a deal. Learning things from someone closer to your own age was more fun that getting the information from some older cat. And they were both medicine cat apprentice...weren't they supposed to help each other in times of trouble? He was having a personal crisis, and it had only been right to ask for help. The good thing was, she would be there with her mentor. That was a given..they could talk some more, and he was so grateful to have a friend. He couldn't seem to grasp much of a social life with the apprentices in his own Clan, but Ivypaw was nice to him. He was impatient to get there, but he hid it well enough, following his mentor at a slightly slower pace. It would have seemed weird if he'd started sprinting across the moorland just to talk to one cat, and he didn't feel like explaining himself. So he padded along on his own long legs, thick fur making him near invisible in the dark. He was just light enough in some spots to be visible, and bright gold eyes made him easy to pinpoint. the only thing he wasn't too grateful about was his coat length. It was hard to travel through tunnels when you were all bushy-coated. Things got tangled and it just wasn't pretty. Huh...second to arrive. that's what they were..and oh, it was okay. He'd just been hoping she would've been there first and not Feathercloud. No offense to Shadowclan's medicine cat, but she hadn't been who he was looking for. He sat away from his mentor as Birchnose struck up conversation, facing whatever direction he thought Riverlcan would come from. At least he could brag about beating her there, making it a joke. So it wasn't all that bad... ------------- CROWPAW'S SPEECH CROWPAW'S THOUGHTS YOUR SPEECH ----------------- To The Medicine Cats and Their Aprpentices From Crowpaw Word Count407 Muse Good Thoughts Yay~ Music Dirty Work- All Time Low

[:c a i:]

Shadestripe travelled the familiar road to the sacred land of Highstones under the guidance of the thousands of stars in the night sky. He had left in plenty of time, quietly taking his apprentice and setting off, hoping to find some guidance from their warrior ancestors on this trip. It had been a while since the strange dream he'd had, and he was still concerned. Somehow, he felt that something was in the air, building, like tension rising.

As he neared, Shadestripe saw that he was third to arrive. Feathercloud and Birchnose were already present, speaking with one another while they waited for the remaining cats. Only Earthfoot had yet to reach Highstones, and Shadestripe nodded in greeting to the other two as he approached.

"Good evening, friends."

[/color] He said politely, nudging Ivypaw to prompt her into greeting the three others. He liked nights such as these; quiet ones where he could take the chance to share tongues with StarClan and hopefully find some fragment of wisdom from the glittering Moonstone. "I see Earthfoot has yet to arrive. I wonder what keeps him."[/color] Surely not trouble with the Clan. ThunderClan was already weakened enough, and Shadestripe on occasion wondered just how critical their situation was.

Maybe StarClan would shed some light on all their situations.[/blockquote]

[☆ Y e l l o w ☆]

The last medicine cat to arrive was a dark-furred tom from ThunderClan. Earthfoot padded quickly along the familiar path toward Highstones, having passed by Fourtrees and noticing little sign of the medicine cats from ShadowClan or RiverClan there. Had he really been so late? He hadn't meant to lose track of time, however situations in his own Clan had prevented him from being prepared for the half moon tonight. A number of cats had sustained injuries on today of all days, including his young apprentice, Sagepaw. Between treating them and observing Ashstar for any unusual behavior as well as keeping an eye on Mudpaw, he hadn't realized it was time to leave for Mothermouth until the sun had begun to set.

Earthfoot was concerned for his new apprentice. Sagepaw would be missing his second visit to the Moonstone, and all because of a sprained foot. The gray tom had returned to camp limping and in pain, and it hadn't taken Earthfoot long to deduce that he had injured his paw while attempting to dig up the roots of some interesting looking herb. After instructing him to remain off of his paws for the entire day and rest, he still wasn't well enough by the time they needed to leave, and so Earthfoot had to make the difficult decision to leave Sagepaw behind. He regretted it, and he knew Sagepaw was likely heartbroken over not being able to accompany his mentor to the sacred meeting of medicine cats, however in order to avoid further damage to his paw, Sagepaw didn't have a choice.

Now Earthfoot picked up the pace and hurried toward Highstones, praying that the other medicine cats wouldn't enter and speak to StarClan without him. He would have to explain his late arrival, he knew. Finally the terrain grew more sloped and rocky and he knew he was leaving WindClan's territory behind. He scented the air once more and felt relief once he caught a whiff of the other medicine cats. Soon he spotted them, and with a final dash he caught up to the group, pausing to catch his breath and give the others an apologetic look.

"I apologize for my tardiness. Sagepaw has sprained his paw and unfortunately was unable to come tonight. I hope you all weren't waiting too long for me."

[. s p o r e l e t t ♪]

Overhead, the glowing half-disc that was the late greenleaf moon beckoned, inviting those below to proceed forward now that they had assembled. The yawning maw of Mothermouth gaped open, a dark pit in the silver-washed cliff-face, the moon's light disappearing seamlessly into that void that the healing cats of all Clans must now enter.

Down, down and in, through the twisting labyrinth until finally that pitch darkness was lessened, and the claustrophobic walls let out to form an ancient cavern. In the center of that round space waited an immense stone, pale and glistening, like a tear from the moon, fallen to Earth. It wasn't long before that moon, the mother, perhaps, of this stone, floated directly overhead, and through an opening in the cave ceiling wan rays filtered, setting the stone ablaze in a glare of radiant white light.

Now it was for those gathered, the gentle guardians of each Clan, to come forward and press their noses to the stone, so that their communion with the spirits could begin. First one would, then another, until all assembled, even those who still had much to learn about a medicine cat's ways, were locked in the deep slumber that signified that while their bodies did remain on the cool stone floor of the cave, their minds now wandered elsewhere.

The land for all was different. Each cat awoke separately, perhaps in a favored spot by a stream or in the shade of a tree, but each carried with them the knowledge that it was not truly their land on which they walked. Here was StarClan's realm, and they would be greeted soon enough by this land's denizens. The night was young, and there was only peace in their surroundings until the chosen messenger did finally appear.

~♪~

The tom that came to Feathercloud was like wind incarnate, the shades and hues of his brown pelt swirled together in a plethora of patterns that were seemingly random. His small paws were dark, but the eyes with which he viewed his one-time apprentice were blue as the summer sky. Although Sagewing's pelt had been thin and dulled with age in life, there was no sign of neglect in the thick fur now. His eyes, though somber, were keen.

"Feathercloud," he greeted, and with that word came a bow, in the slightly ironic manner that he often carried with him. Many a cat had chuckled at his foolish tales in life, but there was no humour about him now. "You have questions for me. But we must be brief, for I too have things of import to discuss. Speak now, young one.

~♪~

Clouds scudded against the stars that bathed the moorland below in a silvery glow, although for once there was no wind on that high plateau, which was usually caressed by a constant breeze. Down at ground level, below the racing clouds, all was still and calm, and it remained so even as the slender brown tabby made her way towards Birchnose, thunder on her face. The tip-tilted green eyes usually alight with curiosity and humour now flashed with a roiling knot of emotions. Rage, disappointment, shock and hurt crossed over her expression in an instant.

Then those eyes blinked clear, and then only sign of her ire was the twitch of her tail, the snap in her voice when she spoke. "You have made an error of judgement." It was not a question, but a statement, a simple observation of fact. "As have many, during this past moon. As will they in future, if actions are not taken," she said, and her eyes slid over to where Crowpaw stood to regard him piercingly. "Birchnose, you know not what you do. Promise me you will come away from this foolishness."

At the last there was a hint of pleading in her voice, and worry in her eyes for the apprentice that she trained. He drifted astray now, and would only be hurt by going further. As a mentor, a former Clan-mate, and as a spirit of StarClan, she hoped she could right his way before he came to grief. But only he could make that choice; for good or for ill, the living must make their own way, no matter how much StarClan wished to intervene.

~♪~

The cats of RiverClan did not need to wait for their messenger to come to them. When Shadestripe opened his eyes and found himself no-longer in the Moonstone's cave, there was already a cat sitting beside him. The ginger she-cat turned her head slightly to regard him, a look of slight impatience upon her features. Although she seemed happy to see her old apprentice, her gaze was far from cheerful as she moved it back out over the horizon.

"Young cats these days," she said with some disgust, shaking her head. "They insist in mucking about in that which should be left alone. No good can come of it." Looking out over the midnight-lit river, with forest beyond it, the old medicine cat breathed a dull sigh. "You're a good medicine cat, Shadestripe. As good as I could make you, and then some. But cats in your Clan are straying from us, from the Code." Finally Berrypelt did look at the living cats by her, and her stare was so intense that she all but stared straight through them. "This cannot be."

~♪~

"Hello Earthfoot." The small she-cat nearby approached ThunderClan's medicine cat and stretched her small face upwards to touch her nose to his. She had been young when she died, and was young still, those traces of youth showing in her soft pelt and slender paws. But her eyes locked onto his, and those eyes were ageless. "I'm sorry Sagepaw couldn't come tonight. But matters such as those I must discuss with you are not for his ears, so it is good that he is absent."

The thick shadow of canopy overhead could not hide the sorrow and worry that clouded Grousepaw's eyes. She was troubled and upset, though not angry with any cat, living or dead. However, there were those in StarClan who looked upon their descendents and did more than worry. This she felt Earthfoot should know. "I know that your faith is strong," she said to him, "and you have done nothing to bring trouble upon you. But the cats of your forest are complacent, Earthfoot. Some do not respect us — some do not even believe.

"I worry for what will happen if your Clan, and all others, continue these ways. Already damage has been done, and I think you know why, although it will be some time yet before the truth of it is apparent." She spoke eloquently for a young cat, belying the many seasons that she had watched over her Clan from the skies. Though she did not explain further, her gaze speared back towards where camp would lie, the devout and the not lying asleep in their nests. No, she was not angry. But she was not all of StarClan, and many grew restless. What price would they demand for the insolence of their Clanmates and kin?

She did not know.

[Amber]

It was so hard to put one paw in front of the other. Her other half had gone, and who knows when she would see her sister again. The last words she had spoken to her sister were those of hate. Cloverpaw's life ended way too soon, she wasn't even through with her training. The two siblings had an argument on that day, on whether or not Hollykit should be an apprentice or not, keep her in the nursery for a few moons. They were the only family the kit had, and Ivypaw wasn't sure if Hollykit was strong enough to be apprenticed in the next couple moons. Cloverpaw's argument was that she should be allowed to become an apprentice, but make sure her mentor didn't push her too hard. But now Cloverpaw was gone, and it was up to Ivypaw. Maybe StarClan could help her, she just wanted to protect Hollykit.

Making the familiar trip to the Moonstone made the apprentice very nervous. She was getting further and further away from her sister, and if something went wrong...Cloverpaw wasn't there to watch her. Her paws practically drug out of camp, but once the familiar path was taken, she began to hope that someone was looking out for the tiny kit.

As she arrived with Shadestripe, she greeted the other medicine cats, making sure to keep her manners. She would have been more talkative, but worry was filling her up. She blinked and spotted her friend. Had the training been paying off? She hoped so. Padding over to Crowpaw she smiled slightly. "Sorry I missed the last session, I had some issues to work out." It was true, she had missed their last little session due to her sister's death. Ivypaw couldn't bring herself out of camp. "If you aren't busy tomorrow, I can help again. I'm pretty sure I have nothing going on." Of course, all of what she had said was very quiet, and it seemed the older cats were in their own discussion anyway.

Once Earthfoot arrived, without Sagepaw, she hoped the tom was okay. She enjoyed talking with others that were her age and knew how tiring being a medicine cat apprentice could be.

-insert all other crap here dealing with moonstone-

[Yoko]

Birchnose stood tall against the gentle breeze of the starlit moor. He did not know what to expect, but whatever it would be he would face it as if Thrushtail were right at his side. Well, he allowed himself a small smile. I have Crowpaw here. He knew that he worked the young apprentice a bit hard, but that was only a reflection of how proud he was of him.

He would be lying if he said that his heart did not flutter as a familiar brown pelt appeared in the distance. His face grew stern and his stance did not waver. As she grew nearer he could see her eyes, the fury, the sadness, the frustration, all of it. They were the eyes of a mentor who was watching their apprentice go astray.

He had not the time nor inclination to extend pleasant greetings. As always, he was a tom who believed firmly in getting to the point. Maybe that was something he had learned from her. He neither flinched nor winced at her 'statement'. Birchnose made no signs of being moved, not even when she mentioned his apprentice. Her pleading did stir him a bit though. He had not meant to cause her any personal pain.

"Every cat must be allowed to live their own life," Birchnose replied, in regards to Crowpaw. "I acknowledge that I knew this would not please you. But I have made up mind, and you knew I had before you even arrived, did you not?"

He was a proud cat. No use in hiding what was so blatantly true. It was only for Crowpaw's sake that he was being discreet. The young cat deserved to know, but not in this way. He would tell him in his own time.

"If there are any messages that StarClan wants to send. I will be listening. Or if you refuse to speak with one who has made an error in your eyes, speak to Crowpaw. I ask only that you not punish the entire Clan, for that would be cruelty to those who know not my decision."

[Ki]

As always, there was a bit of happiness when she saw Sagewing approach. Perhaps that was one of the best things about being a medicine cat. Even when those you cared for moved on, it did not mean you would never speak with them again. She smiled at her old mentor. Unfortunately, she did not have time to exchange pleasant greetings or anything of the sort. Feathercloud had no idea how long she had, and there were so many questions swirling in her mind. But she did manage a brief greeting. Politeness was always important, after all. "It's good to see you, Sagewing." Finally, the time was at hand! She just prayed the answers to her questions would be as straight forward as possible.

"You must know what is one my mind; this war. Is it StarClan's will that it happen?" she mewed. "If not, then what do we do? Leafbare will arrive in good time. Food will become scarce, and it will grow harder for us to feed our Clan. It does not help that we are still growing; there are more kits expected to be born soon." Times like these sometimes made her wish Sagewing were alive and medicine cat still. Things had been much simpler when she was Featherpaw. Of course, that was nonsense. She had a duty to her Clan. StarClan strike her down should she fall away from it! But as the seasons changed she could tell the pressure was on her Clan. There was another question lurking in her mind, but she'd first wait for Sagewing's answer to her questions.

[☆ Y e l l o w ☆]

Earthfoot stood as soon as he woke up and glanced around at the hollow he was now in. It was not familiar to him, although trees stretched up all around the small clearing, and the tom guessed that he was in a very ThunderClan-like area of StarClan territory. His eyes drifted down from the trees and the star-filled sky and met a young looking she-cat. The sight of her there confused the tom, although the cat herself was not unfamiliar. But he had expected to meet his former mentor here, not this apprentice. Still, though, that didn't mean he could be rude to this cat, for he knew her from his dreams with StarClan just as well as he knew his mentor.

"Greetings, Grousepaw," He meowed simply, leaning down to touch noses with the much smaller cat. When he pulled back he noticed the distant, worried look on her face, and concern overcame his own curiosity as well. If Sagepaw wasn't meant to hear what was to be said tonight, then Earthfoot knew something serious was happening.

And so he listened to what Grousepaw said, taking in everything, worry quickly becoming the most prominent emotion that showed over his face. The talk of cats of the forest growing distant from StarClan, not believing or obeying them, was an honest shock to the dark-furred tom. He must have known so little, for even being a medicine cat did not bring him all the knowledge that StarClan had. It was obvious that it was his responsibility to do something about it, but he was at a loss by the time Grousepaw finished.

"I know that cats in my Clan- and all the Clans- don't follow the warrior code as strictly as they should," Earthfoot began, remembering back to quite a few incidents over the past moon involving prey disputes and border patrols, and even the situation with the WindClan kits. "But I did not know that the problem was so severe. Is there nothing I can do to fix things, or at least know what is going on in my own Clan?"

[:c a i:]

[[Shadestripe is hereby reborn as SHADETOOTH!]]

Shadetooth gave a slight grunt as his eyes flicked open. He sat up, unfurling long, muscular limbs as he realigned his body, blinking somewhat groggily as he took in the form of his old mentor, Berrypelt. A reluctant smile worked its way onto his face as he nodded at her, typically no-nonsense and wry as ever, her fire-red pelt almost luminous in their strange dreamland. He looked around quickly, taking in the grassy area and the sound of trickling water somewhere in the distance. It was a beautiful place.

Shadetooth's yellow eyes flicked back to Berrypelt as she began to speak, diving straight into whatever it was StarClan needed to tell him as she always did. There was no small talk with her. A frown deepened on Shadetooth's face as he listened, tail starting to lash in irritation. "Don't talk in mysteries tonight, Berrypelt."

[/color] he muttered, leaning closer. "I know that cats have been fools in the past and will no doubt be fools in the future. What is different this time?"[/color] He surveyed his mentor scrupulously, wanting to eke out a clear explanation just this once. Her words concerned him greatly. The Warrior Code had to be maintained, or else the Clans would collapse without ideals to hold them strong. And StarClan was clearly worried.

"Something's been brewing for a while."[/color] Shadetooth stated flatly. "But I don't know what. Care to shed some light? What cats do you speak of?"[/color] he didn't really expect a straight answer. He knew it wasn't StarClan's way to tell them how to act or what exactly to do. It would only make things worse if they did. But if there was something urgent building up, then for once it would be nice to just know, so he could do something, anything to stop it destroying RiverClan. The dreams had been growing more turbulent, and Shadetooth knew that the skies were restless.

But how to stop it...[/blockquote]

[. s p o r e l e t t ♪]

For a time Sagewing looked silently at Feathercloud, his gaze measuring her as he seemingly gathered his thoughts. There was so much at stake for all Clans, so much that could be lost. "It is not StarClan's wish that there be more violence in the forest," he said eventually. "However, neither is it StarClan's will that one Clan starves while another prospers alone. Although we all wish for peace, sometimes confrontation is inevitable. Specklestar will do what she deems best for her Clan, of this I have faith."

"There are other things which I must say to you, however, Feathercloud." Waving his tail in invitation, the slim tom turned so that the two cats could walk through the darkened swamp, their paws stepping side by side. "A medicine cat's purpose is to heal their Clan, and to know StarClan's will so that we may guide all cats through you. However..." A pause in Sagewing's step caused him to lag a pace behind. "There are cats in your Clan, in all Clans, who do not believe. They stray from us, Feathercloud, and if too many turn a blind eye, then we cannot help you. We cannot guide those who do not believe.

"I believe you may know who these cats are. Or perhaps not. But either way, Feathercloud, you need to be vigilant, for this damage must be repaired. There is one soon to leave her mother's side who can help you with this. But above all, keep strong. This next moon will test us all unfairly, I fear. Your skill will be needed." As the old medicine cat's last words reached Feathercloud's ears, the forest around her darkened and dimmed, until there was only blackness about her. Cold stone lay under her paws, and a faint glimmer of stars could barely be seen overhead. Her vision had ended.

~♪~

Sparrowsong's eyes were filled with unfathomable sadness as she looked at the cat whom she had trained. "Until the day you refuse to hear us, Birchnose, we will still speak to you." And to Crowpaw too, when the time came. But that time would not be for many moons yet, moons during which he would require his mentor's attention and loyalty. How sad it was, when this was not a sure thing for a young cat. "You already know of the warning I bring, Birchclaw. WindClan cannot be allowed to stray from us. It endangers all. I had hoped that you would know this. But although I would spare you the pain that will come when your decision turns on you, I know that you will not abandon it. Only know that when you have nothing else, StarClan will still be with you." The wind that had grown slowly as she spoke whipped about them both, wild and terrible, obscuring everything in a cloud of dust. And when that dust settled, there was only the black silence of the Moonstone, and the silent glimmer of the stars.

~♪~

"Pah..." Berrypelt shook her head, eying Shadetooth from the corner of her eye. "It's those young 'uns, you know. The warriors who haven't yet faced the hardest leaf-bares, fought the bloodiest battles... they think they can do whatever they want, and it'll all turn out okay. ALthough..." her eyes narrowed, "The foolish ones aren't always the youngest. But Shadetooth, I cannot tell you every cat in the Clan who has trouble in their heart. You have to watch. You have to pay attention. And be there for your Clan in their time of need, so that they know that StarClan is always watching, and always there to guide the Clans through times of turmoil. Keep watch, Shadetooth. Don't let your guard down, not for a second..." Berrypelt turned to her apprentice and brushed her muzzle over his eyes. When he opened them, the river and the silvery spread of Silverpelt had been replaced with the Moonstone's flat surface. The meeting had ended.

~♪~

Grousepaw frowned up at the cat who was so many moons her younger, and yet who would always be older than she. She wanted to tell him. She wanted to help him. But the danger that ThunderClan faced could not be solved with names alone. "There will always be cats who question if StarClan's way is right, Earthfoot. I cannot tell you who doubts now, or who may question us later. It is up to you, and Sagepaw as well, to make sure that StarClan's ways are followed, and the Code is respected by all. I am sorry that I cannot help you further. But if you ever feel the need for guidance, we will still be here. And we will do whatever we can to help." Nodding to Earthfoot, Grousepaw turned and walked away, her paws carrying her away from him and out of sight. StarClan's dream faded slowly, until the forest floor under-paw was hard and cold, and the breeze had stagnated into chill stillness. There would be nothing more from StarClan this night.

[:c a i:]

Shadetooth listened in silence as Berrypelt spoke, his strong jawline harshened further by his tight expression, grimness etched into his face as images of the younger, impressionable members of his Clan flicked through his mind. The "young 'uns"? There were so many in the Clan who seemed young to Shadetooth; young and easily misled. Puddlepelt and Silverstripe and Dewleaf and Pigeonheart or even the very youngest, Fogpaw and Otterpaw and all the others. Any one of them could be disguising some great trouble. And as always, StarClan could not be explicit in their meaning. He expected nothing less, nothing more, but it still affected him to know that they knew something was coming, but could not tell him how to stop it. It was frustrating, and frightening, and it meant that he was powerless except to watch and wait.

But Berrypelt had nothing more to tell him tonight.

"Thank you, Berrypelt." he murmured, accepting the rare expression of affection from her with an even rarer show of docility, his brow knotting in a frown as nostalgic memories whispered through his mind by the familiar touch. She'd always said that sometimes he saw more with his eyes closed...

And when he opened them again, she was gone, and he was back at the Moonstone.

The real world beckoned.