Gathering Herbs

[mellowclaw]

Shadowleap padded through the camp shielded by the guise of night. The moon glistened pryingly through the tall pines and their thick branches that encircled the camp. It was a night not unlike any other; Even the fact that had brought the tom out of his den was mundane. He was used to the pleasurable cycle which did not rub his fur the wrong way. It kept his clan mates good, and his line of duty as a medicine cat was exciting, but not wanted. It was for lack of a better word unnecessary. To be more exact he'd rather it be unnecessary. It was a dangerous job to keep life away from its stary ascendancy. It was nothing like the feel of battle. He himself took immense care and pride in such an endeavoring skill.

The task that made him maintain his course to the leaders den was that he needed to gather herbs and was going to inform Ravenstar. He doubted much if she'd be pleased Shadowleap had awoken her, but it mattered little in the end. His rather large frame began to relax to its normal size as he stepped into the leaders den entrance. The toms yellow eyes pierced the darkness , however he didn't bother to look around first. "Ravenstar I'd like to speak with you for a moment." He waited paitently for an answer aware that the easily tempered she cat might be just waking, he had the feeling she wasn't a deep sleeper.

[Ravendarus]

From the depths of the den, cold icey blue eyes stared at him, "What is it Shadowleap" A algid voice hissed darkly. Ravenstar stepped into the light of the moon. "Is it something important" she questioned.

[mellowclaw]

"So warming to hear your cheerful tone even before the sun has risen." There was no sarcasm in his voice, in fact the tone was quite serious. Shadowleap wasn't afraid of his leader because although she may be cranky she would never harm a clan member for trivial reasons. "I'm going to gather some herbs, you know those little collection of plants we have so few of in our territory. Time wilted away as he spout nonsense and so he simply moved on to the point of his charming chat. " I thought I'd simply notify you since well into the darker hours of the night.I just hope it hasn't bothered you to much," this time adding sarcasm.

He let the cool breeze flow through his fur bringing the scents of camp inside. He always had colder than average conversations no matter who it was, however contrary to his given place in the clan it may be.

[Ravendarus]

~Say goodbye as we dance with the devil tonight~

Ravenstar scowled, "whatever" She hissed.
As to the point of bothering her, she didn't really mind, she wasn't sleeping, more or less just thinking.
Ravenstar hadn't been able to sleep for a few days,
She thought about it for a minute, her tail flicked side to side,
She padded outside, the light of the moon shone making her dark pelt shine,
Muscles rippled under her onyx pelt, "Might as well come for the walk" she meowed, waiting for him to come.

~Whispers in the dark, Smiles in the light, can we find the fake ones hiding~

[mellowclaw]

Shadowleap was rather surprised by this advance. "Shouldn't you be getting sleep most of all. You are holding our clan together and that takes a lot." Her voice had been drowsy as she spoke but Shadowleap could easily see weariness in her eyes as she looked at him. He didn't plan on bombarding his leader with questions, but he would still throw a few out there in any case. As he moved to Ravenstars flank Shadowleap inquired "You've been up?" The way he'd placed his words it almost sounded like a statement rather than a question. He matched her paw for paw as he waited for her answer heading out of the camp.

[Ravendarus]

~Sometimes remembering isn't enough~

Ravenstar nodded, "Yes i have been up" she replied to his question. "But that doesn't matter" she retorted.
It was true, she had felt wary, but she just couldn't sleep,
"Now let's go" she meowed, padding out of the camp.

~Can't you see that lonesome girl~

[mellowclaw]

Shadowleaf snorted and spoke crossly with his leader, "You hold everyone of us on your shoulders, with words and actions. You effect everyone here so when your mental and physical strength isn't at its peak your helping no one. You know and I know those nine lives are meant to be used with every ounce of yourself. Nine times zero is still zero." The medicine cats sharp words held care that was not conveyed, but nonetheless it was in them. "Having said all that, you yourself deserve sleep. You know full well I can help you with such a simple ailment. I'm not trying to preach to you but I will say this. You will take poppy seeds when we get back, got it?"

Shadowleap had probably crossed one to many boundaries, but was only speaking what was on his mind.

[Ravendarus]

~Sometimes like sucks that way~

Ravenstar frowned, "I hate it when you speak your mind, you remind me of my father, but if it will make you stop going on and on fine I'll take the poppy seeds, when we get back" She meowed, She felt like a kit getting orders from Shadowleap, however he did prove a very excellent point, which is why she didn't yell at him for crossing the line, but he would hear about it later.

~Alone is but a term we use when we feel left out~

[mellowclaw]

He didn't remark with anything but a simple nod, for he had already spoken more than intended. He wasn't going to pry into Ravenstars past because truth be told that he didn't really know anyone well in the camp. He was always so secluded or busy which isolated him from the rest of his clan mates. An odd wave of emotion flowed over him, perhaps nervousness. He couldn't pin anything on it but the fact that he should probably be closer to every cat then most ever would be. He pushed the thought out of his head suddenly remembering that he needed to be focusing on heading where the herbs grew. The scents of newleaf had even taken root in the marshlands where ShadowClan territory resided. The scents were welcomed as he opened his mouth letting them glide atop its roof smoothly.


The sleek tom at one point in his duties used to detest the smells of wild newleaf as the were like a blockade between scents of the herbs he was actually looking for. H'ed long since passed that benchmark, now able to discern the different smells without much difficulty. He took the lead heading east towards the collection of small lakes that formed a bog. As the pair began to approach Shadowleap began to instruct "Our primary target would be to get feverfew since leafbare has just ended and my stocks are thin. Second is mallow which is more preferable to this area than watermint, however watermint is more effective. Third which in fact will not be as important until greenleaf is Burdock root. The rats will populate this area from the nearby carrionplace when they need water in greenleaf." The tom himself seemed weary as he added, "It's usually next to the lake soaking its roots."

"I'll try to get a sample of each one before we get truly started."

[Ravendarus]

Ravenstar followed after him, she hadn't really cared for the herbs, but deep down she did, she used to love learn about herbs, but gave up quickly 'stop that train of thought right now' she mental told herself. she stalked through the swamp, barely listening to Shadowleap, she kept nodding as he told her about the herbs he needed, and how he would need to get samples.

[mellowclaw]

Shadowleap located easily the burdock root without much browsing. The sleek black tom mirrored the night as he put it just above the reach of one of many of the small lakes whose tides rose to grasp wayward items to claim as their own. he made sure the reeds were thin around it so he could find it again, without having to make divisions of the myriad of smells encircling the pair. His thoughts flowed into motion as he began to seek out feverfew next. This herb would be more inland away from the dotted lake landscape, however it would still be quite within range. "Wait here." His voice was calm and collected, no longer agitated or ordering. He had a great deal of respect for his leader and her ways when it came right down to it.

He whisked past a few shrubs here and their eyes screening the mud filled landscape for his quarry. His patience preceded his perseverance. In less than two minutes it paid its debts as he came upon his desired plant. Although pleased with the results of his efforts he did not dawdle. He dug maybe half a tail length alongside the plant wide enough for him to reach in and grab it by the roots while supporting it with the bridge of his nose. He failed to see the use in getting over exited and damaging his precious cargo so he came daintily back setting the herb gingerly next to the burdock root. He turned to his leader instructing, "Make sure you carry it as I did. At least till we have to take it back, its then we will worry about quantity not quality."

The slender but powerful she cats figure was presented hazily in the night that enshrouded Shadowleap. "As for mallow, look around you. Its the tall brown plant that is scattered across this entire stretch of our territory. Just get the soft material from the buds in between your teeth." He was fairly confident his leader had swallowed the information quite easily despite her restlessness however, he had to be sure. "Catch all that." A funny thought crossed his mind and Shadowleap felt like throwing it out in the open. "It not like catching prey but just as valuable." He cracked an awkward smile, or at least thats what it felt like. He didn't often smile much, it wasn't his thing.

[Ravendarus]

1.~With the silence growing, she knew that this was her brother's last sunset~

Ravenstar nodded listening to every word, She picked up the herb gently and padded around to find the mallow.

~Tears fell from her eyes as she cradled her brother tightly~

[mellowclaw]

Shadowleap watched his leader pad away before beginning his own search. He noticed that Ravenstar was heading towards some mallow so thats what he figured she'd gather. As for him, the lean black tom padded off to retrieve feverfew. As he searched his mind began to wander a little. The dreams of his leader and her nighttime stress often intrigued him. Though he realized she was leader and was preoccupied, usually something more would be running through the mind than duties in day to day life. He gathered several feverfew plants by the roots as he himself had instructed. Thoughts that brought nostalgia continued to race through Shadowleaps mind. He knew why he himself for 2 moons could not get sleep. It was because of the death of his comrades and the ability to do nothing about it that plagued his sleepless nights.

Insomnia could be just natural for her but he wagered it wasn't. He had managed to console his own fears with thoughts of work and the progress of other cats. He gave up his freedom for this gift, this knowledge of healing herbs. It would be tacky to say he loved his job, but untrue to say he hated it. It gave him security, and it gave others security. After each passing thought his pile of feverfew grew until it was quite sizable. He estimated about 15 or so of the elusive plant. Shadowleap's mind crossed back to work thinking of how this would help his clan mates. He carried them back to the trio of herbs and placed them in their specified place carefully. The tom let his eyes flow over the landscape to view his leaders progress.

[Ravendarus]

Ravenstar's mind had drifted off after a while, she had found tons of mallow, but kept searching in case there was anymore, past memories flashed in her mind as she collected the herbs.

Smallshard smiled, "Okay what did you do this time" he inquired in a serious tone, "Nothing! I swear! Must you always assume a fights my fault?" retaliated Ravenmoon. "Well you do have a sharp tongue." Smallshard mused, "Well, excuuuse me for being born," Ravenmoon grumbled, both cats instantly laughed.

Ravenstar smiled a bit, it was one of her favorite memories. 'Memories.... it's all i have left" she thought sadly, she found another little bunch of mallow. She picked the mallow and padded back to Shadowleap.

[mellowclaw]

He spotted his leader carrying large amounts of mallow. "Not a bad hall. I almost can't believe we found this so quickly, I was beginning to think the land was dying." His left eye raised as he watched her slide over to him. Although mallow wasn't exactly scarce Shadowleap had to give her credit for bringing back so much of it. She'd make a good medicine cat. His mind brimmed with more words so spoke them. "I'll go get some more feverfew and you can go gather some burdock root. You seem to have a knack for this anyway. The tom snorted as he turned away more out of surprise than anything else. He headed back to the hot spot where he'd hit his mark previously. Surely their would be more lingering around. Though he was worried bout his leader, it was business first.