in the silence || peachpaw

Snuggled into her tight little ball, surrounded by soft moss, warm and cozy were the only words that could be used to describe Peachpaw's current state. The den of the Medicine Cat was certainly different to the Apprentice's Den but she'd admit it was a good different. The mingling scents of neighboring apprentices and moss was instead replaced with tangy herbal waves that tickled at her nose. Fresh mint, bitter nettle, and soothing marigold being just a few she could name off the top of her head. And nestled beside the warm figure of Blueberry, sleep had easily found the six moon old apprentice. Perhaps others might've been unsettled by the rapid shift in dynamics; only less than three quarter moons ago, Peachpaw had been a simple kit snuggled warmly in the Nursery. In those days, all she had to concern herself with was what game Almondpaw, Sorrelpaw and Weaselpaw would want to play tomorrow and whether Stoatclaw would rip her away from Lilysong's side for lectures. to think that so many things could change in such a short amount of time was mind-boggling. In fact, before yesterday, there had been serious doubts about whether Peachpaw would be of any use to the Clan. Granted, they had been her doubts brought on by certain recent events, but they still counted! She had no interest in battle training, and hunting was so boring she literally fell asleep once while Gophertooth was explaining a certain hunting crouch to her. She didn't want to learn how to do those things, and that fact had cost her more than she had expected.

[ "You are not my daughter! This bloodline's legacy has been unsullied for moons, and I will not have a weak, stumbling and mewling fool like you placing a black mark upon it! Out of my sight!" ]

Stoatclaw's angry yell still echoed in her ears, haunting her in the silence of the night. She had laid, curled upon the ground where she had tripped, till Copperstrike had rushed to her side. Her father - because that's what Copperstrike was - had curled around her trembling form and hidden her from the prying eyes of the Clan. When Lilysong, Almondpaw, Sorrelpaw and Weaselpaw had gathered her to them, the copper colored tom had raced after Stoatclaw with all the fury of a lion. What was exactly exchanged between the two toms, Peachpaw couldn't say, but the next time she saw Copperstrike he was still fuming so it couldn't have gone well. The next few days had seen Peachpaw remaining close to the small family, only leaving their sides to go out for training with Gophertooth. If Lilysong and Copperstrike weren't available for any reason, then one of several other warriors usually were to act as a buffer between the apprentice and her biological father. The Clan had rallied around the small apprentice so fast it had nearly sent her head spinning; the soft words, protective glances, and sweet warmth from everyone had made her heart hurt in the best way possible. But at the same time, as good as it felt, it didn't help her lack of skills in basic warrior duties. Even when she tried her absolute best to pay attention to what she was being taught, it wasn't enough. Somehow, she would inevitably find her attention taken by something else or her clumsy paws would screw up her attempts to mimic a battle move or hunting crouch. No matter how much support she got from her Clan it didn't make up for the fact that it seemed she wouldn't be a credible warrior.

But now she didn't have to concern herself with warrior duties, because they weren't hers to worry about anymore. At least they wouldn't be, if she could prove herself worthy of her new position among the Clan. The warmth of the sunlight shining through the den opening caressed her clean ginger and white pelt like an old friend, nimbly threading through the sleek fur to tickle at her skin. But as good as that felt, it was not the warmth she was seeking - that warmth had suddenly vanished from her side. [ "Peachpaw? Wake up. It's time for your first official day as my apprentice." ] soft words whispered at her ear, a gentle paw prodding her shoulder lulling her into awareness. Bright, round amber eyes slowly blinked open, adjusting quickly to the morning light that encased the den area. A great yawn overtook the six moon old molly, stretching her jaws wide as she raised her head from the nest. Immediately, her gaze sought out the blue-gray form of her mentor, who she graced with the sweetest kitty smile and sparkling amber eyes. "Good morning, Blueberry!" she mewed happily, voice slightly groggy from sleep but no less cheerful for it. Carefully, she raised herself to her dainty little paws, taking a moment to follow her mentor's previous action and stretch out her cramped limbs. Unlike the older molly's heavier set bodice and several scars, Peachpaw was lithe and dainty with not a mark upon her to show. A stark contrast between the two medicine cats that perfectly laid out their pathways - Peachpaw would never have to fight a day in her life, while Blueberry would return to the Warrior's Den in due time.

With every passing second, Peachpaw slowly became more and more alert to her surroundings. Finishing her stretches, she gave her pelt a quick shake, then turned and planted her rear down on the earth in front of the older cat. Bright amber eyes locked onto Blueberry in eager curiosity, that kitty smile still stretched over her face. Though she seemed calm on the outside in reality it was taking all she could to stay still and put up good impression, as evidenced by the glint in her eyes and the eager sway of her tail. Today was her first day as the apprentice to the medicine cat! How could she not be excited? "What are we going to do first?" she asked, tilting her head cutely in question. Whatever Blueberry wanted her to do, she'd do it - gather herbs, clean out dens, tend to a warrior, it didn't matter! Now was her chance to prove herself and she couldn't afford to screw this up like she had her warrior training.

WORD COUNT: 1107
TAGGED: alee
NOTES: she's so excited. <3

Easy. Surprisingly, that was not a word that Peachpaw was intimately familiar with. For the youth who was, in essence, the darling of ThunderClan, nothing had come easy for her in her six moons of life. Warrior training, for one, had been a challenge of epic proportions she'd struggled with. It didn't come as naturally to her as it did Pearpaw and Kinkpaw and while they were taking leaps and bounds in their training, despite their young age, she was left to her daydreams. Peachpaw would be lying to even herself if she said she wasn't nervous that Medicine Cat training would go the same way. More than anything she wanted to prove her usefulness to the Clan, and in many ways this was her last chance. Sure, StarClan themselves walked with her in her dreams, but what did that matter if she wasn't up to the job at hand? She tried to steer her thoughts away from that path, knowing it was not healthy to think on such things, but with her track record how could she not at least entertain the notion? Should she fail here, where could her future lay? Perhaps in the Nursery, like with Juinpernose as a permanent queen? The Elder's Den alongside Mothfang, her biological grandfather? Neither were particularly places Peachpaw wanted to be anytime soon: providing new warriors for the Clan could be quite fulfilling, but she didn't exactly feel it was her calling. And the last thing she wanted was to be put in the Elder's Den at such a young age. The Elder's Den was meant for those who had served their Clan well; it would be a personal tragedy if her future lay there before she had a chance to offer something to ThunderClan.

But she supposed she was getting ahead of herself. She had time to prove herself, time to grow and find out what she was capable of. And, she thought as she stares expectantly at Blueberry, she had one of the best mentors in the world to teach her. [ "Good morning to you too, Peachpaw." ] came the answering reply from the blue-gray molly to Peachpaw's enthusiastic greeting. The tip of the elder cat's tail flicked against a perfectly perked ginger ear, eliciting a giggle from the tiny apprentice before Blueberry rose to her paws and singled for Peachpaw to follow. Like a spring, the bouncy babe was on her paws and trotting after the medicine cat across the den to the herbal shelves. Once upon a time, Peachpaw had only ever seen this area when she had to bring the medicine cat, then Stormbird, some prey but had never gotten a very good look at it. Now she had all time in the world and was expected to learn every herb that it carried. The scents that flooded the den area were strongest here, mixing into an aroma that tickled at her nose, some having a lulling effect and others seeming to try and over-energize her just by scent alone. The crags in which each her were stored were dry and placed just perfectly so that moisture wouldn't collect on them. Curious eyes glittered in the morning light pouring from the den entrance as she moved closer, staring down at a gathering of leaves before Blueberry's voice drew her attention again. [ "It's important that today we learn the simplest of a medicine cat's tasks." ] was how the older cat began with a gesture to the rest of the herbal stores.

Turning her gaze away from the herbs, Peachpaw once again sat down, focusing her attention on whatever Blueberry was saying and putting a great effort up to curb her energetic questions until Blueberry was done speaking. [ "Now I'm not going to pretend like this is fun work - because it certainly isn't - but just as claws are a tool for the warrior, these are the implements that a medicine cat must know. There will be times in the future when the fate of your Clanmates will rest on how well you know your herbs. That's why it is best we start learning at a young age." ] and there was the constant reminder of what lay in store for her. How she had only six moons to learn a lifetime of knowledge before it all rested on her shoulders. Nevertheless, Peachpaw felt she was capable to take on the responsibility for now; she would have to be, because there was no other choice in the matter. Fear was the last thing on the excitable molly's mind at the reminder, but Blueberry softened her tone nonetheless. [ "But you needn't worry about that for a while. For now dedicate yourself into learning each and every herb that there is." ] in response, Peachpaw gave a simple nod of the head, her eyes sparkling like stars. "Yes, Blueberry." was her answering mew before the blue-gray molly reached into the nearest store area and pulled out a few leaves and berries.

Wide, round eyes watched as the equally round items were rolled to the ground out of the medicine cat's paw, Peachpaw's head lowering to get a better view of the purplish berries that stuck out so vastly from the den floor. [ "Alright then. these should be simple enough. These are what we call 'juniper berries.' They have a wide variety of uses. Juniper is the best treatment for a stubborn belly ache, as well as to soothe raspy breathing, say, after a fire. ] Blueberry began, one wickedly curved claw pointing to the fruit as she explained its uses to her apprentice. Huh, so this is what Junipernose was named after... but her friend didn't look anything like these. [ "But there is one more important use for these. After a battle you may find yourself caring for very panicked, troubled warriors. A small dose of these is usually enough to calm them down, and send them off to sleep..." ] a sudden pause had Peachpaw glancing up at her mentor, who seemed to have come to some sort of realization that Peachpaw missed. [ "Are you getting all this? Just remember - belly aches, bad breathing, a calming tonic. Perhaps that will simplify it." ] by now the little ginger and white molly had risen back to full height, nodding her assent to Blueberry a second later. "Juniper berries. Helps with breathing and tummy aches and can put a panicking warrior to sleep." she mewed simply, her kitty smile stretched over her maw as she recited what she'd been told. But now that she learned about juniper berries...

Curiously, she turned back to the stores and tilted her head, raising to her paws before her mentor could start the next lesson and carefully sniffing over the herbal stores. A vivid memory was flashing in her mind's eye, a kit mewling in pain while Sandfeather carefully administered a soothing scented flower nectar into the injury. Peachpaw had been close enough to get a heavy dose of the scent, and her curiosity was now perked. Perhaps... there! Finding the familiar scent, she carefully reached into the stores with one small paw and pulled out a few flowers, yellow with four petals. "What herb is this Blueberry?" she asked curiously. "I know its nectar is used for painful eyes, I remember Sandfeather using it to heal one of my denmates when she got sand in her eye... but I never got its name." she explained, glancing back down at the flower that she had sought out by memory of scent alone. It was a pretty flower too, with its sunny yellow petals... and it helped her friend's eye.

WORD COUNT: 1347
TAGGED: alee
NOTES: the herb she remembers is celandine. <3

Blueberry did have one thing right; things wouldn't be easy all the time. Though StarClan had seemingly handpicked the little ginger and white molly for the position she'd found herself in, they surely had not chosen the easiest charge. There would be times when Peachpaw's mind would wander during her studies, there would be accidents that would happen as she lost herself to her daydreams or fell victim to her ever present klutziness. And at times, though they'd be rare as the moons passed by, her happy-go-lucky persona would fade and a heaviness would settle over her shoulders. All of this did not have just a mere chance of happening, it was basically a certainty, but with patience and time Peachpaw would manage to overcome these setbacks. Already they were off to a very good start too. When Peachpaw had been Gophertooth's apprentice, she'd barely managed to get past her first day. The most interested she'd been had been when she'd been shown the extent of the borders: where ThunderClan ended and the other Clans began. After that she'd found more interest in a passing butterfly than whatever her mentor had been trying to teach her, and it had become a trend for the remainder of their time together. At least with Blueberry, she had actually managed to listen long enough to commit something to her flighty memory. "Very good." her mentor's praise, though mild in tone, was something rare and wondrous to the little medicine cat apprentice. And it showed in how her round amber eyes widened ever so slightly and practically lit up the entire den.

Though as soon as Blueberry's more elaborate explanation had ended, one detailing the uses of the little rounded berries that would not be explored further, Peachpaw had given up the fight to listen and sought out the thing that had been nagging at the back of her little mind. There was a slight aura of annoyance that had settled over Blueberry's countenance, but her mentor had not sounded off against her search. Then when she delicately pulled out the pretty little flower who's scent tickled her memory, the annoyance shifted into something else entirely. Blueberry's eyes had widened, surprise though quite mild dancing in her vivid green gaze. Under the intensity of it Peachpaw began to get a little nervous, her amber gaze shifting away slightly as she only now realized what she'd done might not have been the best idea. She had managed to wait till Blueberry had stopped talking though, that had to count for something right? There had been many a time in her warrior studies she'd not even been able to give Gophertooth that courtesy in favor of cloud watching. "Um..." she began slightly, curling into herself a little in preparation for a reprimand she was sure was coming. "I'm sorry Blueberry, but I just wanted to know what this was. I'll listen now..." if there was anymore to her heartfelt apology, not at all like the boisterous little molly she usually was, it died in her throat at the small rumbling purr that escaped from Blueberry's muzzle. "Yes, you are correct. It's called celadine, Peachpaw, and it's a very particular herb with a very particular usage. The nectar is what we want from it, you see. As Sandfeather once did, it's perfect for pained eyes, though we rarely get a chance to use it, thank StarClan." the praising words and simple explanation to the apprentice's otherwise off-topic question clearly knocked the babe off her center. Round amber eyes were impossibly wide, little ginger ears perked up to soak in every word said.

Celadine. That was what she had seen being used that day... that was the herb that laid still in her gentle grip. A rarely used herb at that. Glancing back down at the beautiful pale yellow petals, she resolutely committed the name to memory. "Celadine..." she muttered softly.

The sound of her mentor raising to her paws snapped Peachpaw's still somewhat dazed attention back to the blue-gray medicine cat. Her mentor gave a luxurious stretch, every muscle under the short pelt rippling with the movement, making the misty blue color take on an appearance not unlike the rapids of the river. When she straightened herself, she gestured to the fern-hidden entrance of the den. Immediately Peachpaw nodded in response, turning to replace the delicate herbal blossom - celadine, she reminded herself silently - back into its proper store before bouncing to her fluffy paws to follow. "Peachpaw, I'm curious. Have you received any lessons prior to this one? Has Sandfeather, or Stormbird mind you, ever spoken to you about herbs before?" Blueberry's curious question reached her ears as she fell into step with the older molly, wide amber eyes blinking in surprise at the question. Sandfeather or Stormbird? "No." she mewed, her dainty little head shaking slightly in a negative response. Was this about her question with the celadine? "I just noticed that the celadine made my friend feel better. Like how those seeds... um, poppy seeds right? How they took away Almondpaw's pain from that thorn in their paw last week. Or how that large red-brown root when it was chewed up helped the elders when their joints were aching and those small white flowers helped when Father fell into the river." though she only knew the descriptions of the herbs in question, save for the very commonly used poppy seeds, she had watched intently with how they were used. As mentor and apprentice pushed past the fern-wall and stepped into the sunlight, a nervous feeling settled in her chest that had her timidly shuffling her paws when they stopped. Had she done something wrong?

But a reprimand was not what she received for her curiosity. At least, not at this moment anyway. "I only ask this because you knew of celadine. It's rather interesting to me that you can recall something like that from so long ago." the explanation brought those wonderfully round eyes back to the blue-gray cat, the dainty little head of the younger molly tilting slightly in surprised curiosity. Was it really that interesting that she had remembered the herb from her Nursery days? "I never knew what it was called till now. And I... didn't know how to ask." that statement had a double edged meaning to it. Normally, if a kit had any questions, all they had to do was ask and they'd be answered. But for a daughter of Stoatclaw to ask about an herb was just asking for trouble. "I... just don't like it when the cats I love suffer, so... so when they weren't suffering anymore... I just felt so happy... I..." her tone began to wane, small figure shrinking in on itself as she suddenly found a particular little leaf on the ground very interesting. Peachpaw wasn't sure what to make of this now: she'd not been reprimanded yet, so she was somewhat certain she hadn't done anything wrong. So why did it feel that way then? "Tell me, do you think you posses a good nose? We are rather low on celadine at the moment. Perhaps...you'd like to find some for me." there was a challenge in that statement. A question that perked the apprentice up almost right away. The nervous tension that had settled over her vanished in an instant, and the kitty smile from before lit up the clearing more than the sunshine around them ever could. "Of course I can!" she stated with a few quick nods, eyes alight. Blueberry had no clue what she had just done - Peachpaw, with her wild imagination and love of adventure, was never one to challenge in anyway. Not unless you really wanted the job done that was.

The wild energy that Peachpaw was so known for flooded back into the slender little body as she gave a pounce forward, turning back around to stare at Blueberry with the most excited expression. "C'mon Blueberry!" she meowed loudly, catching the attention of some of the passing warriors and queens. "We have to find the Sun Petals in the Dark Forest before the evil cats crush them!" and with that she was off, rushing towards the camp entrance like a fluffy red and white lightning bolt, the adventure she had painted out with her words ringing loudly in the camp.

The Magical Quest for the Sun Petals had begun!

WORD COUNT: 1447
TAGGED: alee
NOTES: the other herbs she's mentioned here are poppy seeds, which are so commonly used i'm sure she would've heard their name at some point so she knows them, comfrey root and feverfew. she does not know anything else of comfrey root or feverfew beyond what she's witnessed - not even their names. x3 and i apologize to blueberry in advance, but it looks like the 'Quest for the Sun Petals' has started! xD