[Ghost the Undead Goddess]

Ebonypaw,

Livin' in ruins of a palace within my dreams

The young feline had practically woken up with the rising of the sun, just in time to see dawn streak across the pale gray sky. The snow had eased as it slowly drifted from the low hanging clouds, hardly adding any difference to the white powder that covered the valley.

Curled within the comfort of her nest, two wide green pools opened as all sleep practically vanished. The familar scent and warmth of Sandblaze met her, though she hadn't been his ward for very long, it was still a comforting feeling having her mentor beside her. 

Made the whole, Medicine Cat thing a little less lonely. 

Picking her way from the warmth of the den, Ebonypaw made her way past Sandblaze's sleeping form, pausing to check on the breathing of Silentmask and Redclaw. They had recently joined in fresh moss nesting, sickness strong upon their breaths as coughs racked their weakened forms.

They seemed stable at the moment. 

Slipping from the seclusion of the den the young she-cat made her way towards the fresh-kill pile, though it was small there was still a promise for breakfast to share with Sandblaze. After all, it would be rude for her not to offer him breakfast, nor would it be wise for them to be greedy with what little Stoneclan had for prey.

"You're up early, as usual." The tone was was proper but gentle as Rabbitfur padded softly towards her black coated daughter, green meeting green. 

"Rabbitfur." Ebonypaw gave a respectful greeting to her black and white coated mother, bowing her head before lifting it back up to respond with a equally matched proper tone. "I see you are also awake early, border patrol or hunting party?"

"Hunting party, i'll try to bring you a shrew for dinner. I know you enjoy them." Rabbitfur gave a soft purr, only a small amount of public affection per usual. "And what are your plans today, dearest daughter?"

"Herb knowledge. Sandblaze promised he would show me the herbs used most during Leafbare. He hopes we don't have anyone else joining Silentmask and Redclaw." Though she was pleased her mother was attempting to find her favorite when it came to fresh-kill, excitement about learning herbs was in the forefront of her mind. 

"Greencough is hard on the clan." The senior warrior responded more to herself than to her fluffy daughter, then with a sigh she flickered her tail, "Off you go then, you don't want to keep Sandblaze waiting do you?"

Not amused by her mother's humor, Ebonypaw quickly selected a vole that someone had managed to snag near the Rainclan border, gave a respectable bow goodbye to Rabbitfur and quickly trotted back to the den that she now lived in. 

Setting the deceased creature on the cold ground, indenting the snow around it, Ebonypaw called out to her mentor, bobbed tail wriggling every so slightly. "Sandblaze, I brought breakfast." 

6 Moons StoneClan Medicine Cat Apprentice

Fate of Five Staff || Made by Fawn || 504 Words

[Fate of Five Staff]

Of all the seasons, leafbare was the hardest in any way a cat could think of: temperatures fell, prey hid, and sickness became much more likely- among the old and young, especially, but strong warriors could fall sick just as easily- as proved by Silentmask and Redclaw's presence. Sandblaze had situated them as soon as he was sure they were ill, not wanting to risk this spreading- and yet, who knew? He could hope with all his heart that they would be the only two, but it was a lucky leafbare when only a few fell ill.

The voice of his apprentice woke the medicine cat and he blinked up at Ebonypaw before lifting his head. "Good morning, Ebonypaw. I hope you slept well." He glanced down at the vole and then over at the two warriors, still dozing in their nests. "Share this meal with me, and then we'll begin. I want to leave a dose of herbs with Silentmask and Redclaw, as well as water, for when they wake. Do you remember what I showed you, and what they do?"

Feverfew and chickweed, with a single leaf of tansy, and a couple poppy seeds each to help them sleep sound- rest was as much a healer as herbs were. He would check on them before leaving with Ebonypaw, but they seemed to be resting easily enough at the moment, which was a relief. Taking a bite of the vole, Sandblaze nudged it toward his apprentice and chewed as he waited for her reply, gaze steady on her.

[Ghost the Undead Goddess]

Ebonypaw,

Livin' in ruins of a palace within my dreams

"Feverfew!"

It was the first thing that came to the black she-cat's mind, and she was pleased at the fact that she was able to name it the second her mentor asked, respectfully within an appropriate amount of time.

The young feline found it rather easy to remember because, "Feverfew helps the fever by reducing the body temperature of a cat." Her tone was curt and proper as she recited her words clearly for Sandblaze.

Settling down next to her mentor, Ebonypaw took a small bite of the delicious vole she had brought back from the fresh-kill pile. Savoring the flavor as it rolled over her palette, the black feline tilted her head as she listed off other herbs within her head.

"Tansy," Bright green pools turned to focus on her mentor once she finished her bite and nudging it back towards the red-orange tomcat. "For the coughing, but only a single leaf as it best in small doses."

Instinctively, Ebonypaw crossed her wide paws, fluffy nub of a tail wriggling as she continued to answer her mentor's question. She gave each question the information needed and then some. Her mother had always said that if something were to be done, better to do it correctly.

"Chickweed, as it aids in clearing up greencough. I believe it was Catmint that is better, though harder to find." Despite the assurance within her voice as she responded, the slightest flicker of an ear gave away the fact that she wasn't entirely sure if Catmint was the name she was looking for.

"And lastly, poppy seeds to help them get a good rest, only a couple per cat." Pleased with her answers, Ebonypaw turned her gaze back towards her mentor, eager for his reaction.

6 Moons StoneClan Medicine Cat Apprentice

Fate of Five Staff || Made by Fawn || 312 Words

[Fate of Five Staff]

She was quick; that was good. Sandblaze had little patience for repeating himself over and over until he drummed it into her head what each type of herb was, and its use. She gave him the name of each, described its use, and then fell silent, eyes on him, waiting. “Well done,” the tom responded, short words of praise. “However, keep in mind the dose of poppy seeds varies with the cat. Kits will need less than a warrior, of course, and I will explain how to properly measure the dose in time. Give too little and they will have no effect. Give too much, and you will send a cat to StarClan. Let’s not do that.”

Taking another bite of the vole, Sandblaze nudged it back toward Ebonypaw again. “Finish that, and then I want you to set out a dose of the same herbs for Silentmask and Redclaw. We won’t wake them, they should sleep as long as possible. Resting helps their bodies fight harder against the illness, and with any luck it will not progress farther. Greencough kills, and it spreads like fire.”

Sitting back, Sandblaze waited, watched, and held back interfering unless necessary. He wasn’t going to coddle his apprentice, but nor was he going to let her make a blunder that would harm a cat- the more she did things on her own, the faster she would learn- more than if he forced her to sit and watch while he did everything.
Ghost the Undead Goddess

[Ghost the Undead Goddess]

Ebonypaw,

Livin' in ruins of a palace within my dreams

The praise from her mentor caused a shimmer of excitement to enter those pretty green pools. She had always been a quick learner, or at least that was what Rabbitfur had said while they shared the nursery together.

Not to mention, it would be rather improper if she couldn't retain the information taught to her.

Dipping her head to finish off the mostly eaten vole, Ebonypaw allowed the flavor to linger only a moment before swallowing. A pink tongue poked out to run over her lips, cleaning away the last of her breakfast.

Setting the bones away, making a mental note to remember to bury them on their way out of camp, the fluffy black she-cat made her way to where the herbs were stored away from the frost of leafbare. Everything was neatly organized and put together, making it easy to find what was needed.

Liquid emerald looked around, spotting the small triangular leaves of chickweed. Of course, nearby was smaller and more ragged shape leaves of feverfew. Pleased with her ability to spot out the two plants quickly, Ebonypaw moved a large paw forwards to dose out the correct amount for Silentmask and Redclaw, separating them into two different stacks. 

Attention altering, the young feline now looked for her last two remaining herbs. Her mind ticked about, as she remembered what went with the names she had listed off previously. There was a twitch from an ear atop her head as the apprentice moved her gaze back and forth across the storage of supplies.

Recognition lit up within those green orbs as Ebonypaw spotted the long, narrow frond of tansy. The strong scent slapping the black she-cat in the nose as she bent down to grab two singular leaves. 

Shifting her gaze again, the young Stoneclanner pulled a dried poppy flower from the back with the intent on shaking a few seeds free from it's grasp. Ebonypaw stared at the small black seeds for a moment, her mentor's words echoing within her head about the correct dosage.

Too little, too much, just enough.

Two seeds were gently nosed onto the pile of waiting herbs before the fresh apprentice lifted her head to glance at Sandblaze. He hadn't moved, which gave her an indication that she was doing well so far, and that he trusted her instinct and abilities.

It caused a warm feeling to squirm around within Ebonypaw's chest, proud of her work even if it hadn't been that long since she left the nursery and her mother's side. 

Dropping the packages off beside both sick warriors, the black feline touched her nose to an ear of both Redclaw and Silentmask. They were both burning up despite the chill around them, and the scent of sickness grew stronger with each passing day.

It almost caused the young she-cat to recoil, but she kept her posture before fetching a soaked ball of moss for each warrior, hydration being needed. Finally, she returned to where Sandblaze waited for her.

"What is the lesson for today?" Ebonypaw asked, attention shifted as her kittish innocence showed for a moment, green pools wide as she watched her mentor.

6 Moons StoneClan Medicine Cat Apprentice

Fate of Five Staff || Made by Fawn || 545 Words