Checking on the Moonpool... and a few dreams, too

[Nightstar]

Nightstar loped up the well-worn stone, panting slightly. Boy, it was a pretty steep path.

Approaching the top of the hill, she heard the familiar bubbling of the small brook that fed fresh, crystalline water into the Moonpool up ahead... at least she hoped. The main reason that she was up here was so she could check one the Moonpool. Dawnflower had told her how on the visit she had made, the water was poisoned!

Nightstar was not sure that this was just some sort of sign, or if the Twolegs really had let their chemicals run into the pool, so she had to see for herself.

Finally, she was there. Ancient pawprints were etched into the stone, showing how long cats had been coming here even before the Clans had arrived in this territory. The pool was large, several fox-legths across, but not too deep, which was a relief. Most would not be clumsy enough to fall in, but not all were gifted with swimming.

The pool was not only large, as usual, but the water was so clear that Nightstar could see straight to the bottom. It also smelled pure, and not even close to the acrid scent of the Twoleg poison. It must have been some sort of sign or warning from StarClan! Nightstar thought, eyes narrowed. What could they have meant by that...

Since she was here, Nightstar figured that this question just might be able to be answered. Crouching down at the rocky bank, she lapped at the cold water, and a drowsiness began to wash over her. Closing her eyes, she let the darkness take her into sleep.

OOC: I'm going to RP a few StarClan cats, 'kay? I AM an admin, so basically even bigger than a mod in this case, and there are no StarClan cats actually here right now, so...

[Nightstar]

OOC: Yes, I'm replying to my own post, but there has been a slight shift in place, time, etc... you know.

IC: Nightstar opened her eyes. She was still on the cold stone of the bank of the Moonpool, but now, night had fallen, with the stars shining brightly, and the moon hanging in the sky with them. Those stars looked as if they were swirling, and suddenly, one began coming down to the ground, floating gently.

A slender brown tabby, with a white chest and amber eyes, appeared at the spot where the star had landed, blinking slowly and looking at Nightstar.

"Mother..." Nightstar breathed. It was Leafpool, the former ThunderClan medicine cat, Dawnflower's old mentor... and Nightstar's mother. True, it was forbidden for medicine cats to have kits, but Leafpool had fallen in love with a certain WindClan warrior, Crowfeather... though this was known by few but the ones that Nightstar trusted the most, such as Rainstar and Dawnflower, and she rarely acknowledged her part-WindClan roots.

"Nightstar... my daughter..." Leafpool purred, quietly. "I know what you are here for. Come." The she-cat began padding back down the stone slope, back towards the stream that marked the border between ThunderClan and WindClan territory. She took a turn, padding off through the grass and the hills of WindClan.

"Why are we going to WindClan territory?" Nightstar wanted to ask, but she remained silent, knowing that she would probably find out the answer momentarily.

Once the pair reached the crest of one wide hill, Leafpool motioned at the ground with her tail, nodding towards something. Nightstar gave a hiss when she saw what it was.

A dead rabbit lay on the grass, reeking of crowfood and also, faintly of...

"Poison!" Nightstar growled. "Are there more like this?"

"Yes..." Leafpool replied, giving a short nod. "The Twolegs have decided that these rabbits are pests for eating the things they grow, we have seen. They put out poison for them and other pests at the Horseplace, and it spreads. One rabbit would be enough to give any cat a bellyache at best, potentially death at worst."

"Are there more in other territories?" Nightstar questioned, thinking of the safety of ThunderClan.

"We can never be sure where the prey will run." Leafpool answered, though it was not much of one. "All we can say is, be careful."

With that, she turned, and padded off into the distance, fading away into the moonlight and shadows.

[Nightstar]

Nightstar woke up. She was back at the Moonpool, lying down where she had fallen asleep. "I must tell the Clan!" Nightstar mewed. She quickly stood up, and began her run back to ThunderClan's camp.