❝ 𝙸𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚁𝚄𝙱𝙱𝙻𝙴 𝙾𝙵 𝚆𝙷𝙰𝚃 𝙸𝚂 𝙻𝙾𝚂𝚃, 𝙰𝙽𝚂𝚆𝙴𝚁𝚂 𝚆𝙸𝙻𝙻 𝙱𝙴 𝙵𝙾𝚄𝙽𝙳. ❞
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Darkness was all that lay ahead of her. It was quiet and dark, yet her thoughts were spinning out of control. She could find no...
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IN RESPONSE, MOONCLAW waved her tail. "Of course. Follow me." Moonclaw led the three of them to a network of tunnels that sloped upwards, away from the flooded main den. She stopped at a large, more elevated den with small dents in the flooring. Luna had followed them, but she went to her own nests where two kits were wriggling around. Dovesong was right; she had just kitted. The kits hadn't opened their eyes yet.
"We can gather some moss and bracken for your nests. We have some extra somewhere here," Moonclaw explained. "I can show you around the caves if you like. It can get confusing, but you get used to it. If that's okay with you." She looked at Luna.
"Do whatever you like," Luna meowed back. "You live here too."
Moonclaw dipped her head and led Goldenheart, Blizzardpelt, and Dovesong back into the tunnels and into another den. It was much, much smaller. "This is our storage, where we keep fresh-kill or supplies that we need, like materials for nests." She glanced over her shoulder at Goldenheart and Blizzardpelt, as if expecting that they would be warming up to her by now. Goldenheart seemed to be, but Blizzardpelt still seemed skeptical.
"Isn't the flood going to come up here and destroy the storage here? What can we do to prevent it?" Goldenheart asked, sounding worried.
"Luna and I check it everyday," Moonclaw answered. "If it begins to get flooded . . . well . . ." She clenched her jaw as she looked around the cave. "We'll figure something out. Hopefully it doesn't flood, though."
Goldenheart nodded, but she seemed to be thinking about what they would do if the den did get flooded.
Moonclaw turned to Dovesong. "There's this technique that Luna showed me," she mewed. "I'm not sure if these two would be interested." She flicked her tail to Blizzardpelt and Goldenheart. "But I can show you, Dovesong."
Excitement buzzed in Dovesong, making her fur tingle. "That would be great! Where is it?" she asked.
Moonclaw's eyes gleamed. "Follow me. Goldenheart, Blizzardpelt, you can start making your nests if you like. All the materials are here."
The two cats nodded reluctantly. Moonclaw and Dovesong left. "What do you call it? This technique?"
"Well, Luna doesn't really have a name for it, but it's kind of like she talks to the spirits of the earth. Kind of like StarClan, except not in the stars. You know what I mean?" Moonclaw asked, a hint of confusion in her voice. She didn't seem to totally understand, either. "She's been trying to teach me to do it, and I guess I can teach you. She says I'm a natural." Moonclaw let out an uncertain mrrow.
"Right." Dovesong nodded, unsure of what to say.
"Since it's raining, I doubt you want to go outside, so it'll be a bit harder. But here-look." Moonclaw stopped beside a pool on the side of the main cave. A couple boulders had been stacked next to the pool. Moonclaw and Dovesong sat on the rocks. "Touch the surface of the water with your nose. Kind of like the Moonpool, except you don't move away from it. Close your eyes and try to block out all the noises, all the distractions, all your thoughts. Nature can speak to you when you empty your mind and let it in."
