[Abyss]

Rustpaw

Rainclan She-Cat

I'm talking with a big smile

"Yeah, I haven't been this rank for super long. I was asked if I wanted it when I was-"

"Do not waste time if they don't need more help."

Amber eyes looked to the side, mouth still slightly agape from speaking but being interrupted. Narrowed blue eyes looked to the ruddy she-cat from a few tail lengths away, another cat at the other molly's paws whose paw appeared to be twisted. Her ears bent back a tad, the trainee Medicine Cat looking back to the Apprentice who laid at her own paws. They had been sick, still in shock from the whole situation they were in and with a stomach ache. But she had been talking to them for a little while, distracting them with conversation to ease their nerves. They were from another clan, so she asked about their family and how their training was going, and what home was like. But, as she was apparently learning, engaging in a form of healing that wasn't physical wasn't allowed in circumstances like these, even though it seemed to her there was a lot more mental damage than there was physical.

Rustpaw's eyes looked sadly to the other Apprentice's for a moment, and they returned the expression, before she turned and looked for the next cat that appeared to be in any sort of peril. Though her search was cut off by a voice.

"Rustpaw, could you come here please?" Her head turned, spotting a very dark and tall figure not too far away, eyes locked on her own. Padding forward, she actually recognized this cat as Batear, a she-cat from Lightningclan, and the mate of Kindleflare. The young femme had made sure that she remembered the names of all of those who were adamant in helping the Medicine Cats with their work, and this Warrioress was one of them.

"If you aren't too busy, we need more of this herb." The black she-cat lifted her paw, a particular white flower clasped between two of her claws. Rustpaw did recognize this herb as comfrey, but whether or not she would find said herb in the mountains was debatable. She could try her best, though.

"Yes, I can. I will go no-"

"It was decided that no cats should go out alone. We don't know what the earthquake did to any of these areas, so it's better that you have at least one other cat with you, preferably a Warrior."

The rusty red she-cat nodded lightly, glancing briefly around her at what faces were nearby. It was unintentional, but she did lock eyes with someone. Someone very specific. And it caused a dull flush of heat to spark through her stomach.

She had spotted him for a small period of time the first day all the clans fled to the Tribe. She didn't know who he was, or which clan he was from, or even his name. She had never seen him before in her life. They hadn't talked, or interacted, or even really saw each other at all since that first day. Or, at least, she hadn't seen him since that first day. She didn't purposefully seek him out, nor did she really have any reason to find him. They had spotted each other, and it was hard to tell if it had been a casual accidental glance or if it had been for a reason. From a distance, she had mostly remembered him because his coat was a lot like hers, in color at least. Beyond that, nothing else had stuck.

But this time was slightly different. He was closer, and she got a better view of his face. She did recognize him as the same cat she saw the first day, but she couldn't help but notice very briefly that his coat wasn't exactly like hers. Her pelt was a tad more red than his was. Maybe it was the light.

Suddenly realizing that she had begun to stare, lost in thought, she turned her eyes away quickly, looking back to Batear somewhat nervously, but hiding it from her voice.

"Y-yeah, I will find someone. I'll bring back as much as I can."

She turned, trying her best not to look in that direction again. She didn't actually know if he was still looking at her, or if he had overheard the conversation, or if he was even still there. But she didn't really want to try and find out, just in case. Instead, she glanced around, focusing on finding someone to ask. But who...

but they haven't got a clue.

756 | @shelby | First encounter of many!