Nettlepaw & whoever should need him
Some medical cattery afoot!
The medicine cat's den, inside the warren
3
rise from the smoldering pyre of wormwood and weeds
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Not only did his duties include the usual in memorizing cattery information and putting them into practice, but also the more menial business that apprentices were expected of. Mintpaw couldn't do everything on his own, and Nettlepaw had decided to freshen up the bedding in the medicine cat's den. First the sick den, fluffing up the nest with bites of moss and downy feathers, but also Willowfrost's and his own personal nest further the warren.
His focus was occupied with straightening the lining of his own nest - of which he saved for last. His main priority was the sick den, and then the comfort of his own mentor, who was conveniently out checking to see if one of their herb patches were productive. With any luck she'd return back with some, and while Nettlepaw would have wished to go, there was too much work to be done here.
Using a bit of his weight, he forced the last sprig of moss to comply before finally taking a moment to himself. His paws inevitably carried him over to the many knots and nooks both from the weaving of Twinwillow's root and carved from the soil itself. Once Willowfrost returned he hoped he'd receive some practical training. A small part of his mind wandered... How was Mintpaw doing with his apprenticeship, he wondered.
FROM RIVERCLAN:
Cottonbright, ♀ Anxious Warrior
Nettleplume, ♂ Cynical Medicine Cat
Merrypaw, ♀ Steadfast Apprentice
Otterwhisker, ♀ Adventurous Elder
FROM THUNDERCLAN:
Brindlespice, ♀ Selfish Warrior
Bravesong, ♂ Gracious Elder
Leopardrose, ♀ Striving Warrior
Wildcry, ♀ Fierce Elder
Rimekit, ♀ Rowdy kit
FROM WINDCLAN:
Cloudflare, ♂ Suave Warrior
Barleyswipe, ⚧ Ornery Elder
Heatherkit, ♀ Sweet Kit
FROM SHADOWCLAN:
Palestar, ♀ Stern Leader
Honeyglow, ♂ Reserved Elder
Emberdust, ♀ Artless Warrior
Duskpaw, ♂ Opportunistic Apprentice
FROM WHITEHART & BEYOND:
Ahryndae, ♀ Princess of Camelot
Lelouch Von Noon, ♂ Marquess of Noon Cattery
Kosmo, ♂ Visionary Feral
Montgomery (Monty), ♂ Sentimental Semi-Feral
Mistykit had curled up next to Otterwhisker for a nap, having been tired and a little sniffly, only to wake up finding the sniffling had completely shifted to where she was wheezing and stopped up. She had tried to cough and sneeze the congestion away, but it didn't seem to work. After the second round of sneezing, while the other kits had been playing, Otterwhisker had picked her up and taken her to the medicine cat's den.
Setting her down, Otterwhisker gently instructed Mistykit to go see the medicine cats. The lilac kit had been a little apprehensive but after another round of sneezing and hacking up a mouthful of blech, she slunk her way down into the medicine cat's den. She tried to remember the names of the cats who belonged in here. Her voice sounded muffled from the congestion and had a hesitant note as she called out. "Willowbreeze? Nettlepaw? Are ya in here?"
rise from the smoldering pyre of wormwood and weeds
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Nettlepaw hadn't heard the older she-cat as she shifted with her kit in the burrow beside his own. His fringed tail was filling out as he aged, and was taking a bit more of his adult shape and size, as its trailing fur swept the ground. The den was filled with a comforting mix of herbal perfumes, lingering on his fur. Lavender was a scent shared by Willowfrost, who always suggested he keep himself generously dusted for its naturally calming effect. Probably had some effect on him too.
Until he heard the tiny pattering of approaching footsteps and a horrendous hack of phlem that caused his attention to shift. His sights turned eye level, but dropped his gaze when he recognized one of Otterwhisker's kits. Although he was quick to admit that this one wasn't one of her blood kin, but the foundling promised by Starclan. His lip twitched. "I am here, but Willowfrost is out collecting herbs." He stated simply, if not a bit bluntly. Any kit would be afforded some graces, but Nettlepaw wasn't the most tolerant of cats, even if her origin threatened to intrigue him time to time.
He stared down at her, watching her breathe, a bit muffled. Cough. Congestion. He listed every symptom mentally, before asking. "What do you w - Err, what seems to be the problem?" Catching himself in the act of reminding himself that Otterwhisker was probably nearby.
FROM RIVERCLAN:
Cottonbright, ♀ Anxious Warrior
Nettleplume, ♂ Cynical Medicine Cat
Merrypaw, ♀ Steadfast Apprentice
Otterwhisker, ♀ Adventurous Elder
FROM THUNDERCLAN:
Brindlespice, ♀ Selfish Warrior
Bravesong, ♂ Gracious Elder
Leopardrose, ♀ Striving Warrior
Wildcry, ♀ Fierce Elder
Rimekit, ♀ Rowdy kit
FROM WINDCLAN:
Cloudflare, ♂ Suave Warrior
Barleyswipe, ⚧ Ornery Elder
Heatherkit, ♀ Sweet Kit
FROM SHADOWCLAN:
Palestar, ♀ Stern Leader
Honeyglow, ♂ Reserved Elder
Emberdust, ♀ Artless Warrior
Duskpaw, ♂ Opportunistic Apprentice
FROM WHITEHART & BEYOND:
Ahryndae, ♀ Princess of Camelot
Lelouch Von Noon, ♂ Marquess of Noon Cattery
Kosmo, ♂ Visionary Feral
Montgomery (Monty), ♂ Sentimental Semi-Feral
Mistykit's ears perked as she saw the larger cream tom glance at her before she flattened them at the twitch of his lip and his words to her. She had said the medicine cat's name wrong and even before she had said anything else, he was annoyed at her.
She ducked her head and lowered her eyes as she began to take a few hesitant pawsteps backwards. "M'sorry." After her earlier cough, he voice was a little hoarse, the words soft but apologetic. "Y-yer busy. I'll jus' let Otterwhisker know an' come back later."
Even as she was attempting to back her way back out of the medicine cat's den, Mistykit could hear her foster mother clearing her throat pointedly and winced. "I keep sneezing'.... an' when I cough, I gets yucky stuff in my mouth. An' my nose feels like it gots moss in it." Her blue and copper gaze darting up briefly to glance at Nettlepaw before staring at her paws again though her voice had become a little hopeful. "C-can ya makes it go 'way?"
rise from the smoldering pyre of wormwood and weeds
↫ ⭒ ☽ ⭒ 〄 ⭒ ☾ ⭒ ↬
He felt his ears begin to warm under her tiny scrutiny, a whistling, weedy apology causing him to exhale slowly, measured. It was clear the kit was absolutely appalled, but it would be necessary to come out of her shell if she wanted to become a confident member of Riverclan. An ear flicked in the direction of the warren, feeling Otterwhisker's presence that practically sent a shiver down his spine. At this point, he listened carefully to how the kit described her symptoms. He bent a little closer to her so she woudln't have to painfully project her voice, although he wasn't sure if it seemed more predatory or caring to do so in her eyes.
"How has your appetite been?" He asked her. Either way a sick kit would have to be separated from the rest of the clan, and only hoped the other kits or Otterwhisker wasn't showing any symptoms. Nettlepaw gave her a pointed nod, even if she may not have seen it. "Of course I can make it go away. You just wait here." He instructed her as his lifting eyes caught Otterwhisker as she peered into the den, trust in those teal eyes. Willowfrost was teaching a competant apprentice, even if he was a bit prickly.
Nettlepaw went away with a flurry of his pluming tail sweeping behind him. Peering at the stores he pondered the exact way he should give his treatment, not questioning the herbs - that was obvious to the tom, but... His eyes fell on some stored honeycomb and blinked. Not only would honey sweeten the herbal leaves, but it would soothe her throat and aid with her cough.
"Alright. I have a couple things for you, Mistykit." He announced his treatment outloud so Otterwhisker would be privy to the knowledge and it seemed like a good habit to get into, even if Nettlepaw tended to be quiet. He put two types of leaves in front of her. "Eat this one first. It's a parsley leaf - it'll discourage sneezing and keep your cough to a minimum. And next - this thyme leaf. It has a bit of honey on it to sweeten the taste and soothe your throat; Not only is it good to break up the muscus in your chest, but it'll ease your breathing as well."
FROM RIVERCLAN:
Cottonbright, ♀ Anxious Warrior
Nettleplume, ♂ Cynical Medicine Cat
Merrypaw, ♀ Steadfast Apprentice
Otterwhisker, ♀ Adventurous Elder
FROM THUNDERCLAN:
Brindlespice, ♀ Selfish Warrior
Bravesong, ♂ Gracious Elder
Leopardrose, ♀ Striving Warrior
Wildcry, ♀ Fierce Elder
Rimekit, ♀ Rowdy kit
FROM WINDCLAN:
Cloudflare, ♂ Suave Warrior
Barleyswipe, ⚧ Ornery Elder
Heatherkit, ♀ Sweet Kit
FROM SHADOWCLAN:
Palestar, ♀ Stern Leader
Honeyglow, ♂ Reserved Elder
Emberdust, ♀ Artless Warrior
Duskpaw, ♂ Opportunistic Apprentice
FROM WHITEHART & BEYOND:
Ahryndae, ♀ Princess of Camelot
Lelouch Von Noon, ♂ Marquess of Noon Cattery
Kosmo, ♂ Visionary Feral
Montgomery (Monty), ♂ Sentimental Semi-Feral
Mistykit peered back up at him as he leaned closer, not shying away this time as Nettlepaw listened to her. She blinked in surprise as he asked her about her appetite but made sure to reply promptly "My tummy ain't told me 'm hungry since las' nite." She admitted, though she couldn't remember hearing her belly rumble.
The lilac kit felt the warmth of relief when the medicine cat apprentice told her that he could make her feel better and waited as she was told, unable to hide her curiosity as she watched him go into his herb stores and come back with a few herbs in his mouth.
Bending to sniff what Nettlepaw put in front of her, she listened as he explained what he was giving her and why. Trustingly, she licked up the parsley leaf and gave a start and soft grunt of surprise. It tasted kind grassy to her but kind of bitter, yet it wasn't unpleasant and she chewed it up thoroughly before swallowing. Then she lapped up the thyme, only to be surprised by the taste again. The thyme leaf itself was a grassy to her, like the parsley, but also a little sour with a little tingle, only to be sweetened by the gooey honey. After once more chewing thoroughly, she swallowed it down and licked the residual sweetness from her whiskers.
"Tank you fer helpin' me." Mistykit lifted her mismatched eyes to meet Nettlepaw's. She wanted him to know she was being honest. "I know I ain't 'zactly fittin' in yet." She shuffled her paws lightly, not fully sure if she needed him to dismiss her or not. "Does I need t' come back fer more?"
rise from the smoldering pyre of wormwood and weeds
↫ ⭒ ☽ ⭒ 〄 ⭒ ☾ ⭒ ↬
Nettlepaw watched with a blank look of speculation on his face, whiskers stilled as the kit took her medication diligently as he expected her to. It would be hard on a kit to taste all that strangeness and feel better - the sweetness, he hoped would help.
"You can be different and still be Riverclan." Simply put, he considered the differences of himself and his own clan. Not just the clan but to his own brother, Mintpaw. His anxieties hardly made for a warrior, but Cottonbright seemed to be doing a good enough job. He moved aorund the small kit to the entrance of the den, whom he shared a few hushed whispers with. If he were to be keeping her in the sick den for a few days he wanted to let the she-cat know.
"I have a nice den for you while you stay with me for a couple days. I want you to try and get some rest. You'll have to let me know how you're feeling after." HIs voice was anything but honey, but still - he exuded a level of calm that he believed call medicine cats should have, even if it was a bit one note.
FROM RIVERCLAN:
Cottonbright, ♀ Anxious Warrior
Nettleplume, ♂ Cynical Medicine Cat
Merrypaw, ♀ Steadfast Apprentice
Otterwhisker, ♀ Adventurous Elder
FROM THUNDERCLAN:
Brindlespice, ♀ Selfish Warrior
Bravesong, ♂ Gracious Elder
Leopardrose, ♀ Striving Warrior
Wildcry, ♀ Fierce Elder
Rimekit, ♀ Rowdy kit
FROM WINDCLAN:
Cloudflare, ♂ Suave Warrior
Barleyswipe, ⚧ Ornery Elder
Heatherkit, ♀ Sweet Kit
FROM SHADOWCLAN:
Palestar, ♀ Stern Leader
Honeyglow, ♂ Reserved Elder
Emberdust, ♀ Artless Warrior
Duskpaw, ♂ Opportunistic Apprentice
FROM WHITEHART & BEYOND:
Ahryndae, ♀ Princess of Camelot
Lelouch Von Noon, ♂ Marquess of Noon Cattery
Kosmo, ♂ Visionary Feral
Montgomery (Monty), ♂ Sentimental Semi-Feral
