[Abyss]

Rustpaw

Rainclan She-Cat

I'm talking with a big smile

Leaffall Day 16: Days are noticeably getting shorter, with several more hours lasting before the first few rays of dawn hit the valley.

“Rustpaw, please take these to Cygnetwing in the Elder’s den. Tell her to chew them until her bellyache feels better.”

Round amber eyes looked down to the ground as Dewfrost nudged forward a pair of ridged green leaves. Her head lowered closer to them, a small inhale making her crinkle her nose and pull back.

“What is that?”

“That is peppermint. It is used to treat bellyaches and sore throats. The smell makes it very distinguishable.” Explanation finished, the predominantly white Medicine Cat shifted and turned away, continuing her previous task of sorting and organizing her stock of herbs.

Even though the ruddy Apprentice wished to help in this process, it was the knowledge that a clanmate was in pain that urged her to do as she was told. She had been seeing a lot of the old white-furred Elder recently, so it only made sense that she be the one to take her some herbs. She knew the old feline would appreciate the delivery.

Although the scent brought a light tingling feeling in her nostrils, she found that the taste was even more intense. The moment she scooped up the herb with her jaws, both the scent and the slight taste on the tip of her tongue made a majority of her mouth feel tingly. It almost reminded her of a less-painful burning sensation, which was very strange to experience in the form of an herb.

Nonetheless, the small-pawed she-cat whipped around and began to trot her way out the entrance and to the Elder den. She passed by a few Warriors who offered a small nod of the head in greeting, which she returned with a bright smile. Just as she arrived to the den, she felt her tail beginning to twitch with the slightest ping of excitement going through her.

“Cygne-” Right as she began to call out the name of the white feline, a small front paw caught the back of the other, causing the young she-cat to stumble forward. In contrast to previous events such as this, she instinctively jolted her paw sideways, catching herself. She blinked a few times in surprise, shocked that she actually didn’t fall forward. With this little thought, another bright smile and a spark in her eye sent a littleburst of confidence through her chest.

I’m finally starting to catch myself!

With a beaming look on her features, she speed-walked into the Elders den, quickly dropping the herbs at her feet and looking to the white Elder in front of her. Returning the Apprentice’s gaze with her own darker amber orbs, Cygnetwing offered a kind smile.

“Good afternoon, Rustpaw.”

“Cygnet! You missed it! I started to trip coming into the den, but I actually caught myself and didn’t fall!” She couldn’t help the excitement that rushed through her voice, paws lightly lifting and tapping against the ground in joy. This brought forth a chuckle from the white she-cat’s maw.

“You are doing better at controlling those paws, then.”

The rusty red she-cat eagerly nodded, her smile never faltering. But it was the remnant of that tingling feeling that reminded her of why she had come here in the first place, causing her eyes to widen for a moment. She then reached down with her nose and nudged forward the leaves she had brought with her.

“Oh! Dewfrost told me to give these to you. She said to chew them until your bellyache goes away!”

Cygnetwing nodded, reaching forward and taking the herbs in her jaws. Compared to Rustpaw’s reaction when the leaves touched her tongue, Cygnet didn’t seem to mind too much. Perhaps she was used to chewing on those leaves, or just was more fond of that taste and feeling than Rust was.

“I wanna stay and visit, but Dewfrost was sorting herbs when I left, and I wanna go and help! So I will come see you again later!” With a smile and the slightest wiggle of her behind, the red she-cat turned and made her way out of the den.

Just as she did so, she caught a flash of dark fur out of the corner of her eye, causing her head to turn. Expecting to see a clanmate, she was surprised to find that the cat she was looking at was not a fellow Rainclanner. With the smallest whiff of a foreign scent brushing at her nose, her ears perked and it dawned on her. It was one of the other Medicine Cats!

Upon looking closer, she found that it was the dark black and brown tom from Nightclan, one of the multiple cats she had met when she and Dewfrost attended the Medicine Cat meeting.

“It’s you! Hello again!” With the same bright smile, the little she-cat trotted up to the tom, tail flicking in the air behind her. As she grew closer, though, a realization hit her. Did she remember his name correctly?

“You’re….Sh….Shadow…” It took her a brief moment of thought, but it came back to her with another flick of the tail. “Shadowchaser! From Nightclan! Right?”

but they haven't got a clue.

846 | Fawn | Notes

[Fawn]

curiosity is not a sin...

...but we should exercise caution with our curiosity

Shadowchaser

Luminous golden eyes were large and bright, as was characteristic of the NightClan healer. Though he was obviously of a different Clan, just like at the Medicine Cat meeting, there wasn't a trace of animosity. The greeting he gave was as friendly as it would be for one of his own Clanmates. "Hello Rustpaw! That's right," he purred, a blossom of warmth unfurling in his chest at her enthusiasm (and good memory). "You remembered my name. Well done, considering we only just met yesterday! I'm sure Dewfrost has you doing so many things. Lots of herb names to memorize. Is she busy? I can come back if that's the case."

Though the bundle of goldenrod and a couple of drying strips of alder bark at his paws suggested he had business with Dewfrost, Shadowchaser's temperament was such that he did not mind being turned away. He was, after all, a visitor, and it was hard to predict when a fellow medicine cat would be busy or would have a bit of idle time. With the herb ban officially lifted (a situation that had filled him with such dismay, when he'd first heard of it), there would be plenty of time to visit later.

Noticing the young ruddy kitten looking at him and what he had brought, Shadowchaser's purr subsided, making way for an inviting tone as he prodded each bundle. "It's leaf-fall now so the goldenrod is blooming around the valley. I also brought alder bark. Do you know what each of these herbs are good for, Rustpaw?" His curiosity was genuine, and the gentle tone he spoke with conveyed not an ounce of urgency or pressure. As far as scary NightClan cats went, Shadowchaser was about as threatening and forceful as a caterpillar.

medicine cat of nightclan

Abyss | jk rowling | background image | table by phoenix

[Abyss]

Rustpaw

Rainclan She-Cat

I'm talking with a big smile

In the time that Rustpaw had been an Apprentice, both of a Warrior and of a Medicine Cat, there was one thing that was nearly always told to her the same: Nightclan was full of demented cats. Dark-furred creatures who stalked the shadows and had no sense of morals. During her time in the Apprentice Den, she heard dramatic denmates saying how Nightclan cats ate kits that are weak and that they start training at 3 moons. Obviously, these things were probably not true. It had to be just the imagination of young cats who had much more story-telling skills than she did. But, despite having a feeling that they were just being silly, there was still that tiny bit of fear there.

Luckily, based on what she had experienced both at the Medicine Cat Meeting and here, at this moment, Shadowchaser was not a monster. Far from, in fact. He seemed like such a nice cat, and he was so polite! He even brought herbs with him on a visit! If this tom was this nice, maybe Nightclan wasn’t as bad as she was told? Maybe? Hopefully?

A beam flashed in those round amber eyes at the black tom stating her guess was correct. Granted, it wasn’t really a guess, but that didn’t matter.

“Of course I remember! Dewfrost told me that I’m gonna be seeing all of the other Medicine Cats at least once a season, so I need to remember all of you!”

At the tom’s question of whether or not her mentor was busy, she blinked twice and glanced over to the den in which her mentor was residing. When she looked back to the larger feline, she just lightly shrugged, though still held a bright smile as she did so.

“She was sorting herbs last I checked. But she’s been doing that most of the morning, so she’s probably done by now! I was just heading back to help.” As she went to take a step, the small she-cat happened to look down, finding a leaf wrapped around a bundle of herbs at his paws. Her head gently tilted, somewhat recognizing them but having trouble pinpointing their names off the top of her head.

At his inquisitive prompt, she lowered her head slightly to look at the herbs, reaching out a tiny paw to prod at the herbs. With a little black claw, she found one of the herbs, a bunch of small gold flowers connected to a green stem, hanging from the claw. She lifted the herb up to near-head-level, her head tilting to look sideways at the plant. It wasn’t entirely clear what exactly she was doing, but perhaps it was helping her identify it?

Blinking a few times, she lowered the herb and lightly shook her paw in an attempt to release the plant as she spoke. “I know that this is Goldenrod, and I remember that you chew it up into a paste. It’s used for…...open cuts and scratches? I think?”

Glancing down again, the Goldenrod back in its previous spot, she saw the other item he had brought with him, tilting her head again. As its name suggested, it seemed to be bark from a tree, but she wasn’t entirely sure about it. There was a silent moment of thought before she spoke again.

“If it’s bark...I think it’s used for…..biting down on when you’re in pain?” The question slowly became slightly higher pitched and more questioning the further it progressed. Her shoulders slightly lifted near her cheeks as she looked back up at the tom, one ear flattening in slight embarrassment.

“We’ve mostly been focusing on flowers. I don’t know much about berries or barks just yet, ” she couldn’t help but feel a tiny bit guilty. She felt bad for not knowing the true answer to his question, if her guess was incorrect. But, at the same time, she knew that she was still new to this, so maybe it was ok that she didn’t know yet. She would learn, she was determined to. Maybe she could get some lessons from Shadowchaser!

but they haven't got a clue.

686 | Fawn | Cuteness overload T.T

[Fawn]

curiosity is not a sin...

...but we should exercise caution with our curiosity

Shadowchaser

"I'll stop by and see if she has a moment to spare," Shadowchaser replied, happy to cut the trip short so as not to get in Dewfrost's way. Rustpaw studied the herbs he'd brought, reciting as best she could what each one did. Shadowchaser found himself nodding encouragingly, his whiskers twitching with a touch of mirth as her voice got higher and higher with uncertainty. "We usually use sticks, to bite down on for the pain. But you're close, it's still related to the mouth. Alder bark is good for toothaches. I usually soften it with water so it's a little easier to chew."

StarClan help the poor cat that tried to chew dry, rough alder bark with an aching tooth.

Fortunately it was one of those herbs he didn't use very often, but there were other uses for it. "I like to use it for splints too, just to add a little more stability." said Shadowchaser. "You're doing very well, the valley is just bursting with so many different plants that we can use to help our Clanmates. Don't be upset if it takes you a while to memorize all of it. There's a reason we don't do patrols or hunting trips, we're using our heads for other things." The chestnut hued tom swept his tail around the area, beyond the reeds and long-leafed ferns that made up RainClan's camp. "It's exciting when you walk around your home and realize you recognize almost every plant you come across." Shadowchaser's eyes sparkle. "You'll even learn about the plants we don't use, like weeds, to make sure they don't end up in any of our herb piles."

"Are you stealing my apprentice, Shadowchaser?"

He turned his head, spotting Dewfrost standing nearby with a sharp look and a rare smile. She had grown colder since they'd first met, no doubt a side-effect of grief for a mentor who had been... extremely, extremely unpopular at the time of Dewfrost's training. But Dewfrost and Shadowchaser were still on good enough terms that she could thaw a little around him.

Shadowchaser purred. "No, but only because it would start a war. How are you? I see you have your paws full." Rustpaw's enthusiasm was pleasantt and refreshing. It made him remember why he loved being a healer. The chance to pass on that knowledge to a promising young cat, just as Smokefur had done for him... ah, he could dream.

"Well enough," replied Dewfrost, before addressing Rustpaw. "Did Cygnetwing get her herbs?"

medicine cat of nightclan

Abyss | jk rowling | background image | table by phoenix

[Abyss]

Rustpaw

Rainclan She-Cat

I'm talking with a big smile

Even though her answers had been more so slightly-educated guesses, the spark in his eye that pushed her forward brought a smile and a small rear-wiggle to the small she-cat. Sure, her presumption about the alder bark had been wrong partially, but she had still managed to get close.

Listening to the true usage of the bark, her head slightly tilted, unsure exactly of how bark would help soothe a toothache. Though, his explanation of softening it with water made more sense. As he continued with his description of how the bark was used, her ears twitched, picking up on the fact that he said ‘I like to use it’ rather than ‘it is used for’. Did Medicine Cats all have different ways of using the herbs? Were there multiple uses for every herb? When common sense kicked in, she supposed that they both made sense. Each of the Medicine Cats were in different clans with different types of territory, so there were probably herbs and uses for them all over the valley that she may one day learn about. This thought sent a little string of excitement through her chest. Memorizing so many herbs and usages and treatments would be difficult, but, like Shadowchaser said himself, she had lots of time to learn. And, even better, she had Dewfrost and all the rest of the other Medicine Cats to learn from.

Upon hearing a familiar voice, round amber eyes turned to find a particular white and brown-patched feline standing nearby, watching the two of them. Tiny paws began to lightly tap in place against the ground when she spotted her mentor, immediate instincts telling her to announce that they had a visitor from Nightclan. But obviously she already knew that. It wasn’t as if she couldn’t see the black and brown tom herself.

Though, the words that they spoke brought forth curiosity, her gaze shifting between the two cats in momentary confusion. What would start a war? Rustpaw wasn’t extremely familiar with the act of war, other than knowing it was when two clans or multiple began to fight. But what did that have to do with them?

She had questions, but it was another question that pulled her from her own mind, gaze looking back to her mentor. Her face brightened, her tail lifting and flicking behind her.

“Yes, she did! I told her I would go check up on her later to make sure it helped!” At the thought of going back to see the old she-cat again, her small body shook for a moment in anticipation. It was this little burst of eagerness that reminded her of the herbs that Shadowchaser had brought with him.

Looking to the side and down quickly, she reached out with her small jaws, carefully picking up the bundle of herbs. With this, she trotted with small hops over to her mentor, wide eyes gleaming up at the older she-cat.

“He even bought erbs wif him, ” she spoke through closed jaws, words slightly messed up and muffled. But it was the moment she finished speaking that what she said dawned on her, causing her head to swivel around on her shoulders, looking back at the tom. Along with her head, the top of her torso turned with her, though her back end stayed facing forward. Her body shifted into an odd position with this, but it didn’t seem to bother her any.

“Wait, these are for usth, right?” Her words still emerged slightly muffled, but either she didn’t notice or just wasn’t fazed. There was a quick ping of both hope and guilt that poked at her chest, for she didn’t actually know if the herbs he had brought with him were actually meant for them to take. The thought of having picked up and taken herbs that weren’t actually meant for Dewfrost and herself made her slightly nervous. Shadowchaser was a nice cat, though, so even if that was the case, she was sure that he would be forgiving about it. Hopefully.

but they haven't got a clue.

672 | Fawn | notes

[Fawn]

curiosity is not a sin...

...but we should exercise caution with our curiosity

Shadowchaser

Shadowchaser laughed. It was neither mocking nor cruel, but came from a genuine place. "Yes, those herbs are for you and Dewfrost. It would be rude of me to show up without a gift. I was hoping to trouble you for some coltsfoot?"

Dewfrost's tail flicked in surprise. "You've never had to ask for coltsfoot before. Did something happen?"

It was a quick transition from joy to sheepishness, and he raised and lowered one shoulder in a soft shrug. "A pack of deer trampled through the marshes recently and the coltsfoot suffered for it. Fortunately we've had enough to get by, but I think it's best to have a bit more just in case." Shadowchaser relived the dismay he'd felt upon seeing the trampled, muddied bell-shaped flowers and sodden leaves of what he'd always thought was a fairly pretty plant.

Accepting this explanation, Dewfrost nodded gently. "We have enough to spare. Rustpaw, take those herbs into the den. Sort the ones you recognize, leave the ones you don't." The fluffy she-cat waved her tail for them both to follow, and the NightClan medicine cat eagerly did so.

Shadowchaser quietly marveled at Dewfrost's take-charge attitude, but he couldn't help noticing a touch of coldness in her demeanor. Swanfeather's death had struck Dewfrost extremely hard, and though Shadowchaser only knew the tip of the iceberg involving the drama Swanfeather had been caught up in, there was a sense of scar tissue clinging to the formerly pleasant, eager she-cat.

The chestnut tom followed Rustpaw and Dewfrost to the medicine cat's den, and he studied the thick reed walls curiously. "How do you keep your herbs from getting blown away? It doesn't feel very insulated."

Dewfrost indicated a small pile of acorn-sized rocks nearby, before making a beeline for the stack of coltsfoot leaves. "River pebbles. It's insulated just fine, but its better to be safe than sorry." The she-cat nudged one of the pebbles off the pile, and split the stack in half, then in half again. "If you need more, come back. You know where to find us."

The dark tom bobbed his head in agreement and gratitude, nimble paws carefully folding the herbs into a tighter bundle that would be easier to carry.

medicine cat of nightclan

Abyss | jk rowling | background image | table by phoenix

[Abyss]

Rustpaw

Rainclan She-Cat

I'm talking with a big smile

A bright smile half-hidden behind the bundle of herbs clamped between her jaws formed on the small she-cat’s face. Momentarily she took into consideration the fact that while he did have a point in terms of gifts, she had trouble remembering if any other Medicine Cats had done that in the past. At least, the past that she was alive during. If she remembered correctly, she couldn’t pinpoint a time in the past when a Medicine Cat had come to visit Dewfrost, carrying herbs as a gift or otherwise. Then again, for a majority of her time walking the valley she had never actually known the Medicine Cats who occupied the other clans. It wasn’t until the last week or so that she had learned of the others, considering her new-found requirement for this information.

Though, despite this small boost of confidence that the young ruddy molly found herself experiencing, it was quickly replaced by a twinge of awkwardness. Directly after the tom’s confirmation of the herbs serving as a gift, he turned his attention to Dewfrost, requesting what she assumed was an herb. The two spoke back and forth for a short amount of time, but even with the brief period she found herself unsure of what to do. Dewfrost had not given her another demand, nor had Shadowchaser asked her anymore questions or given her any orders himself. It was safe to assume that her mentor would want the herbs taken inside the den and organized, but there was that moment of curiosity when she wasn’t quite certain if it would be rude for her to just walk away.

Finally, she was spoken to again. With a quick nod, the rusty red Apprentice turned and began a combination of a prance and a trot towards the den, her tail lifted high behind her with a joyful swish per step. Though she believed herself ahead of them, it didn’t take many steps for Dewfrost to be at her side and ahead of her. Perks of being tall and cons of being short with small paws. She didn’t mind, though. While her paws and small size were a pain in the tail a majority of the time, it wasn’t as though she could change them at will.

Within the confines of the den, Rustpaw set the bundle down, using a single unsheathed claw to push the two herbs into separate piles. While they couldn’t really be classified as actual piles, given the small amounts, she still found herself naturally becoming the sort to organize as she was organizing. Prior to her promotion from Apprentice to Medicine Cat Apprentice, she didn’t really consider herself a tidy cat, but she wasn’t messy either. Perhaps it was just the sudden duty of sorting herbs that prompted her to keep her possessions and the clan’s storage neat. Or maybe Dewfrost had that effect on her own. Regardless, she found herself enjoying the task of organizing, even if she wasn’t entirely sure of what it was that she was sorting.

As Dewfrost padded smoothly to her side to go about her own business, round amber eyes scanned through the many herbs looking for the piles that contained similar plants to the ones Shadowchaser had given them. It was rather easy to find the alder bark, but the goldenrod…..there were quite a few flowers that looked similar, some more so than others. It took her a moment, but she finally spotted their store of the flower towards the back. Just as she placed the couple sprigs into the clump, Dewfrost spoke, the tone within her voice sounding more somber as though she was giving her parting words.

Darker red ears perked at this, quickly looking to the side at the dark tom in the entry of the den. Even he seemed as though he was getting ready to part ways with them, with made a rather sad expression cross the young she-cat’s face.

“Aww, do you have to go? I wanted to learn more about what plants grow in Nightclan!” Though what she said could have sounded rather demanding, she knew that she didn’t have the right or the power to order around the Medicine Cat of another clan, much less a cat she assumed to be far older than herself. She did wish for him to stay, but she had a feeling this request would be denied. He had his own clan to attend to, afterall.

but they haven't got a clue.

742 | Fawn | notes