Plot Thread Bracken in the Sick Den

Let’s have some fun!
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Muddypaw blinked blearily, yawning widely as she woke up slowly. The young she-cat pawed at her face, removing sleep-sand from the corners of her eyes, her senses slowly sharpening. The tang of herbs hit her nose and confusion dimly lit her mind as she registered that this wasn’t the nursery. Other smells came and the young torbie grew more aware as she remembered that she was in the Medicine Cat Den. The past few days had been a rush and Muddypaw was still getting used to all the changes. About a quarter moon ago she had been apprenticed, named Muddypaw, and put under the guidance of Flutterdream. A few days later she had travelled to the Moonstone and been accepted officially into the role. There had been a vision and the other Medicine Cats and apprentices. The young she-cat’s mind was still reeling with the memories of everything, but she had little chance to think it through as the journey had left her exhausted upon return.

When the ruddy apprentice would have had the time to think, more had happened and now, as she truly regained her awareness that came with wakefulness, Muddypaw realised that her first proper lesson was likely to happen. The wretched murdering rogue who she had heard whispers about in the Nursery, had attacked again. One of the clan’s warriors was laid in the den with her, seemingly asleep and likely in dreadful pain. Muddypaw’s heart raced as she thought about what the day was to bring and she looked around for Flutterdream. Picking up her scent and working out where she would likely be, the reddish-brown torbie scrambled to her paws and trotted swiftly to meet her mentor, tufts of moss caught in her fur and the longer plumes going wild enough to show her relation to Wolfpaw more clearly than usual. ”Flutterdream?” the young she-cat mewed quietly, not wishing to disturb their patient but unsure of what to do.

Screaming into the void counts as progress

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"Good morning, Muddypaw. I hope you slept well. Brackenwing will need new moss to stuff his wound." padding over to her stores, she pointed a paw to where the moss was stored. Then to the herbs she planned on using. "Today we will be using burdock. Burdock is a stout plant with large wavy leaves and round, purple flower heads. It's roots can be chewed and applied externally to prevent infection. Can you fetch a few moss balls for me?" She started with the burdock roots, giving a nod to inspect the plant for its smells and appearance before she brought it over where she waited for Muddypaw.

Let’s have some fun!
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”Morning Flutterdream. I did,” Muddypaw chirped quietly and nodded. The cinnamon torbie watched as her mentor pointed out where she would find the moss before trotting dutifully over and clawing some of it out of the store. She listened to Flutterdream as the Medicine Cat described the herb that she planned to use. Gathering maybe a little more moss than Flutterdream had intended her to, Muddypaw trotted back to her mentor, a mental image of the balls of moss she chased as a kit flicking through her mind.

”Is this enough?” the apprentice asked as she placed the moss near Flutterdream’s paws and then turned her attention to the herb that had been identified as Burdock Roots. She sniffed them over and tentatively touched them with an outstretched paw, taking care not to cause damage as she familiarised herself with the plant. While this familiarity wouldn’t help her find burdock growing in the territory, it would make sure she could grab the correct set of roots when helping out in the medicine den. Once sure she would remember, or as well as a six moon old cat could hope to remember, she settled into a lightly seated position, ready to get up at a word. She smiled up at Flutterdream, awaiting the next instructions.

Screaming into the void counts as progress

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For her apprentice her smile wasn't strained, although behind her eyes there was a weariness there. She had been up most of the night checking up on Brackenwing for any changes. It relieved her to know that her apprentice got a good night's rest.

Diligently she began to peel away the blood dried moss, also taking up the layer of old herb. At least they weren't bleeding anymore. Taking a root into her mouth she began to show the apprentice how it was done, before licking it onto her paw and carefully spreading the fresh layer on their wound.

Next came the moss. "That's a perfect amount. Not too little, not too much. Do you want to put the moss there?" Her nose, still heavy with the scent of burdock, pointed to the exact spot where the moss needed to be pressed.