Private Thread Paws off, Berrypaw!

Healing is a matter of time,
but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.

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Rowanglade’s attention had quickly turned towards the apprentice, rather than the month, when the injury was mentioned. She clocked the gait and stance almost immediately. Beewhisker may be right, but Berrypaw was raised and apprenticed. If she didn’t stop mothering soon a talk might need to be had. But that was a problem for later, and one that might well sort itself out before her input was needed.

”Where’s Breezewing? I’d like his description of the accident, in addition to yours, Berrypaw.” Her voice was all business, very little of Rowanglade’s laid back personality was there to see. Healing was serious business. ”While you tell me what happened while I have a feel of it.”

Her paws were gentle as she pressed softly on the limb. The swelling was obvious on the little cat, and there was definitely heat. Thankfully she couldn’t feel anything that indicated there was break on her first pass. She would check deeper once she’d had a chance to dose Berrypaw with something for pain. There was no point in taking chances!

Without passion you don’t have energy, without energy you have nothing.

･ﾟ✧⭑🍓⭑✧･ﾟ

At Rownglade’s mention of Breezewing, the apprentice shuttered for a moment. “Breezewing wouldn’t know what happened…” he murmured with embarrassment under his breath, in any other situation, he wouldn’t care much but here, under the eye of the medicine cat, the truth seemed non-negotiable. “He wasn’t out with me. But I wasn’t far from camp I promise! I just went out for a piece of prey to bring back to show that I could do it by myself without some yellow eyes judging me like a Star-damned hawk every moment!” 

As Berrypaw continued to speak and explain, the rant became angrier and more frustrated, the tip of his tail lashing ever so slightly with poorly contained restlessness and frustration. “I’m sick of being stuck in camp or having to leave with someone. All because of this stupid rogue! I want to be out chasing rabbits in the moor like a real WindClan cat! Not stuck inside the camp like a kit!” He hissed letting out a low growl. It wasn’t directed at Rowanglade, nor Beewhisker, just the cruelty of the situation that lay before the clans as of recently. 

After a moment of calming himself down with deep breaths, he still seethed, but quietly. “So… what’s going on with my paw? I landed on it funny when chasing a rabbit. Would that be what’s causing it?” He said, lowering his voice to something calmer as Beewhisker placed their tail on the small tom’s shoulders.

Healing is a matter of time,
but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.

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Rowanglade’s ears flicked back and her eyes narrowed slightly at the apprentice. ”There are warriors who could have gone with to watch your back and help you learn who are not Breezewing.” Her voice was a little tart with the rebuke, but her ears came back up and she turned towards Beewhisker.

”If you’ll excuse us, I’ve healing to do. I’m sure you have things to do that are not hovering here.” Rowanglade kept her voice warmer now, with a slight purr to let the Warrior know she was being kind. ”Berrypaw deserves some privacy as we go over how we’re going to treat this.” Berrypaw could make his own decisions about what they would and would not tell her mother. He was Breezewing’s charge, and only Breezewing was going to be given instructions to make sure his apprentice followed them.

Without passion you don’t have energy, without energy you have nothing.

･ﾟ✧⭑🍓⭑✧･ﾟ

Just as Berrypaw was about to spit out a retort to Rowanglade's response, the medicine cat moved her gaze to his dam. He was partial to Beewhisker giving him some space, they seemed to treat him like he couldn't really do things on his own just because he was small... or because he was their son. But he was sure that they were wrong, he would be fine without their fluffy coat hovering over him. Part of him enjoyed it though, the feeling of knowing he is loved by at least one cat in his clan that understood him almost completely felt nice.

Berrypaw assumed that even Beewhisker wouldn't be bold enough to challenge a medicine cat, especially one of Rowanglade's experience, on if they should stay or go, so Beewhisker has simply nodded and calmly turned tail to slip out of the den.

"Warriors like who?" He asked, flicking his tail around his unsprained paws. He didn't mean it as a jab at Rowanglade's knowledge, he knew she had far more than he did... far more than he could even imagine having right now. But this time, it came out like a question more-a-less in the sense of 'What warrior would want to take out an apprentice that wasn't there?' rather than anything else.

His pale eyes flicked down to his swollen paw then back at the tortie point and tilted his head, then his gaze flicked to the assortment of herbs just as quickly as if trying to study and internally guess what each would do by appearance, which was near impossible to him he only really recognized the herbs used in field medicine, and even then... it was a little fuzzy, he'd ask Breezewing later. "You said something about going over treatment?"

Healing is a matter of time,
but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.

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Rowanglade huffed slightly at the first of the apprentice’s questions. ”Any of the warriors, but especially the younger ones, would likely have considered it if they weren’t busy. They’d want to be seen training, in hopes of the leader or deputy thinking better of them.”

Then her blue eyes drifted back down to the swollen joint. ”Basic treatment for a sprain is to rest it and elevate it, alongside some herbs that will help with the swelling and pain.” She knew these instructions would be unlikely to please the apprentice. Being cooped up and ordered off duties didn’t make any cat happy. ”Before that, however, we need to make sure nothing is broken. Which means stronger painkillers. You’ll need to stay in the medicine den overnight. Poppy can be rather disorienting. After that 2 days of rest and we’ll evaluate progress. You should be able to go back to light work after that, unless something happens or you don’t rest.”

Hopefully the threat of a longer convalescence would be enough to keep the apprentice at least in camp, if not in his den.

Without passion you don’t have energy, without energy you have nothing.

･ﾟ✧⭑🍓⭑✧･ﾟ

Berrypaw, after hearing Rowanglade's suggestion, lifted his paw a little higher to elevate it. The young tom's tongue threatened to rasp over the wound as the pain throbbed, causing an uncomfortable grumble from Berrypaw's chest. "Will that mean I have to take a few days off training?" He asked solemnly, as much as he found Breezewing's lectures boring, he still adored the lessons they had. "Do I need to take extra time to catch up?" he enquired, lowering his ears, a little disgruntled by the whole idea of being cooped inside of camp. This was exactly what he was trying NOT to do. And yet... here he was.

"Poppy is the pain killer?" Berrypaw asked again, trying to think about something else aside from him being cooped up for the next few days. "What else do you  think you'll need to use?" He added, suddenly full of questions. He had no interest in healing, but the idea of plants mending injuries seemed almost other worldly to him, while he had no desire to speak with his ancestors or learn the art of herbs, his questions came from a place of curiosity, not desire.

For a moment, Berrypaw thought of who could take him out that wouldn't bore him to death next time he had the free time, Shadesleek, Basilflame and his sire had apprentices already, so none of them would work... Boulderdash didn't seem keen from what he's noticed and Smallclaw wasn't... his type of company really. "Do you think Emberdawn'd want to come out with me next time?" he added finally, as it seemed that he had fully distracted himself from the fact he couldn't move around that much for long. Chatting seemed to occupy his mind enough to forget it, even momentarily.

Healing is a matter of time,
but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.

‹‹‹‹ ››››

”You’ll absolutely need to take at least a few days off training.” Rowanglade gave the young cat a stern look. ”If you don’t you might do permanent damage to the leg. The parts of you that hold the bones together won’t have a chance to tighten back up otherwise.”

She stood and moved to the alcove where she kept her herbs, drawing out a dried grape leaf that had a small pile of tiny black seeds on it. Collecting another dried leaf, this one sturdy and from an oak, she carefully sorted out a small number of the seeds. After returning the grape leaf with her stock of poppyseeds to its place she pulled a thin sliver of of what looked like dried wood and added that to her oak leaf.

For now, she skipped the question about what else. Once she had her full plan she would explain. But Emberdawn. ”You’ll have to ask Emberdawn, to know for sure, but I think they’d be interested.” Her voice was off hand, distracted looking over her herbs.

Next she drew out a knobbly finger of ginger about the size of her paw before gathering it all in the leaf to carry to her patient.

She removed the knob of ginger before pushing the leaf over to Berrypaw. “I want you to the eat the seeds and the bark that are on that leaf. They’re Willow Bark and Poppy seeds. Poppy is a very powerful painkiller that I’m only using here because I want to press harder on your leg once it’s had a chance to work. The bark is a milder painkiller, and very good to help take the swelling down..” She touched the ginger with her paw. ”Once we’ve made sure there isn’t a break I’ll make a poultice of the ginger and and we’ll put in your paw. The Poppy will make you sleepy and unsteady, so until tomorrow you’ll be in the sick den, preferably with your paw propped up above your body. I’ve got a few branches you can use once we get your settled in there.” 

Without passion you don’t have energy, without energy you have nothing.

･ﾟ✧⭑🍓⭑✧･ﾟ

As disappointed as Berrypaw was about not getting back into training, he understood the importance that his legs carried in his day to day life, they got him around camp properly, allowed him to hunt without getting detected as easily, his legs were so important and part of him wondered how some early retirement elders lasted without being able to used them properly.

So he listened, licking up the poppy seeds first as Rowanglade instructed, taking her words as orders and then moving to the willow bark, eyeing it oddly, as if figuring out how he was meant to chew through it. Regardless, he bite down on it, chewing uncomfortably until he heard a crunch through the bark and ground up the bark in her mouth, grumbling at the texture and taste but not spitting or growling a complaint at the medicine cat, he trusted she knew what she was doing.

"How long will it take to work?" He asked, flicking the tip of his creamy colored tail, letting his eyes narrow slightly as he licked his teeth that had worked to crunch up the bark in his mouth. "That ginger has a strong smell." He commented, moving closer to take a shy sniff then recoiling and snorting, but then chuckling at himself, seemingly finding his own actions amusing enough.

He then glanced back at his paw, the throbbing pain persisted still, but he was sure that the herbs would do something for it... soon.

Healing is a matter of time,
but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.

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”It won’t take long to work, you’ll be a bit lightheaded in the time it takes for an elder to tell a legend.” She gave a flick of her ears towards the sick den. ”Lean on me. We should get you moved before it hits you.”

Then Berrypaw got a nose full of ginger. ”Yes, it’s very strong. That sense of heat it has draws healing to the area. It won’t help with the discomfort, but it will help in the time this takes.”

Without passion you don’t have energy, without energy you have nothing.

･ﾟ✧⭑🍓⭑✧･ﾟ

With any other warrior telling him what to do, Berrypaw would probably snap out a sassy rebudle but with Rowanglade, a cat of her knowledge and rank, he assumed she knew best for what was going to make him feel better. An elder to tell a legend, he thought to himself, his mind taking him to Sunbear, him squeezing stories out of her, one of them being a clan legend, something about Reoc's daughter? Whoever Reoc was...

Uncharacteristicly, Berrypaw squeezed himself to the medicine cat's side as she guided him to the sick den, his limp painfully clear, stark to his usual energetic stride. He wondered if Cedarpaw would have time to visit him, Basilflame kept them busy a lot... he felt the two didn't really hang out much recently... he should go and hang out with them when he was better if they didn't have the time to visit.

Though his thoughts, he hadn't noticed the poppy had begun to take effect, the cream tom parting his jaws in a yawn before snapping his jaws shut in defiance. How could Rowanglade heal him properly if he was dozing off in front of her! That wasn't very warrior-like at all!

When he made it to the sick den, Berrypaw plopped his rump down in one of the nests, it smelt different in the sick den, more pungent herbs and the leftover scents of the cats that had been here many-a-time before. His healthy paw gripped onto the soft bedding for a moment, wondering which of his denmates would have cleaned them. Or if Rowanglade had, he wasn't too sure, but whoever did, it sure was comfortable.

Healing is a matter of time,
but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.

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Rowanglade kept a blue eye on Berrypaw as she helped him get settled in the sick den, making sure the paw ended up proped on one of the peices of tree limb she kept there for the purpose, with moss and down to give it softness. When the soft, glazed look showed her that the poppy had done what was needed she finally spoke.

"I think it’s time I had a proper feel." She gently laid her own paw on Berrypaw’s swollen one. ”I have to warn you that this still won’t be plesant. But it must be done.” Rowanglade never liked doing this sort of thing. Causing pain wasn’t in her day to day tasks and she prefered to keep it that way. Despite her distaste, she pressed, trained paws pressing hard enough to feel the bones through swollen flesh. Her ears were closed to any reaction of the apprentice as she worked quickly. The bones under it all felt straight and proper.

Rowanglade released Berrypaw from the pressure as quickly as she had started. ”I’ve felt enough! You’ll be happy to know that nothing is broken.”

Without passion you don’t have energy, without energy you have nothing.

･ﾟ✧⭑🍓⭑✧･ﾟ

In spite of the poppy seeds and the willow bark, discomfort became evident at Berrypaw's wrinkling nose and the narrowing of his eyes, it wasn't pain, not close, but the pressure made him release an almost involuntary grumble from his throat for as long as Rowanglade was feeling at his paw. It wasn't painful but the discomfort was almost worse.

Berrypaw fought the urge to flick his paw and remove the pressure as Rowanglade felt around for what she was looking for. However, relief came when Rowanglade had removed her paw from his own. But even though he was overjoyed that he wouldn't be staying in the medicine den for longer than he was originally told, the poppy seeds almost did their job too well in making the tom exhausted as another yawn pulled his mouth open.

"That's... greaaaaat..." he drawled out, he hadn't really needed pain relief before, so he may have acted a little more dramatic when the poppy seeds tired him, although part of his dramatics did hide the truth of his urge to sleep.

Regardless, Berrypaw fought off the effects, shaking his head so that Rowanglade could continue her treatment, she would likely be able to do it better when she was telling him what she was about to do. Probably.

Healing is a matter of time,
but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.

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Rowanglade huffed quietly at the drawl from Berrypaw. Poppy really did make the brain as soft as goose down. ”This, my dear, is why we did this here.” Her voice was full of humor, colored partially by the relife she felt in having verified that the injury was a simple sprain. She was quick to fetch the ginger, chewing it into. pulp and working it into the fur to sit near Berrypaw’s skin. The better the contact, the better the effect.

”You can sleep it off, now. In the morning you’ll be free to go once we peel the ginger off.” She gave the younger cat’s paw a light pat above the areas that were now well spiced.