"How do I say sorry?" [P]

[Dolomedes]

Rabbitpaw
He/him | WC Apprentice Tunneler | Moons: 8 | Purrks: Dreamwalker | Part Manx cat

Rabbitpaw padded up to Miss Lightningstorm with his carried vines and daisy leaf. Though he was done with his shakiness as the fright from the patrol had passed along by now. Though his paws were killing him more than ever with the fright not there to cover up the pain of them anymore. Though he could just take a short break to clean them up and try and get whatever was bothering them dealt with. Nothing to worry Crowtooth or Miss Lightningstorm or Winterpaw with. At least that's what he thought he was going to do before he took a step back from the dropped off herbs and his green eyes zeroed in on the red specks where he was previously standing. Oh dear. He lifted up one of his front paws and saw that the odd lines along the pink toe beans were now split and cracked with blood slowly dotting from them. That couldn't be good? Was it from his falling from the tree? Or was this the result of all the bothering his paws have been doing lately? Both? Yeah, probably both.

Oh...but now he had to tell Miss Lightningstorm about it...but did he? Yes, said the logical part of him. No, says the insecure part of him. Or rather not really insecure but the part that felt like a burden because of...everything. Though he wasn't a medicine cat, he couldn't take care of it and make his paws better and with his paws all hurt-y he wouldn't be able to hunt or do patrols or help in the upcoming battles or anything and what if they get worse!! Quailheart would worry, and she's been worrying so much lately, Rabbitpaw didn't want to add on to that. He shut out the thoughts about his siblings and more so them having not been around for a while that came alongside thinking about his mother's worrying. The tom shook his head lightly as if to clear it physically. He blinked and then looked up to the medicine cat, who seemed to be talking to the other patrols. Oh did someone go into her den? Even Rabbitpaw knew not to do that. Or at least he assumed based on some slight eavesdropping he did on accident, he just happened to be there.

Anyways, he waited until the herbalist seemed done with talking to the others and he stepped forward hesitantly. Wincing a tiny bit as his paw cried out a bit with the motion. "Miss Lightningstorm? If it isn't..umm too much of a bother, can you maybe look over my paw..ssss..?" He added the plural hesitantly and lifted the other front paw he had yet to look at and sure enough it was also bleeding. He would only assume that his back paws were maybe not, because they also kind of hurt but not as bad. Then Rabbitpaw continued, wanting to make up for whatever guilt he felt, "I can also help carry in the herbs if you want? No pressure though, just kind of feel bad...about the paw thing...I mean, they aren't that bad and I'm sure that you're kind of busy with everything...and all. Just a bit of blood! I can get over it, but I can still help!" As if to prove the case that he was all good after his nerves got the better of him he lifted the paw up for Miss Lightningstorm to see even though it proved the exact opposite of him being okay. He tilted his head slightly as he always did when asking a question, his long rabbit-like ears flopping over with the motions as he waited for Miss Lightningstorm's response.

[ @Alchemist Kitsune - Lightningstorm ]
[ ]


Rabbitpaw gif made by ramen!

[Alchemist Kitsune]

| Lightningstorm |
Flock Together [Tier 3] - Inactive | Mind Reader - Active

---

A sigh escaped the healer as she finished chewing off the ears from some of the feather brains she had sent out on patrol, her disappointment at this point merely the constant state of mind she retained whenever dealing with the vultures of WindClan, yet finding them exhausting all the same. How easy they must find it to throw her to the rats, to exile or execute her and her ilk... to find blame in any cat she couldn't save when they couldn't be arsed to even find the herbs needed to care for them. It took a special kind of idiot, as far as she was concerned, to have their heads so far up their arses that they couldn't work even to help themselves... yet were quick to whine and cry like newborn kits at the first sign of potential, everlasting consequences or harm to themselves. One thing was clear today... it didn't matter how many times she sent patrols, the luster of them was gone... and she almost couldn't wait till the moment she was free from the burden, her spirit no longer bound to this mortal shell that grew more hollow with each passing day. Was she in a foul mood? Oh you bet...

Dipping her head as she turned her attention to the herbs in need of sorting - of inspection, lest one of these rats contaminate her much needed medicine again - a familiar voice caught her attention, large ears swiveling towards Rabbitpaw as her gaze remained on the herbs, paws separating those she trusted enough from those she would... prefer a more thorough glance of. It wasn't until the apprentice mentioned his paws that the eighteen moon old feline raised her head, almond shaped hues gazing with unhidden scrutiny. Despite her hatred of the clan and its rats as a whole, there were some cats she appreciated more than others. Her mate and the leader two of the obvious exceptions, the cream colored paw's mentor was another that had somehow wormed his way into the calico's heart against her better judgement. By extension, she tended to see his apprentices in a better light... but this one's obvious kind heart and thoughtful nature combined with a can do attitude was hard to not appreciate... connection with his mentor notwithstanding. It was sometimes almost like looking at a reflection of herself once before. When she had been younger. When there had been a heart left to wound in her empty chest.

"Let's see then. What mess have you made of them?" Lightningstorm stated bluntly, one dainty paw extended towards the tom as she examined the paw he'd offered her.

A frown creasing her short furred brow, the medicine cat huffed in frustration, the pads looking worse for wear than a simple accident while out on patrol. No, this had happened before the patrol had been sent. For how long it was hard to determine. Rabbitpaw was an active apprentice, and a tunneler to boot. He could easily over damage his pads quicker than any other apprentice his age, no contest. Still, he must be quite decent at hiding his pain. She doubted Crowtooth would have allowed him to continue working with his paws looking like regurgitated badger leftovers. Stars alive, what a mess.

"It's my job to keep injuries and illnesses from getting offpaw, love, but I can't bloody well do that if you lot keep hiding what ails you, now can I?" the molly grumbled, her ears flattened as she let go of apprentice's paw.

Frustration clear in her voice, the lithe tortoiseshell lifted one dainty paw and aimed it at Rabbitpaw's nose, attempting to tap it lightly. A motion her own mother had done whenever she had been particularly naughty as a kit. A motion her old mentor had done affectionately whenever she was being especially sassy in a patient's direction. She rarely used the motion herself, keeping it mostly to Firestorm whenever the hot headed queen was being fabulously stubborn, no one else really left for her chastising, if perhaps somewhat teasing gesture. Whether she had gotten the tom's nose tapped or not, she made an overly dramatic sigh, her shoulders slumping momentarily as she threw her head back in exaggerated concern.

"Well, come along then, Toes. We're gonna have to wrap those up... potentially even get to use some of these vines to tie your legs down to a nest so you can't do nothing but rest. I'm just grateful it's greenleaf, innit? You pull a stunt like this in the middle of leafbare and I would be looking for a stone to help chop off the dead bits off proper, I would," she mewed, her eyes glinting mischievously despite herself as she dipped her head to grab her herbs, twitching her tail as she signaled the remaining herbs to him; a silent sign to let him know he was free to grab those and follow her in. It was his toes that were aching, not his mouth, after all!

---

@Dolomedes [Rabbitpaw]

[Dolomedes]

Rabbitpaw
He/him | WC Apprentice Tunneler | Moons: 8 | Purrks: Dreamwalker | Part Manx cat

Rabbitpaw only had a moment or two to start really feeling guilty at the herbalist's words before he was distracted by a light boop onto his nose. He couldn't help the small sneeze he did in response and he scrunched his nose in response before looking back at Miss Lightningstorm. She didn't seem too upset at him but he couldn't help but feel bad. He didn't even mean to hide them, he just genuinely didn't think that they were that bad because before they were just itchy and red sometimes and achy, and that wasn't that bad he just thought it was him getting used to apprentice work from kit play and stuff. "I didn't think that they were this bad, they only just started looking like...that. Though maybe I should've come over sooner, I'll come sooner in the future!" He promised, trying to let the herbalist know that he's learned from this even if it was an accident, he didn't want Miss Lightningstorm to be upset with him.

Though he didn't think that she was too upset, even though her next words were a little bit more than frightful. "Do you actually have to do that in leafbare?" He tried to not sound like a kit being told a scary story but that was very scary! He couldn't imagine! Though he hasn't lived through a leafbare that he could remember very well because he was born in one and he imagines that leafbare in camp is a lot more comfy than our and working. His wide green eyes moved from the other feline and down at the herbs that she had motioned to. Oh! Right! The apprentice grabbed as many of the left herbs as he could and trotted after Miss Lightningstorm into her den. He had heard about what she had said to one of the other patrols and it made him wonder slightly why he was being allowed into the den with the herbs. Though it was likely just killing two birds with one pounce or something like that, he was a patient now as well. Which was weird, Rabbitpaw doesn't think he's ever been to the medicine den before. He actually couldn't even recall what it looked like on the inside and that probably meant that, no, he hasn't visited before.

As Rabbitpaw stepped into the den he noticed immediately that it reminded him greatly of when Crowtooth brought him and Hawkfur down into the tunnels for a lesson. It was comfy and nice, but not too small. He imagined that it couldn't be too small as it was suppose to hold all sorts of hurt cats and herbs and medicine cat all in one space. He noticed that there were some paths leading further into the den but he didn't go over, he stayed near the enterence and waited patiently for the herbalist to point him in the direction of where she wanted the herbs to be dropped off. Though as he took another step forward to as he looked all around the space he was reminded why exactly he was here with a wince. Owch. Yeah, he most certainly should've come sooner, though it was a live and learn moment he thinks.

His green eyes lifted from his paws and back up to Miss Lightningstorm, waiting for where she wanted the herbs he was carrying and then she could do all her really cool medicine cat stuff. He had thought about it before while on a tracking lesson with Mx Loudwhisker. It was fascinating to him but he was nothing but a curious cat, Rabbitpaw liked learning about anything and everything. The world was such a fascinating place and others each had their own little things that they've learned about it. Miss Lightningstorm was like...magical! For knowing all sorts of herbs because herbs when you really thought about them were magical! Like who decided that plants that seem like normal plants could do things like heal hurt-y paws and like coughs and scrapes...Rabbitpaw didn't actually know to much about the injuries and illnesses that a cat could get, he's been pretty lucky on the health front of things. Well until his darn paws decided to get him in trouble with Miss Lightningstorm.

He tilted his head and focused again on Miss Lightningstorm, determined to actually keep his focus on her rather than letting his thoughts stray off again this time.

[ @Alchemist Kitsune - Lightningstorm ]
[ Sorry about how late this is! The battle and my school exams were my priority there for a bit hehe :3c ]


Rabbitpaw gif made by ramen!

[Alchemist Kitsune]

| Lightningstorm |
19 Moons - WindClan Medicine Cat
Flock Together [Tier 3] - Inactive | Mind Reader - Active | Dreamwalker - Inactive

---

The apprentice's words honest enough, Lightningstorm deigned him with only a small snort of contempt, unable to stay too angry considering the minimal harm that had been caused for the sole purpose of wanting to help. It did consistently drive her mad. How eager the cats of WindClan were to do anything to just not have to visit her den, but it was so contradicting to their general attitude of wanting to take the life of whatever medicine cat they deemed a culprit of failing to keep up the well being of the clan... How Cowtuft had retained such love for the warriors of the moors despite their general unlikability was beyond her. But then... maybe he thought of all them were like Rabbitpaw. So eager to please they failed to take care of themselves until they had to stand next to the healer scaring them silly with tales of falling toes.

"Oh aye," the herbalist mewed, her voice chipper as she gave her response, his reaction much more dire than she had expected. "Small known fact about me, love. I don't lie. Don't see the point in it, really. You can be perfectly diplomatic by choosing your words carefully, after all. If I tell you bits of your precious toes can fall off if left unattended during leaf-bare, trust me, lad. It's a thing. Just another reason leaf-bare can bloody well stay away, ta. Now... where is... Ah. There we are!"

Finding the herbs she was looking for, the molly grabbed some dandelion and moss, adding along some of the ivy vines they had brought along. She'd fashioned little paw protectors like these before. For a friend who's paw pads had burned and blistered during the fire. She had needed to keep ointment and moisture on them with what little she'd had at the time, and had managed to save his paws. She had been a new apprentice then. Her first moon as a medicine cat apprentice celebrated by a blazing inferno that stormed through their old home. Grouping the herbs together, she turned her attention to Rabbitpaw once more, twitching her tail as she motioned towards the stream that ran down the large den.

"Let's go clean up your paws. Haven't had to fashion little moss bundles for feet in moons, but other than looking and maybe feeling a little ridiculous for a couple of days, your paws should be pretty healed up once I'm done with you."

---

@Dolomedes [Rabbitpaw]
| Never thought the moss shoes she'd made before would ever be used again. I'm so happy she gets to make more again. |

[Dolomedes]

Rabbitpaw
He/him | WC Apprentice Tunneler | Moons: 8 | Purrks: Dreamwalker | Part Manx cat

Rabbitpaw flicked his ear, well he certainly wasn't very excited for leafbare, though he supposed he would soon enough. After placing his own herbs down, the apprentice took a moment to watch the herbalist do her thing, collecting herbs and making something that Rabbitpaw doesn't really recognize. It wasn't what a poultice was...or at least...he didn't think so? What did he know about medicine after all, only things he's heard from others. So cool! Green eyes blinked as he processed the flick of the medicine cat's tail and moved from watching Miss Lightningstorm to the stream that was running through the den. Oh, had he noticed that there before? He got to his paws and made his way over to the water, ears turning towards Miss Lightningstorm as he went to show his attentiveness. Wait wha-

Moss on his paws? Uhh, his green eyes moved down to look at them and then lifted one up again. Alright, he guesses. Though he didn't really like the idea of having moss on his paws, perhaps it was a "punishment" for not coming to Lightningstorm sooner. "A-alright, Miss Lightningstorm." He offered lightly before bending down at the stream and sticking one paw into the water and hissing slightly as the water seemed to reinvigorate the burning sensation. He yipped slightly in surprise and pulled back the paw and looked at it, but it was the same as it has been every other time he's looked at it. Though some of the blood was more smeared now as the water displaced it.

His mind wandered a little bit as he put his paw back into the water. Wanting to distract himself from the hissing pain. Though all it did was bring up thoughts he didn't really want to think... mostly maybe his paws were a result of his curse, but that's silly. Even by his standards. Why would Starclan kill his deputy and like have Riverclan cats break into camp and his family die..and ...Rabbitpaw quickly wiped his paw against his face. Trying to one, get rid of the sudden spring of tears in the corners of his eyes, or two, say that any water was just from his wiping his face. Not tears. But the still. His curse... would Miss Lightningstorm be able to help him? Medicine cats knew Starclan better than any cat right? He wasn't sure. Though he was pretty sure, but maybe she would be able to help anyways? But how to ask...should he asked? She was probably already very busy with stuff to be hearing about Rabbitpaw's curse that he totally deserves, so he shouldn't even be complaining about it, right? Was this complaining? No, it was trying to understand.

Rabbitpaw pushed his other paw into the water after the first one. Wiggling it around to try and clean away all the blood and other dirt and stuff. The blonde should really clean his paws more, though he has been, that's what made them all icky... or maybe. He looked up after he thought they were clean and back towards the herbalist. "I think they're all clean now!" It wasn't his usual cheerfulness but he was trying his best right now.

[ @Alchemist Kitsune - Lightningstorm ]

[Alchemist Kitsune]

| Lightningstorm |
19 Moons - WindClan Medicine Cat
Flock Together [Tier 3] - Inactive | Mind Reader - Active | Dreamwalker - Inactive

---

A small, mischievous giggle escaped the medicine cat at the apprentice's hiss, feeling less guilt about the whole ordeal as she began preparing the dandelion's leaves with her poultice grinding rock. The small beetle that kept her company seemed to have returned to the den - or it had never left, she was never certain - and it made its way through the burrows, evidently looking for some grubs to eat. A job that the calico was more than happy to leave to it. The less bugs were trying to get her herbs, the better. Content with her poultice, she smirked, raising her head to tell the apprentice she would be in need of his paws one at a time when she caught him... wiping away at something close to his eye. Was he crying? Had the injury left him in tears?

The distance in his eyes made Lightningstorm think otherwise. His paws might be in pain, but his mind was somewhere else. Quietly, she pondered. It was a medicine cat's duty to take care of the clan. Cowtuft had taken this task very seriously, handling both mental and physical health to the detriment of his own. The Abyssinian mix was not like that. She couldn't be. Not after what she had lived through. It wasn't like anybody gave an arse about her feelings anyways, so she couldn't really say she could be bothered to care about the mental capacity of the rats that would murder her some day.

Yet despite this... Rabbitpaw had seemed... different. Kinder than the average WindClanner. Perhaps it was Crowtooth's influence. The tom was one of the herbalist's favorite cats in the clan for a reason. Not a replacement for what she had lost... she would never be able to replace him, but... as close to a friend as she allowed herself to have. Maybe she owed it to him to make certain his apprentice wasn't close to the same mental break she had experienced only a few moons before? He had proven himself far too caring to have no one look out for him, after all.

"Looks like it! Good. Now I get to use this technique. Learned it in a trial by fire. Literally. I dunno how much you've heard of WindClan as a whole, but back when I was about your age - bit younger, actually - and I had just started my medicine cat training, the moors caught fire. We had to leave our old home, and one of my friends - well, not yet, but he became that in time - got his pads seared. Could barely walk from the pain. And we didn't have herbs. Fire had taken it all away," she mewed, motioning for him to give her the first paw to tend to.

"Well, I was in a bloody panic, I was. My first moons. They weren't the easiest. Or so I thought. Didn't realize just how much worse things would get. But we had all gotten separated, and Tufty... my mentor, he wasn't around. He'd gotten trapped in the fire with my best friend and my mother. It was a mess, and without him there I had to tend to the injured with the little medicinal knowledge I had at the time. His injuries weren't like yours. When he put them in the water, they stopped hurting. Not permanently. But enough to think. So, you know what I did?"

It was a memory from so long ago. One she didn't talk about. No one wanted to remember what it was like to lose their home. And there was no reason to remind those who hadn't ever seen it before. Not to mention the losses she took that day. When her mother replaced her with her friend. Because she hadn't been a good daughter. Because she hadn't been there for her during the blaze. Stars, she referred to him as son in front of her. And she agreed with her... somehow. Even to this day she wondered how everything would have turned out. If she had been the one to be burned alive instead of them. Cowtuft would still be medicine cat. Maybe... He would be able to cheer up the tom better than she ever could. Instead, all she could do was distract him. Tell him a little story. Some knowledge gleaned over the ridiculous moss wrappings he was about to receive on all four paws, offering the same grin she'd learn to wear in her daily life as her mother withered away, always wishing her littermates had returned... because just like she'd been in her father's eyes, Lightningstorm was merely a consolation prize in lieu of the real family life she'd tasted.

---

@Dolomedes [Rabbitpaw]
| This was originally going to be a funny post... and somehow Lightningstorm got depressed on me. Oops! Sorry about that! |

[Dolomedes]

Rabbitpaw
He/him | WC Apprentice Tunneler | Moons: 9 | Purrks: Dreamwalker | Part Manx cat

Rabbitpaw hadn’t expected a story from the herbalist but Rabbitpaw was nothing if not a listener so he quickly pushed away his previous thoughts in lieu of listening to Miss Lightningstorm’s own. He felt his eyes widen a smidge as he listened to her story. A fire? He’s heard that before hasn’t he? Rabbitpaw couldn’t really remember and quickly refocused as she continued with her tale. He couldn’t even imagine going through something like that as a normal apprentice but to be a newly named medicine cat apprentice at the time… he couldn’t imagine the pressure but he was happy that Miss Lightningstorm was chosen for it as unfortunate the entire thing was. He doesn’t think many cats would’ve been able to do anything at all if they were even younger than him. He lifted his paw and offered it to her as she motioned for it, “Your very brave Miss Lightningstorm and strong as well. I don’t think many cats could’ve dealt with that.” Then she was continuing and it sounded like the situation was even more scary.

A newly named apprentice, a fire, being separated from her mentor, being left taking care of her clan… Though she was still her and so was Windclan, strong and well with her guidance. The way she was talking about it made it sound like she almost hadn’t done well or at the very least it wasn’t as amazing as it was. It was terrible that it happened in the first place but Rabbitpaw has learnt that life wasn’t kind and that the best thing you could do was learn to live through it. His mind brought up his curse again, his missing or dead family, Riverclan, him. He squeezed his eyes shut and reopened them when Miss Lightningstorm began to talk about her friend. Rabbitpaw gave a soft nod, “Making the same things you’re making me right now?” He asked with a smile and a small tilt of his head.

He allowed her to do as she needed to fix up his paws. Although…Rabbitpaw waited a small time before speaking again, “I think Windclan is lucky to have you as its medicine cat….Miss Lightningstorm?” Rabbitpaw trailed off in the middle before shifting his eyes away from his paws and Lightningstorm as he said her name. Was he really going to tell someone about his curse. He had to, right? No one knows except Starclan and they seem to want him to think it wasn’t real…and maybe it wasn’t the stars that cursed him but the dark forest. He couldn’t tell if that was worse or better. Breathing became finicky and fleeting for a moment before Rabbitpaw forced his breaths to slow in his lungs with a few deep breaths. “…C-can I tell you a secret?” There didn’t seem to be anyone else in the den but nonetheless the apprentice’s voice dropped to a whisper. Not even Quailheart knew about the curse but he couldn’t keep it to himself forever! What if Rabbitpaw ends up hurting Windclan?! What if he needs to do something, what if he could make it better again? Like how it was when he was a kit?! Before everyone was hurt or dying or war was looming.

“…I need to- to tell you a secret…please?”

[ @Alchemist Kitsune - Lightningstorm ]


Rabbitpaw gif made by ramen!

[Alchemist Kitsune]

| Lightningstorm |
19 Moons - WindClan Medicine Cat
Flock Together [Tier 3] - Inactive | Mind Reader - Active | Dreamwalker - Inactive

---

A nod. Lightningstorm allowed herself a small, sad smile at the memory. Milknose had been such a brat. Causing her trouble with Firestorm back when she was trying out new herbs to heal his injured lungs. Failing to tell her that they were not in fact a couple. That she was a medicine cat apprentice at the time and had far more important things to do than fall for a patient. True, she was fond of the tom. It was hard not to be, considering how shy and thoughtful he usually was... when he wasn't being a featherbrain. But seeing him as a good friend was a far cry from what had formed the enmity that had somehow led down to love and partnership between the two storms. To think the worst she had to worry about for a small period of time was what kittenish insult the pale tabby would direct her way that day.

Oriental shaped ears perked up as Rabbitpaw spoke again, and the lithe calico turned her attention from the paw she currently wrapped in moss and vines - quick as the poultice was on, lest it simply get stepped away - head tilted attentively. His words, although sweet, managed only to form a smirk on the pale muzzle, eyes lighting with mischief. WindClan? Lucky? To have her? She wasn't sure the clan would agree. They had been lucky once, after all. When they were treated by the black and white tom that had come before her. They had turned on him so quickly though. No. The clan probably didn't see it that way at all.

"Between you and me, love, I do believe the word the others might agree to would be bossy," the wiry framed she-cat purred, sidestepping the compliment entirely.

She wasn't used to it. Compliments. No one outside of Cowtuft and Firestorm payed her any for the most part. The vitriol felt by the clan as a whole was a much more familiar feeling. Hatred? Distrust? She could face those head on. A kind comment with seemingly no nefarious intentions attached? Uncharted territory that she wasn't sure she wanted a part of. As such, she was instantly grateful at his own change in topic. This secret he so desperately needed to share. Lightningstorm was fairly certain this had to do with his earlier tears. She was uncertain as to what had coaxed it. The wish to share it. But she wouldn't deny him the stage. He'd been honest and thoughtful. He had more than earned this much.

"Well, wouldn't seem right to not let you speak. I've been doing quite a bit of that myself, haven't I? Let's hear it, then? Something I can help you with?"

---

@Dolomedes [Rabbitpaw]