The Breeze Trials

Prologue

The Healer's den smelled like fresh herbs and flowers, the air only a bit stale from the rain the night before. It had been a nice rain, not a storm, but still, the wind was strong enough to bring the faint scent of salt water. I had never seen the ocean, it was useless to her kind. there were always too many humans and the water was not even drinkable. The whole experience just left them with sand and salt in there pelts, or so that was the story told by the elders.

"... and lavender is for fevers, but only the stem. Did you get all of that, Breeze?" Turtle mewed.  I nodded, trying hard to focus back to her. Ever since I was little I'd been asking about herbs, so her explanation was a formality for me, but I still loved following along with her, sometimes shouting answers before Turtle could even finish the names. But today, even she didn't seem like she wanted to repeat the lecture. I'd actually fallen asleep for a moment, myself. Maybe it was the gloomy weather, or maybe it was a laziness brought on by, luckily, not having to apply that knowledge for a few moons. Either way, I was happy to be able to relax. Spring was in full force and new prey emerged from the dens every day, breeding the many healthy cats roaming around the glade.

"Okay then, apprentice," Her voice was honeyed with affection. "Since we both look like we need a little movement, Meadow has a bit of a cough. I have a feeling it's only a tickle, but she insists that she's too old to take the chance. Go and tend to her, and make sure you don't nod off while doing it." She ran her tail over my orange and brown mottled flank, producing a playful scowl from me. I hopped up on my paws and grabbed the appropriate leaves from the storage dug into the side of the walls. I had to remember not to hold them too firmly in my mouth, or I'd end up wasting the sticky liquid inside. I made my way over to the older cat's nest. I dropped them gently in front of her.

 "Meadow, I heard you need a doctor?" The she-cat's eyes sparked with amusement. 

"Why yes, nurse, I do." Her paws were crossed over each other in a relaxed manner. The older, peach colored cat was resting in her nest, most likely thinking of new tales to tell the kits that would be coming in the next moon or so.

"Hey!" I stuck out my tongue, losing a few leaves in the process. My fur tingled in embarrassment, Turtle was always telling me that I was too hot headed. I hastily scooped up the herbs, composing myself to prove my mentor wrong, while Meadow purred affectionately.  The dusty tabby was always teasing me, but I knew that she was almost as proud as my own mother.

"Please, go ahead and chew these, but remember to spit out the leaf itself. If your throat hurts at all, we have a bit more honey left, okay?" Meadow nodded.

 "Thank you, I'll remember that." Satisfied with my job, I trotted back to my mentor. 

"Very good." She said, touching her nose to my cheek. I puffed out my chest proudly, it felt nice to be praised. Turtle looked around the den, taking a quick stock of their supplies. I puffed my chest out proud when she overlooked something I didn't.

"I'm going to go find some more yarrow, okay, Turtle? I noticed we're a little low." She waved her tail in understanding. Her ears perked as she noticed another shortage.

 "And you would also be getting cobwebs I hope?" I nodded, knowing that there was always possibility of an injury. The other tribes had been keeping to themselves and recovering from the winter before, so it was possible that soon the silent truce would end and the pointless fighting would begin again. I sighed as I made my way passed the prey pile.

Slithering through the entrance of the settlement, I began making my way to where I'd find fresh grown herbs. The rain was good, especially after the unusually dry winter. Until the night before, I wasn't sure we'd have any new plants for another half moon cycle. Looking around at the forest, I started wondering why I pushed myself so much to love healing. I honestly wasn't all that passionate about it when I was younger, but once I got into battle training, I knew that I couldn't fight the way my sister and others could. I didn't want to hurt, unless I absolutely had to. Sure, I was just as adamant for a nice living as anyone else, but I wasn't going to kill for it. Especially when most of the killing came from simple boundary disputes. The area provided well for all the tribes, so there was rarely a reason to need more ground, but that never stopped some cats.