GET UP // rta & stress injury

[icebreath]

[ TL;DR: Icebreath approaches the medicine den because her forepaw's been hurting for the past week or so, to the point that it's difficult to walk on. She addresses @WOLFSONG from outside of the den, looking in. Her paw is swollen. ]

Nerves weigh her down as she pads toward the medicine den on slow, weary paws --- one of which she favors, keeping it off the ground as much as possible. Anxiety and mistrust are feelings she's long associated with the medicinal field; vital as it is, the profession almost feels like a breeding ground for corruption, something she's always struggled to make sense of. How have so many agents of StarClan turned out traitorous, dead, or both? She chalks it up to the amount of peaceful contact medicine cats have with cats from other clans. Boundaries exist for a reason, and nothing good can ever come from blurring them.

But then Wolfsong, someone Icebreath has admired for as long as she can remember, was selected to fill the sacred role. It was an almost disappointing development; the thought of inevitably losing another role model, after so many warriors she'd respected had already dropped like flies, was stressful to say the least. But this was different. He'd begun as a lead warrior, has proven his loyalty and devotion to Sootstar and WindClan tenfold. There was no way she could just... stop trusting him altogether. In fact, he's the only medicine cat she's harbored any kind feelings toward for a long time. But she knows how much it will --- sorry, would --- hurt if he did wind up betraying them, and because of that there is still some reservation that lurks in her interactions with him, though it indistinguishably blends with the general anxiety that always seems to visibly plague her from day to day. She reminds herself that Sunstride loves him for a reason, and Sootstar trusts him for a reason. So she will, too. Cottonpaw's promotion to his apprentice had actually helped; StarClan had personally selected moorland royalty to train under him and eventually fill this bloodstained position. Surely this could only be a good omen, a sign that things were finally right and the medicine cats' curse had finally been lifted.

Granted, Cottonpaw is part of the reason for this new flavor of unease she feels in her approach; the young molly, once Icebreath's own apprentice for a tragically brief stint, is a symbol of her failures as a warrior. Her switch to the medicinal path had actually helped to ease the tunneler's shame just a bit --- Cottonpaw was simply never meant to train as a warrior, so perhaps she shouldn't blame herself as much as she likes to, if everything that had happened was predetermined by the stars. Not that it's cured her embarrassment. Why had StarClan chosen to enact their will in such a cruel fashion? Well, Icebreath isn't meant to question these things; just to accept them.

Most stressful of all is the reason she finds herself on her way to visit WindClan's healers in the first place. The pain in her forepaw isn't new, although its intensity is; each day brings an increasing degree of severity that refuses to subside or even plateau. The blue point has ignored it for as long as she could manage; now is not the time for a setback. Many of the clan's strongest warriors are journeying who knows where for who knows how long, and between that, the yellowcough epidemic, and the encroaching rogues, nobody can afford to slack off. Especially not Icebreath, not with her failure as a mentor still so fresh in her mind; a stain on her record that she fears may be permanent. Regardless of how true this is, she will always manage to find any evidence of disappointment in the eyes of her superiors when she interacts with them --- projection or otherwise. Far in the past is her reputation as an exemplary tunneler, or so she fears.

Even if she can't restore her honor completely, she hopes all of her tireless work in the tunnels is a suitable apology, a promise that her failures are flukes rather than the norm. Rarely is she seen socializing or even resting at this point, so married is she to her duties. Even now, on her way to ask for treatment, she comes from the tunnels with dirt streaking her short pelt. It's lonely, even with a partner or a whole patrol underground with her --- especially so since Curlewnose's betrayal. Her sister's beloved mentor, and always so eager to check in and patrol with Icebreath after the whole Cottonpaw incident. A small light in the darkness, helping to keep her afloat. She tries so hard not to think about him and Badgermoon. They don't deserve it...

"Wolfsong?" The summons alone feels like an admission of weakness, but it's gotten to a point where she can't push past the pain anymore. What if it (or she) becomes unusable from lack of treatment? It's a terrifying thought. "I- my paw, it's been hurting for a while now. It's getting harder and harder to walk on it." There's an underlying note of shame in her gentle, nervous tone.
​

 

[WOLFSONG]

──ᨒ↟↟ᨒ↟ᨒ↟↟ᨒ── WindClan's role of medicine cat is certainly stained by the likes of Dandelionwish and his predecessor. Vulturemask was no traitor, but he was murdered during a visit to the meeting of medicine cats, which was hardly an improvement. For the first few moons, Sunstride was convinced a similar attempt would be made on Wolfsong's life, but no such violence has come to fruition, and before the dark onset of yellowcough, it had seemed that he would find peace in the role.

The possibility still remains, despite the storm that enshrouds them all in a cold, barren gray. All they can do is wait for the journey cats to return, and ensure there is a WindClan standing whem they do. Easier said than done, of course, what with the rogues moving in on their territory and Sootstar...struggling. At least Cottonpaw is growing increasingly confident in her role— for that, Wolfsong is most grateful.

He rubs at his cheek, freeing some of the dirt lodged there after a particularly messy herb hunt. A voice at the entrance calls his name, familiar in its softer intonation, and concern quickens his heart. Has Icebreath taken ill?

Wolfsong crosses the den briskly, until he is face-to-face with the cooler pelted WindClanner. She does not appear ill— her nose and eyes seem clear, and he cannot hear a wheeze in her breathing. She does, however, stand oddly, favoring one side, the other paw visibly swollen, and she attests to it, explaining it has been bothering her for some time. "Did you fall?" He asks with a small frown. "Sit here, if you can. I do not want you walking on it unnecessarily, and my herbs are not too far for me to easily fetch." ​

WOLFSONG of WINDCLAN FORMER ROGUE TURNED MEDICINE CAT. 38 MOONS, HE/HIM, NPC X NPC. MATES WITH SUNSTRIDE (07/05/2023). BIOGRAPHY, PINTEREST, & PLAYLIST.

medicinal expertise med. part ii med. part iii med. part iv

• — ★★★☆☆ WOUNDS: You're (mostly) in safe paws. You'll know if he's less experienced if he asks for your permission to try a treatment. No wound can scare him away from knowledge.
  — ★★★☆☆ INFECTION: He can prevent most infections. If you feel feverish, let him know; he'll hum thoughtfully over herbs and sniff your wound before saying, "With your blessing..."
• — ★☆☆☆☆ ACHES & PAINS: If you complain to him of pain, he'll ask where. If it's a headache, you'll likely feel a bit better. For anything else, "Try this, if you'd like, and tell me how you feel."
  — ★☆☆☆☆ BROKEN BONES: At best. he can ask you to remain lying down in the den. He may try to distract you with conversation while he considers what herb to feed you.
• — ★★★★★ TRAVELING HERBS: Going somewhere? No worries; Wolfsong knows just what you need to stay hale and healthy during your journey. The rest is up to you.
  — ★★☆☆☆ KITTING: Thanks to Starlingheart, he's better prepared for the arrival of kits, but any complications will need a little faith and a lot of luck.
• — ★☆☆☆☆ POISONS: It's best if you avoid eating anything unfamiliar to you— it's probably just as unfamiliar to Wolfsong. The best he can do is offer you yarrow and sit with you.
  — ★★☆☆☆ ILLNESS: If it's white or greencough, you'll likely recover. Otherwise, prepare for odd concoctions and the usual request that you consent to a little trial-and-error.

​

 

[sunlitpaw]

shadow of the moon
—————— ( ☼ ) ——————

Strife is new to Sunlitkit. She has only recently learned the true meaning of death, has learned what it looks like in the eyes and what it smells of. Her breath staggers, heart races, much easier now as fear has made itself a new home in the kitten's belly. The fleeting faces of Clanmates was an old comfort for her, as "old" as it truly could be at her age, but the steady stream of cats that would come into her ðir's den with an ailment or illness that could be patched and fixed. The sicky sicks... Sunlitkit did her best to not think of them, after Petalpaw's death. It was a horrifyingly daunting challenge. They would approach, sniveling and shuttering with contained coughs, before they were sent out of camp and not seen again. Were they even alive, wherever they were? Sunlitkit was pretty sure they were. Her ðir and Cottonpaw would step out, sometimes together and sometimes separate, with the light whiff of Clanmates that Sunlitkit hadn't seen in many sunrises still on their fur when they'd return. Her "old comfort" had warped quickly into an extension of her fretfulness, a worry that every time the fronds shuffle it might be another face she doesn't see again.

An unfamiliar voice calls into the den for Wolfsong, but it pricks his daughter's ears as well. Spring green eyes widen at the call, head turning toward the entrance. Her ðir rises to his feet swiftly and travels across the den to meet the unknown voice at the entrance. Sunlitkit sits as patiently as she can while curiosity burns - she does not want to approach a sick cat, after all. When Wolfsong asks if they'd fallen, instead, the little mottled tabby hops up to her paws and skitters over, weaving her way between Wolfsong's legs to peer up at Icebreath. They speak above her, little ears flicking as she briefly tunes them out to her own curiosity, looking down to see where Icebreath was hurt. Her paw is so big! It was pretty gross to look at, it definitely wasn't supposed to look like that. But at least it wasn't the sickness. Would it pop if she poked it with her claw? Sunlitkit tilts her head up again, head shrinking down as she offers Icebreath a nervous smile. The older girl smells of soil, and wasn't a face Sunlitkit has seen before that she remembers. She must've been a tunneler.

"Hi," she greets quietly. She doesn't know the tunneler's name, but she's too nervous to ask such a direct question (by her own standards, at least). Instead she opts to ask, "why'd you hurt yourself?"

​

 

[icebreath]

There's something unexpectedly comforting about the concern in Wolfsong's gaze. Nevertheless, old habits and memories still urge her to search his face vainly for any sign of judgment, even though she knows his temperament by now. Nothing, of course. And yet her heart continues to flutter with anxiety, as if she's doing something wrong. It's nothing she's not used to. "No," they say in response to his first question, shaking their head. "It just... started hurting one day after a hunt, but I, um, I guess I thought I could walk it off." It's here that her baseless anxiety finds anchorage; as she obediently takes a seat she grows increasingly conscious of how long she'd allowed the issue to worsen. Have they turned themselves into an even worse burden in their determination to avoid becoming one? What if Wolfsong thinks she's irresponsible? Sootstar? Their tail begins to lash anxiously, their gaze drifting to the side. "Thank you, Wolfsong."

So caught up are they in their rumination that Sunlitkit's presence goes entirely unnoticed until she speaks up. Icebreath looks forward and then down, ears pricking at the sight of the smiling tabby. This is one of Sunstride and Wolfsong's children. Her pale, nervous gaze softens. She's always loved kits, though they sometimes make her a little uneasy in their own right; it's easy to worry about saying the wrong thing to them, somehow, or losing track of them. Nonetheless, kitsitting was always one of her favorite chores as an apprentice. Sunlitkit isn't quite royalty, not yet anyway (what a strange thought, a world without Sootstar), but Icebreath is very conscious of her elevated status as the daughter of both the deputy and medicine cat adding an extra element of pressure --- especially with Wolfsong here with them, she must be on her best behavior. Earning the kit's favor also introduces the possibility of her putting in a good word for Icebreath to her parents...

"Hi," they reply with a soft smile of their own. "I didn't do it on purpose." The words ring a little hollow in their own ears, considering they kind of inadvertently did. "Are you Wolfsong's little helper?"
​

 

[SOOTSTAR]

SOOTSTAR​

Sootstar cannot help but hover and exert herself onto the patients of the medicine cats den from time to time. It was her duty to know of the ailments that plagued the cats of her clan, to know which warriors were out of commission and what for. Icebreath would be no exception, very intently Sootstar had stood by and listened in. She had not hid it either. They complain of a hurting paw, Wolfsong advises the striped feline to settle down and not move it anymore than need be as Sunlitkit prods around Icebreath curiously. Sootstar senses she can predict where this is going and steps in, paying hardly any mind to Icebreath she looks directly at the rosette medicine cat. ”Surely… Icebreath can continue to walk it off?” She meows, her tone a tad snarky, clearly finding Icebreath’s predicement nothing to fret over. ”I can’t afford to expend warriors over feeble aches and pains. If I could, we’d all be out of commission.” Not once does she turn to face Icebreath, but she talks about them as if they’re not there.

☾ INFO BATTLE

• 
  » Soot ․ Sootstar
  » WindClan Leader
  » She/her ․ Mate to Weaselclaw
  » Tiny blue smoke she-cat with green eyes.
  » "Speech" ․ thoughts ․ attack
  
• 
  » A high-stamina foe who can be difficult to hit.
  » Excels in quick, short moves.
  » Fights to kill and maim
  » Fatal attack of choice is an underbelly dive.
  » May powerplay minor harm. Can powerplay healing

​

 

[WOLFSONG]

──ᨒ↟↟ᨒ↟ᨒ↟↟ᨒ── Wolfsong understands the potential motivations behind ignoring an injury. For Icebreath, he suspects they did not come to him sooner because she did not wish to be a burden, or because being a WindClan warrior comes with certain...expectations, which are not so different from those that he grew up with. Even so, he wishes they had not neglected visiting him sooner; this is an injury best served by time spent resting. "Some aches can certainly fade after a simple night's rest, but this is not the case," he says without reproach, and little Sunlitkit's sudden arrival between his paws draws a smile to his weary features.

"One of many," he tells Icebreath with a laugh, gently brushing a paw over his Sunbeam's head. "And quite a curious one at that." Of course, there is work to do, so he does not linger, leaning slightly to better inspect her paw with his remaining eye. At Sootstar's voice, he straightens, a small wrinkle forming in his brow.

"No," he rasps bluntly. "Such internal wounds I am still learning to treat, but of what I do know, continued stress risks permanent impairment." His gaze is grim, and it returns to Icebreath after a pause. "You will have to rest in the medicine den under my supervision. I know we need as many able-bodied warriors to hunt, but thinking only of the immediate present will cripple us in the future." The word choice and its emphasis are deliberate. ​

WOLFSONG of WINDCLAN FORMER ROGUE TURNED MEDICINE CAT. 38 MOONS, HE/HIM, NPC X NPC. MATES WITH SUNSTRIDE (07/05/2023). BIOGRAPHY, PINTEREST, & PLAYLIST.

medicinal expertise med. part ii med. part iii med. part iv

• — ★★★☆☆ WOUNDS: You're (mostly) in safe paws. You'll know if he's less experienced if he asks for your permission to try a treatment. No wound can scare him away from knowledge.
  — ★★★☆☆ INFECTION: He can prevent most infections. If you feel feverish, let him know; he'll hum thoughtfully over herbs and sniff your wound before saying, "With your blessing..."
• — ★☆☆☆☆ ACHES & PAINS: If you complain to him of pain, he'll ask where. If it's a headache, you'll likely feel a bit better. For anything else, "Try this, if you'd like, and tell me how you feel."
  — ★☆☆☆☆ BROKEN BONES: At best. he can ask you to remain lying down in the den. He may try to distract you with conversation while he considers what herb to feed you.
• — ★★★★★ TRAVELING HERBS: Going somewhere? No worries; Wolfsong knows just what you need to stay hale and healthy during your journey. The rest is up to you.
  — ★★☆☆☆ KITTING: Thanks to Starlingheart, he's better prepared for the arrival of kits, but any complications will need a little faith and a lot of luck.
• — ★☆☆☆☆ POISONS: It's best if you avoid eating anything unfamiliar to you— it's probably just as unfamiliar to Wolfsong. The best he can do is offer you yarrow and sit with you.
  — ★★☆☆☆ ILLNESS: If it's white or greencough, you'll likely recover. Otherwise, prepare for odd concoctions and the usual request that you consent to a little trial-and-error.

​

 

[icebreath]

Her soft gaze lingers on Sunlitkit, feeling increasingly comforted by the talk of family among them, thinking about Wolfsong tripping over a cluster of enthusiastic kits as they clamored through the medicine den. It's a nice thought. But her smile drops and she immediately clams up when Sootstar's derisive voice slices through the conversation, a flash of hot anxiety crackling through her like electricity. They reflexively pull their paw away as Wolfsong straightens, as if they've been caught in the act.

Icebreath's first instinct is to keep their eyes trained ahead, looking away from their leader; it's all too easy to picture the judgment in her cool stare. The disappointment. Childhood lessons encourage them to fight this urge, memories of Juniperfrost locking in on their cowardice before Sootstar and publicly challenging them for it --- dead for moons and still able to instill such obedience in the anxious molly as she forces herself to turn her head. That is true strength, and for all of her dedication to the clan and the tunnels, Icebreath will never hold a candle to it. But... maybe that's okay. Not everyone is meant for greatness; warriors like her are simply meant to serve those who have proven themselves capable and worthy of such fealty.

With that in mind, it's almost startling how Sootstar's eyes do not once meet hers once she works up the nerve to try. Not even for a moment. Again her thoughts flit to the past, this time of sharing a meal with her leader and listening to her tales of the Great Battle with such wonder. Icebreath would never dare consider herself Sootstar's equal, but she had at least felt valued back then. But that was a different time, and they'd been a different cat --- just for a moment. Freshly successful in their quest to rob SkyClan of herbs WindClan had so desperately needed. Why does Icebreath continue to cling so desperately to that moment in the spotlight when it was so clearly a fluke, a reminder of how impossible it's been to recapture that success? Well, she knows why. Because she knows she'll never achieve anything like it again, and it's hard to let go.

Her pale gaze is dulled as she looks to Wolfsong, but his words are a relief in their validation --- this isn't trivial and she isn't weak for it. That is, until the gravity of his diagnosis hits her. "Wait, for how long?" they ask abruptly, concern twisting their features into an alarmed frown. Permanent impairment... It's a serious threat, especially in the current environment.
​