Barred from Exit (12LG'21)

rise from the smoldering pyre of wormwood and weeds
↫ ⭒ ☽ ⭒ 〄 ⭒ ☾ ⭒ ↬

Nettleplume was quiet on his pads as he entered the leader's den without ceremony. He paused only long enough to give Coldstar a brief, familiar head bump to the shoulder in greeting but it was distracted and perhaps a bit fleeting.

"Enjoying your moment of peace I hope." He murmured a bit dryly as he settled onto his haunches though the slight tension in its tip betrayed that this was not a social visit. "I won’t keep you long. I've just come from checking on Cottonbright." It had progressed quickly and Coldstar needed to know what should be done regarding her and the Clan's wellbeing.

"She's developed a cough. It began as something light. I wasn't concerned at first." His whiskers twitched faintly in irritation. "But it's deepened over the last day and could progress to Greencough."

He held Coldstar's gaze evenly.The words was spoken plainly without dramatics. "For now, I've taken her off active duty for the next few days to see how her cough progresses further. I don't want her pushing herself especially not near the nursery or elders' den. We all share the same warren."

He flashed him an exasperated glance. Nettleplume seemed in need of a rest too. "I was thinking...of moving my sick den to the apprentice den for the meantime"

❅ ⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅

I identify as a threat. My pronouns are Try/Me.

❅ ⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅

Coldstar basked in Nettleplume's affection before turning his attention to the Medicine Cat's concerns. Greencough wasn't anything to scoff at - especially with a nursing queen and kits to worry about. 

"That's a wise choice. I will assign several warriors or elders to assist you in moving what you need out to the apprentice's den." He paused, thinking. "You will tell me if there are any repairs needed? We are getting several new apprentices sooner than later. We may as well do an inspection of the den while we have cats who actually know what they are looking for living in it."

He sensed the stress emanating off Nettle in waves, and rolled slowly, and hooked his paw around on of his front legs. "You look like me." His dreams hadn't been attacking him as badly as of late - he was too tired to dream frankly. But that didn't stop the persistent feeling of unease that prevented sleep. "Sit a moment. Cottonbright will be alright without you at her side constantly."

He smoothed out Nettleplume's long fur. "You have thoughts. Not just about Cottonbright, but other matters as well? Share them."

rise from the smoldering pyre of wormwood and weeds
↫ ⭒ ☽ ⭒ 〄 ⭒ ☾ ⭒ ↬

Nettleplume nodded quietly towards Coldstar's suggestions. Elders appreciated feeling useful so maybe he'd enlist a few, including his old mentor. He sighed slightly when Coldstar caught his foreleg though he didn't pull away. The medicine cat settled where he was guided as his leader smoothed the long fur along his shoulder. "You're not wrong. Sleep hasn't been particularily generous."

There was a small pause. If there was any cat who deserved his trust, it was Coldstar. "Last night when I stepped out to gather the tansy I'd left drying…I saw a raven perched along the camp's edge."

Briefly he rested his head along the other cat's spine, chin angled towards him. "I saw one a few suns ago as well. Normally I wouldn't give it a second thought but I can't help but think back to that rogue's offer. " Nettleplume shifted his paws beneath him, shoulders tightening slightly as his plumed tail gave a thoughtful flick.

"The Mad Rogue will be stopped but I just...contemplate the cost." As long as they didn't have another debacle like Stoneclaw.

❅ ⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅

I identify as a threat. My pronouns are Try/Me.

❅ ⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅ ⭒ ❅

Coldstar continued to smooth put Nettleplume's fur as the medicine cat spoke. He couldn't recall the last time he'd seen him share tounges with anyone. It was a wonder all his fur hadn't turned into one giant rat's nest yet.

"Are you worried about us fighting the Rouge, or about Kosmo?" Both were major concerns of course, but he wasn't sure which one was keeping Nettle awake. "We won't suffer any losses if we are properly prepared. Stoneclaw was stubborn; not a bad quality to have but he should have retired alongside Boldstrike. But, as you know, he refused to do so." A stubborn old tomcat refusing help was hardly Nettleplume's fault. But it did cross Coldstar's mind that he may have been one of the first patients Nettlplume had lost since taking the mantel of lead Medicine cat.

Feeling the coiling of muscle beside him, he tried to coax him to at least stretch out. "If you were any more tense, I would think you'd shatter like ice."

rise from the smoldering pyre of wormwood and weeds
↫ ⭒ ☽ ⭒ 〄 ⭒ ☾ ⭒ ↬

Nettleplume was grateful for the reprieve, even if that meant knowing that something sooner or later would send him back to the trenches, so to speak. Compared to most in the Clan, the ticked cream tuxedo tom felt withdrawn and oft removed from the rest of his Clanmates. Lonliness was a complaint that needed no herbal remedy, but could have plagued him just as sorely if he was anything less than his usual aloof, cynical self.

Coldstar seemed anything but cold to him and he appreciated it.

"The Rogue is the obvious threat, but Kosmo's intensions aren't so clear. Does that make him equally threatening, more... or less so? I don't have an answer yet and I don't like admitting that." His cat lips were pursed together, brows furrowing in a manner that made him seem more like his kit-ish self. Then a smile teased along his mouth as his chin dipped over the other tom's shoulder, exchanging tongues again.

Maybe it was so Coldstar couldn't see the darkness that entered his blue eyes as he made an off paw mention of Stoneclaw, his first meaningful patient; one he could have saved if only...He tsked under his breath. Stoneclaw had denied him the practice...Nettleplume was oddly glad of that old fool's death.

"Sorry." He mewed as he pulled back to find his leader's eyes. The expression was lax now and well hidden. Sighing he extended himself out and half laid on his side, hoping to support some of his weight on him. Despite keeping to himself, his coat wasn't a complete disaster at least.

"Once I check up on Cottonbright and get the move out of the way you should give me an escort to the Gorge Edge. It gets a good amount of sunlight so the garlic and basil there should be ready to harvest."