[Estelle]

 

Originally Posted by Alchemist Kitsune

| Lightningpaw |
Flock Together [Tier 1] - Inactive

Lightningpaw's nose quickly wrinkled at the mention of ShadowClan. Her only interaction with the felines had been... less than stellar. As far as the young calico was concerned, this new apprentice was lucky to have gotten out of that confrontation with her life. Unless luck had nothing to do with it, of course. She could simply be that skilled. She seemed on the older side, in any case. Something further confirmed by Twilightstar's affirmation that she'd vanished before Cowtuft's time, even... and Cowtuft was old. Well... older than her, in any case.

Hailpaw's movements were stiff. Reluctant. As if she were uncomfortable in her own skin. Fair, if she were to be honest. She looked worse for the wear... a genuine problem considering their herb stocks were still nowhere nearly as plentiful as they had once been. Maybe she would be able to convince Twilightstar to let her go out on her own. Only for herb foraging, of course. But... herbs were necessary all the same, and patrols had been sincerely lacking in their ability to bring back anything of late.

Large ears perking up as she suppressed a wince - the nickname had been used against her last night... her nightmares getting worse lately - Lightningpaw nodded as Cowtuft spoke to her, offering a confident smirk. It was best to not show any doubt in front of an already hesitant patient as far as her - admittedly - limited experience went. She found a healthy sprinkling of cheek tended to at the very least humor the wounded, or annoy them to the point where their injuries seemed to pale as the glared at her. Either option worked wonderfully in the oriental mix's eyes. "On it," she mewed, twitching her tail lightly as she excused herself, rushing towards the herb storage in search for the necessary supplies.

Methodically, Lightningpaw went through the herbs, making a mental note of the potential use for each one as she gathered them. She found that it helped in her studies and to further memorize the healing tools at their disposal the more she tried to anticipate Cowtuft's uses for them. One marigold. Obviously meant to be made into a poultice for Hailpaw's wounds. In her state, infection needed to be staved off as best as they could manage. Poppy seeds? Pain. Her mentor had said it himself. Those looked like whoever had inflicted them had packed a wallop per strike. The stick confused her for a moment, bringing her pause until she remembered the kit they'd tended to recently. Mintkit. Glows leg had been straightened with some sticks, had it not? She should probably check up on glow soon. No visit from glows mom was probably a good sign, but still...

Finally, the sheet of moss. She'd become pretty familiar with this, experimenting with damp sheets of the plant during the fire in an attempt to ease the burns of those worse off while they padded away from the fire. Obviously not the use here, but with a lack of cobwebs, she assumed this would have to make for a substitute. Mouth full with herbs to almost her full capacity, she headed back towards the entrance chamber, her pace slower now as she made sure to not drop anything along the way. Lowering the materials before her mentor, she nodded, her tail giving a small twitch. The fact that there was a wounded cat did deter her from fully exploding with giddiness at the prospect of gaining more knowledge, but it was hard to curb her insatiable thirst for such. Had always been, ever since she was a kit.

"Here we are. We'll definitely need to do a herb patrol later. You know Tufty... if you are busy... I could always go out later and gather some essentials. For emergencies, 'course," she offered, her gaze shifting between Cowtuft and Twilightstar as she did her best to give each a sweetly innocent look.

Technically wasn't a lie. That she would love a bit more freedom to move around the territory without a bloody kit sitter all the time was neither here nor there now, really. For the most part. About fifty fifty. Honest. Look... she was almost four seasons old. Surely it would be fine, right?

-

@Moonraven [Twilightstar] | @x ghostie [Cowtuft] | @Estelle [Hailpaw]

Originally Posted by x ghostie

「☆」 THE GENTLE GIANT 「☆」
╰► COWTUFT
he | him ★ massive white tom with black splotches and floppy ears + scar over his neck, burned hindleg, x-scar marks on shoulders; left green eye and right blue eye ★

ೃ⁀➷ @TheVillianKing @Alchemist Kitsune

A smile flashed across Cowtuft's face at Lightningpaw's tone of fake innocence. "Thank ya little Bumblebee, " He purred, letting Sheepgrowl's accent appear in his voice - emphasizing it to a dramatic point that it was quite silly. He let out a chuckle of his own, shaking his head back and forth. Ooh, how he found their banter amusing.

It was only when Rockshard's voice broke through the air that the smile on his face softened into something tinged with sadness and confusion. Cowtuft was about to speak when Lightningpaw beat him to it. He let the younger speak first, listening to her words carefully. Pride shone in his heterochromia eyes. Well. He didn't want brag, but the medicine cat felt like he had to be doing at least a decent job for Lightningpaw to end up so wonderful. Really, if she was his replacement .. It was sad, but Cowtuft was starting to accept it.

"Of course we will, " Cowtuft replied with a firm nod. He turned towards Rockshard. "I've been a medicine cat.. for many moons, dear.. There is not a doubt in my head that Halfpaw will not reach it to warriorship. He'll face.. a few difficulties.. when it comes to breathing but he will be able to overcome... I assure you.." The gentle giant said confidently.

─────✰✰✰✰✰─────

ೃ⁀➷ @Light000 @Alchemist Kitsune
|| psst, if you could mention me where leafpelt is that would be much appreciate !
The medicine cat had been slumbering within his chambers. His snout tucked under his feathery tail and quiet snores that escaped him. Last night had been rough that he was grateful for the chance to rest. And then someone was mewing with fear shaking their voice. Cowtuft eyes snapped open, shoving himself upright. Sleepiness plagued his thoughts but muscle memory had been built into him.

The sounds of crashing could be heard as Cowtuft pulled himself to the front of the den. A long warbling noise fell from his lips, shaking his head back and forth with despair. By the time Cowtuft reached the front there was Lightningpaw. She had been calling to him, though admittedly adrenaline was running through his body. He nodded his head quickly, turning to look at Minkkit. Claw wounds across glows chest and glows back. Deep, bleeding. Are there anymore? (Something happened, what? Predator? Where was Leafpelt?)

Border of camp. His eyebrows furrowed close together, where was that? Territory? He gave a small nod, "Thank .. you Minkkit. You are so strong.. Please, hold onto that strength.." Cowtuft turned to look towards Lightningpaw. This little one would have to be in paws. He trusted her training enough. "Marigold. Dandelion. Cobwebs. Smash a poppy seed. Half. Situate glow with a Queen and then if I am not back, come and help. Bring a warrior, " He said swiftly before disappearing into his storage.

If Leafpelt wasn't here, she likely had worse wounds. (Protected Minkkit?) Cowtuft cursed at their pitiful collection of herbs. After most of his herb patrols had failed they were critically low. He looked and grabbed a poppy flower, moss, cobwebs, mushrooms, and marigold. After he gathered them together, Cowtuft was darting out of the herb storage. Pain flashed in his eyes, paws clumsily stepping in front of each other.

He gave a nod towards Lightningpaw before he was heading out of the den and out of camp.

─────✰✰✰✰✰─────

ೃ⁀➷ @Alchemist Kitsune @Estelle @Moonraven

Cowtuft considered him to have a keen eye for expressions. He had to. To know what a small wince might mean when pressing against a side, the furrow of an eyebrow of a warrior. He always had a knack for noticing things. He didn't always understand but in this case Hailpaw seemed awfully uncomfortable. His hues filling with a sad pity for her. They seemed to be around the same age. (Though, Cowtuft somehow managed to keep a kit-face and a large body that made perception of his age .. difficult. )

The medicine cat turned his head to Twilightstar once she spoke. Ooh. Goodness gracious, that's an awful long list of things to experience without a break. He looked towards Hailpaw, "Welcome home..!" He replied genuinely, considering her quiet nature, Cowtuft decided to avoid letting the conversation linger on those topics. She still needed a chance to breathe before processing those.

As Twilightstar introduced them Cowtuft dipped his head. Slight embarrassment flushed his cheeks as she mentioned his uhm, quirk. That was what it was, wasn't it? A quirk? (Most seemed to accept it as it anyway. ) He liked to think he had gotten more comfortable but it wasn't as if it was ever something that to change. It is what it is.

Cowtuft listened to Lightningpaw scramble off to gather the herbs. He decided he would handle the most severe of Hailpaw's wounds and let his apprentice take the chance to treat the lesser. The more experience she got the better after all. And in all truth, Cowtuft wasn't sure who the other would be more comfortable with. "Thank you, " He rumbled softly as she delivered the herbs.

The splotched tom paused at her words, lifting an eyebrow with amusement. "Ask me that again.. when you have battle training, love.. " He replied, a grin present. Look. Technically Cowtuft never thought to listen about... apprentices not being alone. Even when he was a 'paw. He was a medicine cat, he had things to do! Many things! And while he may not have battle training he had experience. A little bit. Tiny. Oops, getting distracted.

"I will send out.. a round of herb patrols tomorrow.. bit more than usual.. I think too.." He didn't want to over-pick but they seemed to always be in dire need. Cowtuft gathered the herbs closer to his side and directed his attention to Hailpaw.

He shuffled closer to Hailpaw and laid out a poppy seed for her to eat. Then, he started to chew up a few of the marigold petals into a thin poultice. He chewed, and chewed until he (and here comes the gross part) spat it onto his paw pad. He would gently lather the scratches on Hailpaw's twisted leg in marigold, attempting to be gentle. Then he would do the same for the semi-deep gash across the right side of her flank. Ouch. "Forgive.. me for this, " He spoke softly before he reached forward and tried to gently straighten the leg out. Enough he could place a stick against it for support and wrap moss around it.

Cowtuft pulled back and scooted over. "Lightningpaw, " He gestured, gesturing towards the rest of Hailpaw's wounds. It was in her paws now.

Originally Posted by Moonraven

Twilightstar offered Hailpaw a faint smile in response to her understanding words, still, she felt that she had a responsibility and had failed it by letting Hailpaw go. There was nothing she could do to change now. The leader turned her gaze towards Lightningpaw and Cowtuft as they started healing Hailpaw, ears perking up as Lightningpaw voiced her concerns about herbs and fetching some herself.

Cowtuft was quick to shut that down as he spoke about her lack of battle training. Actually, now that she thought about neither medicine cat had battle training... perhaps they should prioritize fixing that at least so they could properly defend themselves. Something to keep in mind and ask later.

While the medicine cats work on patching Hailpaw, Twilightstar continued speaking with her. "Now Hailpaw, of course, you'll be welcome to return to WindClan. Once you're fully recovered you can finish whatever training you need with a mentor so you can receive your warrior ceremony." Twilightstar wasn't certain what training the she-cat had left if any. Even if she was finished, she'd probably need some extra training with her new injuries. Twilightstar wanted to make sure that she had the training needed to carry the extra responsibility that came with being a warrior.

"However, considering your age, how would you feel about getting your warrior name now? I can let you keep your suffix paw if you'd prefer that, but I figured I'd offer you the same deal I offered Cloverheart, a recently returned WindClan apprentice in similar paw prints as yours. Since you're older, I'm going to offer you your full warrior name, however, you'll serve the clan as a warrior in training among the apprentices since you'll need some training done to serve as a full warrior of WindClan. You'll be treated as an apprentice with a full name, you'll earn the privileges and respect of a full warrior once you finish your training with a mentor."

@x ghostie [Cowtuft mention] @Alchemist Kitsune [Lightningpaw mention] @Estelle [Hailpaw]

[ I do apologise for how late this is! ]


Lightningpaw left. Quite curiously, for Hailpaw had never thought herself to be the curious type, she found her blue eyes following the probably younger apprentice’s form, as though wary of what she was doing… Or simply cautious as to what she may be getting. Stars above, those pesky other clanners had done a number on her, hadn’t they? If she couldn’t even trust the cats within her own clan. Then again, they had never done anything ti prove themselves worthy of her trust, so perhaps it was too misplaced.

Oh… The large cat spoke, the presumed head medicine cat of the clan. She couldn’t help the side-eye as he welcomed her home, causing only for more suspicion. She almost instinctively wanted to lift her leg but winced as it painfully reminded her of its broken state. What had she done to deserve this? Genuine the medicine cat may look, she couldn’t help the suspicion (and now pain) welling up inside her. Her face remained unchanged, fighting the twists of pain as she bit her lip and stubbornly refused to look anyone in the eye. How childish she was. She hated this.

Ah, mostly non-verbal, was he? It explained the quiet talking… But then why did he talk at all? Hailpaw couldn’t fathom it’d be to accommodate someone as unknowing as her. Not ever. And if it was then she’d simply feel stupid, put plainly, excuse how improper that sounds. Though it earned him a slight look up, a brief moment where she studied his face before casting her gaze back down.

Then Lightningpaw returned, whom the silver apprentice’s gaze silently followed. The piter pater of paw steps caught her ear and she couldn’t help the cautious glances up and around, defences on awfully high alert. That being said, she was beginning to take notice of their seeming inability to simply use… Their names. Like, full names. Instead they referred to each other as ‘Tufty’ and ‘Love’ and Hailpaw could simply feel herself crisp up in whatever this uncomfortable and disgusted feeling was. Weaselskip… She could never use her full name either. Memory of her former mentor left the apprentice feeling perplexed and frankly… Whatever. It didn’t matter. She was gone, again, had abandoned her once more never to return. What a mentor she was.

Distracted by overbearing thought, the silver feline hadn’t noticed the poppy seed being place in front of her until she pelt awfully awkward silently staring at Cowtuft chewing up… Something. Actually, she hadn’t even realised she’d been staring at his paws and not her own. Eyes focusing on the little black seed in front of her, she supposed she ought to eat it, but… You know, she didn’t quite feel comfortable doing so.

A hesitant glance was sent Twilightstar’s way, as though asking the leader for confirmation and permission to eat the little seed as was silently instructed, before she finally and very cautiously did. Swallowing was difficult, as though her body refused to eat the strange thing but she forced it down nonetheless – and thank goodness she did, because shortly after her wound stung with the unsanitary spit-poultice Cowtuft was putting all over her broken leg and wounds.

Although she’d hate to admit it, it stung. It stung badly and Hailpaw to hold her breath in order not to move and hide the pain she was experiencing until the little seed would kick in (although even a poppy seed wouldn’t save her from the upcoming pain of setting a leg straight, although they hadn’t reached that part yet).

Before she could wince the the leg-setting, Hailpaw was spoken to by Twilightstar herself, distracting the older apprentice while the seed and the medic worked its magic. It was evident; relief filled her gaze and momentarily relaxed her body when the WindClan leader declared she’d be allowed back to her home – back to WindClan. The tiniest upturning of her maw’s edge was shown, giving an elegant and light nod in response until she paused when the leader continued.

This is when the pain of the leg-setting kicked in, Hailpaw taking in a sharp breath all the while listening to Twilightstar. Her ear gave a flick. After the pain subsided, Hailpaw was silent for a short while. Her gaze drifted around the den as she took in what she’d just been offered. She felt… Nothing. Empty, almost, just at the thought of being given her warrior name just… Like that. Polite as she wanted to be, the graceful feline had to press her lips together and politely shake her head.
“Thank you; but I apologise, I cannot accept that. I cannot bear being an apprentice with a warrior’s name simply because of age, it is not… Proper. I ought to earn my name, as anyone has.”

That said, her mouth still half open, she fell silent for a moment as her mind processed the refusal of the one thing she’d been working towards her entire life. The only goal she’s ever had, in hopes of making her mother proud. And yet, an urge edged at her senses, a simple request she daren’t ask but felt she needed to.
“But… If I may be so bold… To request my name be changed. I no longer wish to be known as Hailpaw; I never was meant to be Hailpaw. Silverkit is how I was born, it is… What I’d rather be named now. Silverpaw. Hailpaw has never done me any favours.”

Neither has the name she was born with; and yet, it simply hurt too much to carry this name any longer. Whenever she heard it, whenever she thought of it, echoes of Weaselskip’s silly nicknames rung in her mind. She couldn’t bear it, it hurt too much. The abandonment, the betrayal. At least with Silverpaw… It could remind her of what her goal has always been; it could quit these distraction and, hopefully, put her back on the right path. The path she’s always meant to be on: the path of a warrior, regardless of what the clan thought of her.

Hesitantly, Hailpaw tore her gaze away from the ground, now long ignoring what was happening around her as she dared look Twilightstar in the eye. Would be approve of such a request? Hailpaw never would be able to explain why, why she would chose a name of neglect over that of abandonment. Or perhaps she did know; abandonment hurt more than neglect ever did, neglect had only pushed her towards her goals. That is why.