[Justice]

Leaf-fall 11, Valley Year 5
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It had taken him so much time to really put his priorities back in his clan. He still didn't hear from StarClan, and suspected he may never hear from them again. At last not until he made the trip to Moon Tree once again. They might expect him to beg them to forgive them for his transgression, but he really wasn't going to. If they thought being petty and refusing to advice him for the safety and welfare of his clan, and the suffering he'd already been through for TreeClan over the moons of his service as a medicine cat, then they were not worth his time. He wasn't changing his mind on this. They didn't deserve his apology, he'd already broken his heart to please them. His time was theirs, the clans lives depended on him, their well being and health were his responsibility. He had nothing further to give. They would either be content with that or not; he just didn't care anymore.

Today Falconstorm was just arranging herbs, making sure they had sufficient enough stores to see them through the coming leafbare season. It was early still, but he didn't want to rush at the end of the season for herbs that were likely already destroyed from the chill setting in. So far it looked like he had what he needed, though he could use a few of the more common remedies. Herbs for sore joints for the elders, maybe some additional herbs for any sore throats or cracked paws from the cold. Things he could go gather himself when he had a moment. No rush. And he was still determined to find an apprentice, though so far he hadn't seen anyone he felt was a fit for his life and purpose. And certainly StarClan was no longer guiding him so they were no help on this point. Hadn't Bluejay had a dream from StarClan telling her he was to become her apprentice? Was that how it always worked for the medicine cats? He wasn't sure.

[Ghost the Undead Goddess]

Redbird

How High Can You Soar

Everybody waiting for the fall of man 

Everybody praying for the end of times 

Everybody hoping they could be the one 

I was born to run, I was born for this

---

With pawsteps that were near silent, a new scent made it's way into the den that normally held the heavy smell of different assortments of herbs. Occasionally it would also hold the foul taste of sickness, though at this moment there didn't seem to be any cat occupying the corner aside from the tom who claimed the title of Medicine Cat. And with how strong his aroma was, there was a good possibility that he was currently inside his den.

The lithe feline came into view around the side of the browning bushings to both sides of her vibrant pelt, the sun making sure to cause the auburn fur to glow almost a deep red color. Stalks of sweet tasting, green herbs filled her mouth as the young warrior tried her hardest to keep from chewing or destroying the precious leaves that could cure greencough, should it happen to rush through the clan during Leaf-Bare.

Intense golden pools lacked the occasional emerald hue as her gaze settled on the older tomcat, head bent to organize his stores. She wondered how often he sat there and did the same thing over and over again, she also wondered how often he went out and about within Treeclan's territory to search for the same herbs he was currently counting and moving about with gentle paws.

Dipping her head, tuffed ears twitching ever so slightly as she caught the rustle of more of her clanmates beyond the out of the way den. "I found some of these on the edge of our territory near Lightningclan... seemed like an odd place for them." Redbird's signature raspy mew sounded softly so she didn't startle Falconstorm. She was known for being lightweight and near silent as she moved about, and growing up she had to learn that some cats didn't like to be surprised by the sudden appearance of a clanmate.

Granted, that ability of hers was definitely beneficial when it came to hunting and even battling.

"I figured with Leaf-Bare on it's way we could use all the extra catmint we find..."

Lowering her haunches so that the pretty she-cat could sit down, Redbird wrapped her feathered tail around her petite paws to watch Falconstorm for a moment. There was a question on her mind, burning within those focused gold pools of hers, black tail tip bouncing atop her toes. As a kitten, she and her notorious brother would bounce around and scatter herbs for fun, as she sat there and watched the older tom she felt bad for all the mischief the two red pelted felines had caused Bluejay all those moons ago.

"Have you decided on an apprentice yet?" Redbird finally opened her white maw to meow the question that had been on her mind during her journey back to the camp after she found the catmint. It wasn't that she didn't want to help the older tom, after all if she were to be future leader she would have to help out all the cats of Treeclan, but rather she was curious on if Starclan had given Falconstorm any leads or inquires as of late. It never hurt to have an extra pair of paws to help with things such as these, especially with Treeclan being so full of young and old cats.

Natural curiosity was a gift at times.

That and the crimson pelted beauty was well aware of Treeclan's past with Medicine Cats: Bluejay, Littletimber, and even those before the long past tiny tom. It wouldn't be wise for the great clan of the forest to lack an extra medicine cat and fall into the downward spiral all over again.

---

Whatever it takes 

'Cause I love the adrenaline in my veins 

I do whatever it takes 

'Cause I love how it feels when I break the chains 

Whatever it takes

[Justice]

His ears shot up when he heard someone speak to him and turned from his musings and his obsessive sort of of herbs to greet his visitor. "Redbird how are you?" He asked her quietly, noting the herbs she'd brought him. Catmint. A terrible memory was associated with those herbs, memories of loss and pain and the coughing and sickness that had swept through their clan and decimated their numbers. "Catmint. Thank you."

It took him a minute to make sure his manners were intact before gathering the precious herbs and adding him into his storage. "Can't have too many of these, especially not after we had such a bad outbreak of it only a few moons back." Bluejay had died from a combination of sickness and exhaustion, and it had broken his heart. He had to make sure they had all they needed if it happened again. "You were very lucky to find it, its not common."

Once he had it settled he turned back to his visitor, finally settling himself into a seated position and wrapping his fluffy tail around his paws. Bright blue eyes regarded the she-cat before him, quickly looking her over for any sign of injury or sickness. It was second nature of him to check everyone now, when before it had seemed such a foreign concept for a tom that had been trained a warrior.

At her question he startled then chuckled, feeling genuinely amused by the question. "It doesn't work like that for most medicine cats. My duties are more a calling from Star Clan than something I chose. But no, they haven't given me any clues yet as to who would make a good apprentice. If I were picking for myself I'd say most of the current young ones are too rambunctious for my line of work. A medicine cat does require an ability for tolerance and compassion." He signed and smoothed out his pelt with a paw, thinking more on the matter.

"I travel allot, looking for herbs and visiting Kindleflare. My primary concern with an apprentice has been if they will understand that while we are still loyal to our clans, we are also loyal to each other. Kindleflare may be loyal to LightningClan and I to TreeClan, but we are still friends. Without the understanding that a medicine cat must help others regardless of where they are from, a cat has no place doing what I do." In a way, that meant that if one of the other medicine cats needed help he would help them provided it didn't prevent him from helping his own clan. Within reason, they helped each other. He still brought herbs to Kindleflare, though now more out of habit than necessity. He enjoyed her company and it was an excuse to see her. She soothed him, and her apprentice was charming.

Ghost the Undead Goddess

[Ghost the Undead Goddess]

Redbird

How High Can You Soar

Everybody waiting for the fall of man

Everybody praying for the end of times

Everybody hoping they could be the one

I was born to run, I was born for this

---

There was a slightly wriggle of whiskers upon the young warrior's face, amusement scrolled through those pretty gold pools for a moment. She knew that Medicine Cats lived and abide by a different set of morals and a code in which warriors didn't, it's what set them apart. The young she-cat was actually rather pleased that Falconstorm had actually taken the time to explain everything for her.

Any kind of knowledge made her a better warrior, even if it pertained to the Medicine Cat.

The red coated Somali was also pleased with the fact that he divulged information about his relationship with the Lightningclan Medicine Cat. Especially when it wasn't necessary or pertinent to the whole of the conversation. Redbird didn't know much about Kindleflare, or her apprentice Tigerpaw, but she had seen them at a Gathering once or twice. Both cats seemed friendly enough, sitting among the other Medicine Cats from each of the clans.

Lightningclan had always been somewhat of an ally when it came to that of the healers. The red coated she-cat had heard stories on how Littletimber had been trained by Rookfrost, whom she had assumed was Kindleflare's old mentor. Not to mention there were times when Treeclan would need help with certain herbs, like the catmint that Redbird had found earlier that day.

"Perhaps Kindleflare will help you figure out how to pick the perfect apprentice." While she wasn't entirely sure if it worked that way, especially since Lionstar still had a say on what apprentice went where, it couldn't hurt to ask another experienced Medicine Cat when it came to the subject of picking a future healer for the clan.

However, another thought curled through the warrioress' mind as she muled over the conversation between herself and Falconstorm. With him traveling around to collect herbs and visit friends, it would definitely be beneficial to have another cat who could handle medical problems. Things happened out within Treeclan's territory.

Cats stepped on thorns or brambles, sometimes prey could get a little feisty and fight back. Not to mention the possibility of badgers, adders and foxes sound something random like that occur.

Redbird didn't mind helping out where she was needed, but her life was on the path of a warrior and she couldn't spend time learning different tactics to sooth a wound when her paws itches to be defending her borders... Not that Falconstorm had actually asked for her help.

She was getting a little ahead of herself.

"Even if she can't, Treeclan will surely trust your decision when you find the perfect cat to train." Redbird let a soft, affectionate purr slip from her red maw. Flickering her bushy tail to brush against the older tom's shoulder as a comforting jester. "And I can lend you a paw if you need any help until then." It was her duty to help her clanmates after all.

---

Whatever it takes

'Cause I love the adrenaline in my veins

I do whatever it takes

'Cause I love how it feels when I break the chains

Whatever it takes

Justice  Fawn (Rookfrost Mentions) BlooRey DVD @zen (Kindleflare and Tigerpaw mentions)

[Justice]

Falconstorm sighed and paused in his fussing grooming of his thick pelt. "I appreciate that, but the only thing you can really do without knowing the herbs is bring me things that are common use." Things like spiders webs, soaked moss, and straight branches. He wasn't going to be asking a warrior full trained to look for specific herbs that they may have no idea how to handle.

Mostly he didn't want to risk her accidentally making herself sick from picking something up that was poisonous.

But they were talking again about Kindleflare and her apprentice and that always put him in a good mood. For once. "She's very good for advice, but what each of us looks for in an apprentice is different, and then we still need some sign from StarClan that we've made the right choice. All in all, I believe that it'll happen when it happens."

And for him it may not happen at all as he was still estranged from StarClan. Not that she needed to know that, but still.

Ghost the Undead Goddess

[Ghost the Undead Goddess]

Redbird

How High Can You Soar

Everybody waiting for the fall of man

Everybody praying for the end of times

Everybody hoping they could be the one

I was born to run, I was born for this

---

It seemed like Falconstorm had it all under control.

The lithe feline was fairly compassionate, especially when it came to her clanmates. She learned it through watching Lionstar as she grew up within Treeclan, seeing as how her own father had been killed before she and Foxfur had been born. Though through stories that Silverflower told them as kits, Redwing had the same compassion that Redbird did.

Which she wore with pride.

The ginger she-cat surely believed that someday she would stand in-front of Treeclan as it's leader, it had always been her dream and her ambition. She wanted to look out for Treeclan, protect it and make it better and of course that included all the cats within their forest-y borders.

Golden pools widened as Redbird gracefully rose to her nimble paws, feathered tail flickering around behind her as she returned her attention back onto the tom that sat across from her within the Medicine Cat's den. "Well, I trust your judgement." She purred with respect, whiskers twitching ever so softly as she thought about her transition into her next statement.

"Falconstorm, it's a rather nice day today, if you are in need of gathering herbs then I can accompany you if you'd like?" Redbird was the type of cat to help anybody help, she was always offering to go on patrols or hunting teams.

The duty of a warrior was never over, and it was all for her dedication to Treeclan.

---

Whatever it takes

'Cause I love the adrenaline in my veins

I do whatever it takes

'Cause I love how it feels when I break the chains

Whatever it takes

Justice   Fawn (Lionstar mentions)

[Justice]

It took him a full minute to realize she'd asked him to go out of the medicine den, that she'd accompany him out. He sighed. He didn't really want to go out gathering herbs, but he did need to get out of his den. "I would like a walk around, and you may come along if you want, but I'm not gathering anything right now. Could use a drink though." And he realized then that he was in fact thirsty and hungry and that he hadn't done anything for either of those in at least a full day. He had to take better care of himself.

The sturdy built tom stood and exited his den, awaiting the she-cat to exit as well before starting to walk along slowly. He waved his tail at Honeysong as he passed her, pausing to let the she-cat that raised him headbutt him in the shoulder affectionately and purring for her benefit before continuing on.

"I won't be out long, Honeysong. I'm just taking a bit of a walk, stretching my legs. StarClan knows I could use a break from the medicine den every so often." She nodded and wished him well, also wishing Redbird a good day as she saw her pass.

Ghost the Undead Goddess