This was all her fault

[ivyy]

Dapplepaw ignored the passing gasps from random apprentices and a couple warriors as they limped into camp. She dropped the rabbit in the kill pile with a sneer. That rabbit, it was all that stupid little rabbit's fault. Well, she certainly had lost any appetite she might've had earlier. She looked over at Redfang, ambling up to his shoulder. "I think you need to visit the Medicine Cat." Dapplepaw said softly, her gaze darting away quickly, avoiding any eye contact.

Dapplepaw took comfort in the familiar softened earth beneath her toes, it was almost warm. Though Icewhisker's den was usually quite cold. She sighed lightly, at least Icewhisker was somewhat friendly with her. Maybe she wouldn't get in too much trouble. Dapplepaw abandoned that thought almost as it formed. Of course she was going to get in trouble, she had caused her mentor's injury. Her tail lashed back and forth, as the smell of herbs wafted forwards as a cold breeze swept through camp.

[Heathclaw]

"Save your breath," Redfang had said back on the moor, when Dapplepaw had attempted to apologize. They'd needed it- every last gasp of air, to get back to camp. At least, he did.

That fox had really done a number on him. Well... at least he wasn't bleeding so badly anymore, although dang it to StarClan if he didn't feel more than a bit vulnerable. And in pain. Quite a bit of pain. But a warrior fought through pain. Pain was nothing. He was the deputy, darnit! He needed to be strong.

"You can go first," he mumbled quietly. "You can explain what happened. And she can take a look at your leg. Go. Now." Even now, in his weakened state, Redfang looked as if he wouldn't take no for an answer.

[Icy-son]

{{ Ehem, Icewhisker is the only female medicine cat. -_-" }}

Icewhisker;; Medicine Cat of WindClan

The gray and white she-cat was staring deeply at her many herbs, reciting most of them in her mind. Cobwebs for bleeding, marigold for infections, thyme for shock... she trailed off, barely keeping a sharp ear for any sick or injured cats. Her icy blue eyes stared at the lower supply of catmint, and wondered if she could get a warrior of two to help her out.

As she glanced at all the herbs, she sighed in relief. There was no other shortage, except the tasty catmint. It was an amazing herb that was used for whitecough, and in some cases, greencough. She gave a long sigh, wondering if a kit comes and wants to be her apprentice. She was starting to get older, and help would be appreciated.

Her ears twitched, and she turned her head towards the two cats, each with somewhat deep wounds. "Dapplepaw, Redfang! What in the name of StarClan were you doing?" she rose to her paws, her clouded thoughts fading like mist. "You two, get in my den, now.." she added, hissing 'now' to Redfang. She turned back around, and marched angrily to the medicine clearing.

Once close enough, she dashed inside, careful not to spill any of the precious herbs. It was leaf-bare, they should know better than to pick a fight! She picked up several cobwebs with her claws, and a few marigold leaves. She layed them on the ground, waiting for the two cats to enter.

[ivyy]

Dapplepaw looked up at him, eyes softened with pain and guilt. "Yes." she murmured as she heard WindClan's medicine cat, Icewhisker come scurrying towards them. Dapplepaw winced.

Dapplepaw tried her hardest not to limp as walked into Icewhisker's den, "We were uh.. training" she murmured. Watching the Medicine cat's rushed actions. "I'm not injured badly at all." she said, dipping her head away from the two. She whimpered in pain as she tried to apply weight to her rear left leg, the skin was torn, yes, but there was also some kind of damage to the knee under the skin. 'What a horrific day' Dapplepaw thought, watching as Icewhisker tutted and inspected her and Redfang.

Redfang. Dapplepaw dare not address him in any way, shape, or form. Not even glancing in his direction, her gaze never swayed from it's post. Staring straight forwards, Dapplepaw realized that Icewhisker would need to know everything that happened. 'Drat' she hissed internally. "Redfang was performing a test," she almost smiled, 'I don't think I passed', "On my hunting abilities. I er, had a rabbit when one came shooting out at me." Dapplepaw's never-swaying glance was now trained at her paws, matted with sweat and melted frost.

"I must've fallen down the hill. After that it is fuzzy.." she paused for a moment, looking up at the two to measure their reactions.

[Yellowstar]

Fernstar chewed on her piece of rabbit thoughtfully as she looked around camp. In no time prey would be getting much more scarce, though today the fresh-kill pile had been relatively well stocked, for leafbare at least. She had treated herself to a tasty looking piece and had been eating quietly near her den watching the goings on of the Clan when the scent of blood hit her nose, making her fur stand on end. Fernstar looked toward the camp entrance and watched as she saw two forms limping toward it. As they got closer she noticed they were Redfang and Dapplepaw, and she could see that they were limping and obviously injured. She watched as they entered the medicine cat den and she jumped to her feet, meal forgotten.

"What in StarClan happened?" She asked after entering Icewhisker's den. The scent of blood was stronger in the den, and her blue eyes fell on Dapplepaw's injured leg and Redfang's bloodsoaked fur. What in the world had happened to them? Her tail lashed anxiously as she hoped for an explanation, thankful that whatever had happened to them, they weren't dead.

[/justify]

[Heathclaw]

"We were attacked by a fox, Icewhisker," grunted Redfang, cutting straight to the point. "My idiot apprentice here thought she could take it on alone. And I- I couldn't stop her in time." He coughed harshly, ears lowered and looking quite miserable himself. "Just... make sure she keeps that leg, please," he requested, setting himself gingerly down on the medicine den floor. He'd dealt with a bit of pain and blood loss more than a few times in the past, and he'd come off none the worse, but if Dapplepaw lost her leg, she'd never be a warrior. For his part, Redfang didn't like appearing so weakened in front of anyone, much less his apprentice.

"What in StarClan happened?"

Or Fernstar, for that matter. "Dapplepaw and I had a few words with a fox over a rabbit. We made it see reason in the end, but it was a fierce argument. You can tell her the rest, Dapplepaw," muttered Redfang, setting his head down. It felt rather heavy for some reason.

[ivyy]

Dapplepaw's ears flattened as she heard Fernstar enter, the worst case scenario in her eyes. Bowing her head respectfully, she held back a cringe at Redfang's explanation. 'My idiot apprentice' had stung her, Dapplepaw drove herself hard to impress him. But she soon forgot those words when he asked Icewhisker to keep her leg. With a sharp intake of breath, and a lashing tail, "My leg is completely fine!" she lied.

"See?" she said, trying to make her grimace look like a smile as she applied weight to her leg. "Nothing out of the ordinary." The flow of blood had seemed to wane, and she wasn't dripping on the ground as much. Her ribs still ached from the fall, as did her head. "We did get a rabbit, though it smells of fox." she said, looking up at Fernstar shyly.

"Redfang is worse off than me, he got it on the shoulder and his stomach." she said, pointing at him with her matted tail. "The only thing wrong with me is a sore leg and and ribs." She inhaled through flared nostrils, it smelled more like blood than herbs in the den now. Her brow furrowed, were they really losing enough blood to fill the den with the pungent, metallic scent?

"I'm sorry it happened. It was my fault, I shouldn't have gone after the second rabbit." Dapplepaw murmured, clenching and un-clenching her claws, tipped red with the fox's blood. Well, they hadn't given up without a fight.

[mystic]

Leopardkit
^{Life is not living, but being in health}

Leopardkit had been dozing in the nursery when the sounds of cats had woken her. Blinking she yawned and padded towards the Medicine cat den, where it seemed that several cats had gathered. The words of Fox and Rabbit drifted to her ears. Her eyes opened wide and she slunk past the leader.

"I-Icewhisker." She mewed, her head reeling from the scent of blood. "D-do you need any help." She had been spending her time around the medicine cat's den she had learned quite a bit by watching. "I... I think I could help, I-if you w-want me to." She added.

[Yellowstar]

A fox? Fernstar stiffened at the mention of the russet-furred creature. Dumb beasts always had a bone to pick with the Clans, either stealing prey or harming kits or just plain occupying their territory. Just as they drove a fox out, another one takes its place. A fox had done this, and already the brown tabby she-cat was making a list in her head of a patrol to assemble to drive it out of their land. Her eyes narrowed as she listened to Redfang, clearly showing her distaste of the creatures.

She then glanced back at Dapplepaw, the young apprentice obviously looking pained just as much as Redfang. As much as she wanted to question them over exactly what had happened, she knew that they both needed care. Once they were patched up and recovering- something she had no doubt about, as she trusted Icewhisker's skills- she could find out what had happened in full detail.

A tiny voice near the entrance of the den made Fernstar look over, spotting Leopardkit shyly offering help to the medicine cat. Normally she would have smiled at the kit's enthusiasm for helping Icewhisker, but this was a serious situation and surely Icewhisker was likely to be distracted by a kit even if they had good intentions. "Perhaps not, Icewhisker needs to focus on her patients for the time being. You could help her later when the situation is not so serious?" She offered. Fernstar doubted Icewhisker would have the patience to entertain a kit and tend to two injured cats at the same time. Right?

[/justify]

[Icy-son]

Icewhisker;; WindClan Medicine Cat

Oh. great. First the young and foolish apprentice chases a rabbit and faints for a moment, then they fight a young and strong fox? How mousebrained could the deputy and his apprentice be? Her icy blue gaze swept over young Dapplepaw, whose injuries were much, much worse. She picked a single cobweb and placed it over the largest wound. Most of the blood dried by this point, so placing marigold was the best bet.

She picked up one of the leaves before Fernstar entered, demanding an explaination. Before Icewhisker could reply, Redfang said it in full explaination. The older medicine cat was furious at them, but would she show it now? Of course not, these two needed attention. She began to lightly chew the leaf, then scrape it out with a single claw. She lifted the cobweb slightly, then covered it in the stinging juices. She then placed another thin web on top of the first, just in case of any following unseen mishaps.

Her attention wavered from the dappled she-cat towards the entering kit, Leopardkit. She managed to hide a grin as the kit offered to help out, and was shocked to hear Fernstar reply for her. "It isn't a problem at all Fernstar. Leopardkit knows several herbs already. Right?" she glanced at the older kit, and she couldn't help but wonder if this was her next apprentice.

[/size]

[Heathclaw]

What in StarClan's name was going on here? This was a medicine den, not a gathering place. And certainly no place for kits, no matter how old or young they were. But what could he do about it? In the medicine den, the word of the medicine cat was practically law. Technically, the leader's word was the warrior code, but it was the judgment of the medicine cat that saved lives. If she thought that this... this kit would be more of a help than a hindrance, then there wasn't a thing Redfang could do about it.

At least Dapplepaw was being treated first. That was the important thing. "Is the bone alright? Not broken or anything?" asked Redfang weakly, shutting his eyes and breathing deeply. Great StarClan, what was wrong with him?

[Icy-son]

Icewhisker;; WindClan Medicine Cat

Her attention snapped back to the injured deputy, but she soon calmed herself to normal. Well, if normal was stern, then yes. His words brought her back to her patient, and her gaze studied her leg. It didn't seem to terrible, and there was already a covering. She gave a sigh of relief; Dapplepaw would be just fine.

"Don't worry any longer Redfang. She'll be just fine. But I would like her to rest for a few days, and I'll make the desicion if she can go back out." She mewed, turning back to the deputy. He seemed to be dizzy, but it was in her opinion. She calmly stepped towards him and licked his forehead like a kit.

"Don't worry, you are a great deputy...." she seemed to trail in thought, closing her eyes and waiting. Waiting for something else.

[/size]

[mystic]

Leopardkit
^{Have the courage to live. Anyone can die.}

"Right." She said, lisping a little. "Ummm..." She looked at Redfang. "We're gonna need Comfrey or yarrow to make sure that Redfang doesn't get infected." She said. As she began helping her shyness seemed to vanish. Of course she was more talking to herself. "P-poppy seeds." She mewed, remembering what she had seen Icewhisker give other warriors who were hurt. "For the p-pain right?" She asked, blinking up at the Medicine cat. Then she shook her head. "No... for shock." She smiled. "U... um...." she flicked her ear. "Ummm... W-w-willow bark." now that she was talking to Icewhisker she started stuttering again. "Yeah, Willow bark for the pain."

[Yellowstar]

Fernstar felt the need to protest; it was good that a kit was showing such interest in things like this, but this wasn't counting herbs or picking ticks, two cats were really injured. Icewhisker couldn't afford to be distracted, and yet the medicine cat gave her okay for Leopardkit to remain. And she had always thought of the she-cat as the type who didn't enjoy being interrupted. Fernstar gave the kit a curious look. But when all was said and done, Fernstar couldn't linger in this den any longer. Redfang and Dapplepaw needed to be tended to, and she would only get in the way.

"Very well, then. I'll come and see you both later," she promised, making a note to return and speak with both deputy and apprentice when they were patched up and rested. She gave a respectful nod to Icewhisker and then ducked out of the den and into the clearing, her mind now back to worrying again.

[/justify]

[Heathclaw]

With a groan, Redfang made a shaky effort to push himself back onto his feet, and then rolled onto his side, so that his wounds were more accessible. As soon as his body hit the ground again, however, another spasm of pain lanced through his body, actually making him cry out with pain.

What in StarClan's name? Even Dapplepaw hadn't made a noise, despite the pain that she was in. What was wrong with him? Well... at the very least, Fernstar had left before she had the chance to witness that display.

"She'll be fine, then? Great..." Redfang panted, breathing shallowly. "That's just great. Whew..."