robinleaf x sootpaw

[maddy ★]

s o o t p a w
Milky white fingers stretched across the sky, lighting up the territory with the first hint of sunrise. A cool wind mazed through ThunderClan's forest, twisting across the river onto WindClan's moor. It reached their camp, ruffling every warrior's thin fur. A young she-cat shivered as it hit her exposed flank. Her fur was dark gray with faint traces of brown, well-groomed and scarless. She blinked open her light colored eyes, staring into the bright camp. She could make out the rising and falling flanks of sleeping warriors and apprentices flocked together on the other side of camp. The queens and kits were protected in a clump of heather and gorse. A small gray kit tumbled out and it's squeals woke the rest of camp. Stretching and sighing, Sootpaw shook the sleep from her fur.

Eyes still heavy with sleep, she watched some warriors mill around camp, a few exchanged patrol positions and life carried on. It was just the same as every morning in the WindClan camp. How cats could remain so loyal and fierce living such a monotonous life would remain a mystery Sootpaw's entire existence. She was young and fresh but jaded and dull. The intricacies of life were the last thing left to interest the poor apprentice. She rolled over on her back waiting for the sun to warm her chilled body.

Sootpaw rolled back over, eyes narrowed into the glinting sun. Her mentor, Robinleaf always scolded the apprentice for this behavior but Sootpaw didn't care for her vision. Her sense of smell had always been the strongest, most refined of her five senses. Losing her vision would probably happen sooner or later with all this staring at the sun and it was already beginning to go foggy.

More and more cats were now rambling about camp, leaving on patrols and starting early morning training with their mentors. She could vaguely figure her eldest brother leaving camp with his mentor. Although she knew good and well who that tom was and her relationship with him, she tried to make it seem like it was the toughest task to remember her littermates. It makes me seem more important than them, she would always think quietly.

"Robinleaf?" Sootpaw called into the small, tucked away part of camp where the medicine cat kept her herbs and slept. "It's time to start my training," she mewed. Sootpaw should sleep with her mentor at night but chose to sleep a corner of camp. She didn't want her mentor, although very out of her character, to talk her ears off while she tried to sleep. The apprentice rarely got much peace during the day so night was her only alone time. "Are you here?" she called again, feeling agitated at her mentor's tardiness.

[» robin ♥]

r o b i n l e a f ,

Gently, the she-cat rolled over with a moan. Bright sunlight shone behind her eyelids. She must have slept in--Robinleaf rarely did that, but it was a relief to have some extra sleep once in a while. Without opening her eyes, she could tell her apprentice wasn't in the den. Did she expect Sootpaw to be? Never once had Robinleaf recalled the young apprentice sleeping in the den where she was expected to. Truthfully, Robinleaf didn't even know where her apprentice was at night. Was that bad? She was sure it was. What if something happened at night? Robinleaf didn't want to shout her apprentice's name across camp, waking up and scaring her clanmates.

Vaguely, she heard her name called. Turning over, Robinleaf ignored it, figuring it was only her imagination. She couldn't help but wonder, was she a bad mentor? Robinleaf was new at this; perhaps she'd taken on an apprentice too young. It hadn't entirely been her decision. The apprentice had been forced on her in nearly the same way she had been forced on the apprentice. Though she wasn't estatic about the apprentice, it was nice to have some help. She just hoped the apprentice wouldn't take her place anytime soon; she had seasons left in her life.

She heard the same voice calling her name again. So perhaps it was real? Robinleaf opened her eyes and narrowed her eyes. Her apprentice was just outside the den, calling for her. With a sigh, she stood up and padded to the entrance, fixing her eyes on the young apprentice.

"I tell you when your training will start, Sootpaw." She snapped, walking out into the camp. She looked around, trying to see just how late she slept. Cats were beginning to start their duties, some had already gone. So Robinleaf hadn't been too late; Sootpaw was just impatient. "Plus, the mentor is never late--the apprentice is simply early." She chuckled silently to herself, trying to remember just where she'd heard that.

Suddenly, she turned around, as if she had only just remembered she had an apprentice to train. "Alright!" She mewed, glancing around. "I don't think anyone's injured or sick right now. So let's make this more exciting, shall we? Let's play a game." Robinleaf disappeared into the den, where she rumbled around for a moment or so. The feline brought out many herbs and set them on a leaf.

"I want you to close your eyes. I'm going to place an herb on the ground in front of you, and you need to name it, without opening your eyes." Robinleaf didn't give the apprentice a chance to argue; she swiped her tail over Sootpaw's eyes, signaling for them to be shut. She placed a flower with yellow petals in front of Sootpaw. Marigold; an easy start.

[maddy ★]

s o o t p a w
Sootpaw blinked her eyes twice and raised an eyebrow. "Maybe if you were ever on time with me," Sootpaw muttered loudly for she did not care what her mentor thought of her. They were stuck together until one of them died so both of them had to deal with each others. While Sootpaw was typically more laid back and less mouthy, she did not enjoy mornings and her constant annoyance at her brainwashed Clanmates had randomly escalated this fine, fine day.

Sootpaw followed Robinleaf wherever she was headed to. Probably to gather herbs, they were running low last time she checked. When the calico cat suddenly stopped, Sootpaw nearly ran into her. Holding back a grunt of surprise to not ruin her stubborn mood, Sootpaw sat down and wrapped her tail around her paws, watching her mentor intently. Now's the time to drop the attitude, she sighed.

"I can play a game," Sootpaw replied as she watched her mentor. So she played along, squeezing her eyes shut. The scholar in her really wanted to get this right the first time so she didn't cheat. Leaning down close to the mystery herb she opened her mouth and breathed in the scent. She wasn't sure whether or not Robinleaf allowed touching it so as not to bother her easy temper, she sat back up with an answer.

"Is it... marigold?" she asked, eyes still shut tight. She knew marigold like the back of her paw because it was the first herb she had learned about. Well, this will be the one answer I get right, she grinned to herself.

[» robin ♥]

r o b i n l e a f ,

The she-cat heard Sootpat's remark, but she ignored it. She wouldn't let petty words get to her, especially not from her apprentice. Robinleaf didn't want to live her life with an annoying apprentice, so she might as well try to get along with the younger cat. Perhaps they could become friends with time, instead of merely a mentor and apprentice relationship.

Robinleaf watched the she-cat closely, making sure she wasn't cheating--if she put the effort into creating a game, then one would play it right. If they didn't...well, Robinleaf would make the next couple days a living hell for them. She grinned when Sootpaw got it right. Of course it was easy, but she was still happy her apprentice had remembered. "Yes, that's right." Robinleaf mewed happily. She whisked the marigold away and back onto the leaf before picking up another.

"Keep your eyes closed...now try this one." Robinleaf told her, placing a strong-smelling plant with yellow petals below Sootpaw's jaw. Then she placed another plant beside it, with round white petals. She purposely placed the white-petaled feverfew beside the overpowering thyme, to make it harder for Sootpaw to figure it out by smell. But she figured, if a medicine cat knew the herbs--by smell and sight, then they would always be able to serve their clan. "And then tell me what the second one is, please." Robinleaf smiled to herself. This wasn't as much of a game as it was entertainment to herself.

[maddy ★]

s o o t p a w
Sootpaw kept her eyes shut, she didn't need to see. She could hear a couple cats around camp asking if they needed to be doing anything and deciding to form a hunting patrol by the time Robinleaf returned with the next herb. Sootpaw detected a kit watching from afar with eyes most likely as big as saucers. She briefly pondered how that kit could have so easily been in her spot right now and she would be training to become a warrior. What a different lifestyle...

Sootpaw screwed up her face in confusion. She could definitely smell thyme but there was something underneath it. Whatever it was, she couldn't pick it out. It was definitely... it was definitely some type of flower, but she couldn't pick out which. She continued to sniff at it as if the answer would magically come to her. She had heard something when she was a kit... "if the answer doesn't come to you in a minute, it never will". Yes, they were positive terms of encouragement clearly but she never forgot them.

"I... I don't know," she finally said in defeat and lifted her head. Blinking her eyes opened, she nearly sighed when the light filtered in. If only she didn't look deranged running around with her eyes shut, she would. I'm going to have to work extra hard on scenting herbs, she realized. Glancing down at the pile of thyme and... oh. Feverfew. She cast a sorry glance at her mentor, feeling slightly disappointed in herself.

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[» robin ♥]

r o b i n l e a f ,

The she-cat watched as Sootpaw tried to figure out the scent of the second plant. It was obvious Sootpaw knew the thyme; the smell was easy to recognize. A smile crept its way on her face as Sootpaw kept trying to figure it out--well, at least she was dedicated. When the young apprentice finally gave up, Robinleaf shrugged and gathered up the herbs. "It's okay. I made that hard on purpose. Eventually, you should be able to distinguish smells apart, no matter how strong one might be."

Robinleaf licked her lips, trying to decided what to do next. She wasn't quite sure how Sootpaw learned, so she'd have to try everything and experiment. But right now they needed to collect whatever herbs they could find. It was early in newleaf, but there was sure to be something out there.

"We need to see if we can find any useful herbs growing yet. Our stock is pretty low after that awful leafbare. I believe we're particularly low on lavender and borage...though they might not be blooming yet..." Robinleaf mused out loud, deep in thought. She wanted to stock up on herbs as soon as she could, just in case something happened, whatever that might be.

"Oh! Can you tell me what lavender and borage help?" Robinleaf suddenly asked, realizing she needed to still train her apprentice.

ooc: if they were to leave camp, would we have to make another thread? o.-
also, herbs, if you don't know them by heart like me.
okay so i know a lot my heart. not all <.< >.>

[maddy ★]

s o o t p a w
Sootpaw gathered herself up, thyme and marigold still lingering in her nostrils. She tried committing the scent of feverfew to her memory as her mentor began talking to her. Sootpaw glanced around, not listening to a word the calico cat was saying. A bright flash of light caught her attention and she found herself staring into the sun, eyes bright and open.

The ashen cat realized her mentor was asking her a question and snapped back into reality, colored blobs dotting her vision. She could only see flecks of heather and calico pelt in front of her, pleased at her success. She reeled to think of an answer to the question she hadn't listened to. Something... lavender? Leaves? In one ear and out the other.

"They cure stomach aches?" she gave the question a shot, mindlessly following Robinleaf around. The blotches were beginning to fade from her vision and the harsh reality around her was coming back to life. Oh, how she hated warriors. And healing them for that matter. It didn't matter... she'd be an apprentice for a long time. She had time.

And it was those quickly changing moods and ideas that would get Sootpaw in trouble with forces she can't even begin to control.

ooc: ehh, we can probably just keep it the same thread. i think its easier. and oh my god THANK YOU<3 i was about to fail so bad at this

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[» robin ♥]

r o b i n l e a f ,

Robinleaf stared at Sootpaw, almost angrily. Was she even listening? "No. They both cure fever, along with other things." The medicine cat told her, with a scowl. Perhaps if she'd pay attention, Sootpaw would know that, Robinleaf thought. With a swish of her tail, she began to head out of camp.

"Let's go, Sootpaw." She called without giving the apprentice a chance to answer. Robinleaf could easily blame this change in behavior due to the fact they needed herbs, but truthfully she was annoyed with her apprentice. The she-cat didn't seem to want to learn anything, at least not in Robinleaf's eyes. Maybe she was too hard on her, but being too easy wouldn't help either of them.

Robinleaf walked out of camp, assuming Sootpaw was just behind her. The air was colder away from the camp, but her thick fur kept her warm. Eventually, she came to a small patch of herbs, just beginning to grow. She saw no borage, but there was definitely some lavender. With a satisfied smile, Robinleaf sat back on her haunches.

"Could you pick some lavender, Sootpaw? Make sure to leave some, so it will continue growing." Robinleaf told her apprentice, her eyes shining happily. She'd thought there wouldn't be any herbs yet--thank StarClan there were. Her Clan needed them.

ooc; ohgosh. that was bad. and i know nothing about windclan territory. xD

[maddy ★]

s o o t p a w
Sootpaw followed her mentor out of camp, down the moor near the falls. She could hear the rushing rapids in the distance and wondered what RiverClan was doing right now. She thought, how strange it is that we all live so nearby yet know nothing of each others lives. Her pale green eyes followed her mentor's gaze toward a clump of tall stems with purple blossoms. She nodded and mosied over to the flowers, taking in their scent. Right. They cured fever.

She glanced over at her mentor a couple rabbit-lengths away then turned back to her duty. She tilted her head and bit down to tear the flower out of the ground. They were rather young still and she didn't know if that would affect their potency. She carried on until she had a fair amount of lavender with a couple stalks still poking out of the ground.

"Lavender cures fevers," she whispered to herself, trying to stamp it in her memory forever, She glanced up, looking for approval from her mentor, suddenly eager to learn once again. When she was a kit, she had once overheard her mother speaking urgently with Robinleaf her concerns about Sootkit. She heard something about, what was it? Bipolar? She wasn't sure, but later that day was when Robinleaf asked if she'd be interested in becoming a medicine cat. Am I only her apprentice so she can keep an eye on me? Sootpaw realized, anger flaring in her chest. Sootpaw struggled whether or not this was her true destiny for the second time this morning but instead opted to ask StarClan next time they traveled to Moonstone.

"Alright, what next?" Sootpaw asked, forcing herself to exude so much excitement she would be confused for a kit catching their first hare. She was determined to prove Robinleaf and and her mother wrong.

ooc: it was kind of rambley and weird... idk. oh well

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[» robin ♥]

r o b i n l e a f ,

The she-cat watched the younger cat as she collected the lavender. Robinleaf was happy with her apprentice; she seemed able to collect the herbs well. There were wrong ways to do it; breaking the stem in the wrong place was one big no-no, along with a couple other ways. It had been instinctual for Robinleaf, but she wasn't sure if it had been the same for Sootpaw. Shrugging off the though, her mind began to drift into something much more concerning.

Every night she had the same dream, a prophecy from StarClan. It frightened her, and she didn't know what to do about it. Keeping quiet about it was probably best decision, so she wouldn't terrify the whole Clan--that would be a disaster. It sounded like it would end in death, that seemed very obvious to her. But everything else...it chilled her; she just couldn't figure it out. Glancing at her apprentice, she wondered if Sootpaw had any dreams, or if it was just her.

Robinleaf hesitated a moment. Perhaps it was best to leave it alone. Her curiosity overcame her. "Sootpaw!" The she-cat called sharply, then grimaced. Her call had sounded like she'd shouted at her apprentice. When she got the cat's attention, she continued. "Um..." Robinleaf trailed off, not knowing how to begin. "Have you, by any chance, have any dreams--from StarClan?" She finally asked, her voice lowering in volume.

ooc: sorry it's short. again, i couldn't think of what to post...so i just went with what you suggested in the cbox. xD

[maddy ★]

s o o t p a w
Sootpaw dropped the lavender in surprise when she heard Robinleaf shouting her name. Had she done something wrong with the herbs? She nervously scraped them back together in a pile on the ground and turned around to her mentor, concern in her eyes. She tucked her tail between her legs, preparing for some kind of scolding. Robinleaf rarely scolded her apprentice harshly...

"Um... Have you, by any chance, have any dreams--from StarClan?" Robinleaf mewed, sounding timid. Sootpaw could almost collapse with relief, straightening out her tail. She then pondered the question. Had she? The apprentice hardly remembered her dreams, only the occasional nightmare. But if it had been something from StarClan, she would definitely remember it. She faintly remembered something from a couple of moons ago.

"Actually," she admitted sheepishly. "Maybe three moons ago I did. I was at what I guess must have been ThunderClan camp by the scent and a blue-gray she-cat started talking to me. I'd never seen her before and I think she was a ThunderClan cat. She said something to me, it must have been a prophecy," Sootpaw shook her head in confusion. "Something about a boundless storm and lives being spared. I honestly don't remember, I didn't take it seriously. Sorry." Sootpaw frowned, glancing around for the lavender. The wind had blown it around but she wandered over and was able to pick it all back up in between her jaws.

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