[Deleted]

Smokefur limped into the darkened hole where she, as well as most of Nightclan, spent a majority of their time. Another routine day had gifted her another routine wound that needed treated, and a trail of small blood droplets occasionally dotting the grounds white canvas marked the aging she-cat's journey through clan territory. The aforementioned trail traced back to the site of a small tumble Smokefur had taken, the evidence apparent in the disturbed snow. Normally such wounds would be no problem for an experienced medicine cat who hat treated a countless number of ones like it before, however this one was out of reach for Smokefur and was proving to be a problem. Smokefur's graying muzzle appeared first as she entered the medicine cat den and called to her denmate. "Shadowchaser, are you around?" Her eyes had adjusted enough to see a shape moving in the darkness, "I need some help treating a cut on the back of my leg."

Word Count: 161

Tags: Fawn

Notes:

[Fawn]

curiosity is not a sin...

...but we should exercise caution with our curiosity

Shadowchaser

Shadowchaser tucked the last feather into his nest and answered his mentor's summons, tasting blood on his tongue as he spoke. "Of course, Smokefur. What happened?" The chestnut tom abandoned thoughts of insulating his nest and focused on the task she had given him; it had been a long, long time since he'd been Shadowpaw, bright-eyed and eager to please. But this matured status he'd reached hadn't come at the cost of his enthusiasm for their craft - even if he didn't look quite so giddy nowadays.

While she stood, Shadowchaser circled around to sniff the back of her leg, then rasped his tongue over the scratch to clear away the blood and bits of soil obscuring his view. It wasn't a terrible scratch, by any means. He still did a routine check for inflammation and infection, before nimble paws carried him to their herb stores in the back of the cave.

Shadowchaser returned with a small piece of dock; chewing, chewing, chewing, until he had a paste to apply to Smokefur's leg. He spoke as he pawed the poultice onto the site of injury. "Mind the sting." Shadowchaser's whiskers twitched with a sudden self-deprecating smile. "Sorry." Of course she knew dock stung. He was treating the cat who had taught him everything.

Some things just become routine, Shadowchaser thought. He hoped, however, that treating Smokefur wasn't one of them. She could take care of herself just fine, and yet he'd noticed the gray around her muzzle and the way her pelt lacked that gleaming lustre of a younger cat. Echobreeze was showing the same signs of advancing age, and Shadowchaser's heart clenched, uncertain how he should feel.

Aging was a natural part of life. And yet, it made him think of the days ahead when he would not be able to get out of his nest and see them anymore.

medicine cat of nightclan

@poptart | jk rowling | background image | table by phoenix

OOC: Maybe have Smokefur bring up Foxstar's health in your reply? Foxstar was injured at the Greenleaf Gathering, and contract FIV from fighting the foxes. Probably suffering from fevers, weight-loss and poor appetite at minimum.

[Deleted]

Smokefur watched as Shadowchaser quickly set to work, beginning by deftly cleaning her wound whilst questioning her about how she had been injured. "I slipped off an embankment." Smokefur began remembering her tumble from earlier. "I hit a few rocks on the way down." Smokefur watched as Shadowchaser disappeared deeper into their den and waited patiently for him to return with dock. As a veteran medicine cat herself Smokefur was more than ready for the sting that accompanied treatment with dock and responded to Shadowchaser's apology with an understanding nod. "I know you would never patronize me Shadowchaser." As she continued to age Smokefur hoped it would never get to the point where her mind had gone and she was shepherded around by her former apprentice out of ceremony. After a moments thought it seemed appropriate that she add, "At least you had better not!" After which she finished the quip with a sly grin.

Word Count: 155
Tags: Fawn
Notes:

[Fawn]

curiosity is not a sin...

...but we should exercise caution with our curiosity

Shadowchaser

Shadowchaser purred back with all the affection of a student for their teacher. She was getting older, but her sense of mischief was still there. Something about NightClan she-cats... They were always so... alive. Some cats could fade into the background, never becoming distinct, never creating a deeper impression than just surface politeness - Smokefur wasn't one of those cats.

"Please be more careful," he mewed gently, hoping she wouldn't think he was patronizing her after that quip. He didn't speak to her as if he were speaking to a kit; rather, to a parent. "Between Pinewhisker, Blackwolf and Foxstar, we don't need any more chronic injuries." Foxstar wasn't chronically injured, not like Pinewhisker and Blackwolf were. But their leader was not herself, not after the greenleaf gathering. She was slow to get her strength and energy back. Blackwolf and Pinewhisker had bone-deep injuries that had healed into limps, aching joints or cold-stiff limbs during rough weather. But Foxstar?

Shadowchaser's golden eyes lost focus, his thoughts drifting far away as he mulled over the conundrum of Foxstar's health.

"Has she spoken to you, recently? Mentioned anything?" It was too much to hope for that Foxstar would take some time off from her duties to pay them a visit, but Shadowchaser couldn't completely count out the possibility that Smokefur had taken matters into her own paws.

medicine cat of nightclan

@poptart | jk rowling | background image | table by phoenix

[Deleted]

Smokefur took her former apprentices words into advisement, thankful that Shadowchaser showed genuine concern for her safety. The life of a medicine cat could be a lonely one, however since she had opened her den to the younger tom she had gained a trusted companion and a lifelong friend. Another body to heat up the den during the coldest moons, even as muted as it could be in Nightclans' camp, was also an added bonus. This didn't mean she would ever take it easy on Shadowchaser though and found it impossible to resist giving him a hard time by quickly launching into another quip. "I have no intention of joining that list Shadowchaser, as I see it I'm going to live forever." However a somber tone quickly enveloped the conversation as Smokefur replied to the tom's next question. "She hasn't said a word, but I think she knows as well as we do that something isn't right."

Word Count: 157
Tags: Fawn
Notes:

[Fawn]

curiosity is not a sin...

...but we should exercise caution with our curiosity

Shadowchaser

"I've seen her trying to cool her paw pads in the snow, or the ambush pond." Shadowchaser spoke softly, as if the danger of being overheard by the Clan was very real. He didn't want to alarm anyone - or worse, start adding truth to the murmurs (often led by Blackwolf's little gang) that Foxstar was not fit to lead. Foxstar cooling her paws wouldn't be so unusual if it wasn't Leafbare. That was obvious signs of a fever, and though there were some days when their leader's eyes looked bright and alert, those days were often short and inconsistent.

The dark tom frowned, puzzlement and concern sharing the grimace on his face. "What do you suggest we do?" Shadowchaser looked at their herb stores. "Something I've noticed in my sisters: pride can sometimes get in the way of making a good decision. A lot of cats won't ask for help because of something like pride - or being afraid of showing weakness in front of the cats they care about. We can't force treatment on her, but sitting on our paws doesn't feel right either."

medicine cat of nightclan

@tagged | jk rowling | background image | table by phoenix

[Deleted]

Smokefur was well aware that Foxstar had been attempting to cool herself down and had come to the conclusion that fever was likely to blame just as Shadowchaser had. After allowing Shadowchaser to finish speaking Smokefur couldn't help but snort at the toms' final comment however. Smokefur's former apprentice was nothing if not polite, however he still needed to learn to embrace the full extent of his authority. The young medicine cat would be better for it in the long run, even if his clanmates would likely deem him to be pushy. "Shadowchaser it doesn't matter if it's the crankiest elder or the leader of Night clan, we can treat anybody whenever we see fit." It was a simple assertion but it made clear what their next course of action was to be. "Perhaps since we have both seen signs that worry us it's time to give her a proper examination?"

Word Count: 151

Tags: Fawn

Notes:

[Fawn]

curiosity is not a sin...

...but we should exercise caution with our curiosity

Shadowchaser

He felt like an apprentice all over again - or maybe he hadn't really left that title behind, full name or not - a sheepish expression softening his features. Smokefur was right, they had the right to treat anyone in the Clan regardless of rank. Knowing this absolute truth, however, didn't make forcing his way into Foxstar's presence for a mandatory health check any easier to do. Shadowchaser suppressed a sigh; he had not been gifted with that certainty and confidence of his three littermates. If he could channel even an ounce of their ferocity, their purpose, he could--

"Perhaps it is." A tired mew severed Shadowchaser's thoughts; his eyes widened as Foxstar approached, coat dull and clinging to her bone structure like old cobweb. Any joy he felt over Foxstar seeking them out herself was short-lived; she... did not look well.

"I believe I am in need of a medicine cat's help. Again."

Shadowchaser tasted the bitterness of her words on his tongue, seeing exactly where her thoughts were going -- right back to the Greenleaf gathering. To the fox attack that had wounded her and left her weak for moons now. Leaf-fall had gone by and her symptoms had stagnated, up until the cold, powdery transition to leafbare.

"We'll do what we can to help you," he spoke gently, stepping aside to give Foxstar the right to sit or stand where she pleased. He yielded to Smokefur's authority, head cocked to watch their ailing leader as though she had become a puzzle he couldn't quite figure out.

medicine cat of nightclan

@poptart | jk rowling | background image | table by phoenix