RiverClan Medicine Cat's Den

[Fade]

I got it ok! *River-kit was crying in the med den*

[Fawn]

Originally Posted by CheetahPelt

@Fuzzy @Dipper @Slushie @Zesty Mango
-----------------


"Good Good." She nodded glancing over the herbs in front of her. "Well thank you very much you three. One of the best herb patrols so far."

She looked over her shoulder and narrowed her eyes, looking for her apprentice. "Fawnsqueak! Teaching moment." Her meow was quick and precise, though it didn't hold any disdain as it once had. Turning back to the two warriors and the apprentice she gave a small smile.
"You three can be dismissed. Very good job."
She sorted the pile of herbs from the patrol into piles by what they were. Most she knew, all except for the small bristly leaves, what seemed to be blackberry leaves.

Oh, good. A learning moment now that Otterstone had conned a patrol into doing her job, and she was finished using the herbs that he'd collected. He couldn't remember the last time she'd actually come back with anything, but he could list off on one paw the amount of times she profited off of his work.

Needless to say, Fawnsqueak wasn't thrilled. Particularly because he wasn't sure what she could possibly teach him about the herbs that came in.

"Teaching moment," he echoed as he peered at her, expectant. "That's marigold and dandelion. A cobweb. A poppy. Blackberries." They were counted off with nonchalance since he was familiar with these, had used and collected most of them in the past. Looking a little closer, his eyebrows knitted at the... the purple flower that the patrol brought? Fawnsqueak was pretty sure Coyotesnarl hadn't shown him anything like that, and it was written off as just a nice flower because it didn't match any herb he was knowledgable about.

[BEAR.]

Yeah, this was looking pretty bad.

"She came in with a cough and left with internal bleeding." This was what it was amounting to based on the information Lionstar was gathering from the two. "And Otterstone was the one who saw her." They both confirmed that.

To Otterstone, he pressed. "If you wanted her to be quarantined, why wasn't she? She was all over our camp!" And then, even more angrily. "How do you not have anything for coughs? It's part of your job to maintain the herb storage!" Come to think of it, had she even been out of camp in a moon???? "Otterstone, do you understand how awful this appears to be? A cat comes to you sick and you don't even treat her. You don't put her in quarantine, you allow her to wander about potentially infecting other cats and she comes to me about her ailment. A cat is dead and you hardly lifted a paw to help her."

And speaking of Sugarapple.. Lionstar lashed his tail in the direction of the ill queen. "You call this being separated? She has free access to spread her sickness to any patient that walks in here. Get her in a separate area!" Lionstar bristled his pelt. "Expand the den if you need to! But don't have her be in the main part of your den." And then, with more alarm. "Did you even check on the kits?! If one of their main caregivers is sick, there's a pretty damn good chance it spread to them, too!"

[ @Dipper, @CheetahPelt ]

[Fawn]

Fawnsqueak listened to Otterstone's recollection with a grimace that deepened at the bit about not having herbs to help with a cough. It was true, a brutally honest statement that didn't help their case in the least. As much as he wanted to shove the negligence onto Otterstone, it nagged at him: he could've and should've done more, should be strategic about the herb stock and what he retrieved. A lame "Otterstone doesn't collect herbs, it's all her fault, not mine" wouldn't be reviving Dusktail from the dead or alleviate his guilty feelings for his role in the tragedy.

He worried the inside of his cheek at the mention of Sugarapple and her... her not-quarantined situation. Oh stars. Another oversight that he should've caught before this point even if it wasn't his patient. Glancing at Otterstone, he inquired with an ounce of desperation -- an attempt to make this not appear as bad as it was, "Maybe, uh, our quarantine situation could be better but what's she been treated with?" Because there had to be an effort she could speak to that'd ease Lionstar's mind the slightest amount.

Ashamed, Fawnsqueak's head ducked as he deflated through a long sigh. This required... extensive correction, assuming Lionstar didn't scrape him away from the role -- more of a relief than a punishment, he'd take that in stride. It was a lot to remember from the herbs to each patient and individual circumstances. He wasn't accustomed to this life. "I'm... seriously," he inhaled, clearing his throat, "I'm really sorry, man." Yeah, that wasn't helping anything. "Look, can you-- I know it's not your thing, but maybe you or Sootflare could get a couple cats to help me build a small, temporary den or something? Or an expansion? And.. we could get apprentices to clean up this area so it's, y'know, not contaminated." He didn't care which of those jobs he was assigned to, just wanted to get it done so he could move on to cleaning himself, then popping into the nursery for a check.


@CheetahPelt @BILL.

[Fawn]

Originally Posted by x ghostie

@Dipper
Wormbite casted an glance to his own wounds then back at Fawnsqueak. Ugh. Yeah. He was also judging himself.

''I do not know. I suppose I was waiting for the right timing..? I did not believe it would worsen.. greatly. Considering the other scratches had healed.'' He furrowed his brows. Past Wormbite was stupid. Big time stupid. Now current Wormbite had to deal with it.

The tom didn't move from his spot, watching Fawnsqueak with mild curiosity. Once he returned, Wormbite would sit down. Slightly stretching out his wounded arm so Fawnsqueak had better access. "I understand, " Wormbite replied-- his face scrunching up into mild pain. Ow. Ow. Ow.

His skin felt as if it was crawling. Hopefully, he could still do his duties after this. I mean, as long as he didn't.. disturb his wounds it would be fine. Right?

"Silly me," Fawnsqueak supplied, sarcastic but not bitingly so, "how could I forget about the importance of treating infections on schedule? Very picky with the time of day and right phase of the moon and everything. Fickle ailments." After that, he shot a semi-apologetic look at his captive audience member for entertaining himself with lame banter. "Seriously, though. Don't do anything that might take the poultice off, and.. if it comes off, you'll have to get another round of it."

Oh. Right. He should probably add: "And actually come in for treatment, y'know? I get that it's tricky business but 'as soon as possible' is a good rule for injuries and stuff." If he didn't, that statement about dressing his corpse might not be as joking next time. Which would be inconvenient considering they didn't have any herbs appropriate for vigil-viewings. Guess he'd just be rotting away in front of his clanmates, scarring them for life. Typical Wormbite.

"Maybe.. stay out of the water--so no swimming," he clarified through a huff of a laugh, "and for patrols, you kind of have an excuse now if you don't want to do it. Uh, no strenuous battle training either."

[Fawn]

Shuffling through the herb storage to check over what was fresh and what might be beginning to rot, Fawnsqueak accidentally bumped a mushroom from its crevice while he was bringing it closer for inspection. It rolled across the den floor and stopped near one of the patient nests. "Oh, excuse me, Sugarapple--" Fawnsqueak said out of habit as he drew closer to collect the fallen mushroom, then paused. His eyebrows pinched.

Wait. Sugarapple? ... It had been so long since she'd taken up residence here that she'd basically become furniture, just part of the medicine cat den scenery. A point of interest on the tour-- "this is where we keep the queen dying of her cough... please no flash photography.."

Fawnsqueak blind at her. "Why... why are you still--?" He didn't need to finish the end of the question after getting a more thorough look at her. She wasn't well. She was no better than yesterday. She was actually much worse than he remembered ever seeing her. "Did.. has.. Otterstone been tending to you?" he asked, sort of in a hushed-whisper in case she was around. It was kind of on the down-low that he suspected Otterstone of losing her mind, her memory, her common sense, everything required to be a successful healer.

"You know what," he continued, not giving her time to respond but prompted forward by the state of her condition, "actually-- it doesn't matter. Here." He shifted to reach for the single leaf of catmint remaining and scooted it toward her alongside a dampened moss ball. "Eat and drink. Seriously. You.. don't look okay." And he was going to wait until she did, watching her with concern.


@vermin

[tye]

Originally Posted by Dipper

Shuffling through the herb storage to check over what was fresh and what might be beginning to rot, Fawnsqueak accidentally bumped a mushroom from its crevice while he was bringing it closer for inspection. It rolled across the den floor and stopped near one of the patient nests. "Oh, excuse me, Sugarapple--" Fawnsqueak said out of habit as he drew closer to collect the fallen mushroom, then paused. His eyebrows pinched.

Wait. Sugarapple? ... It had been so long since she'd taken up residence here that she'd basically become furniture, just part of the medicine cat den scenery. A point of interest on the tour-- "this is where we keep the queen dying of her cough... please no flash photography.."

Fawnsqueak blind at her. "Why... why are you still--?" He didn't need to finish the end of the question after getting a more thorough look at her. She wasn't well. She was no better than yesterday. She was actually much worse than he remembered ever seeing her. "Did.. has.. Otterstone been tending to you?" he asked, sort of in a hushed-whisper in case she was around. It was kind of on the down-low that he suspected Otterstone of losing her mind, her memory, her common sense, everything required to be a successful healer.

"You know what," he continued, not giving her time to respond but prompted forward by the state of her condition, "actually-- it doesn't matter. Here." He shifted to reach for the single leaf of catmint remaining and scooted it toward her alongside a dampened moss ball. "Eat and drink. Seriously. You.. don't look okay." And he was going to wait until she did, watching her with concern.


@vermin

The tortoiseshell queen stayed quiet from it all and waited out patiently the best she could. There's no way she'd argue or snap at Otterstone as a medicine cat it comes with tons of duties and burdens. There are probably other cats that are more sickly, is what ran through her mind day after day. At least the smell of herbs soothed her mind once in a while after having a couple of coughing fits from time to time. No longer curled in the nest, she laid to her side, eyes closed ignoring what bumped her feet to focus on her breathing. Lately, her chest felt like a paw pressing down on it, restricting her airflow.

Her eyes wandered over to Fawnsqueak, a faint and weak smile spread across her maw. Not having the heart to say, 'no she hasn't' she let him continue on. Sugarapple positioned herself up, watching the small fuzzy leaf place in front of her paws. Without hesitation, she lapped it up letting the bitter juices wrap around her tongue, squeezing out the juice before gulping it down. Her eyes locked down on the moss ball, sipping the cool refreshing water. Gosh, it really helped. An appreciated glance at Fawnsqueak followed by gurgles that was suppose to be a purr. "Thank you, dear." Wheezing subsided a bit, she talked on trying to lighten up the mood a bit. "My mouth was drier than a desert. I swore my tongue was gonna shrivel up like a prune." She laughed lightly at her own joke triggering another strained cough. "Ugh, that one hurt.." However, she still felt horrible and an eye sore. A cat died after being treated so what about the kits? She felt more useless than ever before.

[Fawn]

Fawnsqueak's stomach was in tight knots, his entire being churning with unease at the sight of Sugarapple. It was haunting and he almost wished she'd be outwardly resentful, yell at him-- scream at him and curse his name because that's what he believed he deserved for being so unbelievably slow in responding to a crisis in the making. It was evident she wasn't getting better, and he put stock in the belief that he couldn't trust Otterstone to care for any patient on her own anymore. Witnessing Sugarapple's deterioration was heart wrenching in the worst way possible, his soul ached for her to lash out since it might at least lighten the load on his conscience. "I'm sorry, I'm really.. really sorry about all this," he found himself babbling idly but faded into a shaky gulp. She deserved better. Shouldn't have literally been left for a half moon.

Trying to work down the lump in his throat, he explained, "The catmint--it should get you okay-ish, I hope. I'll see if I can send for more too, just in case." Her condition wasn't great; he wouldn't be surprised if it required more than the small dosage readily available, but he wasn't about to let this slip through his paws again.

@vermin

[wolfie]

Originally Posted by Dipper

"Silly me," Fawnsqueak supplied, sarcastic but not bitingly so, "how could I forget about the importance of treating infections on schedule? Very picky with the time of day and right phase of the moon and everything. Fickle ailments." After that, he shot a semi-apologetic look at his captive audience member for entertaining himself with lame banter. "Seriously, though. Don't do anything that might take the poultice off, and.. if it comes off, you'll have to get another round of it."

Oh. Right. He should probably add: "And actually come in for treatment, y'know? I get that it's tricky business but 'as soon as possible' is a good rule for injuries and stuff." If he didn't, that statement about dressing his corpse might not be as joking next time. Which would be inconvenient considering they didn't have any herbs appropriate for vigil-viewings. Guess he'd just be rotting away in front of his clanmates, scarring them for life. Typical Wormbite.

"Maybe.. stay out of the water--so no swimming," he clarified through a huff of a laugh, "and for patrols, you kind of have an excuse now if you don't want to do it. Uh, no strenuous battle training either."

Wormbite raised an brow, blinking in confusion. He was not under the impression medicine cats had schedules. It sounded as if it was quite inconvenient! Pause. "That.. was sarcasm.. wasn't it?" He pointed out -- mainly to himself. He let out a small sigh.

Listening to Fawnsqueak, he gave a small nod. Trying to keep his words to an minimum, "Yes. I have in fact learned that it is more harmful then good. I do wish I did not have to learn the hard way.." Wormbite replied, his last statement quieter than the previous. He was frowning softly. No. No, he did not in fact recommend learning the hard way. : (

Rising back to his paws, "No swimming. Understood, is that all then?" He tilted his head slightly.

[tye]

With a small huff, staggering herself up from the nest that left an imprint of her body showing she's been idle for a while. Sugarapple shook her head not wanting him to apologize for any further and rested her tail to comfort the med tom. "You're trying your best, hun." Fawnsqueak was randomly sucked into this duty. She wasn't there to see it but the queen can imagine it caught him off guard. Probably upset him. Being a medicine cat is a 24/7 duty. Living as a warrior to suddenly thrown into a different path of life where you must introduce yourself to new things..another massive weight of cats placing their trust in your paws. Heck, that's a heavy burden to carry. If she was in his paw steps the tortie would go loony by now.
Sugarapple nod, yellow eyes sparked hope. "Thank you, Fawnsqueak. I appreciate ya..and don't beat yourself 'bout it. I think I feel a little better already!" @Dipper