Lizardfang's sisters

Dust swirled around them as the small party of felines made their way inside. Moss hung down from the ceiling of the chamber-like tunnel and the strong scent of rain and dust was overpowering. A tabby she-cat traveling at the rear wrinkled her nose in response, her eyes watering. When she looked, she could see nothing ahead of her, and she wondered if their leader had led them into right place.

"Ripplepaw, Buzzardpaw. Keep up, both of you. It's very easy to get lost." the deep voice sounded ahead of her, and the cats made their way into the darkness.

Buzzardpaw inhaled quietly, and she did her best to keep up. It was nearly impossible to make out even Ripplepaw's hindquarters just ahead of her. Buzzardpaw held her head high and squinted against the darkness. She wanted to ask Shellstar a thousand questions, but she forced herself to keep quiet. She wanted nothing more than to prove to him that she was ready to become a warrior, and not just a giddy bothersome apprentice. So, she followed without a word.

    At last! Buzzardpaw exclaimed inwardly as the three stopped suddenly. The apprentice could see slightly better now, and it looked like they'd reached a small clearing--the end of the tunnel. Heart-beats passed. Then minutes. No one had uttered a word. Buzzardpaw exchanged confused glances with her comrade. "Soon," murmured Shellstar, stepping into the clearing. Buzzardpaw heard a soft thud and figured he'd sat down. She pushed past Ripplepaw and settled herself a few tail-lengths away.
    No sooner than when she had plopped onto her haunches, a bright flash of light illuminated the cave. The apprentices flinched at the sudden brightness and narrowed their eyes but Shellstar remained unfazed. The light lasted for only a few moments. Once it dimmed down, Buzzardpaw's pale green eyes widened. She looked at Ripplepaw, and he looked at her in awe. The light of the moon had cast a pale-blue glow onto a giant, shimmering stone in the middle of the cave!
"Touch your nose to it," Shellstar commanded.
"What?" Ripplepaw echoed.
"Your nose. Touch it with your nose." the tom replied. "You'll see."
Hesitantly, the apprentices pressed their snouts against the rock. It was ice cold.
"Wh..what's happening..?" Ripplepaw murmured. Buzzardpaw cast a sideways glance in his direction. He had sunk to the ground. Suddenly her legs grew heavy and she too collapsed onto the stone floor.