The Fruit's Of Poison

Chatper 2.

Just his damn luck that he angered his mother. He always seemed to do that, even as an apprentice. Now the medicine den was empty, full of echoing voices from the fight. He stared at the medicine den, the herbs that scattered the ground, all organized. God he was going to hate it here and love it at the same time.

Mushroombelly has trained his whole life to be a warrior, now all those moons training and being a warrior seemed to be wasted. He was 26 moons now, and suddenly he was medicine cat. Though despite the fact he didn't fancy the job there was one thing that certainly made his lips curl delightfully. Medicine cat powers...No, not the healing part of the job, but the fact he wasn't held by the same rules as other cats. You see, medicine cats had this amazing ability, they could travel anywhere they pleased. This meant he could walk where he liked whether it was on another clans turf or not. It just opened all the doors for his plan.

Yes, his plan. Another thing that was great about being a medicine cat, cats trusted you, they believed starclan chose a good cat. That as a medicine cat you have to act a certain way. Because of these stereotypes, most cats didn't bother medicine cats in the slightest, unless hurt of course. Medicine cat roles could be exploited so much, these morons didn't even realize the power he now held. But then again. They didn't know if his plan either. Every since kithood he blamed starclan for whenever cats died in his family or cats abandoned him. He believed it was proof that his family was cursed. In fact, he wasn't even the first cat to experience this streak of bad luck. His father, Raccoonleap, had experienced it all too well. From the stories he told Mushroombelly as a kit an apprentice, there was no doubt it was a curse. A cat who fell in love at a young age, had a adopted daughter and an apprentice close to warrior age. All seemed well for Raccoonleap until suddenly his adopted daughter disappeared, his first mate died giving birth to three kits, his apprentice disappearing not long after. And within moons his daughter died in front of him, while his youngest son was found dead in the woods during his apprenticehood. The only survivor of that litter was Hollowdusk. So much chaos in a cats life. Now of course Raccoonleap was dead. Fell into the falls while saving other cats on a patrol, including Hollowdusk. Went out a real hero.

This bad luck was a good enough reason for Mushroombelly to believe starclan wasn't as great and glorious as they claimed to be. They just played god and watched in amusement as they moved their pawns in place. This idea caused Mushroombelly to be filled with anger. And thus his plan was devised. He would destroy the very clans starclan had created just to laugh in their face. He would gain followers and tear apart each clan from the inside, causing them to crumble on themselves. It would be glorious. But this plan would take a long while, moons, maybe even seasons. But as long as Mushroombelly kept his head cool he would be alright, and no one would suspect him.

Mushroombelly soon settled down in a moss den. He was ready for this day to be over. He slumped down resting his crooked jaw on the hard grassy flooring. Slowly his blue eyes drifted into slumber.

It was a new day, Mushroombelly entered the medicine den slowly. His long cream colored fur dragged across it's flooring. His blue eyes looked around the room, well, this was his den now. He was still getting used to the bitter smell the den held, due to the large amount of herbs. His mind scrambled with similar questions to the other day. Strange to have trained as a warrior and then being summoned to become a medicine cat. What did starclan have planned for him? Why him first of all, was it about his crooked jaw? Was this the reason they seemly cursed him with the birth defect? Or was it their way of making up to him... He grumbled in frustration as he walked forward. The scent of the herbs was....overwhelming, he would have to get used to its horrid smell. He soon noticed his apprentice, Pricklepaw was actually in today.

In the back of the den, tender snow paws pushing the last herb in place then taking her tail to the ground, sweeping the mess created. With Galestripe gone, she had the den to herself for some time so she took it to reorganize the herbs. Nose twitching and venomous green eyes shot toward the enterance. "Great, another has been warrior that Starclan chose to teach me the ways of the medicine cat." she grumbled, turning back to her cleaning duties. She was sick and tired of having mentors that used to be warriors. All they knew how to do was attack, strike. Medicine cats were the complete opposite; usually pacifist and going on the non blood shed path. They were the neutral grounds and the peace makers of the clans. "Well, your nest is the bigger one and the herbs are here. I hope Starclan is teaching you which herb is which." she added as she shook out her tail from dirt and pine needles.

Mushroombelly's stomach fur dragged across the floor as he sniffed all the herbs, they all smelled really gross to him but he assumed he would get used to it. He licked his crooked jaw a bit, a few teeth poking out from his lower jaw, he glanced up at his new apprentice, Pricklepaw. "Yeah yeah, I'm sure they'll come disturb my dreams all the time now to teach me all I need to know about...these things..." he poked a juniper berry "Stomach aches" he meowed softly to himself. Last night had not been very fun, in fact he felt even more tired after going to bed. He had woke up in starclan, but there were no cats only pictures of herbs before a loud voice would echo what they cured. It was rather exhausting, to say the least. His blue gaze went back to Pricklepaw, "Alright you. I hope you get used to leaving camp often, cause that's what you'll be doing often with me around." he slumped down onto the ground, his thick orange fur looked like a blanket over him "We seem to be low on...those things.." he pointed his paw at burdock roots. Despite the dreams he had, he was only shown a picture and given what the herb did, not given a name at all.

Rolling her optics, she settled down and began to brush out her tail using her claws. As he spoke, she listened but didn't pay mind to the large tom. Mixed ears flicking as she poked a juniper berry, she gave a small snicker. "You know what they're for but can't name them? What a mentor." she sighed then turned her body so she faces Mushroom. "Well, Galestripe usually went on his own and left me to organize and make room for the new herbs. Guess it'll be different with you now, uhm..." his name slipped her mind, a snow paw scratching her neck. Looking at the root, she said "Burdock root. It's used to treat cuts and scrapes. When chewed of course." she said, stretching out her body.

Mushroombelly grumbled "Yeah, those, go out and find some, you need some serious field work if Galestripe just let you stay indoors, when you become the medicine cat some day you'll have to go out and find them on your own, cause you won't have an apprentice yet..." he laid there lazily staring at his new apprentice "Whatcha cleaning your tail for? You haven't even been in the forest that much." his blue eyes fluttered a bit ignoring her comment on him being her new mentor without really knowing the herbs, it wasn't his fault starclan decided to choose him of all cats.

Glancing down at her tail, she huffed out. "Well in case you didn't know already, lots of cats come inside the den. With paws comes dirt and pine needles and with dirt, comes mess. You may be used to the mess since you're a former warrior but as medicine cats, it's our duty to be clean. And what, you expect me to go out on my own to find these roots? Either you, Wolfscorch or Burningstar have to assign me a escort. I wonder if the causing of that crooked jaw got to your thick skull." she spat, scrunching up her nose.

Mushroombelly sneered a bit and slowly got back to his paws, slowly lumbering over he lifted a paw and slowly slide it down Pricklepaw's bright fur "I think you're over reacting, I'm barely getting anything on you and I've gone in the forest today." He gritted the non-crooked teeth he had causing the teeth sticking out to stick out more "Better watch it with the crooked jaw jokes or you may end up with one yourself..." his blue eyes gave her an icy stare as he slowly turned around "Now come on miss 'I need to clean all the time', let's go find those....chewy things..."

Baring her teeth to Mushroombelly's touch, but she didn't feel the urge to pull back. Feeling slight chills down her spine at his words, something inside sparked. Was it.. the feeling of actually liking someone? As he padded away, she raised an eyebrow and for the first time in moons, a smirk curled her maw. "Burdock root." she reminded him, padding up to his side.

"Yeah yeah, that thing. You know, I think I had a dream of it's location..." the tom said amused as the two of them left.