Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2019 4:14:40 GMT -5
Comfrey was not plentiful in LightningClan’s territory, but it could be found if one knew where to look, and Tigereye knew there was a nice, healthy clump of the plant growing near the mountain border. With Eaglescreech as his escort, the medicine cat made straight for the border. The other tom followed after him, dragging his paws and muttering to himself, “Should have gotten an apprentice to do this stupid job. I’m not a medicine cat. Shouldn’t be carrying herbs around.”
Tigereye cast a wary glance back at him but Eaglescreech was staring off across the meadow wistfully, clearly wanting to be anywhere but here. With a sigh, he continued on. Warriors just didn’t understand, particularly the younger ones. “You know, Eaglescreech… you can… you can hunt if you want, when we get there. I won’t be making much noise or anything….”
The other tom’s ears pricked, clearly more interested in hunting as an activity, “That’d be great. I guess I won’t be able to wander too far or I won’t be able to protect you from anything, but I should be able to catch plenty anyway.” He puffed out his chest, clearly quite confident in his abilities.
“Great,” Tigereye responded genuinely. And upon reaching their destination, Eaglescreech parted from him to try to find some nearby prey. Tigereye set to work digging up the comfrey. He’d already dug up a few roots when suddenly-
“What are you doing?”
He leaped back, his fur on end, as she stared wildly at the stranger across the border. The gray and white tom’s head was tilted, his yellow eyes intensely curious. “Ah-ah-uh… I… I’m… comfrey. Comfrey roots. I’m digging them up. Who… who are you?”
“Oh. I’m Hemlock. Sorry for scaring you. Didn’t mean to,” the tom dipped his head slightly in apology and, seeing that he was being friendly and non threatening, Tigereye’s fur began to lie flat. “So you’re a medicine cat?”
Tigereye was surprised that the loner knew about medicine cats, “Yes…. I am. I’m Tigereye. Kindleflare’s apprentice.” Maybe the loner wouldn’t know what that meant.
Hemlock nodded, seeming to understand, “So what do you do with comfrey root?”
Tigereye’s amber gaze widened, surprised that the other tom cared. Only medicine cats ever seemed to care what herbs were for. “Uh, well. You chew them into a poultice to help heal broken bones, and it’s good for soothing all sorts of wounds too.” Hemlock took a few steps forward and Tigereye took a hesitant step back.
“Don’t worry. I won’t hurt you. I just want to see what they look like. My sister and I live alone and it would be good to know about herbs, if either of us gets hurt or sick,” Hemlock’s open curiosity was rather refreshing, and Tigereye found himself nodded at that logic.
“Oh. Sure. You can have a look,” he picked up one tangle of roots and brought it over to the border, setting it down between them. Strange, he was normally more on edge around strangers, but maybe Hemlock’s real interest in herbs was helping him feel more at ease?
The loner tom leaned down to sniff at the roots, closely studying the leaves still attached, “So you just chew up the roots and put them on a wound and they help them to feel better? What about the leaves? Do they do anything?”
“We usually line elders’ nests with the leaves to help with aching joints,” he explained, “You can chew the leaves up and use them the same as the roots, but the roots work better.” Hemlock nodded, clearly paying close attention, and Tigereye felt a bit of pride at his knowledge, and being able to share it with someone else. Especially if the knowledge could help this cat later on. He imagined it must be hard to be a loner without a medicine cat to go to when you were sick or injured. “If… if you or your sister ever need help… you can ask my Clan for me. I’ll help you.”
Hemlock blinked at him in surprise, “Really? Your Clan wouldn’t mind?”
Tigereye shifted, unsure, “Well… maybe…. But, if I can help you, I’d like to.”
Hemlock’s whiskers twitched, “I’d like to learn about more herbs. Then I could take care of my sister on my own and you wouldn’t have to worry about your Clan getting upset with you.” A strange look passed over the tom’s face, but Tigereye had no idea what it was, or why. “Would you, maybe, be willing to teach me a little? Just some basic things, so I can take care of my sister if she needs it. She… she’s done a lot for me and I don’t know where I’d be without her. I’d like to be able to take care of her if she got sick, or hurt.”
Tigereye knew that feeling all too well. He had no idea where he’d be without Lynxfire’s support either, and he was glad he could be useful, that he could take care of her too, when she needed it. That they could take care of each other. He nodded, “I’ll definitely teach you-”
“HEY!”
They both startled as Eaglescreech’s yowl suddenly sounded, the tom’s pawsteps drumming the ground as he raced closer.
Hemlock turned to go, “Meet me after dawn tomorrow?”
Tigereye nodded quickly, “Sure!” And then Hemlock was running away, and Eaglescreech came to a skidding stop at the border, snarling.
“That’s right, you better run you mangy rogue!” Eaglescreech called after him before turning to Tigereye and giving him a look over, “Looks like you’re lucky I showed up when I did. He looked like he was about to pounce!”
Tigereye’s ear flicked in mild annoyance. He did not. But Eaglescreech would certainly not understand that the two of them had actually been having a nice conversation, nor was he likely to approve of him teaching a loner herblore. He suddenly felt a little guilty. Should he have agreed to teach Hemlock without talking to Kindleflare about it first? But he’d already told the tom he would be here tomorrow….
“So, are you done or what?”
Eaglescreech’s voice broke him from his thoughts and he glanced back at the meager pile of roots he’d gathered thus far, and felt guilty again. He’d let Hemlock distract him from his duty. “Ah, not yet. I need a few more.”
Eaglescreech grumped, “Well, hurry up would you? I’m gonna go fetch the black bird I caught and I’ll be right back, so don’t worry if that rogue shows his face again.”
Tigereye nearly rolled his eyes at Eaglescreech’s bravado and sighed as the other tom darted off. He hadn’t even stopped to really find out what was happening. Hemlock hadn’t been a threat at all, but Eaglescreech had been ready to attack without asking a single question. He returned to his work, feeling conflicted over it all.
Greenleaf 26 - The day is sunny but mild, with occasional clouds.