[Deleted]

Rowanpaw had just returned from a routine patrol with her mentor (to monitor the borders) when she realised she was limping. It hurt to put weight on her rear left leg, to the point where she was trying to actively avoid doing so; leaving her with a funny, disjointed gait. 

No, this won't do... I can't hunt later with my paws like this. I need to get this sorted.

Gingerly, she put weight on the affected leg. A sharp, shooting pain went from paw-tip to shoulder. It was clearly in pain. Rowanpaw had to stop herself from crying out, the pain was so bad. Slowly, agonisingly, she made her way through the camp, favouring her three working legs, stopping every so often to say a pain-filled hello to the cats who were brave enough (or mad enough) to be out braving the rain. 

Scents overwhelmed her, of various cats and dens. First she passed the warrior's den, still containing some of the sleeping warriors who had gone on the dawn patrol. Then she passed the nursery, hearing the mewling of kits and the proud, almost amused purrs of their mothers. The scent of milk was heady. 

Funny. Rain makes everything smell much better. Clearer. I can scent much better now than I could before. 

Finally, she made it to the entrance to the den where Sandblaze and Ebonypaw made their home. The scent of all the different herbs washed over her, but there was one scent in particular she was searching for. 

"Ebonypaw? Are you there? I've hurt my paw."

266 / Ghost the Undead Goddess

[Ghost the Undead Goddess]

Ebonypaw,

Livin' in ruins of a palace within my dreams

It wasn't often that the black coated feline wasn't busy. Even if there was no training to be done, or herbs to be found within the territory, it wasn't uncommon to see her busying herself with her work. Sometimes she tested her memory when it came to the herbs they kept and their uses, sometimes she just reorganized the stocks she and her mentor kept. 

For this day however, she was curled up within her warm nest and enjoyed a rare nap. With the weather the way it was it practically drained all the energy from her wide, flat paws. Taking a cue from Sandblaze, who had also opted for a mid-day snooze, the large feline tucked up with a paw over her nose. 

Her sleep was dreamless, and she felt like she had barely closed those pale green pools before someone was calling out for her. It took a moment to stir, ears flickering as the voice broke through the small fog surrounding her brain. Giving a yawn, Ebonypaw finally lifted her head, noting that Sandblaze had yet to stir from his own rest.

Though, the apprentice was now relying less and less on her mentor. Her teachings and lessons working well, she herself growing into a find young healer as time went on. While she still held a large curious streak, she seemed to be maturing as days went by, that cranky elder temperament of hers showing more and more. (Much to Rabbitfur's amusement.)

Giving a quick stretch, Ebonypaw slipped her way from her den out into the rainy weather. Which immediately dampened her mood, long black fur growing wet with each second. It would practically take forever for it to dry out, not to mention the time it would take to re-groom such a mess.

Unreadable green pools, pale in color, spotted the source of the voice, favoring a hind-leg as she stood, waiting ever so patiently for the tail-less healer to appear to her summons. Upon first inspection there was no blood and no bones protruding from places they shouldn't be. The young apprentice wasn't panicking or frightened, so it could be something fairly simple. 

"It certainly seems that way." Ebonypaw spoke in a proper tone, sharp and almost irritated by nature. She simply had a bigger bark than her bite, as her mother put it nicely. It was generally wise to just let her words roll down the flank like water, harmlessly.

Hopefully Rowanpaw had tough skin.

Sniffing the leg, the nub tail of the Medicine Cat flicked slightly. "Tell me what happened." It was probably a simple injury, fixable with a few herbs and light activity until healed. It wasn't uncommon for new apprentices to come back home after their first day with sore or bruised paws. 

12 Moons StoneClan Medicine Cat Apprentice

@calico || Made by Fawn || 483 Words

[Deleted]

The rain was not treating Ebonypaw's long, thick pelt nicely. At all. Rowanpaw barely noticed it - the pain in her paw that was radiating up her limb was taking the majority of the small cat's attention. The medicine cat apprentice spoke in a brusque tone - but she wasn't upset. Rowanpaw knew that it was just her way. So she wasn't offended in the slightest. In fact, she had nothing but respect for the bob-tailed cat. 

Rowanpaw had no idea where Sandblaze was - hopefully keeping out of the rain. Maybe out to gather some herbs? It was safe to assume there were some herbs (though she had no idea what they'd be or what they'd be used for) that would flourish in the rain. 

Which left her wondering. Would there be herbs she'd need to consume to help with her pain? Maybe it would be wrapped up? 

"It certainly seems that way. Tell me, what happened?"

Gritting her teeth through the pain, Rowanpaw straightened her leg out, causing a fresh spasm of pain to rocket through her small form. 

"I've just come back from a patrol with Valiantstride. We were monitoring the borders - all is good, nothing to worry about. It's just very wet out there. Nothing but rain, rain and more rain. I didn't notice the pain until I got back into camp. The short walk from the entrance to here was agonising. I can't remember twisting it, but I suppose I may have done? The paths are slippery out there. I remember I trod on something sharp, because I asked Valiantstride what it was I trod on. Just a stone, by all accounts. Could you please take a look? I've got to go out hunting later, and doing it with my paw like this will be basically impossible.

Thanks, Ebonypaw. I know you'd probably much rather be in your den relaxing in this weather. It means so much to me that you're willing to help."

Trying to keep her leg straight, Rowanpaw presented it to Ebonypaw for a closer inspection. 

349 / Ghost the Undead Goddess

[Ghost the Undead Goddess]

Ebonypaw,

Livin' in ruins of a palace within my dreams

The black feline twitched her ear, ignoring the urge to roll her eyes at her fellow apprentice. It wasn't that she didn't want to help Rowanpaw, she just wasn't exactly pleased to be out within the rain while it soaked her thick, long coat. Being uncomfortable was not something she actively tried to do. 

However, it was her duty to aid her clanmates when they needed it, and based on the movements and wincing of the younger she-cat, Rowanpaw was in need of her Medicine Cat. Or rather, Medicine Cat Apprentice, while Sandblaze continued to snooze comfortably within his warm, dry nest. 

"Of course I'm willing to help." Ebonypaw stated after a moment, her tone still somewhat sharp as she flicked her nubbed tail. What else am I going to let you do? Suffer? Though she kept those thoughts to herself as she continued with her sniff over of Rowanpaw's leg. 

It didn't seem like the leg itself was the problem, as she manipulated the limb and poked about with her large, flat paws. After paying attention to the paw itself, and getting a small wince in reaction, the black feline gave a nod mostly to herself. "Sit down, stick your leg out and spread your toes."

It was possible that there was a cut on the bottom, or more common, a small pebble. Living in such rough and rocky terrain was bound to lodge the little annoyances within toes and into cut pads of any Stoneclanner. There were always herbs to ease the soothing of such problems in cases which it occurred.

Most of the time the stone just needed to be removed and some sap applied to the injured, sore area. Maybe some herbs to ease discomfort if it still hurt to walk on the limb, and perhaps to take it easy for the rest of the day. But before she could work on fixing the problem, Ebonypaw had to make sure that was what was actually bothering Rowanpaw. 

12 Moons StoneClan Medicine Cat Apprentice

@calico || Made by Fawn || 351 Words