just as scary as it seems? [quailxpoppy]

[Pyro]

First solo patrol. Was he nervous? Not a whit. Border patrols were supposed to be in groups. That was apparently ~the norm~. Honestly, that was what made sense when it came down to it. If you happened to come across an invading force, it wouldn't do the clan much good if their only warning of it was overrun within seconds of identifying the danger. But solo hunts and solo patrols were becoming the norm. Was it that FogClanners could no longer stand the stench of each other's compliance? Could they no longer bare to be with each other any more than they had to? Indeed, there was less danger of being turned in for a sin if there was no one around to turn you in. Still, he supposed having a backstabbing tattle-tale to cover your back was better than no one at all. At least there'd be two sets of eyes and ears on the look out for trouble. Orders were orders though, and he couldn't tell Volepelt "Oh no, I can't go on patrol alone." Everyone would think he was a coward, nevermind that groups made more sense, oh damn it all he was thinking himself into circles.Thinking himself into circles when he should be paying attention to his surroundings. At that thought, he smelled the air, searching for abnormalities. Nothing but the stench of PineClan--which made sense considering he was on the FogClan/PineClan border. The scent was stronger though, as the tall, ginger tom moved forward, and that had to mean a PineClanner was nearby. Either that, or they'd redid their border recently. He proceeded with caution now, on the look out for the cat he'd scented. He wouldn't put it past a rival clan to try and sneak a bit of prey when they thought FogClan's guard was down...and sending only one cat to do it would be brilliant. One cat could get in and out with ease, especially if they disguised their scent. It was not however, an invader that he found when he finally came upon the cat he'd scented. Just an apprentice, on the right side of the border, picking herbs.Without thinking he called, "You know, you should probably thank the plant you're harvesting from. Mother always told me it was only proper." ---------------------------- words;; --- notes;; Quailpaw will now think you are crazy. Way to go, Poppy. |: music;; Dance Without You curse you slug D8< Speaking [bg=2b2827][atrb=width,500,true] [atrb=border,0,true]

[MONSTER <3]

Oh the joys of being an apprentice. the young tom though as he followed the same path he always took out of camp. Once again, he was off collecting herbs- but it was also suggested to him that he could check the border with Fogclan. Thinking about it, there was no harm in the action. He could simply walk beside it, and maybe catch some herbs that usually grew on the Fogclan territory if he was lucky. Turning his paws toward the border, he began walking. He let his paws carefully tread over the comforting ground. Pine needles prodded at his paws every once in awhile, but it was a normal event in his apprenticeship by now. Having already gone to look for herbs so many times, plus the times he spent enjoying himself in the territory, it was more of a comfort than an annoyance. It reminded him that he was home.

As the brown and white furred tom approached the border, he quickly sniffed at the air to see if he smelled any other cats nearby. Pine needles, the obvious scent of the border, and the faint trail of long-gone prey. Suddenly, a scent hit his nose, and his eyes closed to better focus on the scent. It wasn't quite a strong scent, but it was a fairly nice scent. The smell reminded him of the medicine cat den- just as the other herbs always had. Letting his nose take a path, he opened his eyes and followed the trail laid out before him. The scent was not far off, and he quickly discovered the source of the smell- Thyme. Flicking his ears forward, he focused on this simple plant, trying to remember how it helped out his clan. He knew that Crowflower had reviewed it before. . . Ahh! That was it! It was used to-

" You know, you should probably thank the plant you're harvesting from. Mother always told me it was only proper. "

[/s]

The sudden sound of another voice hit his ears, and he practically jumped out of his fur. Instantly, his head turned and he jumped to his best defensive position. Where in the. . ?! In a matter of milliseconds, his eyes rested on a ginger tabby tom that was observing him from across the border. His eyes widened, and he felt his heartbeat increasing its beat withing his ribcage. Even with his larger size, he still couldn't help but feel frightened as he stared the Fogclan tom in the eye. " W-w-who are you? " He mewed, a slight stutter in his tone- along with an obvious nervousness plagued within his paws. [/size][/center]

[Pyro]

"Steady there, Spots." Now that it was blatantly obvious that the PineClanner before him was no invader, Poppythroat had no problem whatsoever striking up a conversation. The scent of herbs wafted on the breeze to his nose, and he recalled that PineClan had gotten a new medicine cat apprentice. This had to be him. Unless PineClan routinely sent warrior apprentices out to gather herbs. Now Poppythroat's guard was completely lowered. It was against the code to harm a medicine cat, and mother always said one should respect a healer-considering your life might be in their paws one day. The brown-and-white tom though, seemed utterly oblivious to the fact that Poppythroat had no intentions of being hostile. The apprentice looked fit to burst and the FogClanner's hackles weren't even quivering. He chocked it up to the fact that he was a stranger, a FogClan stranger no less. Quailpaw was right to be wary, though not necessarily correct. "Who am I? That's an awfully personal question considering we've just met." he chuckled, then continued, "Of course, now that I think about it you probably just want my name. It's Poppythroat, and it's only fair you tell me your's as well." After all he had been told about PineClanners, he had to say, he wasn't really impressed with this one. Soul-less sinners? Epitomes of debauchery? Please. He was willing to bet that this particular apprentice had never set a toe out of line in his entire life, short though it might be at current. After all the council had said about them, he was expecting something a little less...fluffy and shivery. Dovepaw had told him they needed, or rather they should, try to get the PineClanner's help. She'd mentioned that Crowflower might be willing to help them, why not his apprentice? All he had to do was convince the kid that he wasn't going to rip his throat out the first chance he got. --------------------- words;; 321 notes;; sorry it's sucha boring post. ;; music;; --- [bg=2b2827][atrb=width,500,true] [atrb=border,0,true]

[MONSTER <3]

" Steady there, Spots. "

The medicine cat apprentice watched the ginger tom. His heartbeat was still racing, and his eyes had focused intently on the ball of fur sitting across the border. You're on your side of the border. You're safe! His mind tried to tell his body, but it didn't seem to listen. His fur still stood on end, and he couldn't calm it no matter how hard he tried. Attempting to take a deep breath, he at least felt his fur begin to flatten. Not all the way- but certainly better than it had looked before. Much better.

" Who am I? That's an awfully personal question considering we've just met. "

[/i]

His eyes watched the tom warily, knowing that he was a Fogclan cat scared Quailpaw more than he would like to admit. Their clans were practically mortal enemies. Other clans seemed like cheerful little bunnies compared to the fearsome Fogclan. . . He also decided that he made odd analogies when he was afraid. His ears picked up on the tom's chuckle, perhaps at his own joke, or perhaps at the apprentice cowering in his own fur.

" Of course, now that I think about it you probably just want my name. It's Poppythroat, and it's only fair you tell me your's as well. "[/i]

Poppythroat? His mind tried to think of any connection, any words, that could somehow link him to a clue of who this tom was. But no, he had not heard anything about him, and so had nothing to base his fears off of. He did admit though, the tom had a point. " My name is Quailpaw. " He mewed, and was surprised at the amount of stability that was voiced. It seemed like there were surprises around each tree every day now. First he befriended someone in his clan, and now he actually sounded somewhat strong! Okay, perhaps he was giving himself a bit of extra credit, but he was still surprised all the same. " I-I'm the medicine cat apprentice, for Pineclan. " He mewed, wondering if maybe it could save his life- being one that heals other cat and all.

He had never heard of cats attacking medicine cats or their apprentices unless it was in battle- though he never really heard of any kind of medicine cats in battle anyway. But perhaps, it would keep some threats to his life out of his paws. Just perhaps. He could feel the tense muscles in his body, and hoped that he could escape soon enough- or figure out what this tom wanted with him before he could quickly get back to camp. His tail moved around his paws anxiously. He had come face-to-face with a Fogclan cat, and he was clueless.[/center][/size]

[Pyro]

"So I gathered." Poppyrthroat said with a smirk, gesturing to the herbs by Quailpaw. Well this was interesting. Not really. But Poppythroat had never actually spoken to a PineClan medicine cat before...and Brightnose's own aloof attitude left much to be desired in the way of bedside manner and conversation. At least Quailpaw seemed to be calming down, although he had stuttered a bit in that last sentence. Perhaps there were things to be learned from another clan's medicine cat. Obviously the healers of PineClan had little to do with StarClan, given the clan's general stance on all things pertaining to believing in things that could not be proved...So did they make up for that with something else? Was there some additional part of their training set in place to counter their ignoring of the ancestors? Perhaps they could fight as well as heal. Although, looking at Quailpaw, large though he might be, Poppythroat found that idea hard to believe. "I guess you must be happy that things are getting warmer." he coughed awkwardly. "I mean-you know, since the herbs are coming back." Smooth as a jagged little pill. "If you don't mind me asking, what's that herb you're gathering over there?" The question was asked less because Poppythroat actually cared (though he managed to spike his words with enough enthusiasm to cover this) and more because, for some strange reason, he wanted to convince Quailpaw that he had nothing to fear. And not just because he was a medicine cat and, as any honorable warrior, Poppythroat would never harm a medicine cat. And nor for the sole purpose of getting Quailpaw's help. Perhaps the base of his actions was that here he was, talking to a PineClanner, and the sky had not fallen, he had not been struck down by a vengeful StarClan, and everything that was said about them was beginning to look like a load of crap. --------------- words;; 319 notes;; more crappy posts. what is wrong with meeee. music;; none. [bg=2b2827][atrb=width,500,true] [atrb=border,0,true]

[MONSTER <3]

" So I gathered. "

[/i]

Quailpaw followed the tom's glance, and his eyes once again rested on the Thyme. Oh. No other cat looked for herbs besides medicine cats- so no wonder he knew. Why couldn't he just think for once? Maybe then he would sound less like a kit and more like an apprentice- or maybe even an actual medicine cat! He flicked one ear back before standing up taller and looking back over at the ginger tom. He seemed to be scanning him, thinking. Quailpaw couldn't help but do the same to the fellow feline. He looked quite thin and tall, something he didn't exactly expect- but hadn't really thought that was the face of Fogclan either. After another few moments, the Fogclan cat spoke once more.

" I guess you must be happy that things are getting warmer. I mean-you know, since the herbs are coming back. "

His words came off as a bit awkward- something he had not expected upon meeting a Fogclan cat, well, at least from their side anyway. He blinked, and then looked back at the Thyme again. Yes, quite glad. His words echoed in his mind, thinking that it was one of the most obvious things possible. Who wouldn't be glad? Maybe a soulless feline that wanted the clans to perish- but that was neither one of them, or so he believed. He liked to believe the best of other cats- even if his first impression had been that any Fogclan cat would devour him whole. But, then again, he could believe that about any fierce cat; clan cat or not. " Yeah. I don't see any cat that wouldn't be happy about that. Herbs are what, in the end, usually keeps cats alive. Besides the cats themselves, of course. " He mewed calmly, which was a bit unusual to him. Maybe is was because he was talking about herbs, that was the only thing he could guess anyhow.

" If you don't mind me asking, what's that herb you're gathering over there? "[/i]

The large tom smiled a tad bit, happy to be talking about what was most important to him. He was a little surprised that the Fogclan cat wanted to know about anything he was doing- but hey, if he asked, why not tell? " It's Thyme. This herb does a lot actually. It can sooth anxiety, ease breathing, prevent infection- and a few other things. Its quite a useful herb, and im quite thankful that ive found some actually. " His smile showed up a bit more than usual, and he felt calmer than he had just a few moments ago. If anything was really true to him, it was that herbs could save or end a life. It was part of the reason he decided to be a medicine cat- he wanted to help any cat he could. He wanted to save them; It was the least he could do for his clan. If he couldn't fight for them on the front lines, then he would fight for them behind the lines. Yes, he was a warrior of medicine, and that was a title he planned on holding for years to come.[/center][/size]

[Pyro]

"I can't imagine what it must be like to be the last line of defense aagainst disease and fatal injury. You medicine cats are something else." No flattery, just honest appreciation. "Although, I can't say it's a job I'd like to have. You know us warriors:minds only for claws and clawing."

Poppythroat was settling into a state of calm now. Clearly the apprentice before him was a good sort and knowledgable about his craft. He wasn't impudent either, which was always good in Poppythroat's book. If there was one thing he couldn't stand it was impudence that came from someone other than himself. He listened intently as Quailpaw listed the beneficial properties of thyme. Poppythroat was no medicine cat, but he was sure such an herb would be useful when it came to healing sinwounds. Afterall, he and the Dove might not be able to find a medicine cat willing to help them, or if they did, the healer might not always be available. No matter his misgivings about plying an entirely new craft, it was probably best for one of them to know something of the healing arts.

"One plant can do all that? Can it be applied to an open wound? Or should it be eaten?" There were quite a few cats who would need treatment for infection. Sinwounds had a way of turning bad. Probably because no one was allowed to treat them.

[MONSTER <3]

[bg=3b3b52][atrb=width,400,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true] " I can't imagine what it must be like to be the last line of defense aagainst disease and fatal injury. You medicine cats are something else. "

[/s]

He listened to the warrior's words, his eyes still watching the herbs by his side. He wasn't even sure exactly how it felt- he had never been in any major situations. Yet. But then again, he also didn't know what it was like to be on the front line against these things either. Having to face your enemy head on, and know that you could die right then and there. He could see how it might compare to his kind of fighting, but it was a completely different type. Even so, he could not imagine it any other way. " Well, i wouldn't make us sound high and mighty like that though. We're the same as everyone else- we just handle battle differently, i guess you could say. " He mewed with little confidence. He knew for sure that him and Crowflower weren't on pedestals like that, but he also knew that they were pretty important- at least, Crowflower was. He was still learning, so he really couldn't say.

" Although, I can't say it's a job I'd like to have. You know us warriors:minds only for claws and clawing. "[/s]

He nodded to the tom, trying for a moment to try and see what a warrior might. but he couldn't imagine jumping at an enemy with his claws and teeth set to kill, it just wasn't him. " I would have to say the same thing to you as well. I could never imagine myself in your paws. Im much more suited behind the lines. " He mewed honestly to the Fogclan tom. For a moment he stopped and though- he was talking to a Fogclan cat with such ease, it was slightly frightening. Well, perhaps not frightening at all. He studied the tom for just a minute, and realized that maybe he wasn't as scary as he seemed.

" One plant can do all that? Can it be applied to an open wound? Or should it be eaten? "[/s]

It only took Quailpaw one moment to hear his question, and then a millisecond before he was able to answer it. " They can be eaten or applied in a poultice to put on wounds. Eaten would soothe anxiety, relieve stomach pain, break up mucus, expel worms, and ease breathing. While putting it on the wound itself would help inflamed skin and sores, disinfect them, and prevent infection. " He mewed, very proud of himself for remembering all of that, especially since the tom seemed to actually be interested in it. He knew most of his herbs though- most of his time was spent studying them and knowing exactly what they do. He wanted to make sure he would be good at the only thing he could do, for his mentor and for his clan. He never knew when he might need it most.

“speaking color.”[/center][/color][/size][/blockquote][/color][/td][/tr][/table][/center]

[Pyro]

"It takes more than claws to win a war." he said, smiling. Then, concerned the apprentice might take that the wrong way, "Not that anyone's going to be starting a war anytime soon." Poppythroat couldn't deny that his heart started pumping at the mere thought of a fullscale war, but he could recognize that it probably wouldn't be ideal. But then, who thought about what was 'peaceably ideal' when starting a war? "Everyone has their place and each is equally important, though we might not see why right away. 'Leastaways, that's what my mother would always say." The warrior listened intently as Qualipaw went deeper into the uses of thyme. The thought of chewing the plant up for a poultice made Poppythroat's skin crawl (it didn't smell particularly appetizing, thought not necessarily unpleasant), but he quelled the crawling with the thought of having to do it every day. If an apprentice could do it that often, then why couldn't he? Dovepaw probably wouldn't have such qualms. But..."That's a lot to remember. Can't say I've ever sat in on a medicine cat training session, but what does your mentor have you do? Spend hours just memorizing herbs?" he chuckled. "Or is it just instinctual for some cats?" That would be something. Could you have an instinct for herbs? All cats had an instinct to hunt...but not all had the instinct for fighting. Medicine cats were evidence of that. So did the cats who became medicine cats better at sniffing out plants? Was it more than training? Did you have to have an eye and a nose for it? Simple things, like use this, that, and this for an anti-infection salve Poppythroat reckoned he could memorize, but definitely nothing close to the scale or depth of knowledge exhibited by young Quailpaw. [bg=2b2827][atrb=width,500,true] [atrb=border,0,true]

[MONSTER <3]

[bg=3b3b52][atrb=width,400,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true] " It takes more than claws to win a war. Not that anyone's going to be starting a war anytime soon. " Quailpaw listened to the toms words, and nodded in agreement. " It takes more than power to resolve one too. " He spoke, thinking about his vision of these greedy leaders he had placed within his mind. To start a war, that was easy, to end one? That was a much more difficult task. He looked down to his herbs, knowing that something as simple as this meant a beginning or an end, just like a war might. But in that case, a war within oneself. . . Perhaps it wasn't all too different afterall. " Everyone has their place and each is equally important, though we might not see why right away. 'Leastaways, that's what my mother would always say. " Quailpaw smiled a little bit and nodded, once again, in agreement. For some reason, he seemed to actually prefer this tom's company compared to some of his clanmates. Not that he didn't love his clanmates, but he hadn't heard even one speak like this Fogclan warrior had. " Your mother was a very bright she-cat. " He told him, thinking about all of the cats in his clan. The warriors, the queens, the kits, even the elders were important in their own way. Without them, we would not have got along so well in the past, and could even be less prepared for the future. " That's a lot to remember. Can't say I've ever sat in on a medicine cat training session, but what does your mentor have you do? Spend hours just memorizing herbs? Or is it just instinctual for some cats? " Quailpaw's mind flashed with memories of his mentor, Crowflower. He had seen Crowflower go over the herbs, counting the stock and making sure he had enough of everything. He wasn't sure if Crowflow had actually studied about the herbs when he did that- surely he already knew them all by now. " It does take some memorizing. " He said, before hesitating. He waited a moment, once again glancing down at the herbs before him. " To me, it came more naturally. But that dosn't mean a medicine cat has to have a natural tendency towards herbs and healing. " He said carefully. He didn't want to toss any cat in front of a hypothetical monster, so he made sure to say something neutral. " But then again, if you're not interested in it at all it won't do. Thats why cats normally become warriors i suppose. They want to fight, thats what most cats are used to. " He couldn't imagine himself in those paws, but it didn't mean it wasn't bad for those that were. He had to remind himself that- just because a different road seemed difficult, it didn't mean that it was bad. Just different. “speaking color.”

[/size][/blockquote][/color][/td][/tr][/table][/center]

[Pyro]

Poppythroat beamed at the praise of his mother. "She was." But the happiness he felt at the compliment was tinged with sadness. It had been moons since he'd last seen his mother or his sister or his father. They'd been absent from his life for so long now that he began to worry that he'd forget what they looked like. What his mother's warm voice sounded like...the feel of her fur...Pipitpaw had assured him he'd never forget such things, even if his parents and sister had left him at such an early age. She was gone too, though, and already she was fading...The warrior shook his head to clear it. He didn't need to start tearfully reminiscing now, he was on a mission of sorts. If Dovepaw had been in his place, she'd probably have had Quailpaw throwing herbs at her to help the so-called sinners. Of course, she might not think so highly of herself. What she didn't know though, was that she just needed a chance; the chance Pipitpaw never got. "Not all fights are bad, I'd say." The first step to getting help was to ask. "I mean, some are necessary." Alright. How to go about this in a manner that wouldn't convince Quailpaw that Fogclanners were even crazier than they appeared to be? Because alienating his home, his family, from all the other clans was not what he had in mind. He just wanted to stop what Volepelt and the council were doing to the clan; what they were making it become. Let Fogclan stand for faith. But not persecution. ...But he couldn't dump the whole story on Quailpaw all at once. Perhaps he'd start off with a question. Poppythroat knew that the 'resistance' needed as many medicine cats as it could convince to help Fogclan. But that was easier said than done. Surely cats must have started to wonder about Fogclan. The state of the apprentices. The lack of variety at gatherings. Volepelt's continued refusal to take a leader's name. Clearly something was going on, and yet no one had tried to dig a little deeper. No one felt compelled to ask that tiny question: Is something wrong? For all those gatherings where the clans were meant to show concern for one another, meant to find out what was going on across the border, Fogclan's big secret was still just that: a secret. It brought to Poppythroat's mind the additional question of whether or not anyone would care enough to help Fogclan. His family hadn't exactly made themselves popular by any means. He wouldn't know if no one would help though, if he didn't start asking for it. "What if I told you that I, that is to say we, were fighting for something right now that really needs to be fought for?" the warrior kneaded the ground with nervous claws. "Would you say that we're making the wrong decision?" [bg=2b2827][atrb=width,500,true] [atrb=border,0,true]

[MONSTER <3]

[bg=3b3b52][atrb=width,400,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true] Quailpaw continued to turn the idea of fighting in different senses of the word within his mind. There were many things to fight against, and to fight for. For instance, a cat may fight for freedom, against disease, for their home, against an enemy. There was an even more abundant number of reasons for these fights, which he only began to think about before the tom spoke. " Not all fights are bad, I'd say. I mean, some are necessary. "

[/i]

Quailpaw reflected images of his thoughts; of him and Crowflower giving cats medicine for their wounds, of a cat speaking out against a wrongly accused act, and of course fights for their lives, friends, and family. " Of course. Theres always things that are important to fight for as long as we care about something. " He said, deeming it as appropriate for their conversation. If he did not care about his clanmates, he would not fight for them- but he did. If his clanmates did not care about each other and their home they would not fight for it, but they would. As long as a cat cared about themselves, they would fight to stay alive and see every day that he could in this beautiful world. Yes, it must be true. If you were without a care, nothing would be worth anything anymore.

His thoughts began to twist with Poppythroats words, intertwining the two together.

" What if I told you that I, that is to say we, were fighting for something right now that really needs to be fought for? Would you say that we're making the wrong decision? "[/i]

The apprentice blinked his amber eyes, not even considering his words as he spoke. " No. If it is something important to you and its in danger, i dont see why you shouldn't fight for it. " He said without hesitation. After a few moments he took in the conversation, and the hesitation that was true to his nature returned in a flash. What might they be fighting for? He curiously thought, a wondering but thoughtful expression formed into his whiskers. " Whatever it may be. I will hope for you that it may be safely rescued from its danger. " His words were slow, but full of care. He did not wish any harm onto any cat, no matter what clan they might be from. He sincerely wished that whatever was going on would be healed, even if he was clueless to its true nature.

“speaking color.”[/center][/color][/size][/blockquote][/color][/td][/tr][/table][/center]