the smell of mint | starlingpaw

[scorchfrost]

@STARLINGPAW .

Scorchfrost was not a medicine cat, the extent of his medical training was being able to cobweb himself up, but he was not ignorant of herbs. He might not know what all of them did, but he knew what they looked like and how important they were. He knew that herbs grew scarce as the seasons dragged on, so he made sure to keep an eye out whenever he left camp. He went on multiple patrols a day, starting before the sun rose, and there was usually at least one patrol member able to carry the herbs he found.
He'd been particularly successful today and had a small bundle of watermint.

Scorchfrost had taken a few steps into the medicine den and gone to put down his delivery when he noticed Starlingpaw. He didn't know the apprentice well; there had been many newcomers, but he knew why she was here. " Hello, kit. " His voice was quieter than usual, a byproduct of being in the medicine den. It was rude to make a fuss in there. " How are you doing? "
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[ YOU CAN'T BREAK MY SPIRIT ]​

 

[Starlingheart]

it had only been a couple of days since her return to camp. The she cat was flooded with embarrassment at the whole situation. She was convinced the whole clan thought her a pathetic mess, a failure, although they never said it to her face. She saw the pitying looks they gave her and they wormed their way into her head, making her hang her head in shame. It had been foolish of her to think that she and Granitepaw would be able to save the clan from starvation. They were apprentices with barely any training. But still, she had wanted to prove something. Prove that she was strong despite what she had lost.

She lifts her head as a voice speaks from the entrance of the medicine cats den. Bonejaw had gone out, to find more herbs to treat her wounds she had said. Her current dressing sits heavy on her leg, a heap of cobwebs and chewed up herbs. To fight infection, her aunt had told her. "He-h-h-h-hell-hello" she stumbles over her words quietly "I-i-i-mmm fi-f-f-fine" a lie, her mind was racing miles a minute, worry that her clan thought her useless plaguing her thoughts but her leg was on the mend so she supposes there’s some truth in her words. Her eyes dart to the bundle in the toms mouth, her brows furrow in confusion "Wha-w-wh-what-what’s- w-wh-what i-is-is th-tha-tha-that?" she asks him, unable to contain her curiosity.
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[scorchfrost]

There was no shame to be found in injury, especially when you were young. It may not necessarily be pleasing to deal with but it was understandable if kits and apprentices did foolish things. It was far more acceptable than when warriors did so. Scorchfrost had gotten up to plenty of antics when he was a youth, nicking himself here or bruising himself there. It was simply the nature of things. It was especially respectable when they did it with good intentions.

Scorchfrost put the bundle of herbs down in front of Starlingpaw, nudging it with his paw to unfurl it. " This is watermint. It helps with sore stomachs. " It was one of the few herbs he knew the proper use of. He'd had plenty of it over the moons. " Is medicine something that you're interested in? " A warrior's apprentice could always learn a few tips and tricks, there was nothing disallowed about that. It was good information to have. Scorchfrost couldn't really help with it but the medicine cat would probably not mind.
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[ YOU CAN'T BREAK MY SPIRIT ]​

 

[Starlingheart]

She listens to Scorchfrost's explanation with barely disguised interest, wondering if perhaps there was someone around the camp who had a stomach ache, she does not remember seeing anyone come in complaining about it but if her aunt had asked a warrior to bring her some then surely there was someone who needed it. She did not understand the need to have some on hand just in case. What if they went bad from just waiting around to be used? What a waste... Starlingpaw nods along with Scorchfrost's words, eyes flicking to the pile of herbs now in front of her before meeting Scorchfrost's amber gaze as he speaks again.

She considers his question quietly, contemplating his words. It would be cool to learn, to be of use, to help but she thinks of her brother, Pitchstar, how disappointed in her he would be if she decided that she did not want to be his apprentice anymore, how he would feel. "I-I I don't kn-kn-know" she admits quietly with a simple shrug "Are-a-are y-y-you?" Perhaps the stars would speak to Bonejaw and make someone like Scorchfrost her apprentice. That would be something.
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