ShadowClan Medicine Cat's Den - Page 67

**TheNyanCatMinecart** · #**661** March 19th, 2023, 03:10 PM

~ IVYSNAKE OF SHADOWCLAN ~

Tall, angular, dark brown she-cat with distinctive ivy-like black stripes and piercing amber eyes.

Ivysnake padded back into the medicine cats' den, her paws numb and dusted with snow despite the warm sun that had beat down on her back. Now the sunlight was gone, swamped by the herb-scented shadows of where she worked and slept. Her piercing amber gaze fell upon Elmshadow and Vixensnarl. The massive Maine Coon was blabbering, and her mentor looked unimpressed, to say the least. Ivysnake padded forward and put the two tiny yellow flowers down. "I found these blooms of celandine, but nothing else," she meowed, nodding at them. "I believe these are the right ones. I went off of the description you gave the other medicine cats at the Starcave." She didn't want to give Vixendance any of her attention, but he was a patient, so she glanced in his direction. His calico pelt was easily seen in the shadows, and it stood out against his dark green nest. "How has this one been doing?" She couldn't help the scorn leaking into her words or the curling of her lip as she talked about him. He was a disgrace even if Dawnstar hadn't awarded him the rank. And wrong in the head. At least he was willing to enact his own punishment. Dawnstar hadn't seemed to mind.

@Ravensong @CrazyCat4481 (Apologies if this post is rushed/lazy - I wrote it really quickly because I wanted to get it out.)

**Pitou** · #**662** April 4th, 2023, 01:43 PM

**Elmshadow**

@TheNyanCatMinecart

The dark medicine cat looked over the mentor and apprentice, noting that both seemed to be doing well enough getting to cleaning their wounds, so he directed a quick nod towards Mirehound for Ivysnake to check over the warrior while he addressed Daypaw first. He took one each of the yellow bell and burdock root and chewed them together into a thick poultice and mixed it with a dab of honey. Leaving the mixture on a dock leaf, he sniffed the wound on Daypaw's cheek, overhearing Mirehound's praise towards the younger cat. He nodded, for the apprentice to have come out of the battle with only limited wounds, it was impressive. Daypaw had not needed to be carried back into camp. He spread some of the poultice onto the wound on the apprentice's cheek. The burdock should have some numbing qualities to help ease any of the pain from the wound and the yellow bells and honey would hopefully fend off any infection. He then covered the treated wound in a layer of cobwebs. "That should be as much as you need. If it gets worse in any way or you begin feeling unwell come back immediately. Take your apprentice duties easy but it shouldn't keep you out for long. When you're hunting, focus on dealing the killing blow with your claws more so than your teeth for a while. It'll be good practice but should also give your cheek a rest."

He then moved on to Mirehound, moving quickly over the checking portion as he trusted Ivysnake to have done well enough before he spread some of the poultice over the warrior's various wounds and spread a layer of cobwebs over the deep or still seeping wounds. "I trust you heard the instructions given to Daypaw. This should be good but if anything gets worse come back immediately. Take your duties somewhat easy but you should be fine to return." He figured from what he'd seen of the warrior that she wouldn't take easily to being put on any sort of rest period but he figured he'd give the instruction anyway.

[ -1 Burdock -1 yellow bell -1 dock -0.5 honeycomb -2 cobwebs ]

**Pitou** · #**663** April 9th, 2023, 11:39 AM

**Elmshadow**

@TheNyanCatMinecart

The dark tom turned as the patrols started to come in but the routine of it quickly shifted when he recognized Vixensnarl nearly carrying Ivysnake. Foxes. If it had been any other cats besides Ivysnake and Vixensnarl Elmshadow wasn't sure any of them would be coming back in one piece, especially assessing some of Ivysnake's wounds. He nodded to a nest then quickly retrieved a bundle of herbs. He started with a couple pawfuls of cobwebs to slow the bleeding before he even attempted to put a poultice over it. In efficient, routine movements he added layers of cobwebs then pulled them away as they soaked red to replace with fresh layers until the bleeding slowed. He gently moved away the extra layers of cobwebs as he chewed a yellow bell. He left the wounds exposed for the heartbeats it took to scoop a pawful of honey and mix in the yellow bell into it before packing the poultice into the bite wounds and covering it over with another layer of cobwebs to keep it all together. He plucked a tiny black seed out of the poppy flower and brought it over to the medicine cat apprentice. Setting it down on the edge of her nest, Elmshadow meowed, "Take it easy. There's a poppy seed here if you need it."

[ -1 yellow bell -0.25 honeycomb -2 cobwebs ]

**taillow** · #**664** April 9th, 2023, 01:21 PM

Mirehound sat still as Elmshadow worked on her, slathering on some yellow stuff that she didn't quite recognize. Part of her wanted to ask - she'd always had a mild curiosity about the plants that coated this den - but the battle had stripped her of any energy she had left. Plus she still had to exit to carry the bodies out for their burial.

Once the medicine cat was done she gave a single nod and stood to her paws. "Thank you, Elmshadow." Her voice was gruff, cut deep with numbness. Loss had always been something that hit the shadow hard, but in a way that was stored away for later. Mirehound was certain it would rear its ugly head soon enough. Giving Daypaw one last look she turned and headed out of the den and back towards the bodies still in the clearing.

[ @Ravensong ]

**Pitou** · #**665** May 4th, 2023, 06:14 PM

**Elmshadow**

He woke suddenly, opening his eyes. A jolt of shock went through him as daylight flooded his vision. He hadn't overslept, had he? His dream had been consuming, meeting with his mother tended to have that affect, but to have slept beyond dawn? And then the next revelation hit him, even at sun high it shouldn't be so bright inside his den. He blinked, looking around. He was indeed inside his den but everything was different, it was lit in a way he'd never seen before. And then, just as suddenly as it had all come on, the den plunged back into darkness, a faint silver light shimmering through the lined entrance. He breathed in deeply, the soft, chilled scents of night were still hanging on the air.

Action taken or passively minded, when the frost melts away, so too will the harvested. His mother's warning echoed in his mind. He turned his mind from the strange wakening and pondered the prophecy through Figwind's words. When the frost melts away, so too will the harvested, the harvested could only be referring to the herbs, what else was harvested? But melts away? When the frost melts, it disappears for the season. Elmshadow had been out in the forest, the herbs were growing well, as would be expected for this moon. But if Elmshadow's interpretation was close to correct, the snow was already melting away, he wouldn't have much time to make a plan. Melt away didn't make it sound like there was a direct threat to the herb supplies, just that they'd disappear? Go bad? But what could make them just simply go away? Maybe stolen?

His thoughts were broken as a figure moved through the entrance, making him aware that the sun had began to light the clearing as the figure was outlined in the soft light of dawn. The long golden pelt was lit spectacularly and his breath caught for a moment from where he still lay in his nest. His mind was still stuck in the past, on cats long dead, after his meeting with his mother, why was it so inconceivable to believe his dead mate would do the same? He rose slowly to his paws but the fresh angle quickly dropped him back to the living. Sunsetthorn... He wasn't disappointed to see his daughter but he'd hoped... He clenched his jaw and cleared his throat, "Do you need help?"

**Sunsetthorn**

She'd tossed all night, debating on what to do with what she'd seen out at the Thunderclan border. She couldn't be sure that it had been Petalkit but what if...? Her first instinct was to talk to Branchfire about it but he'd been the reason she had been out there, to try to find him, with no luck. Ashpaw and Chamomilepaw were gone, even Burningpaw and Sorrelpaw, Petalkit's littermates, were no longer around. She didn't know where else she could turn besides Elmshadow, but was that a mistake? Petalkit was his daughter but did that make any difference to the stoic tom? She made up her mind and rose from her nest just as the first morning rays were making their way into the den and made her way across the clearing to walk into the entrance of the medicine cat den. She faltered, suddenly overcome with her doubts but then she heard her father stir from somewhere back in the den. Her eye adjusted and she made his face out in the dim lighting just in time to see a mild flash of...was that disappointment? All of her thoughts streamlined and her usual distaste for her father returned. Had something been shifting recently? She hadn't been opposed to visiting her father, until now. Her jaw set and she made to turn around as his flat words filled the dead silence inside the den. Her sour attitude in the tom's presence returned, she muttered, "Nevermind. Sorry I bothered you." She shifted to turn but was stopped, not expecting Elmshadow to say anythigg at all, much less what he did say.

"You're not bothering. You're always welcome in this den. What did you come to say?"

Her blue eye glanced back, unsure, but Elmshadow was on his paws now, standing at his full height, his usual domineering stance. Though he was moving towards her, his face betrayed nothing, but it also wasn't cold. She took a deep breath, her disgust wavering again though she couldn't be sure she trusted his interpretable amicability. Staring at him for a moment as he moved closer to her then sat down and began absently cleaning some residual herb dust scattered near a nest, Sunsetthorn chewed over her thoughts circling in her mind. She was allowing herself to entertain the thought again that had seemed like a decent idea in her own nest. What else can I do? It seemed if she wanted to do anything about having maybe seen Petalkit, telling Elmshadow was the only possible next step. So she sucked in a deep breath then faced him fully. "I was out at the Thunderclan border and I saw...I think I saw Petalkit. She was older, obviously, but it had to have been her."

Sunsetthorn held her breath for the brief heartbeats of silence after she stopped talking. But it came out all at once in an irritable sigh at Elmshadow's voiced concerns. "What were you doing along the Thunderclan border? Who took a queen out to a contentious border?"

Sunsetthorn growled, "You're impossible. I'm a grown warrior, Elmshadow, I didn't need anybody to take me out anywhere, and before you say it, I did not go out alone, I know the rule. A warrior went with me, it doesn't matter who or why. Petalkit..." she let out a rough sigh. "Oh forget it. You don't care anyway." She turned quickly and walked angrily out into the clearing. She'd been a fool to believe that conversation would've gotten anywhere, leave it to Elmshadow to care only for the clan even at the mention of his lost daughter.

**Elmshadow**

Petalkit, the den around him stilled at Sunsetthorn's mention of one of Goldenstep's lost kits. He had only Sunsetthorn left from his dead mate, but if Petalkit was still alive. Thunderclan? Was she living in Thunderclan, or was she a rogue seen in Thunderclan territory? No, it may not even be her... But if it was, how did she end up in Thunderclan territory? He blinked, realizing Sunsetthorn was looking at him, expecting a response. He needed to sort out his thoughts about Petalkit, the likelihood that his daughter could be alive and so close. So he spoke on the only thing that he could be sure about, the easy concern, "What were you doing along the Thunderclan border? Who took a queen out to a contentious border?" The only daughter he currently had left from Goldenstep was supposed to be safe in the nursery, not meandering down a border with a clan who was just looking for conflict with them. But he regretted his choice in words as Sunsetthorn growled, her anger at him bursting through, then stormed out. Elmshadow breathed out slowly. He momentarily considered trying to stop her but she was long gone and he didn't care to start a scene in the clearing , besides he had plenty to think on. The prophecy was still weighing on him and now the possibility of Petalkit being reachable. He turned back towards the back of his den, sitting in front of the stocks of herbs. He needed to figure out what to do about the herbs first. Once he could be sure the clan's herbs were taken care of, he'd figure out what he could do about what Sunsetthorn believed she'd seen.

**Pitou** · #**666** May 11th, 2023, 10:03 PM

**Elmshadow**

His walk in the territory had been...productive, though he brought nothing back with him. He made absently toward his own den, his mind lost in his own thoughts. He hadn't had much time after his odd awakening to decipher its meaning with the arrival of his daughter shortly after but, later that day, it had begun to sink in. It was the only thing that made sense. Waking up to daylight inside a den in the middle of the night, it had to have been a sign. As he'd made his rounds through the apprentices the day before, the sight of Daypaw began to put things into place. He'd been given a prophecy, When the frost melts away, so too will the harvested, and then woke up to a sign. It could only point toward Daypaw. Though was the sign a warning or direction? The prophecy didn't sound like the fate of his herbs would be jeopardized by a threat or malicious intent and Daypaw was one of Dappledleaf's, it had to make sense that the sign was direction. He found it difficult to lay the trust of his herbs at the paws of an apprentice but he could hardly argue with a sign when he knew not of what threatened his herbs, it seemed only Starclan, or the Dark Forest, knew that. It was irksome how cryptic the ancestors were, a trait he thought more common amongst Starclan though this particular one had come from his own mother in Starclan.

As Elmshadow moved into his den, his paws faltered. He looked down, green eyes studying the curiosity at his paws. Nestled against one side of the entrance to his den was a stone and then, atop it, sat a likely blind brown wedge-like creature. He let his hovering mid-step-paw set gently to the ground as he watched the small rodent curiously. It was rare to see living prey inside the camp's walls, much less sit and apparently wait to be eaten. It set his fur twitching uncomfortably. Something about the whole situation turned him off from wanting to eat the creature. Something must be wrong with it to be so bold, or stupid. And then the ground seemed to shift beneath him and just like that the shrew ran, disappearing into seemingly nothing. He sat down, looking after the curious rodent.

Movement caught his eye, in line with where he'd been looking but further away. He shifted his green gaze slightly to see a brown and white warrior making his way towards the freshkill pile. Shrewstone... Looking back to the stone still sitting against his den, the memory of the shrew still fresh in his mind, everything cleared. He grew more sure of his vision pointing towards Daypaw now with such a blatant sign pointing towards Shrewstone. He took a deep breath and looked up to the sky. He wasn't sure where the Dark Forest lay but he cast out his thoughts towards Figwind anyway. She was being cryptic but also seeming to spell it all out for him. I'm sure I can manage just fine on my own, thanks. He turned and disappeared into his den. He'd have to talk to Dawnstar about all of this now, he'd have to act sooner rather than later. The air was warming and he was sure he didn't have much time left to protect his herb supply.

**Watson.** · #**667** May 18th, 2023, 12:42 PM

Longclaw walked limping to the med den, his leg looked nasty with so many cuts and scrapes, though the muscular tom didnt seem like if he cared about it. ''Hello Elmshadow'' he mewed quietly ''I got hurt while having a walk on the territory... can ya help me please?'
[ @Ravensong ]

**Pitou** · #**668** May 18th, 2023, 03:26 PM

**Elmshadow**

The dark tom moved through the herbs in his stores. he prophecy was weighing on his shoulders but his current herb supply was growing old and useless. He'd have to gather more herbs but at what risk? He looked up from his work, his pelt prickling with irritation as a warrior made his way in. There was something about the medicine den that apparently made warriors believe they had every right to walk in, announced or not. He rose to his paws and took the couple of paces towards the front, his green eyes slightly narrowed. "I'd like to say I'd believe a warrior to have better manners but I'm beginning to realize I expect too much." Longclaw was lucky only that his herb supplies were in shambles currently so Elmshadow hadn't much cause to turn him away. He moved back to the herb stores and tore off a piece of a honeycomb then gabbed a bundle of cobwebs and a seed from the poppy flower. Returning to the warrior, Elmshadow dropped the small black seed beside the warrior and meowed, "If you'd like it for the pain. It'll be thrown out soon anyway so it's not wasting anything. What happened?" He kept his eyes focused on the task of scooping honey from the honeycomb. "Get the wounds cleaned as best you can."

**Watson.** · #**669** May 18th, 2023, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ravensong

**Elmshadow**

The dark tom moved through the herbs in his stores. he prophecy was weighing on his shoulders but his current herb supply was growing old and useless. He'd have to gather more herbs but at what risk? He looked up from his work, his pelt prickling with irritation as a warrior made his way in. There was something about the medicine den that apparently made warriors believe they had every right to walk in, announced or not. He rose to his paws and took the couple of paces towards the front, his green eyes slightly narrowed. "I'd like to say I'd believe a warrior to have better manners but I'm beginning to realize I expect too much." Longclaw was lucky only that his herb supplies were in shambles currently so Elmshadow hadn't much cause to turn him away. He moved back to the herb stores and tore off a piece of a honeycomb then gabbed a bundle of cobwebs and a seed from the poppy flower. Returning to the warrior, Elmshadow dropped the small black seed beside the warrior and meowed, "If you'd like it for the pain. It'll be thrown out soon anyway so it's not wasting anything. What happened?" He kept his eyes focused on the task of scooping honey from the honeycomb. "Get the wounds cleaned as best you can."

''Sorry for that...'' the tom mewed, staring his paws, then grabbed the seed and swallowed it. ''I found a fox on the territory, i ambushed it by jumping from a tree, but i also hurt myself'' He said before licking a bit his wounded leg.

[ @Ravensong ]

**Pitou** · #**670** May 19th, 2023, 05:50 PM

**Elmshadow**

The medicine cat carried the pawful of honey carefully to the injured warrior, nodding somewhat absently at longclaw's account of what had happened. Spreading the honey evenly over the open wounds, he questioned, "A fox. You're saying you decided to take on a fox by yourself and came out of it with only some scratches? Where'd you find this fox? And what's become of it? While you're at it, maybe walk me through how you managed to escape after attacking this fox." When the honey was spread, he grabbed a bundle of cobwebs and began wrapping the warrior's wounded leg to keep the honey in place and the wound clean of debris.

[ -0.5 honeycomb -1 cobweb -1 poppyseed ]