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Post by .:Lion:. on Jan 16, 2011 21:38:53 GMT -5
The scent of bitter herbs filled the Medicine cat's den. The smooth curves of the cave seemed to be radiating sunlight - far too bright for the morning, or at least in Lastsong's opinion. With a hefty sigh, Lastsong finally allowed his eyes to open. He didn't want to wake up - he'd been having a nice dream. The tom let out a faint sigh as he stretched himself, casting a glance over his stores. Drat... I'll have to gather some more juniper berries. We're almost out after Mottledfur ate that bad squirrel. Lastsong smirked, remembering the incident well. He should have gotten more sooner, but SkyClan was large and things got so hectic. With a sigh, the medicine cat made his way out into the camp. The day was warm, at least - warm for so late in the year, anyway. One thing Lastsong missed about the distant days of living with his mother in Twolegplace was the constant warmth. Out here, it was always cold. But he could barely remember the time he spent away from SkyClan, and most of the time he didn't want to remember. Looking around him, Lastsong caught a glimpse of an apprentice standing in the clearing. He tilted his head to one side and debated calling out and having one of them help him. But then, he didn't want any mentor biting his tail for interfering with their plans. He sighed. Better to work alone, maybe.
OOC: Waaait, is Siennapaw his apprentice already or are we going with her switching mid-training or whatever?
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Post by Lemon Zinger on Jan 16, 2011 22:18:50 GMT -5
Siennapaw rushed out of the apprentice den and ran smack into Lastsong. "Oh, hey Lastsong. You going out of camp?" She asked. "Can I come?" She hadn't been out of camp in awhile. Her former mentor had gone missing and since she had not yet been assigned a new one, she had been stuck in camp most of the time.
She hoped Lastsong would take her with him if he was leaving. He had been friendly the time she'd been attacked with a fox with Autumnpaw and Flickerpaw.
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Post by .:Lion:. on Jan 16, 2011 22:27:20 GMT -5
Lastsong started as his reverie was interupted by a young cat. He looked down at Siennapaw, his eyes filled with surprise. Then he relaxed, the mask of something like irritation taking its place. In reality it was what one would call a "nuetral" expression, but on Lastsong's face, it made him look ornry.
"Of course. I'll need some help carrying herbs. Thank StarClan there is someone to relieve my burden." He said solemnly. Only if a cat knew him well could they detect the mirth in his intense eyes. He twitched his ear and gave a slight half-smile at Siennapaw. He remembered the run-in she and her sister had had with a fox, and how he'd helped take her back to camp. She'd told him how she was feeling, especially without a mentor and with no one to pay attention to her. He wished he could make her feel useful. Maybe by taking her along with him he could do something to help.
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Post by Lemon Zinger on Jan 16, 2011 22:31:41 GMT -5
"Yay!" Siennapaw said, bouncing up excitedly. "I will carry every last herb for you!" She promised. She was so glad to have something to do - especially with someone she admired and liked so much. She was lonely since her sister was out of camp so much and Autumnpaw and Flickerpaw had grown undeniably close. Siennapaw didn't know why she felt so happy working with Lastsong, but he didn't seem to judge her like most cats in the clan. He seemed actually accept her.
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Post by .:Lion:. on Jan 16, 2011 22:37:41 GMT -5
Lastsong looked down at Siennapaw, surprised by her strong reaction. But at least she seemed pleased - most apprentices just grumbled when he asked for their help - or demanded it. It was a nice change to have someone willing to give him some company. Lastsong nodded slightly, turning and motioning with his tail for Siennapaw to follow. Sunlight rippled across his grey pelt, lingering in the traces of his ebony stripes and then fading among his hazy grey fur. His pale green eyes flickered as he looked over his shoulder at the camp, thinking of all the cats there that depended on him. The thought gave him a little more strength, a little less weight on his paws. He waited patiently for Siennapaw to climb over the cliff face, hoping to get back before Sunhigh if he could. He had so many leaves to sort through before Leaf-bare. I wish I had an apprentice sometimes. It would be helpful. Maybe I could ask Songstar for a temporary assistant at least? He thought. And as the idea occured to him he realized he'd probably ask for Siennapaw. Maybe partly because she didn't have a mentor, and partly because he felt she was so much like him. She needed a place, and he wanted to be the one to give it to her, as his mentor had to him.
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Post by Lemon Zinger on Jan 16, 2011 22:41:19 GMT -5
"What are you thinking about?" Siennapaw asked. Then she realized that maybe she shouldn't ask such things, after all Lastsong was one of the clan cats who spoke to Starclan and had a special role. "Nevermind. I shouldn't pry." She quickly said, deciding to study the landscape instead. "What are we looking for?"
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Post by .:Lion:. on Jan 16, 2011 22:51:40 GMT -5
"Juniper berries," Lastsong replied, not at all ruffled by her question. She was one of many who couldn't understand him - and why not? All of his experiences in life had happened behind the scenes. They were secret, precious, known by few. And those who really did know were mostly dead by now, gone with the passing seasons like leaves flying from the trees into the distance. A sudden deep sadness filled Lastsong at the thought of the close friends - his only confidants, the ones that he had been closer to than he ever thought to be with any cat again - and how they'd left him one by one until he was alone.
"Do you know what they look like?" He asked at last, shaking himself out of his despairing thoughts. It would not do to start sulking now. He had work to do.
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Post by Lemon Zinger on Jan 16, 2011 22:59:11 GMT -5
"Ummm, they are berries." Siennapaw racked her brain for any shred of appearance she could remember about them. And they are... red?" Siennapaw guessed. She didn't want Lastsong to think she didn't know anything. She wanted him to think she was smart and clever.
Because few other cats thought that. She wondered if Autumnpaw even thought that. Her sister was so busy with training and Flickperaw, Siennapaw had been left behind. Bad enough to have her parents not care a shred about her, but loosing Autumnpaw was becoming painful.
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Post by .:Lion:. on Jan 16, 2011 23:15:51 GMT -5
Lastsong couldn't help but twitch his whiskers a bit in amusement. Deathberries were red. Juniper berries most certainly were not.
"They're blue," he said evenly, "I'll show you. Blue berries can be dangerous. Sometimes even more than red ones." He meowed, smiling a little as he approached some thick foilage, hoping to find a good bush to show Siennapaw what the berries looked like.
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Post by Lemon Zinger on Jan 16, 2011 23:26:42 GMT -5
"Oh.." Siennapaw said, looking on to wait and see what they looked like. She was angry with herself for getting it wrong, but Lastsong was just patiently showing her. Her father would have told her how foolish she was and how she needed to pay more attention.
But this isn't training she argued with herself.
But I wish it was.
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Post by .:Lion:. on Jan 17, 2011 8:35:02 GMT -5
Lastsong crouched in the bushes and searched, sniffing for the familiar sweet scent. Ah, there. He slipped his small paw into a gap and hooked some of the berries out, their skin unpenetrated by his thorn-like claws. He backed out of the brush and turned to Siennapaw, setting the berries down before her.
"There you are. Take a good look and a good sniff. Make sure you commit that smell to memory for now." He smiled in a friendly way, turning back to get more berries from the bush.
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Post by Lemon Zinger on Jan 17, 2011 12:56:10 GMT -5
Siennapaw looked them over a good deal, making sure she could remember them. Then she bent down to sniff them and found them to hold a sweet scent. "They smell like they would be good, but I'm guessing too many would give a cat a bellyache." She assumed. She remembered being told to never eat any of Lastsong's herbs except the ones he gave her.
"Can I try to get some?" Siennapaw asked as she watched Lastsong crouching to get more. "I am a little smaller." She pointed out. Then she thought that might offend him. "But you are doing just fine."
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Post by .:Lion:. on Jan 17, 2011 13:14:56 GMT -5
Lastsong turned and looked over his shoulder at Siennapaw. He smiled slightly, backing up and straightening, stretching out his long limbs.
"Actually," he said with a smile, "The berries treat bellyache. But too many could certainly make you sick." He looked from the berries on the ground to the bushes. "They're in there," he said, "Towards the back. Try not to cut them open - the juice is what counts." He smiled at her and tipped his head slightly, indicating that he was up for her giving it a try.
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Post by Lemon Zinger on Jan 17, 2011 13:24:50 GMT -5
Siennapaw leaped forward eagerly and crouched to crawl under the bush. She sniffed and located a big bunch right about her head, but she didn't know how to get it from that angle. She continued forward a little bit before noticing something. Further back in the bush, past where the limbs descended into the earth, there was a bit of a clearing. It was big enough for her to sit up and there was something curious on the ground.
It was a series of scratches, dug into the ground. that in and of itself wasn't unusual, but it was the shapes. They were formed on purpose, that much was clear. But why?
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Post by .:Lion:. on Jan 17, 2011 13:28:58 GMT -5
Lastsong watched as Siennapaw vanished into the bushes. He waited patiently, listening for her return. But when he didn't hear anything, he got nervous. The tom padded forward, scenting the air. She was in there, but what in the name of StarClan was she doing?
"Siennapaw? You okay in there?" He called out.
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Post by Lemon Zinger on Jan 17, 2011 13:33:15 GMT -5
"Oh, uhh, yea." Siennapaw called out. First things first. She glanced around for some berries and hooked a bunch skillfully. She broke one, but the rest made it out safely. "Here." She said, passing them to him. "I have to go back there a moment." She said, turning to go back inside. She studied the markings and committed them to memory before hooking another bunch of berries, without breaking one, to take to Lastsong.
"Here. Is that enough?" She asked.
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Post by .:Lion:. on Jan 17, 2011 13:40:26 GMT -5
Lastsong said nothing for a few moments, noticing that Siennapaw looked a little flustered. He tipped his head to one side and then gave a slight nod, looking down at what she'd gathered.
"This should be fine. I'm impressed, though. The first time I tried to gather some berries I broke half of them open and trampled on the rest." He twitched his whiskers as he sniffed the berries, making sure they weren't sour. Then he looked up at Siennapaw, seeing that look still in her eyes.
"Everything okay?" He asked.
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Post by Lemon Zinger on Jan 17, 2011 13:47:21 GMT -5
"Lastsong, in the bush there are some scratches." Siennapaw said quickly. She quickly started to replicate the picture she had seen on the ground, talking as she went. "And there was a circle here, but three claw marks over top of it. You know, it looks like our camp..." Siennapaw's voice trailed off. "Oh no! Do you think we'll be attacked?" Siennapaw looked up at him, eyes wide with alarm.
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Post by .:Lion:. on Jan 17, 2011 22:31:22 GMT -5
Lastsong examined the scratches. They did indeed look similar to the makeup of the camp. But there were details, figures only an insider would now. A sinking feeling filled him when he saw the scratches - right over his den. A shiver ran through his body and an old pain in his shoulder flared up, reminding him of burning eyes and angry words, followed by shrieks, the scent of blood, pain, death, suffering, seperation... Snapping himself out of his dangerous thoughts, Lastsong turned to Siennapaw, trying not to look too panicked.
"I think," he said as calmly as he could, though his voice did shake a little, "That... is a possibility. We must tell Songstar..." His voice trailed off as he stared into the bushes. Could it be true? Was it really him? Had he come to finish his job? Lastsong dug his claws into the ground, horrified at the possibility.
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Post by Lemon Zinger on Jan 17, 2011 22:37:24 GMT -5
Siennapaw also noticed which den the claw marks were over. She was shocked and quivered a little with fear. "I'm scared Lastsong." She said. She made a determination right then and there to not leave his side for one moment until the threat was eradicated. True to her other promise she picked up the berries, ready to follow him back to camp. She watch watching him firmly, hear ears pricked for danger. Just let anyone try to harm her friend!
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Post by .:Lion:. on Jan 17, 2011 22:42:33 GMT -5
Lastsong saw the determination in his little friend's eyes and was heartened by it. He smiled slightly, picking up the remainder of the berries. He made his way back to camp, walking as fast as he could when his paws felt so heavy. The reality of his past and his present weighed on him like stones, and his mind could not help but think this was a message to him, a warning. Perhaps he had been niave to think that his father's death had been an accident. Perhaps he had been stupid to think that the pain he'd suffered would dissapear with that death.
The tom leaped down the steep slope, into SkyClan's camp. He ran to his den, feeling his heart stuttering in his chest. What would Songstar say? Would she be angry that he had brought danger upon the Clan? Would she bring up his foolish father, who had been stupid enough to take a mate from outside the Clan? Lastsong could only guess. He waited for Siennapaw, hoping to calm his nerves before searching for his leader.
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Post by Lemon Zinger on Jan 17, 2011 23:43:57 GMT -5
Siennapaw followed the best she could, but was still a good tail-length behind. When they reached the slope, Siennapaw had to be much slower about it and she reached the den a little after him. She was panting from the run, but took the berries into Lastsong's den, pausing to sniff the air to see if anyone had been there recently besides them.
After all, who could they trust, since the map of the camp could have been drawn by one of their own. Fortunately, she smelled nothing. She set the berries down in the pile Lastsong had and looked up at him. "Lastsong?" She wondered if he was alright. "Should I go find Songstar?" She offered. She didn't want to leave him alone, but she'd just check around camp first.
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Post by .:Lion:. on Jan 18, 2011 7:46:09 GMT -5
Lastsong put the berries into their proper niche, thinking. But his head was so filled with confusion and fear, he couldn't even do that. So instead he turned and met Siennapaw's gaze.
"We will go together. I must find her as soon as possible." He meowed firmly.
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Post by Lemon Zinger on Jan 18, 2011 12:12:18 GMT -5
Siennapaw was glad he said 'we' and 'together.' He clearly didn't mind her company, which was good, because he was stuck with her until this crisis was over. She began devising plans on how to keep him safe. He should probably sleep in a different den, with a warrior waiting to ambush anyone who goes into his den. She thought. Oh! But what if they try to mess with his herbs, there are precious few in leaf-bear, we'll have to move them...
"I'm right behind you." Siennapaw meowed - equally as firm.
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Post by .:Lion:. on Jan 18, 2011 16:35:06 GMT -5
Lastsong nodded absentmindedly, padding out into camp. He passed some kits playing by the stream, and he wished he could be carefree like they were. Even as a young one, he'd always felt troubled. The tom made his way through the camp, up a steep rise that led to the leader's den. He hoped Songstar was in.
"Songstar?" He called loudly, unsheathing his claws and pressing them against the warm stone.
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