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Post by cat on May 29, 2009 17:59:34 GMT -5
Stormind blinked as the sun suddenly disappeared for the span of a heartbeat. Looking up, she realized a shadow traveled over the earth at a lazy yet fast speed. Looking to the sky, she hissed as she realized what creature it was.
Leaping to another rock, she growled slightly in her throat, but gave Silentpaw a smile. "That is an eagle Silentpaw. We must watch for them. If we're not careful, kits will be taken by them. Don't worry; they won't take on a full-grown cat and an apprentice." She meowed, watching the eagle with worried eyes. Luckily the bird was flying away from camp. Nothing in it's claws, either. I'll warn the queens She thought.
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Post by coyote on May 29, 2009 18:12:15 GMT -5
Silentpaw followed the eagle with her eyes as it circled over them, getting higher and higher with every circle. Then it seemed to come to an appropriate height and soared off in the opposite direction. "I-it's b-beautiful," she mewed, her stuttering coming back as she calmed down. Stormwind's words worried her, but she couldn't help but be doubtful. I mean, all VertigoClan cats were big. She'd never seen a kit (besides her playmates when she, herself, was a kit), but she couldn't help but wonder if they would be small enough for the eagle...even as big as it was. "S-so wh-where is p-p-p...herbs?" she asked, giving up on the word "poppy." |
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Post by cat on May 29, 2009 18:22:45 GMT -5
As the eagle soared off in the opposite direction, Stormwind was brought back to the present by the apprentice's words. Flicking one ear, she scanned the surrounding area with a calm green gaze before taking a deep breath. They were getting closer and closer to the herbs. Yes, she could see it near them, but she didn't take any from that patch unless it was an emergency. The patch she was thinking of for tansy was large, with no chance of ever completely dying.
"Come on!" She said, suddenly feeling full of energy. She leaped to the next rock, then another, hardly feeling the warm surface beneath her paws before they touched cool wind once more.
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Post by coyote on May 29, 2009 18:42:55 GMT -5
Silentpaw scrambled after her, determined to keep up and not lose her footing. It was so open and clear out here! Every other second Silentpaw's attention was caught by a new sight and smell, so much so that she kept slipping on the rocks because she couldn't pay attention to her own movements. By StarClan's mercy, she managed not to fall, but only barely. She paused on a particularly flat, warm stone and looked around. There was a small patch of some kind of plant a few tail-lenghts away, nestled beside a big rock. The bush was big and leafy, with bright red berries all over it. Silentpaw stared at it, tilting her head to one side as she tried to remember something her mother had told her once. Something about bright red berries, but...she didn't know exactly what she'd said about them. "W-w-what's th-that? A-are we cl-close to p-p-p-p...herbs?" |
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Post by cat on May 29, 2009 18:49:04 GMT -5
Stormwind stopped leaping and slowed for a second, taking a deep breath. Every time she came out here, she was able to clear her mind more. Letting the wind ruffle her fur, she turned to look back at Silentpaw. But, as her jaws parted to call for the young she-cat, something in the air changed. A new, tangy scent that made her fur stand on end. One that smelled like death itself. Looking immediately to the rock Silentpaw was by, the she-cat hissed. "Get away from those berries Silentpaw!" She called, hoping the she-cat hadn't tried to eat any.
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Post by coyote on May 29, 2009 18:59:35 GMT -5
Though she was still several tail-lengths from the berries, the alarm in Stormwind's voice made Silentpaw spring back in surprise. I wasn't going to eat them! she thought in surprise, but wouldn't dare say it aloud. "D-death b-berries," she mewed, the name sparking a long-forgotten memory. That was the name of those berries. Her mother had told her never to even get near them and now...what did Stormwind think of her? Even kits knew to stay away from death berries! "S-so close to c-camp. B-bad place t-to g-grow?" she mewed, glancing up at Stormwind questioningly. Maybe this was why kits weren't allowed out of camp. |
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Post by cat on May 29, 2009 22:40:36 GMT -5
Stormwind's whiskers twitched in mild relief as the young she-cat leaped away form the berries. It seemed that she was already wary of the plant. Good; her mother must have taught her well. Too many kits and apprentices had been lost to the plant, though, thank StarClan, none in VertigoClan. But the medicine cat remembered seeing other medicine cats, eyes heavy with grief on the night of half moon, speaking of the deadly yet attractive-looking berry claiming another victim.
Shaking away these sad and depressing thoughts, the she-cat turned and bounded back toward Silentpaw. As she landed on the large rock, she sniffed at the yew bush with disgust, her nose crinkling up. As if the very touch of the berry would kill, she cautiously used one paw to pad at the base. It seemed that the bush wasn't that well supported, which was good. Looking from the red and green disaster, she blinked at Silentpaw's question. It was rather close to camp, now that she had mentioned it. Worried, the medicine cat stretched out her paws and leaped down to the base. Sniffing around it she meowed, "It is rather close Silentpaw. We must warn the camp and do our best to get this bush away as soon as possible. Otherwise, a disobedient kit could find it." Eyes darkened at the last part, and she turned her attention back to the plant.
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Post by coyote on May 29, 2009 23:08:03 GMT -5
The she-cat's words were all Silentpaw needed; the young apprentice padded cautiously toward the plant, then struck out at its base. Nothing happened. She certainly didn't drop dead. So she struck at it again. This time, her claws grated the little bit of bark that made up one of the branches. Again! Silentpaw struck out once more, this time latching her claws into the small branch. Reaching her other arm in, she grabbed the branch with her other set of claws, then balanced on her back legs and strained, using her weight to help her pull at it. She pulled and pulled, growling as if she were fighting an enemy, and finally the one small branch gave way, and Silentpaw went flying backwards into a rock, her claws still stuck deep in the leafy, berry-spotted branch. Glancing up at Stormwind, she wondered if the medicine cat understood. They could take this ol' bush out right now! |
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Post by cat on May 29, 2009 23:22:44 GMT -5
Stormwind watched with amusement as Silentpaw had a tug-of-war with the bush. The leaves rattled and some of the berries fell, yet it didn't seem to be giving way. The branch was putting up a decent fight for an inanimate object, in her opinion. Then, just when Stormwind was about to help, the branch gave up. Up in the air went Silentpaw, as if she had been launched from an enemy's back. However, she wasn't the only thing to fly. So did one of the branches. Eyes narrowed, Stormwind laughed before padding forward. She latched onto one of the slim branches, being careful to keep the berries away from where she could crush them. Even the juice licked from fur could be fatal. So, a determined expression on her face, she began to pull. At first, the green-cored plant seemed determined not to lose another battle, but, with a loud CRACK, the silver tabby flew backwards with a grunt of surprise. She landed heavily, noting with satisfaction as the annoying limb landed next to her. |
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Post by coyote on May 29, 2009 23:38:34 GMT -5
It was on! Silentpaw giggled as Stormwind's own fight with the bush ended in a heap of success--literally. She sprang to her paws and went at the bush again, heedlessly crushing the berries beneath her paws, as she did not realize the effect of even that little bit of juice. She grasped at a larger branch with her claws and tugged...and tugged....and tugged. But this one wouldn't give way, and she wasn't strong or big enough to do it. Growling like a kit, she latched onto the branch with her teeth (well out of the way of the berries) and tugged with extra vigor, but...it still wouldn't come loose. Common! she hissed to herself, yanking and yanking. She glanced over at Stormwind, ears flicked forward and tail waving to ask "Want to help me out here?" |
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Post by cat on May 29, 2009 23:50:05 GMT -5
Scrambling to her feet, the medicine cat shook out her pelt before trottting forward, a look of excitement in her eyes. Here was a chance for something out of the ordinary, something fun. Stormwind, who, unlike her companion, did know the effects of the berries, carefully stepped around the yew as she approached. Coming up alongside the apprentice, she quickly took the branch on her mouth. The tangy and sharp taste of yew bark filled her mouth, causing her to want to spit it out immediately. A growl admitting from her throat, she refused to let go and pulled, back legs straining as the muscles pulled tight. Her tail lashed as she tugged again, the leaves above her head falling upon them.
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Post by coyote on May 29, 2009 23:58:38 GMT -5
We've got this, you old bush. Give up! Silentpaw growled in her mind, tugging with the medicine cat as they attempted to free the ground of this dangerous, death-bringing nuisance. And, with a loud crack and a whoosh of air, the branch gave way, sending both cats (or, at least Silentpaw) flying backwards even harder than before. She landed against the same stone with a pained grunt, but was on her feet with the quick rebound skills most young cats possessed. Only a few more branches remained. What fun this was! "I-is this wh-what medicine c-cats do?" she asked eagerly, glancing over at Stormwind with bright eyes. If this was the before-training action, how much more exciting would life be once actual warrior training started! |
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Post by cat on May 30, 2009 0:09:22 GMT -5
Once again, Stormwind heard the crack and braced herself. In just a moment she was flying through the air, then landing with a grunt on the hard-packed soil. Winded for a moment, she didn't move for a heartbeat or two. This is one hard bush! She thought, blinking rapidly. Then, catching her breath, the she-cat scrambled upward, somewhat more slowly than before.
Hearing the excitement in the she-cat's voice, Stormwind couldn't help but chuckle. Green eyes glittering warmly, she meowed, "No, life isn't usually about fighting a bush. It's more working with herbs, speaking with StarClan, and healing the sick. But I get just as much satisfaction from each day as a warrior does."
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Post by coyote on May 30, 2009 0:16:08 GMT -5
What Stormwind described didn't sound very fun, but then again Silentpaw had never imagined becoming a medicine cat. "I c-can't wait t-to become a...a w-warrior," she admitted, tail waving happily as she turned back to the bush. The next branch she attacked was much smaller than the others, and took only a few quick tugs to uproot it. Only one large branch remained, and it was much too big for her; she took a step back to let Stormwind tackle it, if she wanted to. |
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Post by cat on May 30, 2009 0:27:28 GMT -5
Stormwind knew that the young apprentice's heart lay on the warrior's path, though she couldn't help but feel a tad bit disappointed. This young cat was eager to learn, and was enjoyable to be around. Shame she wasn't interested in being a medicine cat. Though, perhaps it was for the best. If a cat followed a path it did not like, life tended to be miserable.
Taking a deep breath, the silver and white smudged tortoiseshell padded toward the largest branch of them all. Before latching her teeth on, she turned to Silentpaw. "The warrior path is great, if the cat wants that. I can see this is what you want to become. A warrior, strong and proud for VertigoClan. You will be good at what you do." She meowed. Turning back to the branch she took it in her mouth and began to tug violently. It wouldn't be long before the entire bush was gone.
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