It's Hard to Breathe {OPEN!!}

[Wolfy]

Rustlepaw

It's much too quiet in here, I wanna disappear

I'm hearing myself thinking too clear.

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Heavy breathing was the only sound in the suffocating bramble den. The heat was unbearable and a lump of fur, tucked in a mossy nest, was twitching in an aggravated state. Rustlepaw kept blinking his eyes open as his body twitched uncomfortably. He could scent his sister outside the den. She was keeping watch for him. He had remembered telling her last night that he had a stomach ache from eating too much. It was a lie. An enormous lie. He had told her that so she wouldn't worry about him. His stomach hurt uncomfortably and he didn't know why. Paintedstar had sent the only hope for a medicine cat away from the clan and Rustlepaw couldn't go to anyone for help. Shadedpaw and Firepaw would fuss over him and he couldn't let them see how ill he really felt. He loved his littermates too much to show them what they can't protect.


He thought about going off to see Paintedstar and telling her his issue, but he thought better about it. Paintedstar wasn't someone whom he could just approach. Firepaw thought Paintedstar was fantastic, but Rustlepaw still wasn't brave enough to talk to her. Ripplesurf too even, he was the deputy and Rustlepaw couldn't even talk to him. Rustlepaw attempted to stand up out of his nest, but his legs felt weak and shaky and Rustlepaw immediately wanted to vomit. He poised himself up and breathed in and out slowly. His breath was shaky and rapid for his small body. Glancing back and forth, he felt like the den around him was pushing him deep into his fever. He felt claustrophobic and scared as he awaited Shadedpaw to leave his scent. If she was still out there, he couldn't go out. He was trapped. Rustlepaw coughed a little, his pelt rippling as he tried to think of what to do.

Hoping that Shadedpaw would leave soon, Rustlepaw slipped back into his nest and ignored the heat that was swelling in his pelt. He curled back into a ball and closed his eyes tight. Maybe if he thought hard enough, he could fall back into slumber. Letting himself relax, Rustlepaw scoffed in his head. Nothing could make this go away. He thought helplessly.

[Wolfy]

Rustlepaw

It's much too quiet in here, I wanna disappear.
I'm hearing myself thinking too clear.

Understanding flooded through Rustlepaw as he blinked his eyes open. He hadn't even went to sleep, he had suffered. Rustlepaw could see Shadedpaw's pelt through the brambles of the den. He wanted out! Turning around wildly in the den, he unsheathed his claws and scraped out an exit through the back of the den. He turned his head painfully back to the empty and disastrous den before pulling himself miserably out the back way he had created. He needed air! Rustlepaw grimaced and tried to run away. He got a few pawsteps before he slumped back down and almost let out a mew of pain. With a look of determination, Rustlepaw picked up his paws and practically dragged himself across the camp floor. He veered around where Shadedpaw was sleeping outside his den and did his best to walk out the camp entrance.

Leaving ZephyrClan camp, he bulked up to make his way through the windy surface. His paws felt heavy and his head was throbbing. Whatever pain he had been feeling, he didn't want any cat to find him with it. With Paintedstar on an odd loop and no medicine cat, cats would fuss over him. He didn't need that. And neither did anyone else. He had made it a pretty good ways away from the camp and out into the territory before he slumped down again in the grass, feeling fatigue. He let out a low moan and sunk his head onto his paws before rolling over on his side. Everything hurt and it hurt to lay on his stomach. Rustlepaw choked on his tongue a little as he felt sick. What's happening? StarClan! Help me![/i] He cried.

[MiNTY♥]

Feeling a damp patch soaking through to his skin the silver tom growled softly before absent-mindedly rolling onto his back. It wasn’t long before another damp patch touched his skin through his thick sheep-like fur resulting in him jumping too his paws and landing with a quiet splash. He was in a bloody puddle. Hissing with annoyance Toxicwinter picked his way out of the puddle he had woken up in and over to drier ground. With another hiss he shook the water from his pelt which made him look a bit like a ball of cotton to begin with so before doing anything else he took a seat and began to groom himself. After nearly choking on a bit of fur he was just beginning to see the disadvantage of sleeping on a snow covered glacier. Even if it was one of the few places he truly felt cool with the rising temperatures.

The truth was he hadn’t wandered far from the glacier for a while and had a new found particular interest with the Zephyrclan border due to a new acquaintance of his. She was called Pepperbreath and she was different. She wasn’t the same as every other clan cat he stumbled across and she hadn’t been hostile towards him at first which was strange. Then again she hadn’t been warm towards him either but he hadn’t expected much. Since their meeting he kept thinking about how nice it would be to have a friend to talk to. He had never been the friendliest cat but it wasn’t as if he was anti-social either and being on your own for so long sort of made you want someone to keep close.

Going on a stroll he headed towards the Zephyrclan border to have a look. Skirting the border a couple of times the tom came to be disappointed. Then again, if he actually did meet Pepperbreath what exactly did he plan on saying to her? It wasn’t as though he could admit he had been stalking her. That was just weird. However, none of this solved the issue of the fact he felt lonely and empty inside. He had accepted the fact that he had no one quite a while ago but each day it just gradually got worse.

With a snap decision he darted forward and crossed the Zephyrclan border before he could talk himself out of it and tried his best to ignore their scent as he did. The clans never had very pleasant smells. Keeping low to the ground he darted across their territory, trying to hide himself in the longer areas of grass. Looking around him he froze, eyes narrowed as he spotted the outline of a cat lying in among the grass. Instantly he fell to the ground, the fur on his belly pressing close to it. Hopefully he would pass as a rock with his silver and black colouring to anyone who looked onwards. Also luckily for him the wind was blowing towards him.

From his hiding place he scented the air, causing his muscles to stiffen. A sour, bitter taste hung in the air and he knew exactly what that meant, sickness. For a moment he felt surrounded by it as if it had captured him and he began to slide backwards but after a moment he got a grip of himself. He had been trained to deal with this and something inside him begged him to go and investigate even though his paws remained rooted to the ground. Daring to look, he saw that the cat had not moved since he had first seen him. Well since it was sick there was no chance of it being a threat but if the rest of his clan found him then he would be in trouble. A sigh escaped his maw as he reminded himself of his former life. He would never have been so cautious before. Holding his head high the tom stalked forward through the grass and he felt strong. It almost felt like the grass was parting before him and a small purr rumbled deep within.

As he reached the tom he sniffed the air cautiously. He was most definitely sick. ”I can help you.” He told the young cat. His deep green eyes studied the tom as he hesitated a fox length away. ”I won’t hurt you, I was a medicine cat.” He promised. Inwardly the tom cursed himself. He resented everything about doing this job but something inside him was forcing him to help this tom. He felt so conflicted.

[Wolfy]

Rustlepaw

It's much to quiet in here, I wanna disappear.
I'm hearing myself thinking too clear.

Rustlepaw's droopy eyes barely registered where he was. He tried his best to look up for there was a voice speaking to him. He couldn't tell who it was though. He didn't even scent him for the sickness was engulfing him. He rolled his head up and saw a massive cat before him. He was black with a fluffy tail. Rustlepaw couldn't even describe the tom before him, he was more focused on when the tom said he was a medicine cat. Could this be the medicine cat Paintedstar had sent away? Rustlepaw sure hoped so.

Coughing, Rustlepaw looked up at him and parted his jaw to speak to the tom. "Please, won't you help me?" Rustlepaw felt like melting into death. Death. The word made him shiver. He couldn't die. He had two siblings back at home waiting for him. He couldn't die. The thought of leaving his siblings to StarClan made Rustlepaw scared as he tried to get up off the ground to race back to camp to tell Shadedpaw and Firepaw that he loved them. He tried to lift himself up and turn to race, but he faltered. His legs didn't have enough strength to get up.

Sadness crept over him. His strength was gone. Rustlepaw cried as he slumped back down and looked back up to the tom before him. Normally he wouldn't ever talk to cats, but he was scared. He hadn't ever had a sickness before, even as a kit, he was the healthiest of his littermates. "Please, I have two siblings. I have to get back there. I can't die. Not without them. Please help me," his eyes were pure sadness in his handsome hazel eyes. Rustlepaw hoped that he sounded better than he felt, but the medicine cat before him would judge this. The brown tabby put his chin on his paws and did his best not to go to sleep. He didn't know what was going on and it frightened him.

[MiNTY♥]

Toxicwinter already regretted telling the young tom that he was a medicine cat. He was between turning and running away. His paws started to shake a little and move backwards but his head told him otherwise. He should have been able to walk away and let this cat that he didn’t know die; it wasn’t as though he had never killed another in cold blood before. Then again something told him that this could lead to a whole new life for him and maybe, just maybe he wouldn’t be lonely anymore.

The begging tone in the tabby tom’s tone made him feel guilty and he lost all train of thought before totally focusing on his work. Stepping forward he pressed his nose against the brown striped fur looking for clues. The world was a cruel place but he saw no reason why this young tom should experience it for he was scared and he wanted his family and if he had been in that position he would have wanted someone to do the same for him, somebody to care for him. ”You will be ok.” He promised. He continued to sniff at the tom’s pelt. He seemed a bit warmer than the usual temperature but there were no obvious cuts or abrasions which meant this illness was mostly internal. ”What is your name, young one?” He asked softly. That way he would be able to tell if the tom was talking any sense or not and it would help to keep him from dosing off.

Looking around him at the territory he doubted there were many herbs to be found there as it looked as though the main foliage was grass, a lot of grass. He shuddered as he looked out over the open space and turned back to the tom. ”No stay still.” He hissed as the tom tried to move and then scolded himself for his harsh tone. He had become way too used to dealing with cats that were egoistical and generally a pain on his butt-fur. The thought made his fur start to prickle. ”Now I know I am a stranger but you have to tell me which direction your camp is, we need to get you back there because you won’t be safe out here.” He told the tom. It was doubtful that he would be able to walk anywhere so it looked like he would probably have to drag him by the scruff which shouldn’t be too much trouble considering Toxicwinter was much larger than him.

[Wolfy]

Rustlepaw[/i]

It's much too quiet in here, I wanna disappear.
I'm hearing myself thinking too clear.


Rustlepaw coughed a bit as the tom before him talked to him, gently trying to comfort him. His head was spinning what did he ask him? Where the camp was? Rustlepaw tried to point with his tail backwards to show him the direction he had come. "My camp is back that way. It's not far for I could hardly walk anyways." he moaned. The tom was huge when Rustlepaw opened his eyes more clearly. Rustlepaw looked like a kit next to him. Yet somehow from all the insanity coming from the camp, the medicine cat made Rustlepaw feel safe. Even if he didn't know how to cure it, he at least tried.

Rustlepaw had to think a moment again, haze filling his vision and obscuring his thoughts. Name. His name. "My name is Rustlepaw, who-who are you?" Rustlepaw asked as his head felt too heavy to carry on his body. Rage was filling his mind. I can't do anything! I can't stand! I can't think! I can hardly speak! This is madness![/i] he screamed in his head. It was infuriating, not being able to do anything. It made him upset. Nothing he did could help the tom. He didn't want to be a burden, he didn't want to cause trouble, and more importantly he didn't want to be sick! He wouldn't however admit this to anyone, not even to his siblings. And his littermates were his best friends! Rustlepaw laid still for the medicine cat to check him over.

"-because you're not safe out here" was all Rustlepaw heard when the tom had finished speaking to him. Rustlepaw wondered if he should try to stand up again and walk with the tom rather than being carried. He rolled his head over to gaze at the tom before pulling his joints together and maybe they'd work. Looking desperately back to the direction of the camp he wondered in his head if he should have even left. Shadedpaw must be getting worried by now.

[MiNTY♥]

Hearing how easily the tom gave up the whereabouts of his camp made him feel guilty. If he hadn't been doing this out of kindness then another of his ex-Delirium friends could easily have pulled the same stunt. Claiming that they were a medicine cat, saying they would take the young tom to safety but then they would drag him off and kill him. Not long after they would report where the camp was to their leader and so the torture would begin. That’s what would have been expected of him if he had still been with his rogue ‘friends’. However, now that he had left them he was no longer bound by their ways and so he could do as he pleased which included helping this young cat back to camp while hopefully being able to meet Pepperbreath. Looking towards the direction the tom had pointed he grumbled after noticing it was all uphill.

Glancing back down at the small tabby who called himself Rustlepaw he grunted. "Toxicwinter." He growled. He watched the young cat struggle and his ears twitched as his breaths came in an irregular pattern. "Ok just calm down, you are only making it worse by stressing yourself out." He commanded with narrowed green eyes. He could understand that the young cat was scared but he was only making things worse for himself he just had to take a few slow breaths and take time to relax. "I can guarantee that you aren't as ill as you think you are." He added. That made him think of the Delirium days. He had never been kind to any of his patients and had scolded them all for being such dramatic mouse brains. Although he had to admit that he found cats were usually a lot more dramatic than they needed to be about getting sick and it really was rather pathetic.

"Rustlepaw, I want you to close your eyes and try to relax, concentrate on keeping your breathing as regular as possible." He ordered sternly. Standing up straight again he cleared his throat and looked around him in the hope of having some assistance but there was no luck. Reaching down he fastened his fangs into Rustlepaw's tabby scruff and started towards the camp. He could have sworn that apprentices weren't allowed out of camp on their own but then again what did he know? He wasn't even a clan cat. If there was such a rule he was disappointed that it didn't appear to be strictly enforced because maybe then there wouldn't be very sick young cats stumbling over the territory.

ooc// this would be a good time for someone else to find them.

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The ZephyrClan leader, better known as Paintedstar, was slowly making her way out of camp. Various cats had run up to her, asking her about patrols, or about daily duties and clan life, so it seemed as if she would never get out of there. But alas, she had managed to slip out and leave things to her faithful deputy, Ripplesurf. He was an excellent deputy, although newly appointed. He had advised her many times over, though, that ZephyrClan needed a medicine cat. Several cats in the clan had already begun to fall ill with an unidentified illness. Unfortunately, no cat in the clan knew anything about herbs, and StarClan knew the other clans wouldn't help them. Paintedstar was at a complete loss now, for how could they have a medicine cat when there wasn't one to train another?

The thought of resorting to recruiting a rogue made the tuxedo she-cat shiver. ZephyrClan had always consisted of pure clan cats, as far as Paintedstar knew. How could she be the one to change that? How would the clan react? The leader shook the ideas from her thoughts as she padded onward, toward the border of the clan territory. She didn't know why, but something compelled her to border check today. She knew it was dangerous to even think about coming here without a proper patrol, but she didn't want to arise suspicion in the clan. However, if she found something, unlikely as it was, she would have to figure out a plan to fetch help.

Flicking her tail, the ZephyrClan leader stopped only a few fox-lengths from the border. A scent floated past her nose, and she parted her maw to draw it in more. Drinking it in, her eyes widened in surprise as she smelled Rustlepaw. Straining her ears, she located his position in the forest, and raced toward him. He was one of the cats who had been unlucky enough to show signs of the new illness. Was he okay? Paws automatically carrying her toward him, she stopped dead as she saw another cat with him. Her hackles raised as she recognized the scent of a loner clinging to the new tom. She hissed, unsheathing her claws. Was he hurting Rustlepaw? The apprentice seemed okay, if that's how a sick cat could be described. He didn't looked injured- yet. Glancing up from the apprentice, she focused on the loner and narrowed her eyes. "Halt! Who are you?"

[/color] She asked, controlling her voice. She needed to appear calm, even if she wasn't. [/size]

WORDS. angreh painted!
TAGS. painted ; toxic ; rustle ; zephyr
MUSIC. pressure - paramore
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[MiNTY♥]

A rustle coming from the foliage behind him alerted him to the presence of another. He sighed through the corners of his maw that weren’t blocked by the apprentice he held gingerly with his fangs. It had been inevitable as soon as he had crossed over into Zephyrclan territory; he was always going to run into a cat who felt threatened by his presence there. On one hand they had every right to be offended by a strange character wandering onto their territory casually without so much as considering the border markings. However, on the other hand they really shouldn’t let their warriors start up a conversation with a loner that could potentially leave him wanting more. They also really should keep a better eye on their sick cats which they evidently did not. It was too late for him now not to get involved anyway. He really had to learn to stop doing that, but considering he was lonely his other options were limited.

Tensing his muscles he turned to face the direction that the sounds were coming from and at that moment a small white and grey female appeared before him. He hid the amusement that flashed through him at that moment because this she-cat was obviously going to rip him to shreds. He was about to drop Rustlepaw and let him fall to the ground before remembering that a clan kit probably was not used to harsh treatment, especially a sick one. Plus if he wanted in then he would have to behave himself in the presence of a cat from this clan. Gently setting Rustlepaw down at his forepaws he spat brown fur from his maw before nodding his head in greeting to the female, remaining obviously calm. He took a moment to remind himself to keep calm and to be polite since he wasn’t the ruthless rogue that he used to be.

”Toxicwinter, it’s nice to meet your acquaintance, and you are?” He replied putting forth his best charming tone and innocent eyes. Meanwhile he was studying each and every movement made by the female and how her body language appeared to be. He forced himself to not narrow his eyes as he studied her and he picked up on the dominant tone in her voice. An image in his head appeared of the small female bossing him around and he struggled to keep a straight face as similar thoughts flashed through his head. ”Your friend, Rustlepaw, isn’t doing too well.” He added as he signalled to the small tom cat with his large fluffy tail.

[Wolfy]

Rustlepaw[/i][/size]

It's much too quiet in here, I wanna disappear.
I'm hearing myself thinking too clear.

Rustlepaw's eyes fluttered up towards the voices above him. Toxicwinter had told him he wasn't as bad as he thought, he was just scared. In the process of relaxing, Rustlepaw still felt upset and sick, but not as dramatic as he had made it out to be. He remained quiet as a new voice broke the surface. He recognized it out of the buzzing in his head. Paintedstar! What was she doing out of the camp? And why should she worry about himself. Firepaw looked up to her with determination to lead and Rustlepaw knew she was a great warrior, yet he was still scared to stand next to her. He was the quietest of his littermates. She wasn't mad was she? Letting a slight sigh of a cough exit his throat, he tried to turn his head to look at her. Shadedpaw better not have sent her!

His skinny, brown tail curled around his back paws and he looked like a limp piece of prey below the two large cats above. "I'm sorry," Rustlepaw's voice cracked. It was dry from laying down. His eyes flickered up to his leader. "I'm sorry I left," he coughed a little bit, his paws twitching, "camp", he finished. His head still felt hot with fever and his eyes heavy with sleep. He hoped Paintedstar wouldn't be angry with him or Toxicwinter. The massive tom was only trying to help him, wasn't he?

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[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,480px,true][atrb=cellpadding,10px,true][atrb=cellspacing,10px,true][atrb=align,center] [style=width:95px; height:95px; border:3px solid;-moz-border-radius:100%; background:url(http://www.thebridgethegapfoundation.org/images/sponsor/mica.jpg); float:left; padding-right:3px] [/style] [style=font-family:mistral; font-size:30px; line-height:16px; margin-left:30px; margin-top:6px; padding-right:3px; text-align:right; text-transform:lowercase; width:440]paintedstar[/style] [style=background-color:#50896C; color:#c1c6bb; font-family:ms gothic; font-size:10px; line-height:10px; margin-bottom:-1px; margin-left:30px; padding-right:3px; text-align:right; text-transform:uppercase; width:440]HOW CAN YOU SEE INTO MY EYES LIKE OPEN DOORS[/style] [style=border-top:1px dotted; font-size:8px; margin-bottom:10px; margin-left:30px; padding-right:3px; text-align:center; width:440]WORDS: 526, TAGS: painted; toxic; rustle, LYRICS by evanescence, NOTES: not bad.[/style] [style=font-size:10px; line-height:9px; margin-bottom:10px; margin-left:30px; padding-right:3px; text-align:justify; width:440]Paintedstar watched as the tom gently dropped Rustlepaw, a shiver of relief shuddering through her for a brief moment. The tom had appeared to be hurting him, but the apprentice did not seem in any physical pain, on the outside. She padded a little closer to the tom, sniffing him from a few mouse-lengths away. He smelled sick, just like the other cats in ZephyrClan had begun to! Her whiskers twitched and her fur continued to rise, claws digging into the ground. Not another sick cat! Hackles raised, the ZephyrClan leader studied the tom before her, keeping a half-eye on Rustlepaw. The poor apprentice seemed in excruciating pain, he needed help. But how? ZephyrClan had no medicine cat, and as she had thought only previous to the encounter with the intrusive loner and sickly apprentice, no cat in the clan had any knowledge of herbs. This was bad, and Paintedstar knew it. However, she had this loner to deal with. He had stepped over her borders, daring to appear to be harming one of her cats. She had met him for maybe a minute and he had already committed serious crimes in her book. Looks like this was quite an unlucky day for him, she thought, narrowing her eyes at him once more. A shiver of bloodlust floated through her, and she struggled to contain and suppress it. A warrior did not shed blood if not needed, however, she had to defend her borders. Just as the tuxedo she-cat was about to pounce and slice the loner open, she was caught off guard by his words. So, his name was Toxicwinter, was it? It seemed like a clan name, perhaps at the next gathering she should ask the other clans about it. "Toxicwinter, huh? Such a clan like name for a loner."

[/color] She sneered. Raising a paw and taking a step forward, she stared at him, her blue eyes icy. "Personally, I don't believe you have a right to know my name, for you are merely a filthy loner, however, I believe it is only fair because you asked."[/color] She said, her voice strong but slightly sarcastic. "I am Paintedstar, leader of ZephyrClan."[/color]

The she-cat took a moment to bask in the glory of announcing her name and title; it had seemed like forever since she had spoken that phrase, if she had ever. She could not recall one instance in which she had the obligation to. Perhaps once, at the first gathering she attended as ZephyrClan's new leader, but that seemed to be it. "I can see that, for I am not blind."[/color] She replied to the tom sourly, her voice flat but dangerous. She did not care how her presence stood to him, one of her clanmates was in obvious trouble and pain, there would be of no use to him if they were to sit there quarreling. "What did you intend to do, with him in your scruff?"[/color] She asked, her voice hard, but genuinely interested, on the inside. Her face was stone-cold, and she liked it that way. Perhaps the loner would think twice now, if he posed any type of threat. [/font]

[/style] [style=background-color:#50896C; color:#c1c6bb; font-family:ms gothic; font-size:10px; line-height:10px; margin-bottom:-1px; margin-left:30px; text-align:center; text-transform:uppercase; width:443]LEADING YOU DOWN INTO MY CORE WHERE IVE BECOME SO NUMB[/style] [style=border-top:1px dotted; font-size:9px; line-height:9px; margin-bottom:10px; margin-left:30px; text-align:center; width:443] [/style][/td][/tr][/table][/center]

[MiNTY♥]

And through the rising and falling apart, We discover who we are

Everything about her body language was screaming that she disliked him; each piece of fur that bristled, her narrowed eyes and most of all her tone. Toxicwinter began to think she thought of him as retarded because she was spelling it out so clearly for him. He didn’t care if she hated him, he didn’t care in anyone hated him. Eyeing her suspiciously as she sniffed at him he inwardly rolled her eyes. She was treating him as if he was a piece of crow food that had been left unburied, stupid egoistic she-cat. The more amusing part was she probably thought that he cared what she thought and what she would do to him. He could just picture it now, as soon as he hooked her with his claws she would be sent flying and as a result probably run off as little lean cats tend to do. If that was the case then it wouldn’t be the first time another had run from him during a battle.

A bored expression came to settle upon his features as he let out an audible sigh. ”Seriously Paintedstar, I don’t give a damn what your opinion of me is and I don’t really care how vain you are, but don’t expect me to fall to my haunches and kiss your paws, oh great one!” He responded with a rebellious glare in his intoxicating green eyes. He knew that he probably should not have said that but he had to get his way of thinking across one way or another, he really didn’t care about anything and he especially didn’t care about anyone. Another thing he didn’t care about was whose land he was standing on because as far as he was concerned it may as well have been a free for all.

Toxicwinter guessed that she would be asking him to leave soon but not before he told her what the young cat really needed, before he died. ”In my scruff? Well I was taking him back to your camp which I believe is in this direction, unless the little one was messing with my head.” He informed Paintedstar with a casual flick of his tail in the direction he was headed. He glanced down at the weak young tom as he started to say something but never got very far. ”But firstly Rustlepaw needs to be in his nest, resting, with a regular supply of water to keep him hydrated. Then he will need some poppy seeds for the aching he is enduring which is very evident since he can barely stand on his own four legs. Also for his uneven breathing he will probably need cat mint so hopefully you have a good fresh supply of that to prevent it from turning into any sort of greencough since I would imagine you don’t want an epidemic of that on your hands. A little honey might make swallowing a bit easier for him too, I imagine it must be painful for him to do so at the moment. Also he should stay away from other cats so they don’t get infected and no leaving his nest.” He explained very thoroughly being sure not to miss anything, although if he could properly examine Rustlepaw there was a chance he would find more.

ANCK SU NAMUN OF CAUTION!

[lace !]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,480px,true][atrb=cellpadding,10px,true][atrb=cellspacing,10px,true][atrb=align,center] [style=width:95px; height:95px; border:3px solid;-moz-border-radius:100%; background:url(http://www.thebridgethegapfoundation.org/images/sponsor/mica.jpg); float:left; padding-right:3px] [/style] [style=font-family:mistral; font-size:30px; line-height:16px; margin-left:30px; margin-top:6px; padding-right:3px; text-align:right; text-transform:lowercase; width:440]paintedstar[/style] [style=background-color:#50896C; color:#c1c6bb; font-family:ms gothic; font-size:10px; line-height:10px; margin-bottom:-1px; margin-left:30px; padding-right:3px; text-align:right; text-transform:uppercase; width:440]HOW CAN YOU SEE INTO MY EYES LIKE OPEN DOORS[/style] [style=border-top:1px dotted; font-size:8px; margin-bottom:10px; margin-left:30px; padding-right:3px; text-align:center; width:440]WORDS: 526, TAGS: painted; toxic; rustle, LYRICS by evanescence, NOTES: not bad.[/style] [style=font-size:10px; line-height:9px; margin-bottom:10px; margin-left:30px; padding-right:3px; text-align:justify; width:440]Paintedstar stared blankly at the loner; Toxicwinter. She had been attempting to appear hostile, but that was her duty. Had she been trying too hard? The tip of her tail twitching, the ZephyrClan leader took a step toward the loner, stopping just in time to remember Rustlepaw, the apprentice that was apparently ill. Giving the apprentice another cautious sniff, the tuxedos she-cat parted her jaw, as if to say something, but shut it abruptly as she noticed the tom beginning to speak once more. He spoke, rattling off words and words, herb after herb. Flicking her ears, the she-cat listened patiently, shifting her weight to her other foot. "Well, Toxicwinter, it seems as if you know a lot about herbs."

[/color] She began slowly, choosing her words carefully. "Perhaps you should treat this young apprentice now, then?"[/color] She queried, blinking slowly. As rare as it may be, and as strange as it may appear to be, it was a genuine offer. ZephyrClan needed a medicine cat, and this cat seemed like a likely suspect. Hopefully, the loner tom wouldn't decline, although Paintedstar had to look as if she didn't care; she couldn't show weakness.

{OOC: Yeah, it's short, I'm terribly sorry.}
[/style] [style=background-color:#50896C; color:#c1c6bb; font-family:ms gothic; font-size:10px; line-height:10px; margin-bottom:-1px; margin-left:30px; text-align:center; text-transform:uppercase; width:443]LEADING YOU DOWN INTO MY CORE WHERE IVE BECOME SO NUMB[/style] [style=border-top:1px dotted; font-size:9px; line-height:9px; margin-bottom:10px; margin-left:30px; text-align:center; width:443] [/style][/td][/tr][/table][/center]

[MiNTY♥]

And through the rising and falling apart, We discover who we are

Satisfaction radiated from within him and he tilted his head to the right arrogantly. He knew everything a good healer should know inside out and by the look on Paintedstar's face she knew that too and he doubted the female had been following anything he had just explained. Admittedly he was a little surprised at the lack of response from the she-cat to his mocking and very surprised by the offer she made him. His ears twitched and a smirk formed somewhere beneath his fuzz. On one hand he didn’t really want to be assisting such a push over and he concluded that from what he had already experienced on the she-cat. On the other hand she probably wouldn’t get under his fur and cause him to get annoyed, though the rest of her clan most likely would. His mind could only begin to imagine all of the unpleasant felines that he may come across. Shaking the thoughts from his head he distracted himself by listing herbs.

The prospect of joining a clan was unappealing to most that had lived the life of a rogue for so many moons. Having to live by a code sounded so restricting and unpleasant he felt almost nauseous as he considered it. Personally he didn’t take very kindly to being restricted as he preferred a relaxing and free sort of lifestyle. However, he was beginning to feel considerably lost and lonely wandering these parts on his own and he could think of one female whom he wanted to get to. With a defeated sigh he shrugged in response to Paintedstar. What the hell? He had nothing to lose; apart from his dignity. Slinking past the female he stood over Rustlepaw. ”For now,” he called curtly over his shoulder before snatching the apprentice by the scruff with his teeth and trotting off in the direction of camp with a disturbing kind of confidence.

ANCK SU NAMUN OF CAUTION!