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[atrb=border, 0, true][atrb=vAlign, top] [STYLE=float: right; background-color: #000033; color: #669966; font-size: 9px; font-family: verdana; width: 390px; padding: 5px; font-weight: bold; text-transform: uppercase;]Medicine Cat // StoneClan // 48 Moons // Tom[/style] [STYLE=float: right;][/style] [STYLE=float: right; background-color: #000033; color: #669966; font-size: 30px; font-family: arial narrow; width: 380px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; text-align: right; letter-spacing: -2px;]BLACKEAGLE[/style] [STYLE=float: right; background-color: #006666; color: #669966; font-size: 9px; font-family: verdana; width: 360px; height: 400px; overflow: auto; padding: 20px; text-align: justify;] It was almost dawn when Blackeagle awoke. It is time now. He got up from his nest and stretched before he walked over to where Ivypaw slept in the den. He prodded her gently to awaken the she-cat. He knew that she needed to be trained, and now was going to be the time. First, he was going to teach her the herbs and what they do. Them, they would go looking for some. He was running low on marigold, and maybe they could find some hiding under brambles. Once she young she-cat woke up he looked a there. It is time for your training little one. We shall start with learning the herbs and what they do, then we shall go and look for some later. His black tail flicked toward the store and he walks over to it. He goes to where he keeps the herbs bundled up and he starts to pull the leaf bundles out one by one. He would teach her the scents as well, that way, she could find them just by scent. Once all of the bundles were all out of the storage area, he started to unwrap them. He could smell a few that were old and non usable now. Ivypaw can pick those out if she can tell by scent which ones they are. The reason it had to go by scent, was because the looks on the leaves did not change with the old age, not until they got so old, that they crumpled at a gentle paw touch. When the she-cat arrived to him and flicks his tail for her to look at the leaves. Now, I want you to guess which leaves are which, and I will tell you if you are right. His tail laid next to the only yellow herb they had in their storage. It was also the one that was the lowest as well. To find this herb though, they had to go on the border of TreeClan and LightningClan so that they could find wild patches on their side. It usually never happened, but at times it did. [/style]

[STYLE=text-align: center; font-family: verdana; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold;] template by darkee of btn.[/style]

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Ivypaw woke to find a black paw prodding her side. She blinked wearily and tried to identify the cat who had woken her and with surprise she found it was Blackeagle. It must be time for training! she though to herself gleefully. She ran through her mind all the possibilities of what they could be doing; Maybe we're going out to collect herbs, or maybe he'll show me the herbs or even our territory! Maybe-
Her thoughts were cut off by Blackeagle's meow.
It is time for your training little one. We shall start with learning the herbs and what they do, then we shall go and look for some later.
Ivypaw beamed up at her mentor and quickly got to her paws, "Great," she mewed enthusiastically. She stretched her legs and surpressed a yawn, her gaze flitting around the den. She still wasn't used to waking up in the Medicine Cat's den and she just loved the scent of herbs in here.
Ivypaw followed her mentor over to the herb store, her green gaze now alert. Blackeagle had begun to pull leaf bundles out of the stores. Once they were all carefully placed on the den floor, the medicine cat began to unwrap them.
Ivypaw noticed that some of the herbs that Blackeagle had unwrapped were old and crinkled. The creamy pale ginger apprentice was afraid that if she touched them, they would break into a million tiny piece.
Afraid that she would blow them all away, Ivypaw held her breath.
"Now, I want you to guess which leaves are which, and I will tell you if you are right."
Blackeagle rested his tail on a yellow herb, the only one Ivypaw could see. Frowing, she strained her mind, What herb could it be?
"Is it Marigold? No, Goldenrod?" she studied Blackeagle's expression for answers. She had often snuck into the medicine cat's den as a kit so was familiar with some of the names of the herbs.

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[atrb=border, 0, true][atrb=vAlign, top] [STYLE=float: right; background-color: #000033; color: #669966; font-size: 9px; font-family: verdana; width: 390px; padding: 5px; font-weight: bold; text-transform: uppercase;]Medicine Cat // StoneClan // 48 Moons // Tom[/style] [STYLE=float: right;][/style] [STYLE=float: right; background-color: #000033; color: #669966; font-size: 30px; font-family: arial narrow; width: 380px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; text-align: right; letter-spacing: -2px;]BLACKEAGLE[/style] [STYLE=float: right; background-color: #006666; color: #669966; font-size: 9px; font-family: verdana; width: 360px; height: 400px; overflow: auto; padding: 20px; text-align: justify;] He was happy that she was enthusiastic for training. He knew that most apprentices would rather sleep in. Well, Medicine Cats rarely ever get to sleep. Healing their clan was their job, and now, he was going to teach Ivypaw the joys of this job. Blackeagle watched as she thought on the herb that his tail rested near. Is it Marigold? No Goldenrod? He shook his head on both. He removed his tail and picked up a good yellow herb and placed it at her feet. This, Ivypaw, is Celandine. It is hard to find, for we can only get it off the TreeClan and LightningClan borders, if any stray that far. He then carefully picked up the bundle that the yellow herb was in and he placed that in front of her as well. Take in the scent well. For we need more of this. Celendine is used to sooth any eye injury a cat might get. What do you think soothes it? The Juice, or just putting a pulp on the eye? After she answered this question, she would have to go through the small bundle and take out all of the old and dying herbs. For then, Blackeagle would know how much they would need to gather later in the day. [/style]

[STYLE=text-align: center; font-family: verdana; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold;] template by darkee of btn.[/style]

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Ivypaw shrunk a little and let an "Oh," escape from her mouth. She had got it wrong, it wasn't Goldenrod or Marigold, it was Celandine.
She brushed off the mistake quickly though, she had only just started her training, she would know every herb one day.
She sighed dreamily at the thought. Yes, she decided, I'm going to be the greatest medicine cat the whole clans have ever seen!
Satisfied, she observed her mentor's actions closely and this time she really thought hard when Blackeagle asked her the next question.
"Take in the scent well. For we need more of this. Celendine is used to sooth any eye injury a cat might get. What do you think soothes it? The Juice, or just putting a pulp on the eye?"
The creamy pale ginger apprentice inhaled the slightly sweet scent of the yellow herb. Tilting her head to one side, she thought carefully. She had never heard of a pulp being put on a cat's eye, so Ivypaw was pretty sure it couldn't be that. So it had to be the juice.
Having made her decision, the medicine cat apprentice sat a little taller and meowed confidently, "The juice."
Her gaze trailed back to the herbs. Some of them looked old and worn, like elders living out their last days, "Those herbs don't look very good," she commented.

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[atrb=border, 0, true][atrb=vAlign, top] [STYLE=float: right; background-color: #000033; color: #669966; font-size: 9px; font-family: verdana; width: 390px; padding: 5px; font-weight: bold; text-transform: uppercase;]Medicine Cat // StoneClan // 48 Moons // Tom[/style] [STYLE=float: right;][/style] [STYLE=float: right; background-color: #000033; color: #669966; font-size: 30px; font-family: arial narrow; width: 380px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; text-align: right; letter-spacing: -2px;]BLACKEAGLE[/style] [STYLE=float: right; background-color: #006666; color: #669966; font-size: 9px; font-family: verdana; width: 360px; height: 400px; overflow: auto; padding: 20px; text-align: justify;] This was her first lesson, so he was not going to get mad. Later on, if she made the same mistake, he might be wondering what she is concentrating on instead of her training. He looks down at the plants as well and he purrs lightly. That is correct. True, it was also common sense, but that was good Ivypaw. He flicks his tail on her side then. He looks at her then when she commented on the old ones and he nods. Yes, the old one needs to come out. That is what you are going to do now. I want you to sort through all of the Celendine and get rid of all of the old ones. From you doing that, we will then know how much we need to collect. He steps back from the pile then and he walks over to a different pile. He would get ready for her next herb. Maybe I will try a poison that I have. He kept them all the the way in the back of the store, but he had them in case that they were ever needed. He figured that she should be done sorting through them by now and he picks up the bundle that has the little red berries. He placed them beside the Celendine before he picks those up and takes a quick look. Not bad, but we will still need some more. He thought before he tied the bundle once more and put it to the store again. He walked back over to Ivypaw and the next bundle and he looks at her. Now, what is this? He asked her. The bundle held small red berries. He knew what she needed to do with them, but he was testing her now. He was surprised that he even had these, but it was here. [/style]

[STYLE=text-align: center; font-family: verdana; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold;] template by darkee of btn.[/style]

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Ivypaw was so ecstatic that she had actually got the question right that she was almost quivering with excitement. She re-composed herself quickly, her green gaze once again focused on all her mentor's movements.
"Yes, the old one needs to come out. That is what you are going to do now. I want you to sort through all of the Celendine and get rid of all of the old ones. From you doing that, we will then know how much we need to collect."
Ivypaw nodded enthusiastically and without another word, set to work. Quickly identifying an old herb, she picked up the first bundle neatly in her jaws and set it down gently on the floor of the den, away from the other bundles.
Soon, a pile formed beside her and Ivypaw found the last bundle of herbs and placed it on the top of the pile as a 'pièce de résistance'.
Smiling, her startingly green gaze searched for her mentor. Blackeagle returned to her side, carrying a small bundle of red berries.
"Now, what is this?"
Ivypaw frowned, studying the bundle. She took a deep breath, instantly wrinkling her nose in disgust when she got a whiff of the small red berries.
They didn't look or smell like any herb she knew. In fact, they looked more like a poison. Poisonous plants and berries she knew were often brightly coloured, usually yellow or red, like these.
"Are they..." she paused, "Deathberries?"

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[atrb=border, 0, true][atrb=vAlign, top] [STYLE=float: right; background-color: #000033; color: #669966; font-size: 9px; font-family: verdana; width: 390px; padding: 5px; font-weight: bold; text-transform: uppercase;]Medicine Cat // StoneClan // 48 Moons // Tom[/style] [STYLE=float: right;][/style] [STYLE=float: right; background-color: #000033; color: #669966; font-size: 30px; font-family: arial narrow; width: 380px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; text-align: right; letter-spacing: -2px;]BLACKEAGLE[/style] [STYLE=float: right; background-color: #006666; color: #669966; font-size: 9px; font-family: verdana; width: 360px; height: 400px; overflow: auto; padding: 20px; text-align: justify;] He nods his approval when she got the berries correct. "That is correct, now these, I shall sort through myself, for I do not need to to accidentally swallow one." He picks the bundle back up and places them in a secluded area in the den. He looked through the bundles he had next to him then and he grabbed one of them. He knew that this would be easy, but it was important to know in case of a simple injury or if a cat goes into shock. He moved his way around the bundle filled den then and he places the bundle in front of her. "Now, this should be an easy one to figure out." He moves the leaves so she could see the little seeds in the bundle. Next to the leaves, there were also the red flowers that the seeds came from. He backs away from this bundle and sits down next to her. His tail flicked and covered itself around his paws as he waited for her. He was happy that StarClan gave him the image for Ivypaw to become his apprentice, but he was just worried to as of why StarClan is making him have an apprentice now. He is not considered an elder yet, but sure enough, he was getting close enough. He let the thoughts go. StarClan always knew that they were doing, no matter what the clans thought about it. Blackeagle focuses back on his apprentice and he watches her and keeps his sights out for any cats who may need assistance in something. [/style]

[STYLE=text-align: center; font-family: verdana; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold;] template by darkee of btn.[/style]

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Ivypaw peered at the next bundle of herbs that Blackeagle had set down for her to identify. This time it was too easy, "Poppy seeds!" she burst out, her green gaze brimming with pride. When she had been a kit, her sister had got a thorn in her paw and the medicine cat had given her poppy seeds to help her sleep; Ivypaw smiled at the memory. The red flowers which bore the seeds lay beside the bundle, fresh and crisp like a cold leaf-bare day,
Her gaze raked the rest of the herb bundles in the store. A small bundle of sweet smelling herbs caught her gaze. Ivypaw inhaled the scent and suddenly felt almost like she was in a dream, I have to know what that herb is! she told herself.
Smiling, a little sleepily, she meowed inquisitively, "What herb is that?" her tail pointed towards the sweet-smelling herb.
It was a leafy plant and smelt a little of the wind and rocks, telling her it must be found in StoneClan's territory. Not that it would come from anywhere else.
Perhaps it was used to make cats sleep, after all, that was what it had almost done to her. There were so many possibilities! Maybe it cured an aching belly or a cold?
She loved learning about all the herbs and illnesses.
The creamy pale ginger she-cat smiled to herself, despite the cold, she loved being a medicine cat apprentice.

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[atrb=border, 0, true][atrb=vAlign, top] [STYLE=float: right; background-color: #000033; color: #669966; font-size: 9px; font-family: verdana; width: 390px; padding: 5px; font-weight: bold; text-transform: uppercase;]Medicine Cat // StoneClan // 48 Moons // Tom[/style] [STYLE=float: right;][/style] [STYLE=float: right; background-color: #000033; color: #669966; font-size: 30px; font-family: arial narrow; width: 380px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; text-align: right; letter-spacing: -2px;]BLACKEAGLE[/style] [STYLE=float: right; background-color: #006666; color: #669966; font-size: 9px; font-family: verdana; width: 360px; height: 400px; overflow: auto; padding: 20px; text-align: justify;] He let out a purr of amusement when she was happy to have gotten that herb right. He flicks his tail lightly and watches her. He saw the curious look in her eyes. He purrs lightly again before she puts the poppy seeds away. He walks back out to be asked a question about a herb. He looked down at the herb that she was describing. He looked at the herb and he picks up the bundle and walks over to her. "This is Catmint. Do you know what it is used for?" He asked her. He was curious. It had a pull on her that it did not have on himself, but that was probably only because he knows what it tastes like. The tom walked over to the remaining bundles and he looked around. He walks back over to her then and he sits down next to her. "This is a herb that we are going to make sure stays good. For it might be needed." He hoped that StoneClan did not catch greencough, but that was never decided by him. The tom looks outside of the den and he flicks his tail around him. He liked how the clan could be so lively for it being leaf-bare. It made him happy. It also made him happy knowing that they were starting to trust him once more. It has been told that he was told to go on the mission for the previous medicine cat. He missed his mentor, but he also knew that the old tom was just that, old. Blackeagle looks back to Ivypaw as he waits for all of her questions and answers, and even comments if she had any. He loved how teh she-cat was willing to learn, it reminded it of himself when he was her age. He missed those days, but at the same time, he did not miss it either. He was happy where he is now, no matter what happened in the past. [/style]

[STYLE=text-align: center; font-family: verdana; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold;] template by darkee of btn.[/style]

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"This is Catmint. Do you know what it is used for?"
Ivypaw tilted her head to one side at Blackeagle’s question; deep in concentration.
Catmint. The name did ring a bell, but where had she heard it before? For some reason, she kept thinking of fevers of coughs, but she still couldn’t been sure.
Meeting her mentor’s amber gaze, she shook her head, "I-I’m not sure," she admitted, hanging her head a little lower. She was about to ask him what it was for, when it hit her, "Wait! Is it for some kind of greencough or whitecough or something?" she asked, praying to StarClan she had gotten it right.
Ivypaw felt like there was so much expectation piled on her shoulders. She had been chosen by StarClan, if she got something wrong in a real life situation, that could be the difference between life and death.
She shuddered a little at the thought of a cat dying at her paws. No, she thought fiercely, that must never happen. Shaking the thoughts from her mind, the creamy pale ginger she-cat concentrated on other things.
Being a medicine cat means I’ll get to see kits delivered, she reminded herself, though with a heavy heart she realised she could never have any of her own, But I can share in the parents' joy, she thought with a smile.
Sitting up a little straighter, she waited for her mentor to answer.

[Deleted]

[atrb=border, 0, true][atrb=vAlign, top] [STYLE=float: right; background-color: #000033; color: #669966; font-size: 9px; font-family: verdana; width: 390px; padding: 5px; font-weight: bold; text-transform: uppercase;]Medicine Cat // StoneClan // 48 Moons // Tom[/style] [STYLE=float: right;][/style] [STYLE=float: right; background-color: #000033; color: #669966; font-size: 30px; font-family: arial narrow; width: 380px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; text-align: right; letter-spacing: -2px;]BLACKEAGLE[/style] [STYLE=float: right; background-color: #006666; color: #669966; font-size: 9px; font-family: verdana; width: 360px; height: 400px; overflow: auto; padding: 20px; text-align: justify;] He watched her closely as she thought on the uses of catmint. He does not blame her for being a bit unknowing of this herb. Not only was he happy to not have to use it, but it was a hard herb to keep safe. The plants itself get frost bite very easily, and that kills the plant for the rest of the season. When she spoke softly about being unsure, he was about to tell her when she jumped on a question that was an answer. He purrs then and nods gently. "yes Ivypaw, it is used for whitecough and greencough. I like to try and catch it early so it does not turn into either of those two, but sometimes, it can not be caught quick enough." He pulls the herbs over to her to let her look at them and he thinks of one other thing. "Do you know why there is so little of the catmint right now?" This was a good question, but kind of tricky if you are not a medicine cat apprentice, or a medicine cat, or even a warrior who helps gather these herbs. One thing Blackeagle wants to make sure to get enough of was this herb here. He just hopes that the supply is still well. [/style]

[STYLE=text-align: center; font-family: verdana; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold;] template by darkee of btn.[/style]

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"Yes Ivypaw, it is used for whitecough and greencough. I like to try and catch it early so it does not turn into either of those two, but sometimes, it cannot be caught quick enough."
Ivypaw tilted her head to one side in confusion. But sometimes it cannot be caught quick enough? What did Blackeagle mean.
Her heart stopped. No, he didn’t mean they died, did he? She stared at Blackeagle, green eyes wide, "Y-you mean they died?" she asked, voice trembling a little.
She had never really thought much about dyeing and death being part of the job of a medicine cat. She had known, of course, but she had always assumed death could be prevented.
What if when I’m a medicine cat, I can’t stop them dyeing?
The creamy, pale ginger she-cat shuffled uncomfortably at the thought of dead cats to her name and shuddered.

[Deleted]

Blackeagle looked at his apprentice and he sighs sadly. He walks over to her and nudges her softly. "Yes, they died. But with the two of us, we can stop that." Hopefully. He added in his mind. He wanted his apprentice to be happy and like being his apprentice. He looked around and saw that most of the herbs had been identified and he looked at her.

"I say, we take a break for today. Later on, we can do some more training, and maybe go and hunt down herbs okay." He mewed softly to her before he put the rest of the bundles back into storage. He did not want to wear her out, and he also did not want her to feel the burden of being forced with all knowledge in one day.

Once the bundles were put back, he walked over to her and he nudges her to the opening of the den. "Go, eat and play with the kits and any apprentices who are done training. You deserve it after your lesson today." He licked the top of her head gently before he himself walked out of the den and to the fresh kill pile.

[Deleted]

Training over? Already? Ivypaw was smiling on the outside, but deep down she was a little dissapointed. She loved learning about all the herbs and testing her skills, but if Blackeagle thought that was enough for today, then she would accept it.
Dipping her head to the medicine cat, she mewed her thanks, "Okay, thank you!" she shuffled backwards a little, green eyes filled with respect for the medicine cat, before turning around and bounding off in the direction of the apprentices' den, Perhaps she could make some new friends?

{End of thread, I guess?}