Greener pastures [Sunnystep + Koipaw]

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Freckles

Greener pastures [Sunnystep + Koipaw] May 30, 2018 22:09:55 GMT

Post by Freckles on May 30, 2018 22:09:55 GMT

K O I P A W
Koipaw tiptoed behind her mentor into camp, a plump field mouse in her jaws. They had been hunting by the horseplace to see if she had better luck catching prey that wasn't a rabbit (Windclan's prey of choice, though delicious, proved to be too difficult for the little calico to catch - especially considering that some of the larger ones were as big as her). To her surprise and delight, she had managed to stalk and kill a mouse. Perhaps she could be a warrior after all.

With that thought, her golden gaze trailed to the medicine den. Her kithood had been full of ambitions of becoming the healer's apprentice, yet it seemed another was destined for that status. She sighed. Koipaw was a moon older than Spottedpaw and thus (if she were more selfish) she could have been made the medicine cat apprentice instead. But when the younger feline had shown an interest in the role Koipaw had been too shy to say anything and therefore had kept quiet about her wish, becoming a warrior apprentice and watching as Spottedpaw lived her dream. Still, a part of Koipaw felt drawn to the herbs and the entire concept of helping others.

Her tail twitched nervously as her mentor asked her to take the mouse to Sunnystep. As a kit Koipaw had often visited the medicine den (or at least, she used to hide in it from the other kits), but since becoming an apprentice she hadn't had much time. Did Sunnystep hate Koipaw for that? Did she think the calico was avoiding her? It wasn't intentional!

Not wanting to argue with her mentor, Koipaw simply dipped her head and did as she was told. She stepped into the entrance and placed the mouse at her paws. "Sunnystep? I, um, brought you some prey," she called timidly.

Addressed: Sunnystep Mentioned: Koipaw's mentor, Spottedpaw OOC Notes: --- Tagged: broadwaystar

PIGEON | SLATE | THISTLE | CREAM | KOI

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broadwaystar

Greener pastures [Sunnystep + Koipaw] Jun 1, 2018 0:56:10 GMT

Post by broadwaystar on Jun 1, 2018 0:56:10 GMT

Sunnystep was feeling a bit ragged from the day's work. Cinderspark was still ill, and she was paranoid that greencough would spread through the WindClan camp. She was taking inventory of herbs when she heard Koipaw's voice at the entrance of her den. The little calico was holding a plump looking mouse. Sunnystep moved toward the entrance of the den. She needed to make sure Koipaw didn't come in and risk getting greencough.

"Thanks Koipaw!" Sunnystep said. "That looks delicious, and it's very welcome. I haven't had a chance to eat yet today," she said sheepishly. Sunnystep felt a little guilty; she was always trying to get her clan mates to take care of themselves, but here she was doing the same thing she chided them for. There was just so much to do, with Cinderspark and all of WindClan to look after.

At least Koipaw's visit was a welcome break. Sunnystep was glad the apprentice had been tasked with bringing her prey. She realized it had been a while since she'd talked to Koipaw. As a kit, she would visit her quite frequently, and Sunnystep enjoyed talking to her. Sunnystep had wondered if she would discover a calling as a medicine cat, but it seemed the young calico had chosen the path of a warrior.

"It's nice to have you stop by the medicine den again. How are you enjoying warrior training? It looks like your hunting skills are coming along," Sunnystep said, glancing at the mouse. "That's an impressive catch for leaf-bare."

Freckles

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Freckles

Greener pastures [Sunnystep + Koipaw] Jun 4, 2018 22:11:58 GMT

Post by Freckles on Jun 4, 2018 22:11:58 GMT

K O I P A W
Koipaw shuffled her paws shyly as Sunnystep appeared. She'd forgotten how pretty the older cat was. She was glad to note the medicine cat seemed friendly as she approached her at the entrance of the den, so much so that the calico sort of wanted to walk further in for old time's sake, but she knew some cats with greencough were resting inside and it wouldn't be a good idea to disturb them; for her own sake as well as theirs. Koipaw ducked her head bashfully at Sunnystep's words. She was glad that there was no sign of resentment in her body language and tone - the ginger-and-white she-cat obviously held no grudges towards Koipaw for her lack of visits.

At the mention of her catch, she smiled slightly. The mouse had been the only prey they had caught during their hunt, but it was definitely a big one - bigger than Koipaw had ever expected to succeed in catching. "Thank you," she murmured. "I'm sorry I haven't been around as much recently. Um, warrior training is alright I guess - I mean, my mentor is doing a great job! They're very patient with me. I'm probably not what they wanted..." She trailed off with an awkward laugh, embarrassment flooding her. She shook herself and finally raised her gaze to meet Sunnystep's. It's now or never. "I, uh, actually wanted to ask you something? If you don't mind?"

Addressed: Sunnystep Mentioned: --- OOC Notes: --- Tagged: broadwaystar

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broadwaystar

Greener pastures [Sunnystep + Koipaw] Jun 9, 2018 19:57:07 GMT

Post by broadwaystar on Jun 9, 2018 19:57:07 GMT

Sunnystep looked at Koipaw with concern. The young apprentice wasn't meeting her eyes while she spoke. It was clear that this wasn't her favorite subject to speak about. Sunnystep knew Koipaw had always been on the nervous side, and she wondered if warrior training was causing stress in her life. Sunnystep realized that warrior training could be harder for gentle spirits, and it seemed that Koipaw might feel like she wasn't meeting the expectations of her mentor. Sunnystep hoped her mentor wasn't being too hard on her. She wanted to tell Koipaw that she was a valuable part of WindClan and that there were lots of ways to be a warrior, but before she could form the words, Koipaw shook her pelt and looked up at her to ask a question.

"Of course," Sunnystep said. "You can always ask me questions." She gave Koipaw a warm smile.

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Last Edit: Jun 9, 2018 19:57:18 GMT by broadwaystar

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Freckles

Greener pastures [Sunnystep + Koipaw] Jun 19, 2018 22:15:57 GMT

Post by Freckles on Jun 19, 2018 22:15:57 GMT

K O I P A W
Sunnystep's warm smile made Koipaw feel a little better. Not a lot, but a little - just enough to encourage her to continue. "Oh, right, thank you-" she hesitated again, unsure what exactly to ask now she'd been given the 'go ahead'. But thankfully she quickly managed to she settle on something (avoiding an awkward silence that would have surely flustered her enough into leaving), something that kept nagging in her mind whenever she saw Sunnystep or Spottedpaw trotting around with herbs in their jaws. "What's it like being a medicine cat?" she asked quietly, her gaze on the floor again. She winced a bit at herself; did she have to ask so timidly? And had her question been too vague? Maybe she should have focused on something more specific, like herbs or treating cats or StarClan or anything other than 'what's it like being a medicine cat?'.

Addressed: Sunnystep Mentioned: Spottedpaw OOC Notes: --- Tagged: broadwaystar

PIGEON | SLATE | THISTLE | CREAM | KOI

Last Edit: Jun 19, 2018 22:17:14 GMT by Freckles

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broadwaystar

Greener pastures [Sunnystep + Koipaw] Jun 23, 2018 4:52:26 GMT

Post by broadwaystar on Jun 23, 2018 4:52:26 GMT

Sunnystep paused to collect her thoughts. Koipaw looked so distressed after asking her question. "You're okay, Koipaw," she said, hoping to put her at ease. She wondered if the apprentice was having trouble with warrior training and questioning if she should have chosen the path of a medicine cat.

Sunnystep tried to meet Koipaw's gaze, though it was really up to her whether or not she wanted to make eye-contact. She had to carefully consider what she told the young cat. Sunnystep wasn't much older than Koipaw when she learned that sometimes she would watch cats die and be powerless to stop it. She didn't want to scare the timid calico, nor did she want her own anxieties about being a medicine cat to negatively color Koipaw's perception of the position. Sunnystep still wanted to be honest with her though. It wasn't all flowers and starshine, and Koipaw deserved to know that, especially if she wanted to be a medicine cat, even a little bit.

"I love being a medicine cat," Sunnystep said. "But it's a big responsibility. I spent moons learning about and illnesses, and I'm still learning. That never really stops." Sunnystep remembered long days with Rosestream, being quizzed about what a certain herb did, or what a combination of symptoms meant. She remembered the anxieties of examining and treating sick and injured cats as an apprentice, her mentor's watchful gaze never breaking.

"I have responsibility for physical health of WindClan. I need to be aware of my clan mates and how they're feeling. I also have to convince them to listen to me." She glanced back into her den, remembering how she and Flashstar had to chase Cinderspark down to get her back to camp. "And it's not just the physical health of the Clan. I also have to be attuned to WindClan's spiritual health. StarClan speaks to me, sometimes in ways that are hard to understand. Sometimes they're silent when I really want an omen, and I have to find a way to make sense of that. It can be overwhelming." Sunnystep paused, and thought of the sickness that ravaged WindClan last leaf-bare. So many cats had died, and she was powerless. Now it was Sunnystep who found herself gazing at the ground. "Sometimes its exhausting, especially when a lot of cats need my help all at once." And when it seemed like she was truly alone.

But Sunnystep still remembered the dreams and signs she'd received. In spite of everything, she knew StarClan was watching over her and her clan mates. Perhaps life in WindClan would never be perfectly peaceful or healthy, but their warrior ancestors would guide them through life's trials as best they could, and all good warriors would find the peace of StarClan in the end. "But I wouldn't trade it for anything else. StarClan has given me this role as a way to bring healing to others, and I do my best every day to honor that gift."

Freckles

Profile pic by @ddshillyshally on Twitter

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Greener pastures [Sunnystep + Koipaw]

Post by Freckles on May 30, 2018 22:09:55 GMT

Post by broadwaystar on Jun 1, 2018 0:56:10 GMT

Post by Freckles on Jun 4, 2018 22:11:58 GMT

Post by broadwaystar on Jun 9, 2018 19:57:07 GMT

Post by Freckles on Jun 19, 2018 22:15:57 GMT

Post by broadwaystar on Jun 23, 2018 4:52:26 GMT