`What the Lost Have Found [Alder+Russet]

[Dakki ♥ ❤ ❥]

Winter was the clans worst nightmare. It affected all of the cats, the prey was low and the nights were cold. It was even worse for a Medicine Cat. All the herbs that kept their Clan happy and healthy were shriveled up and dead now, and Aldernose found himself counting the days until Newleaf. Then he could stack the leaves and mixtures high, trying to collect enough before Leafbear fell again. There were some things that he could get in winter though, there were always bramble twigs that he could collect. Cobwebs could be found, but it was always better if they were dry, they lasted longer that way.

Aldernose sighed, going over what he needed. He was sitting just outside of his den, his leaves scattered about him as he tried to figure out what he was in dire need of. He was running low on mouse bile... but that was a terrible thing to collect. Because the tom was deaf in one ear, his other senses grew stronger to make up for the loss. That meant that the bile smelt that worse to him, but it also gave him a keener nose to go digging for the herbs he needed. He was running low on juniper leaves, many cats developed a cough in the colder weather.Marigold was almost gone as well. The striped cat hissed softly to himself, his tail sweeping over the earth as he pondered what to do. Most things would have to be collected in Newleaf, he needed to grab some Ash sprouts before they grew any bigger, and to try and grab some seeds of various plants before they they took root. As for the Juniper... that would have to wait until Greenleaf. The leaves had to be fully grown, and the berries were ripe for the picking then.

The gray toned tabby pushed himself on to his paws, stretching when the sun began to rise. He always liked to pull out his medicine before the other cats woke up, it meant that he could do his work in peace without being bothered by curious kits or apprentices. So he grabbed the bundles of herbs and began to load them into his den. There were a lot, and he hoped to get them all back into his den before the camp became alive with the hustle and bustle of daily life.

[MONSTER <3]

[bg=faf0ee][atrb=width,400,true][atrb=border,0,true] Warm, safe, and at home. Curled up around another cat, she lounged casually. This was so comforting and relaxing- something she hadn't felt in a long while. Purring beside her family, she stretched and opened her eyes, and nothing looked right. It was dark, raining. Shocked by the sudden change of emotion, her purr was cut short and she jumped to the tips of her toes. Suddenly on guard. Turning left and right, looking at her surroundings, she wondered how she had felt safe in this mess. ' Jay? Jay?! Jay where are you?! ' She called out, mewing like a frightened kit. Feeling a cold sensation creeping up her spine, she turned around fully- only for her eyes to fall on a lifeless body. A sound screeched in her ear- a sound much like her brother's dying voice. Her eyes flew open, escaping from the darkness. Looking around frantically, she noticed the den she was sleeping inside, along with all of the familiar sleeping bodies of her clanmates surrounding her. She quickly realized that she was inside her own nest, in Meadowclan. I was only dreaming. Russetfoot took a moment to hold her breath, which afterwords released as a shaky sigh. " It was only a dream. . you're beyond that now. " She whispered to herself. Making sure to not wake her other clanmates, she got to her paws and padded out of the warrior's den. It was morning in Meadowclan, and she was more than ready to wake up- more than ready to forget her dream as well. Looking around the nearly empty camp, she spotted one of her fellow clanmates- Aldernose -putting his herbs into his den. Normally she would leave the medicine cat to his own business, but he seemed like he was in a rush. So, why not help their own medicine cat? Being a rouge for quite some time, she had learned to rely on herself, and only herself. But, after joining Meadowclan, she quickly realized that it was almost necessary to lean on one another from time to time. It kept the clan close, and kept all of them together as clanmates. Though, she had to admit, she would much rather sit on her own than 'lean' on her clanmates any day. Didn't mean they couldn't lean on her though, right? Moving her was towards Aldernose, she stretched her back legs as she walked. " Need any help with those? " She asked him. Her tone was normal- nothing to really say about it besides that she was simply asking a question. She was perfectly fine with helping the tom, but still felt a bit odd. The nightmare still hinted within her mind, and she tried her best to escape it. Maybe talking to the medicine cat would help her. Perhaps, if it really bugged her bad enough, she would ask him about a medicine for nightmares. But, Russetfoot? Ask for help? That could barley even be claimed as a rare occurrence.

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[Dakki ♥ ❤ ❥]

In and out, in and out. This was the only part he hated about bringing all of his herbs out so early in the morning; putting them back. He grumbled as he picked up the herbs, some dried, some wrapped up in broad leaves. Some, like his deathberries, he had to be careful to bite down on the branch, not the dried berries. He didn't like that he had to carry these, but when an Elder was suffering and close to death... it did help them move on to Starclan. He sighed, his breath turning into fog in the cold morning air. Aldernose was happy for his long tabby fur, it kept him warm through Leaf-bare.

A voice behind him made him jump, a hiss slipping through his teeth. When he realized that it was Russetfoot, his fur lay flat and he calmed down. "Sorry love, you walked up on my deaf side," he mewed, his voice a little breathy as he tried to catch his breath. He hated admitting that he had a weakness, but it was true. Plus, only the two of them were up. Then, he remembered that she asked him a question. His ears pinned slightly as he looked at the bundles of herbs at his paws. There were only a few left, so he looked up and met her eyes. "I'll be fine, there are only a few left. Plus I wouldn't want you to accidentally ingest some, that could get a bit messy," His tail wagged slowly as he looked away, silence spreading between them. Aldernose hardly ever talked to his pack mates, and it felt strange to him.

He grabbed another bunch of herbs in his mouth and ran into his den, placing it in its spot before trotting back out to the sleek furred she-cat. He noticed then that she looked a bit startled, her eyes were wider than normal and her heart rate seemed to be a bit higher. The tom squinted his eyes as he walked closer to her, trotting around her before coming back to her face. "Losing sleep?" he asked, his brows lifting with the question. He knew that Russetfoot was not one to ask for help, but his job as a Medicine cat was to see these small changes and pick up on them. "If you are having bad dreams, you can come to me for some dried Chamomile leaves and flowers to sooth your mind before you sleep. If you don't want to eat leaves every night, I could mash up some Lavender into your nest. The scent would ease you and sooth you into a dreamless sleep. But if you are having troubled getting to sleep in the first place, I can give you some poppy pedals or some Thyme," Aldernose knew that he was rambling, but he was basically offering her help. All she had to do was decide what path she was going to take. Maybe Starclan would show her which one to take, or she could ask them for restless dreams. He pondered bringing it up, but he decided that he would wait and see what she would say.

[MONSTER <3]

[bg=faf0ee][atrb=width,400,true][atrb=border,0,true] Her eyes followed the tabby's movements with her eyes, and she felt a bit awkward and annoyed when he didn't answer. He just continued on his way, as if she had said nothing at all. She did not like to be ignored, and almost turned away from the medicine cat before he looked up and jumped. He let out a his, but seemed to quickly realize it was only her. A bit jumpy, aren't we? She thought, hoping that he knew they would be safe in their own camp. " Sorry love, you walked up on my deaf side. "

[/i]

Oh, well, that would make sense. She thought, feeling a bit bad for almost walking away- but she hadn't really known. So she kept her thoughts to herself as she watched the tom observe his stack of herbs. He seemed to be contemplating something for a moment, before looking up at her once more.

" I'll be fine, there are only a few left. Plus I wouldn't want you to accidentally ingest some, that could get a bit messy. "[/i]

The she-cat frowned a tiny bit. " Sounds like something you would tell an apprentice. If you wish to do it yourself, then fine, just trying to help. " She mewed innocently. She made her voice sound as normal, but in any other tone she would have sounded annoyed, or perhaps even angry that her help- that she so rarely offered- was rejected. Quickly she moved on to the next subject, in hopes that the medicine cat would not catch her words.

" Losing sleep? "[/i]

The she-cat blinked, and felt her ears flick back quickly. She did not like the fact that this tom saw her sleeping issues so quickly. Usually, nobody would notice a simple change in her attitude or stance. Anything about her really. Maybe it was because she was still waking up, still getting over how her dream haunted her. Maybe she had forgotten to bring up her walls like she normally had. Maybe this tom was just nosy. Any way she looked at it, she still didn't like how it hit the truth.

" If you are having bad dreams, you can come to me for some dried Chamomile leaves and flowers to sooth your mind before you sleep. If you don't want to eat leaves every night, I could mash up some Lavender into your nest. The scent would ease you and sooth you into a dreamless sleep. But if you are having troubled getting to sleep in the first place, I can give you some poppy pedals or some Thyme. "[/i]

Russetfoot listened to him, weighing her options. She could take one of his offers, or claim that he had it all wrong and she was perfectly fine. . but she knew what she was better off with choosing. " I can try the leaves. But if its too much work i can just live without it. I can sleep fine, its not that bad. " Her mew seemed unconcerned, but she knew that these nightmares would come back. They always had. Thankfully, they had become more distant and infrequent as the days went on- but they were still there. She sometimes thought they always would be, no matter how many miles she let settle between them.

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