[Fawn]

Pulvis et umbra sumus.

6 Moons NightClan Kit

The medicine cat's den had been a curiosity of his for the past two moons. Once he had matured enough to be interested in anything beyond snuggling up to Echobreeze or playing mossball with the other kits, Shadowkit had naturally felt a gravitational pull towards Smokefur's den. She sometimes came in to see them, checking on the kits and queens for signs of sickness.

Ever polite, Shadowkit had minded his manners and stayed off to the side unless called for - resisting the urge to ask so many questions of the she-cat who didn't always have time to spare to answer them. With Echobreeze's permission, however, Shadowkit had been allowed to visit.

Thornpaw, Darkpaw and Cobrapaw were so busy with their training now, that Shadowkit had plenty of time to himself. Being what felt like the only kit in the nursery meant he was prone to wandering NightClan's camp - allowed to stick his whiskers into everything so long as he was quiet and respectful.

The peculiar scents of so many different kinds of plants overwhelmed him at first, and Shadowkit cocked his head, entering the medicine cave with slow, reverent steps. "Smokefur?" He forced the nervousness out of his voice, trying not to let it squeak. "Smokefur, are you here? If you're not busy, I - I was hoping to ask you some questions."

Shadowkit's thin black ears flicked, trying to catch the sound of Smokefur's answering mew or even the rustle of herbs that meant she was busy. He could always come back later - but he didn't want to. If he didn't get some of these questions out now, Shadowkit suspected he was in danger of bursting.

We are but dust and shadow.

Word Count: 276 Words
Tags: @poptart

[Deleted]

At that moment Smokefur was indeed inside her den toiling away, if her actions could be described in such a way. It was getting harder to keep herself busy as much as she tried. Smokefur's nonexistent store of herbs was always constant at the end of leafbare, and sickness in the clan that came with said season was on the decline. Usually with free time Smokefur found herself gathering herbs in the territory, however the warm weather hadn't coaxed any growth to replenish her stores with.There was nobody to treat, nothing to sort and no way of getting more herbs. All these circumstances found the medicine cat pushing around the dried up husks that were the remains of her once glorious herb stores, this gave off more of a crackly rasp than a gentle rustling. Upon hearing the voice of Shadowkit inquiring about her time emanating from the entrance to her den Smokefur's ears perked up instantly as the medicine cat hastily replied "Of course, Shadowkit, come in."

Word Count: 168

Tags: Fawn

Notes:

[Fawn]

Pulvis et umbra sumus.

6 Moons NightClan Kit

Shadowkit eagerly padded forward. Now that he was here, he almost didn't know where to start with the questions. However, the young tom liked to be both orderly in behavior as well as the mind, so he quickly sorted his questions by priority. The big ones first. The ones he was yearning to ask.

"Echobreeze told me that medicine cats can speak to StarClan. Is this true? How do you talk to cats that are dead?" This was the quandry that had been burning at the forefront of his mind ever since he had listened to his mother's explanation of what a medicine cat was. To him, that was the greater power than being a leader or a deputy of a Clan.

It was mindboggling to know that Dimstar had nine lives - but he was not told secrets by StarClan. He didn't have the ability to heal the sick, or deliver kits, or interpret signs from their ancestors. What does it take to be a medicine cat? Did you have to be special from the moment you were born?

"Did you know that you were going to be a medicine cat? When you were my age?" Shadowkit blurted, and then quickly apologized for getting ahead of himself.

We are but dust and shadow.

Word Count: 197 Words
Tags: @poptart

[Deleted]

Smokefur nearly purred when she saw the tom pad into her den, so young and curious, and she quickly sat herself in front of him so the learning could begin. Perhaps the medicine cat was getting her hopes up and his questions were trivial, however Smokefur knew some of the most satisfying memories she had was explaining her mysterious art to Nightclans' young. Thus with ears perked she listened to the first of Shadowkit's questions and was not disappointed. "Ah, Echobreeze has not deceived you, however it is more accurate to say that Starclan speaks to you. I cannot speak to them whenever I wish, so I must be patient and trust Starclan will speak to me when the time is right." Hoping that Shadowkit was satisfied with the answer she waited for his next question and received one she had been asked many times before. "There is no need to apologize Shadowkit, however I cannot say any cat knows completely what their future holds. At your age I had decided I was going to be the best medicine cat I could for the clan."

Word Count: 185

Tags: Fawn

Notes:

[Fawn]

6 Moons NightClan Kit

StarClan speaks to them, not the other way around? It was a little disappointing to know that Smokefur couldn't simply talk to dead cats whenever she wanted to - she must've missed her sister, right? - but maybe that was the way things ought to be? If you could talk to the dead as much as you wanted... Shadowkit wasn't sure he'd ever run out of questions for them. Maybe that was dangerous, having more friends in the stars than down here in the Clan.

Before he could go down that thought-path any further, Smokefur's explanation ensnared the slender tom.
"Really? What did the medicine cat before you say? Did you have to pass a test?" Prove that you instinctively knew what herbs to use? Shadowkit hoped that wasn't the case. With the exception of using moss to soak up water, he didn't know the names of or understand the functions of the herbs in Smokefur's stores.

Maybe you have to get StarClan's approval first? That sounded right. Eager to drink in more answers to his many questions, Shadowkit willed himself to sit and be patient. It was fortunate that the healer's den was so empty right now; not only did it mean that the Clan was healthy, but it meant he did not have to feel apologetic for taking up so much of Smokefur's time. This felt... more right to him, than practicing pouncing techniques with his sisters.

We are but dust and shadow.

233 Words @poptart Notes