"This is a serious matter, Patchpaw," Cypresslily said, "We're all grateful Willowpaw hadn't given him the foxglove seeds. It was the will of The Clan Within the Stars he's still alive."
Harestrike sat quietly as Lilypaw applied heather nectar to the ragwort leaves and gave it to Harestrike. As he chewed it, she gently massaged his hurt leg. Sagepuddle purred, being proud of his lionet for being gentle with the senior lion.
Meanwhile, Hazelnose paced angrily, her ears flattened. Sagepuddle looked from his lionet to the anxiety-ridden, young practitioner. Walking up beside her, he attempted to get her to stop. "Hazelnose, it is not your fault. You haven't failed Willowpaw."
"But I have!" Hazelnose stopped, her claws in the earth, tail tucked, and eyes slitted, "My first lionet, and she could've killed someone!"
Hazelnose fell down in a pitiful manner. And Sagepuddle sat beside her, and murmured comforting words to her. Cypresslily showed sympathy towards Hazelnose, but sat still, waiting for the chance to speak to her. Her eyes darted as she watched Lilypaw continue to work, and Cypresslily smiled. "She doesn't let things distract her. She'll be a great addition to our group when it comes time."
Lilypaw looked up at Harestrike, making sure to maintain eye contact. "Would you like dandelion leaves for the pain?" she asked. Harestrike nodded, and Lilypaw walked off to get the leaves. Patchpaw walked up to his father, seeming to have questions.
"Why does Sagepuddle seem to be so close with Hazelnose?" he asked. Harestrike looked at his son.
"Sagepuddle was actually Hazelnose's guide when he was very young, not even a moon after he was officially made a medicine cat! She was always very shy, and struggled with anxiety. She still does, but Sagepuddle helps her. It's no surprise they ended up mates," he admitted.
Patchpaw looked back to Sagepuddle, and smiled to himself some. He hoped someday he would be that close to someone. The thought made him breathe a little more deeply.
With the foxglove seeds in his paws, he handed them to Hazelnose. She looked at him, confused. Cypresslily walked up, helping Hazelnose up.
"Bury them in the ground," Cypresslily said.
"Huh? Why?" Hazelnose questioned.
"These seeds can still harm others now. Bury them so they can't anymore."
Hazelnose looked at the seeds. She picked them up, and walked outside. Patchpaw stuck his head out of the herbal den, and watched as she dug a small hole. She looked at the seeds in her paws. She muttered a prayer quickly, and dropped the seeds into the ground. She put the earth back over the hole, and patted it down.
* * *
"Ugh! This hurts so terribly!" a growl rang out. Patchpaw's ears perked up, hearing someone walking into the herbal den. He continued sorting herbs, as he was told.
Cypresslily turned around to face Patchpaw. "Patchpaw, please do tend to Bramblepaw."
Patchpaw's head turned around quickly as he spotted Bramblepaw sitting in moss bedding, thorns and all types of brush in his pelt. Yet, his amber eyes didn't show anger, simply discomfort.
"Oh my Clan Within the Stars! How is he not screeching?!" Patchpaw thought. He then walked up the lionet, and Bramblepaw met Patchpaw's grey eyes.
"Ah, you're Patchpaw, right? You're the brother of Smolderpaw that chose to be a practitioner! So, I guess you're helping me today?" he said, somewhat slyly.
Patchpaw rolled his eyes, smiling some. "Remember, even if I may be a lionet, I am here strictly to help you. This is professional, not personal," Patchpaw asserted, "Now, what in the name of Lion did you do to cause this? Were you playing in the bushes?"
YOU ARE READING
- The Origins of Smolderspirit -
Adventure"The Clan Within The Stars, what should I do?" Smolderspirit spoke aloud to the silence of the forest. It was as if everything was sleeping. "I loved him so dearly, and now, I've lost him. Is Willowsong really his destiny?" The night sky glittered...
