New Friends [Brightleaf]

[Jaywing]

It was sunhigh and Jaywing was hunting. His hunting skills were spectacular and he really wanted to impress his clanmates. He was stalking a squirrel, his belly fur barely touching the ground and his paws stepping as lightly as a feather as he crouched and advanced toward the unsuspecting prey. Suddenly, a blackbird called the alarm and the squirrel shot up the tree. Jaywing launched himself forward, jumping with all the strength of StarClan, but missed the squirrel by a mouse-length. He landed awekwardly on one side and flopped onto something large and furry. Confused, he jumped away from it instinctively as badger filled his nose.

Oh no! His thoughts raced as it swung around to meet Jaywing and growled as it swiped a massive paw at his face, it's claws raking his cheek just under his eye. He yowled with pain and fury as he felt himself launching at the badger, spitting and snarling. He jumped onto it's back and raked it's spine with his hind claws. He knew this badger was a threat and he realized at that moment it was heading toward the camp. Jaywing felt he didn't have time to go and warn the other warriors. It was dangerously close.

But Jaywing knew it was stupid to take it on on his own. But what choice did he have now? The fight was in full swing and if he retreated, Jaywing knew the badger would only follow him. Suddenly, he was thrown off and hit the ground hard, his thoughts coming to a grinding halt. He got to his paws and hissed with rage as he no longer saw the badger. His head swung side to side determindly as he searched for the lumbering beast. Just then, pain surged through him like fire as sharp teeth crunched into his hind, left leg. Jerking free, Jaywing's leg throbbed and blood seemed to pour from the wound.

He hissed and spit at the badger as he caterwauled and threw himself at the badger once more. He raked it's sides with his thorn sharp claws and bit down on it's hind leg. It kicked him off with almost no effort and swung around to face him again. Battered and beaten, Jaywing collapsed on the ground with exhaustion. His legs screamed as he tried to stand tall and face the looming threat, but he couldn't bring himself to his paws. A dark shadow flashed above him then.

Confused, Jaywing just stared around wildly until he heard the badger hiss and thunder away into the forest in defeat. Even more puzzled, the dusty brown tom looked around. He saw orange paws in his face before the world faded to black. He woke up in the forest, the ground tugging at his pelt, and realized he was being dragged. He struggled, his legs flailing, as he spit and hissed in attempt to free himself. But with no luck, he yowled and tried to scratch at his attacker when he heard the best voice in the world.

"Calm down, will you!? You're only wearing yourself out." Lionclaw hissed through muffled fur. Jaywing snorted with aggitation before the darkness swallowed him up once more. This time he woke in the medicine den with moss and feathers all around him in a make-shift nest. He lifted his head weakly and saw Lionclaw sitting in a corner with worried eyes. He was staring at Jaywing, Jaywing realized, and lowered his head as Lionclaw told him to save his energy. "Where am I?" Jaywing asked softly, his sides heaving with an effort to breath. "The medicine den." Lionclaw answered, his voice shaking with concern for his brother.

[Silentheart]

The pretty, diluted calico she-cat, Brightleaf, medicine cat of ThunderClan had spent her morning fretting. Already a quiet, nervous cat, she seemed further withdrawn that morning. She had awoken early and set out through all the snow and cold, needing to find herbs, and only finding a few, dying stalks of chervil- she had hastily gathered it, knowing that although it seemed useless compared to the other herbs she wished she could find, but anything would make due, and she protected it with her life and she stashed it with the other, drying herbs. She was so low on stocks, and what she did have would soon outlive its use in her den. It was depressing, and Leafbare seemed to cling to the world and refuse to let go. Ears low, she let out a heavy sigh, and moved to lay in her nest, but her paws hardly touched the cold, now snow-damp frost when she heard her name being called in a frenzy.

She moved to step out, but as soon as her small frame entered the tunnel to her den, she was being pushed back inside by Lionclaw's burly body. She scrambled back, deep into her den, the scent of blood reaching her quickly, the big orange tom dragging along the dusty brown body of his brother, Jaywing. On instinct, she forced away her normal, meek attitude, and ordered Lionclaw to lay him in the empty, mossy nest within the main clearing, and move out of her way. She approached the limp tom, sniffing his wounds, and speaking quietly to Lionclaw, to keep the worried tom calm, "His back leg is severely damaged, and his wounds are bad, and hes going into shock..." Her tail flicked, "I'm so low on herbs.. But I'll do what I can." She turned away, and instantly set to work, chewing poultices and setting aside what she could, sparing herbs and changing recipes, using up some things that made her cringe. Most of the yarrow was gone after spreading it on his wounds, but she had been grateful to save her broom, since his leg wasn't broken, although the tendons were torn. She bound him with cobwebs, and set aside chamomile and poppy seeds, waiting for him to wake up so he could eat them, to sooth the shock and pain.

To ease his brother, she gave him a rundown of what was wrong, what she had done, and that she expected him to heal, albeit slowly. Her conversation abruptly ended when Jaywing came to, and she didn't hesitate, pushing the herbs to his snout, "Eat these. Chamomile, for the shock, and poppy seeds, for the pain." She murmured softly, her voice sweet and full of concern for the poor, young tom.

[Jaywing]

Jaywing looked at the herbs with dull, amber eyes. He sniffed them before gulping them down slowly. His legs screamed with pain and his shoulder felt as though it were shredded to bits. Lionclaw wanted nothing more but to curl up next to his brother and tell him he was going to be okay. But what if his injuries prevented him from being a warrior anymore? Jaywing saw the shocked look on Lionclaw's face appear. Suddenly scared out of his skin, Jaywing thrust his head upward to look around and stared at Brightleaf. "Will I still be able to be a warrior?" he asked hastily, fear making his voice tremble.

Lionclaw rushed over to Jaywing as the young brown tom struggled to stand up. He gently nosed his brother back into his nest before hurtling out of the medicine den. Jaywing guessed it was to get Blackpelt. He groaned as he realized his sister would be boasting in here any moment and start fretting over his injuries. But when she did come, she walked in slowly and sat by Jaywing, purring reassurance to him as she pressed her nose gently into his dusty brown fur, not matted and sticky with his blood, and badger blood.

"Blackpelt." he breathed in her scent, feeling calm and relaxed now. His family was here and Jaywing felt sure that everything would be alright now. Whether he lived or died, he would live or die with Lionclaw and Blackpelt beside him. That was all that mattered. He looked expectantly at Brightleaf, hoping for an answer soon before he paniced to badly. Blackpelt lifted her head slightly. "Lionclaw told me your question." she whispered softly into Jaywing's split ear. It was cut more than half way down the middle by the badger's thorn sharp teeth.

Jaywing sighed. "I'm not going to be a warrior anymore, am I?" he asked, mostly to himself rather than the cats around him. Blackpelt nuzzled her brother. "I'm sure you will, brother." she said softly, flashing a glance at Brightleaf for some backup, before speaking again. "But if you want to do that, you have to eat the rest of those herbs." she murmered. Jaywing looked at the herbs and realized he hadn't eaten them all. He lapped up the rest and layed his head down. Blackpelt knew he was slipping into unconciousness again. "Lionclaw." Blackpelt turned to large, orange tom.

"Let's give Brightleaf some room to work. She'll take very good care of Jaywing, you know that. So let's go rest and check on him later." the dark grey she-cat shuffled on her paws for a moment before standing tall and walking past her brothers toward the clearing. "But... Jaywing..." Lionclaw sighed anxiously. "Lionclaw. He'll be okay." Blackpelt reassured Lionclaw and herded him into the clearing and out of the medicine den. Jaywing looked at Brightleaf before darkness engulfed him for a third time.

[Silentheart]

Brightleaf jumped back at the question, the firm, tough side of her that came out when she was dealing with an injured cat seeping away, leaving behind the small, fretting she-cat. She eyed everyone in her den for a good few moments as they spoke amongst themselves, the question directed at her rolling around in her head as she groped for an answer. Before she could come up with something, however, they all left, except for Jaywing of course, but she was pretty certain he was fading back out fast. Before he fell asleep again, she walked to his side, giving his injuries another quick look over, and dipping her head to his ear, "You'll be a warrior yet still, Jaywing, in good time." She stayed near him until his breathing went deep again, and once she was certain he was asleep, she began to move his injured leg, checking it again, and assuring herself the muscles were simple ripped, and would heal.

She moved to his other wounds- none of them would affect him being a warrior. She shuddered suddenly. This was one of the many reasons she became a medicine cat. She detested the idea of going out and being mauled by a badger, as she'd rather help the badger-mauled cat. Standing, she used her tail to sweep away leaf matter and dust from the medicine clearing, finally pleased with herself once it was entirely clean of debris. The once strong scent of herbs was weak and stale now, and looking over at Jaywing, her heart sunk. How many herbs had been used up, fixing him? Her paws felt like lead as she moved back to the cleft in the rock where her herbs were stored, pawing through them. The chamomile was gone, there were only a couple, dried pieces of yarrow left, a pawful of cobwebs, six poppy seeds, and the chervil from earlier. Her ears twitched at the sound of a cat coughing on the warrior's den. She had no catmint if it developed into greencough. What if another cat came in, mangled and hurt before Newleaf? A heavy sigh escaped her parted jaws. Stress was heavy on her shoulders, for the well being of her clan rested there. Her paws dragged against the floor as she hauled herself over to Jaywing. Leafbare was cruel, herbs were dead, and her belly had been empty for two days now- many cat's had. Sniffing his chest, she was at least relieved that he was breathing easier, and sleeping peacefully. She gave herself the chance to lay down, moving to her damp nest within her den, shivering slightly, and laying down, eyes closing, wishing for answers, knowing she'd receive none.

[Jaywing]

Moonhigh was rolling by when Jaywing came about. His bright, amber eyes glittered in the dim light as he seemed to gorget why he was here. He started to stand tall, but when he put pressure on his broken leg, pain twisted his face as he hissed with agony and fell in a heap. He growled as he felt blood welling from his wound yet again. He curled around and gently nosed the cobwebs out of place before licking his wound softly. He growled with irritation. Why did I think I could take on that badger? I'm such a mouse-brain!

Jaywing sniffed the air after the wound was clean again. He scented Brightleaf and he searched for her. Then he saw her nearby. His eyes hadn't yet adjusted to the dark, so he couldn't see if she was awake, or asleep. "Brightleaf." he mewed. "Brightleaf!" he hissed louder. "My leg. It hurts and its bleeding again." he complained. Every little movement sent pain shooting through his body. He hated being confined to the medicine den as he waited for any kind of response. But time seemed to slow as he lowered his head and dozed off to sleep once more.

It was sunhigh when he woke again. He lifted his drowsy head and looked around after yawning largely. He stood up without using his injured leg and hobbled out of the medicine den. He needed fresh air and if he stayed in the medicine den a moment longer, he felt as though he would lose his mind. He shook his coat instinctively and moss scattered, but as he shook himself off, he fell onto his side, his broken leg bouncing uselessly in the air as he struggled hard to not let it hit the ground or his other hind leg.

When he righted himself and was standing up again, Jaywing limped over to the fresh-kill pile. Blackpelt and Lionclaw were no where to be seen, but warriors hustled around the camp with their daily duties. He missed hunting already. He pawed through the pile, careful not to fall as he balanced on two legs, and picked out a stringy mouse. He settled on his side carefully and seemed to tear it to peices as he gobbled it down greedily, his eyes darting around as he half expected someone to take it from him. When he was done, Jaywing starting stretching.

He shook his coat again, scooting a few tail lengths on both sides to regain balance so he wouldn't fall again. He looked around the clearing before looking sadly at the tunnel that led into the forest. He looked around the clearing mischiefously before limping as fast as he could out into the forest. He breathed in the fresh forest scents and scrabbled up the ravine carefully and into the forest. He sniffed the air around him and scented bird. His whiskers twitched with longing for the hunt, but knew he couldn't. Jaywing wouldn't stand a chance in catching prey.

He growled, more from sadness than anger, at the thought of hunting. He knew it couldn't, and it gripped his heart like thorn sharp claws. Suddenly, a crashing sound sent Jaywing bolting pitifully behind a tree and realized Blackpelt was after the bird he had scented. She killed it quickly and Jaywing watched in agony. Then she lifted her head, opening her mouth to scent the air. Jaywing hid behind the tree, praying to StarClan she hadn't seen him, or it would be right back to the medicine den for him. He looked around one side of the tree. Gone.

Blackpelt had disappeared, leaving the mouse in the snow. "Jaywing!" Blackpelt hissed behind him, sending the dusty brown tom yowling in surprise as he seemed to leap rather high into the air. He landed on his side with a thud and yowled again, but in pain. He had landed on his bad leg! Blackpelt rushed to him, nuzzling her brother and sniffing at his leg. The wound had stopped bleeding, but when he landed on it, it must've opened yet again. Blackpelt's eyes were clouded with pain and worry as she looked down at her brother, afraid to move him.

"Jaywing! What are you doing out here?" she demanded as she licked at his bleeding leg. "I was tired of being in the medicine den. I needed fresh air." he spat. "Did Brightleaf give you permission to be out of the den? Much less the camp!?" she fired back. Blackpelt didn't wait for an answer from Jaywing as she bolted back up the ravine. Off to get Brightleaf, Jaywing guessed. He snorted stubbornly as his leg seemed to go numb. He waited impatiently, waiting to be dragged, against his will, into camp and back to the medicine den. Just dandy!

OOC: Sorry it took so long.

[Silentheart]

Brightleaf snapped to attention. She had foolishly believed she could get a bit of rest. Padding to the tunnel, and staring out at the camp, she also realized she had probably missed any fresh kill brought in that day, and so, her chance to eat. Shaking herself off, she twitched suddenly, looking around in a panic. She was a mouse brain! Where was Jaywing? Gone, of course. Thankfully, at that moment, Blackpelt appeared, desperately trying to get her help. She darted out after the warrior, a strange mixture of emotions, unheard of in the mellow she-cat, pricking at her as she raced neck and neck with the warrior.

Finally reaching Jaywing, she sniffed at his leg, and bristled slightly, a fearful, forced annoyance chilling her voice. "What do you think you're doing out here! Lacking sense, that's what! If you make your leg any worse, you'll-!" She cut herself off, annoyance dying. She wasn't angry with him, but herself. How had she been so dim as to not notice him leave? How did she not have what it took to fix him quicker...? She sighed heavily, and sat down by him, her voice softer now. "I understand you don't like being stuck in the medicine den, Jaywing, but after this harsh leafbare, I don't have the herbs to fight infection, or fully patch you up again if I let you wander, and it gets worse." At first unable to admit her failure, she finally decided to, "Since I can't help you... If it turns out like that, because your take off like this, you won't be a warrior for your injuries. That's why its important,"She stood, voice supposed to be stern, but however, it turned out softer than she intended. She wasn't a hostile cat, and dominance wasn't her strong point, "You stay in the medicine den, until I say you may wander." She moved then to help him to his paws, and back to camp. Her eyes were dark and her body slumped with defeat. She could scent the blood, and since it was clearly completely reopened, the rest of her cobwebs would be patched onto it. She would also most likely loose the rest of her poppy seeds in easing his pain later on when the full affects dawned on him.

She was grateful to reach the camp again, settle him into his next, and drop the last of the poppy seeds at his paws, before going back and digging through her stocks, as energy-less as she was, sorting out what was dead and useless, what he would need later, and what she could still save, finally chewing a poultice that she smeared onto the mangled limb, and swathed it with cobwebs, sitting back hard on her haunches with a stressed, exhausted sigh, "That should do it for now, Jaywing, but please don't try a stunt like that again." She couldn't help but tease gently, cleaning the remnants from dried herbs and cobwebs, before moving to the pool of water that gathered in an indentation in the dusty rock floor, above it, a gap in the overgrowth of brambles allowing the sun to shine through, warming both the water and the rock around it. Allowing herself to relax, she crouched and allowed the warm sun to seep into her pale dappled fur, looking back to Jaywing, an amused purr rising in her throat, "What caused you to believe you could take on a badger, anyway?"

[Jaywing]

Jaywing reluctantly followed the she-cats back to camp and laid in his nest. He growled whenever Brightleaf walked past him, or handed him herbs, and refused to eat whatever she gave him. He snorted as cats came in and out of the den for whatever reasons and spat and hissed whenever Blackpelt came to check on him. He spent most of the day dozing, but when he woke up, he realized Brightleaf was talking to him. "I don't care if I don't be a warrior. If I don't become a warrior, then I'll just leave the Clan." he growled irritably.

Then she asked why he thought he could take on a badger. "Because I felt like it." he sneered with a hiss. He jerked his head away from her, staring in the opposite direction of the medicine cat. He felt guilty, knowing she was just doing what she thought was best for Jaywing. But he just wanted to stretch his legs. After awhile he turned back to the medicine cat. "Look, I'm sorry I snapped." he sighed. "I'm just getting cranky because the clan is doing everything without me. It's like they don't even need me." he said, feeling depressed.

"And I don't know why I thought I could take on that badger alone. It just startled me and my first instinct was too attack. I didn't realize what I was doing until the fight was half way over. And by then, I knew the badger would just chase me all the way to the camp. I couldn't put my friends and family in danger like that!" he exclaimed. "I just thought if I held out long enough, a patrol would hear me and come to help. Mouse-brain! I'm so mouse-brain!" he hissed at himself and lowered his head down.

"I bet the clan would be happier without me anyways. And if I left, you wouldn't have to waste your time on a lost hope like me." he growled and shifted carefully so his back was to her. He closed his amber eyes, lost in the pain of his leg, and the pain of thinking his clan didn't need him. He waited for Brightleaf to talk again so he could hear her beautiful voice. In the five days that Jaywing had been here, he'd grown close to the medicine cat a little, even if he didn't realize it himself yet.

He wasn't sure if she was starting to feel attached to him, but he knew she couldn't. She was a medicine cat, he was a warrior. He could have kits if he wanted, she couldn't. Love was forbidden for Brightleaf and Jaywing knew it, But what if he did fall in love with her? Would he be able to convince himself to fall out of love with her, for her sake? He shuddered inwardly at the thought of love. He didn't want to be a father, feeling he would be terrible at it. But if he did fall in love, what choice would he have?

[Silentheart]

She had noticed his dark mood for the past few days, but it only truly set in when he snapped at her. He normally stayed quiet or calm when talking to her, and now, he made her flinch, the twitchy, nervous medicine cat shifting her paws in the dust and backing away, attempting to busy herself sorting herbs, hiding how much it had hurt. It shouldn't have hurt, however... she knew it. As a medicine cat, all cats came to her, respected her, he was just a bit moody and she was used to it yet, the aggravation from him actually scored her deep. She knew part of her was trying to step down a road she should never step down. Ever. Not as a medicine cat. She was snapped from her reverie when his voice called out, softer now, apologetic. She froze for a second, and finally turned, looking at him- although his back was to her. "Happier?" She piped, and after a moment, an amused purr vibrated in her throat. "Oh, they need you- that's why I keep you locked up in here. So you can get better," She flicked her tail toward the exit to the medicine den, "Because they're constantly asking when they can have you back."

It was in her nature to try to cheer the tom up, and she padded over to him, checking his leg. The skin was already healing, at this point she figured it wouldn't reopen- scar tissue was already sealing it. Inside, she knew the tendons would heal quickly, but not if his other legs got weak... She nudged his back gently, then firmer, "Up, I say. I figure you're fellow clanmates will be more lighthearted if they see you're not in here dying and clawing off ears," She chuckled as she moved to be sort of a brace for him balancing on three paws, "And that you still have legs to move on." It was about sunhigh, and since prey was so scarce, a few cats were still out hunting, but she believed at least his siblings would still be in camp, "If your brother and sister are still in camp, you can stay out with them today instead of being cramped in here with boring ol' me." She couldn't help but chuckle shyly. The clan loved her, for she was a good medicine cat, but her nervous attitude and lack of better conversations meant many cats tried to be in and out of her den as quickly as possible, to get back their exciting, adventurous lives. A life she didn't live. A life she chose not to live, no matter the circumstances.

[Jaywing]

Jaywing sighed. "I guess." he lowered his head only to have it shoved lightly as the medicine cat pushed agaisnt him. "Well, if you insist." he grunted as he stood up. He hadn't stood up since his run away attempt into the forest a few sunrises ago. His legs were stiff and they screamed with protest as he finally stood on his large paws again. He shook his coat and fell on his side with a hiss of annoyance. He stood up again, putting a little pressure on his injured leg. It hurt when he put pressure on it, but he knew that meant it was healing. He put weight on it as he limped terribly out into the clearing.

Heads twisted all around to gaze at Jaywing. Blackpelt was at his side immediately. Her fur bristling a little. He purred with amusement. "Another escape attempt?" she growled a warning. "Your leg will never heal if you keep trying to sneak off into the forest!" she mewed sternly. "But-" Jaywing tried to explain. "Oh I'm gonna kick your butt if you don't get it back in that medicine den!" she hissed with impatience. He hissed back at Blackpelt, arching his back and lashing his tail. His fur bristled to make him look half his size and his lips curled back into a snarl while his ears seemed plastered to his skull. His amber eyes glared at with her all the strength of StarClan it seemed.

Blackpelt just growled deep in her throat and Jaywing yowled, bowling his sister over easily, despite his injured leg. Taken by surprise, Blackpelt squealed and struggled against Jaywing's hefty weight. He bit her sternly on the shoulder and swiped at her ears with unsheathed claws. Lionclaw, who was only a few tail lengths away, turned his head sharply to see what all the commotion was about. When he saw Jaywing's teeth flashing just above Blackpelt's throat, he seemed to fly like a hawk over the few tail lengths that seperated him from his siblings. He grabbed Jaywing's scruff between his teeth and roughly pulled him off Blackpelt.

With his enormous weight and size, Lionclaw easily held Jaywing down as the brown tom squealed and hissed and yowled with rage, lashing claws at Lionclaw. But Jaywing's brother had no trouble avoiding the blows as he pinned him to the ground. "What in StarClan are you doing!?" Lionclaw demanded. "Being out on a bad leg is one thing, Jaywing. But attacking a clanmate, who, if I must remind you, is your sister!?" Lionclaw hissed, cuffing Jaywing's ears with a sheathed paw. Jaywing grunted as he tried desperately to throw Lionclaw off of him. "Get off!" he yowled. "Not until you tell me why you attacked your own sister." Lionclaw said calmly, even though his fur was still bristled.

"She thinks she can tell me what to do! Well that snobby piece of fox-dung can't tell me what to do! She isn't my mother!" Jaywing instantly regretted his words. Rosepetal was their mother and she had died in a battle when they were apprentices. Jaywing regretted his words even more, as he remembered quite well Rosepetal had died protecting him and lost her life doing so. Lionclaw, shocked, stumbled back. Jaywing stood up immediately. "I-I-I..." he couldn't speak as he struggled for words. Blackpelt looked at him with pain filled eyes and Lionclaw looked at Jaywing as though he had grown wings. "Blackpelt. I-I... I didn't mean it." he mewed softly. "I..." Jaywing was at a loss for words.

She stared at him blankly, drooping her head and walking toward the warriors den as though she had just been exiled from the entire forest. Lionclaw narrowed his eyes and followed her. Jaywing sighed and padded slowly back to the medicine den, pain, regret, and memories of his mother stabbing deeply at his heart like thorns. He hadn't meant to say what he did. It just came out. He slumped into his nest, his leg throbbing eradically now that the excitement of the fight and anger had vanished. He sighed and closed his eyes, images of his mother burning like fire in his mind. He curled into a very tight ball and closed his eyes with his ears flat against his head, wishing he were still a kit curled into the soft belly fur of his mother Rosepetal.

(Sorry, just got the computer back. I apologize that it took so long.)

[Silentheart]

The pretty calico she-cat was distracted, fussing over her herbs like a queen over her kits, when the commotion from outside caused her to jump and turn around, fur bristling. What was happening. Nervously, she padded toward the entrance to her den, only to be cut short as Jaywing padded in and curled up tight in his nest, his posture showing hurt, and she sighed. She knew she should have taken into consideration his siblings and their over-protectiveness. As was her personality to comfort cats in need of it, she knew it best to speak with his siblings, and give him time to calm himself before she tried anything.

Padding out into the cold leafbare sunhigh, she parted her jaws, taking in the camp scents, and letting her eyes lock onto the pelt of Lionclaw as he pushed his way frostily into the warriors den. She hesitated, nervousness causing her to want to turn around and hide in her den longer- but she knew if she was ever going to get Jaywing out of her den to exercise his leg, she'd need to speak with his siblings. Drawing a deep breath, and what courage she could, she padded to the den, calling softly inside, before pushing her way in. It took a moment for her pale silver eyes to grow accustomed to the dim light of the den. When she did, she immediately spotted Lionclaw, not pausing to glance at Blackpelt as she spoke to the more reasonable tom. "I'm not one to badger, Lionclaw, but what happened today is unacceptable. I gave your brother permission to leave my den, since if he doesn't exercise his leg, even while its healing, it will be useless to him when he is healed- not to mention, he was going stircrazy." Suddenly, her calm tone changed slightly, turning stern and serious, her gaze flicking between the two. At the moment, it wasn't simply one of the most nervous cats in the forest speaking, but a medicine cat, very serious about her job, knowing her authority, and refusing to be undermined or have her patients injured further. "If that wasn't bad enough, fighting with him?" She sounded distressed, her tail lashing nervously, panic suddenly vibrating in her voice. "This leafbare is cold and harsh! I have no herbs, I have little of anything useful left. If his wounds would have reopened and gotten infected..." The fire died and her eyes darkened, falling as her tail ceased the agitated movement, "There would be nothing I could do."

As of late, with her inability to help many cats with their ailments, even if it was the forest not producing the herbs she needed, she had begun to doubt her ability as a medicine cat, unable to sustain much of her clan through the leafbare. Apprentices and kits had died of greencough through the harsh weather, because she had no herbs to sooth it- only poppyseeds to ease their passage to Starclan- she could never forgive herself for it, and if by any chance something happened to Jaywing as well, would even Starclan forgive her? Her eyes jerked back up to the siblings, waiting for some response, whatever it may be.

[Jaywing]

Lionclaw had settled into his nest when Brightleaf barged in and started hounding on him about Jaywing. He listened with an unsurprised look on his face. When she had finished, he just rubbed a lick paw over his ears and whiskers. "Jumping to conclusions, are we? Not getting the whole story? Well, sit and listen." he growled at her as if he were clan leader. "I didn't start the fight with him. Blackpelt did, and she was only concerned. How was she supposed to know you gave that furball permission to leave the den when he had snuck out once already? Tell me that. And I only fought against him because, well..." he stopped and looked at his paws. "He would've killed Blackpelt. When I turned to look what all the commotion was about, I saw him about to rip her neck wide open." he mewed softly. "I couldn't let Jaywing kill my sister." he explained.

He looked at Brightleaf with a look of fear for Blackpelt. Suddenly realizing how close Jaywing had come to killing their sister. The fur along his spine rippled at the thought. He shook his coat and stood up. "Just keep him under control, and we won't have any further problems. Because if he does try to kill Blackpelt again, I will kill him myself." he drew his lips back into a snarl and crouched beside Blackpelt, grooming her bristled fur, murmering comfort to her. He flicked his tail, telling Brightleaf he wanted her to leave the den as he groomed his shooken sister.

(Not a lot. Sorry.)

[Silentheart]

For the first time in her life, as the tom spoke to her with such a gruff tone, the she-cat chose to ignore his ignorance, and suddenly, became a cat with a deep sense of morale and confidence, a cat rarely seen. Her eyes narrowed, "I was speaking to you both- And Lionclaw, step down now. As your medicine cat, I have authority over you, not the other way around," She paused, her tail giving a lash, "You're not Brilliantstar- and this last leaf bare, there has already been far too much death!" Her eyes, dark now, switched again between the self-pitying she-cat, and her arrogant brother, "You are the one jumping to conclusions. A rough fight, yes, but you can never be certain he had the intention to kill his sister."

She calmed herself quickly. She wasn't a submissive cat, simply nervous- and when a cat, especially a tom, tried to show any power over her, aside from her leader, she wouldn't curl up, she had a fire she rarely would show. Again, she addressed Lionclaw, suddenly appalled by his comment on killing his brother, her eyes wide, shaking her head, her voice low, "Lionclaw, you're a good cat, a good warrior- but you will never be a great one, not like that. Have you no honor in the warrior code? Clan cats, if they can help it, will never kill another cat," her eyes narrowed, "Nor lust for it in secrecy. You have no proof of murderous intentions... nor should you have intentions of murder yourself..." The fire was smoldered, his eyes dark as she recalled the pretty she-cat she had gone through apprenticeship with, until she became a medicine cat. She closed her eyes, turning away from the pair, back toward the exit to the den, "Lionclaw, Blackpelt, I have had no family for many, many moons now- no siblings, my parents dead, and most certainly as a medicine cat, no mate, or kits. If you do anything right in your life, aside from serve your clan, never, never give up on the family you do have... never harm them." Her eyes darted darkly over her shoulder, "Or you're no better than the brute that killed Rosepetal."

Sullen now, grief a stone in her heart, she stalked away from the warrior's den, back into her own, moving over the Jaywing. She had defended him today, because dying was no good option for any cat, and to think an arrogant tom such as Lionclaw could so believe that he could kill his own flesh and blood... She brushed her tail against the tom's side, "Jaywing, wake up. I have some poppyseeds for you."

[/b] She murmured, walking back to the crevice in the rock, and returning with the small, black seeds, scattering them at her side.[/size][/center]

[Jaywing]

"And stay out." Lionclaw grumbled as Brightleaf left the den. Jaywing was still curled tight in his nest when Brightleaf brushed him with her tail. "No, thank you." he muttered and curled tighter into a ball, if it was possible. Just then, he felt little seeds fall all over his pelt. He sighed and lifted his head. "Brightleaf. Do they hate me?" he asked in a whisper. "I didn't mean to say what I had. I was just really upset. Blackpelt is always fretting over me like I'm a kit and she's my mother. But she isn't." he sighed and lowered his head on his nest again. Finally, he licked up a couple poppy seeds and felt himself growing tired already. "Please StarClan, don't let my brother and sister hate me. Please." he muttered before fell in blackness.

[Silentheart]

She heard his question, and could feel the solemn guilt rolling off his pelt in waves as he finally rolled over and lapped up the seeds she had dropped for him. However much she wanted to answer him, to reassure him that they wouldn't hate him, they couldn't, she just couldn't bring herself to say it, when it could very well be a lie. She sighed, sitting at his side and watching the poppyseeds take effect. Once he was asleep, she poked her head out of the den, mentally taking note to speak to Brilliantstar later. There was much tension between the three littermates, a tension that would need to be settled- not to mention, an attitude within Lionclaw she knew needed to be quelled. Taking a deep breath of the fresh air, she looked toward the yawning exit that lead out to the forest. It was almost newleaf, yes, but she doubted she would find any herbs still this early, nonetheless, she made a mental note to go later and do a bit of searching herself, maybe once the sunset patrol came back that evening. It was always nice to wander the forest in the evening.

She moved back inside her den, crouching in her nest, listening to the bustling camp for any sounds of pain or sickness, thankful when after a long while, there was nothing, aside from Jaywing coming back around from the effect of the seeds. She stood, and stretched, padding over into the sunlight dappled clearing and sitting down, grooming herself while her patient came to, slowly. Smoothing her fur, she quickly left her den again, returning with a mouse that had been brought in earlier, and dropping it next to him. "Mice are a good sign. It means newleaf is finally here- and its exactly what we need." She murmured, settling herself back in the warm light to groom.

[Jaywing]

Jaywing stirred in his nest and looked at Brightleaf. For some reason, he felt something stir inside him. He felt like there was a butterfly in his stomach, fluttering hopelessly to get out but couldn't. When he looked at her, there was something different about her. The way she moved, the sound of her voice, her eyes, her pelt. Everything about her. Beautiful. He shook his head and clear and got up, sitting on his good hind leg and letting the other, injured leg slant lazily on one side. "Hello." he mewed softly. He was taken aback to hear his voice sound cracked with a little affection. It startled him and he didn't know what to think of it.

(Sorry, I know it's a crappy post. Don't hate me xD)

[Silentheart]

((Hate? Never hate ))


Brightleaf again looked up from her grooming at his greeting. Had she imagined the tinge of affection in his voice, or was it actually there? Whether or not, it was relieving to see him up, obviously healing nicely if he could sit up properly. "Why, hello to you too, Jaywing!" She purred, seeming to be in bright spirits. She had daydreamed the morning away, of with the arrival of newleaf, the chance of all the herbs revitalizing and she could finally restock her den with what she would need to care for the clan that she had so failed over the harsh leafbare.

Quickly finishing her grooming, she sat, ears pricked towards him, "Seeing as we still need to exercise your leg, but the camp is far too busy for any real movement," She started, eyes bright with her ingenious idea, "We're going to go out into the forest this evening, while I search for herbs. I need the extra set of eyes and ears, the company is nice- and you need the movement if your leg is to heal properly." She flicked her tail toward the mouse she had dropped at his side. "You'll need your strength if you're going to go out with me this evening- its easy in the small confines of the camp, but you'll find it a challenge going through the forest, with all of its obstacles, with a injury of any kind." She suddenly paused, sobering slightly, "That is, if you want. If you'd rather, you can in fact exercise in camp, although apprentices and warriors coming and going, it'd be crowded."

[Jaywing]

Jaywing lifted his head with pricked ears as she spoke of going into the forest. "Yes, I'll go with you. My claws are itching to go into the forest again." he could already feel the breeze in the forest, the newleaf sun in his fur. He smiled at the thought of being under the trees again. He stood up and walked around, wincing only slightly at the pain in his leg when he put pressure on it. "And besides, if I walk from this den by myself again, my know-it-all sister might claw my ears again." he mewed teasingly. He shook his coat and kept his balance, something he hadn't been able to do in a long time.

He looked at her with soft, amber eyes. "And on top of all that," he said softly, "I couldn't think of anything else I'd rather do than collect herbs with you." he smiled and nuzzled her shoulder. He was shocked, realizing what he had just done, but didn't care. All that mattered what that Brightleaf was near him and that she was happy. That was all that truely mattered to the dusty brown tom. He sat down and pressed his forehead against hers.