[Hellion]

"Duskpaw sweetheart, I think Seedfrost was complaining of sore joints. Could you get her some herbs?"

Duskpaw's ears perked at the sound of her mother's voice. Lionsong had brushed her tail along her daughter's back before parting to leave camp with Duskpaw's father. For a moment Duskpaw wanted to decline helping the elders simply because she was tired and uncomfortable. She had been hunting with Dunepaw earlier in the day and seemed to have sprained her paw but pride kept her from going to Bluejay or Falconstorm for help. However, with her mother's request Duskpaw knew it was unavoidable now.

Carefully and without putting too much pressure on her sore paw, Duskpaw half limped toward the medicine cat den, pausing for a moment to see if Falconstorm was even inside. Her sense of smell was useless, the reek of herbs was overwhelming and made her nose burn.

"Um Falconstorm or Bluejay. My mom sent me to get some herbs for Seedfrost's joints," She called toward the depths of the den, as remained standing. Fully aware that her left forepaw was throbbing with pain as she pretended she was fine.

_{Justice | word |Lionsong & Seedfrost = NPC. Duskpaw's pride will be the death of her lol.}

[Justice]

Falconstorm

28 MOONS, MEDICINE CAT APPRENTICE OF TREECLAN

He'd been making a mental list of things he could go and gather before the cold killed them all for the duration of leafbare. He already knew he'd be getting some reeds and a selection of herbs that grew near the water, but he only knew the most basic of his herbs so far and didn't want to risk mistaking a poisionous herb for a useful one. So he'd be careful and check his stash with Bluejay before sorting it into the storage in the medicine den.

The young tom was broken from his thoughts by the sound of a young voice calling his name. "I'm here." He came straight out to the young cat, head tipping and regarding her intently. Limping, possibly an injured paw. In the least it seemed swollen and painful. He was a bit larger than the young apprentice, and even untrained he knew pain when he saw it. "Sit down and let me have a look at that paw while I get the herbs you need."

He made sure he spoke clearly and calmly, but also with a tone that should hopefully prevent the younger cat from arguing with him. He disappeared into the place where the herbs were stored and came back with two large leaves that contained the items he'd need. One he sat down at the others paws and nudged it over. "Daisy leaves. Seedfrost will need to chew them, don't swallow."

As for the apprentice's paw. "How did this happen exactly?" He asked cooly while laying the other leaf down and sorting through what he'd brought. "Hmm...I need the ginger root." He muttered before darting off again. Instead of the root itself, however, he came back with a moss ball that had been soaked in water that had a root sitting in it, which worked just as well. "Drink that, it'll help bring the swelling down."

MYSTERIOUS AS THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

Notes | Hellion | Words

[Hellion]

Mousedung,
Duskpaw uttered within her head as Falconstorm requested to see her paw. Part of her wanted to dart away to finish her task and ignore the discomfort of her paw by sleeping. But she had a job to do and that meant delivering herbs to Seedforst. Sitting as she was told, Duskpaw glared down at the floor of the medicine cat den.

Ever since she was a small kit she hated the smell of the place. Her early moons were spent watching her mother worry about Dunepaw (when he was still Dunekit) and smelling her sickly brother reek of herbs. It left a dark impression on the growing she-cat, an almost fear of the medicine cat den. A dark thought clouded her for a moment as she wondered how many cats had died in the darkened space. Didn't that bother anyone?

Regretfully her ears perked up as Falconstorm's voice reached her ears. She wondered if he could tell how uncomfortable she was with the entire situation. His question was calm and collected, something she appreciated. She wasn't sure if he was trying to be cool because he knew she was anxious or if he simply was just that way.

"Dunepaw and I were hunting. I slipped on some really wet moss and twisted my paw. I'm fine. I just want the herbs for Seedfrost so I can go and take a nap," She explained to him as he said something about ginger. A look of protest covered her face as he returned with a moss ball that had a sharp smell.

"You can't be serious?! I'm not drinking that," She meowed in half alarm, pushing away the moss ball with her nose and attempting to reach for the herbs for Seedfrost without showing too much pain.

_{Justice | word | Dunepaw is the worst! lol}

[Justice]

Falconstorm

28 MOONS, MEDICINE CAT APPRENTICE OF TREECLAN

"Drink. It." He bit out, eyes sharp on the young apprentice. "It'll take the swelling down as well as help with the pain so you can sleep. If it gets any worse I will have to insist you be removed from training until the swelling goes down properly. So, apprentice, you can drink the ginger water like I asked you to, or I can find Lionstar to request you go off your training schedual for a few days while your paw heals." He may have been an apprentice as well, but he was also already a warrior with his adult name. So she couldn't throw the 'apprentice' comment back in his face, and if she did he didn't really care.

Falconstorm was also more than twice this little she-cat's size, and while he didn't want to do it, and the little she-cat that had raised him would have his ears for it, he would sit on her and make her do as he asked her if he had to.

"So then, Duskpaw, what will it be?" He circled his tail around his paws, laying the fluffy mass of it over the leaf that contained the herbs meant for Seedfrost. His gaze was fixed on the smaller cat, unflinching and full of challenge.

MYSTERIOUS AS THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

tagged Fawn for Lionstar mention | Hellion , Fawn | 215

[Hellion]

Her ears tucked back and her eyes went wide at the tone of Falconstorm's voice. A whimper almost escaped her but she kept all noises in check and wouldn't utter a peep. She'd not let any weakness show, her pride was on the line. As he threatened to talk to Lionstar, Duskpaw suddeningly felt smaller. Like she was a kit all over again.

She still clung to her old mistake of backtalking to Lionstar early into her training. Which had resulted in Duskpaw avoiding TreeClan's leader as if he was a fox. Part of her knew it was silly to act like that, but the other part of her wouldn't let it go.

Her ears relaxed and returned to their normal position as her eyes drifted down to the damp moss ball. She hated herbs, the scent of them made her want to gag, the thought of taking them in was like eating crowfood. For a moment she wondered if she could get away, pretend she drank what he gave her. However, she had a gut feeling that it wouldn't work, Falconstorm seemed observant.

Flicking her eyes from the moss ball up to meet Falconstorm's gaze, Duskpaw exhaled loudly. "What if you just wrap it in some special healing leaves and I don't have to drink anything," She asked,.

_{Justice ! | word | notes}

[Justice]

Falconstorm

28 MOONS, MEDICINE CAT APPRENTICE OF TREECLAN

Falconstorm let out a low sigh. He hated the look she was giving him just now. He never liked scaring the little ones, and this she-cat was no different. However, if he was going to be on this path then he was going to take it seriously. Healing the clan was important to him, but perhaps there were better ways to approach this?

"Duskpaw, this is the fasted way to help you. With leafbare coming the other, more potent herbs are in short supply. Ginger root is the one that grows prominently during leaf-fall and the one we have the most of right now. And it must be ingested." He leaned over to nudge the ball closer to her with his nose. "If it helps we can take the ball outside where the smell isn't so cramped up like it is inside the medicine den." He wanted to make her happy, wanted to ease her dislike as much as he possibly could. He wasn't unreasonable, but this had to happen.

The large tom flicked his tail and brushed it across the she-cat's tiny paws, considering her. "Its drink this or chew on some dandelion leaves, which are bitter and leave a nasty after taste."

MYSTERIOUS AS THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

Notes | Hellion | Words

[Hellion]

Her ears twitched hearing hims sign. She wasn't trying to be difficult she just really disliked herbs and the medicine cat den in general. The memories it stirred up were painful, she hated seeing Dunepaw so sick. Hearing him explain why she needed to take the ginger was better then being told to. The ginger she-cat cared a lot about her Clan and her family, which meant she would take the ginger root if it meant herbs were being saved for someone who was worse off.

He offered her a choice a different path to the same solution and in that moment Falconstorm earned her respect. She didn't have to like taking her medicine, but she did like having the choice to do it her way. Nodding as a non-verbal reply that she would indeed take the ginger. Duskpaw was careful to pick up the moss ball and limp outside. Once in the clearing of the camp she took in a deep breath. It was refreshing to be out of the den and taking in big gasp of air.

Looking down toward the ball she closed her eyes and did her best not to think too much about it as she drank from the moss ball. The taste wasn't bad, but the fact she was taking 'medicine' made the entire ordeal uncomfortable for the she-cat. Doing her best not to gag, Duskpaw drank all that she could before nudging the moss ball back toward the medicine cat den. She went in only to retrieve the herb bundle for Seedforst

"Thank you," She meowed toward the tom-cat before departing and heading to the elder's den. The pain didn't go away instantly, but as she finished helping Seedfrost with her herbs Duskpaw wasn't in as much discomfort. It wasn't long before the she-cat was curled up in her nest sleeping away the sprain.

_{tag | word | notes}

[Justice]

Falconstorm

28 MOONS, MEDICINE CAT APPRENTICE OF TREECLAN

Falconstorm watched after the young she-cat attentively, fully ready to go after her and help if she faltered in her steps. He kept his gaze on her injured paw, worried that he hadn't handled the situation properly. Still, once she took the ginger water he let out a relieved sigh and batted the mossball back further into the den and let her have the leaf bundle with the rest of the medicine she'd come for.

"Please let me know if the swelling doesn't go down in a few days, it may mean the paw is broken." He didn't think it was, but until the swelling went down he wasn't experienced enough to tell for sure. "I'll let Bluejay know you came by, so that one of us can follow up with you on that paw."


He dipped his head at her thanks, sighing softly and settling onto his backside to watch her head off. "Try to rest Duskpaw, and I hope you feel better soon." Really, had he done the right thing? It was such a simple thing, a sprain was something he'd seen plenty of times as a warrior, and the answer was always the same when that warrior went to the medicine den. Bring down the swelling, check once the swelling was down to see if it was broken. In that order, depending on the medicine cat.

He certainly hoped Bluejay would approve of how he'd handled the matter.

MYSTERIOUS AS THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

Thread finished | Hellion | Words