C O S M O P A W
It was still early in the morning- early enough that the dawn patrol hadn't yet left. Firestar and Auroraskies were busy, talking with the newly named deputy, Bayleaf, in her father's den. Whatever they were talking about, it sounded important because he hadn't allowed stragglers nearby to overhear. Cosmopaw wondered what was so dire, it was enough to make her concerned, just a bit, for her family and friends. She knew that the former medicine apprentice, Opalpaw, had a dream that was like an omen about the coming snowstorm- she had shared it with them before she left the Clan with Speckledmoss. Perhaps that's what they were talking about? Going over safety measures and dotting I's, crossing T's, yeah?
She had already gone to check on her siblings- her littermates as well as her newly born younger siblings. Her littermates were preparing to go out on their training duties for the day, between battle training and hunting. They didn't seem as bothered by the threatening weather as she was. That's good, she thought, relieved that her family wasn't worrying their head's off. Her younger siblings hadn't even approached their first moon yet. They were more focused on what to play in the nursery or when milking time was then what their older sibling wanted. Cosmopaw didn't want to pester them too much by checking in on them again and again.
So, she decided to come check in on her best friend, Laurelpaw, instead. The tortie was sure that she would be busy with prepping for the coming snow- making sure their herb stock was fully supplied and whatnot in case of emergencies. That's what medicine cats did, right? Pick herbs, store herbs, use herbs. It was always about herbs, but surely working with plants all the time could be tiring, too. Cosmopaw thought maybe she wanted some company before she had to start another long day of plant nursing.
"Hey, Laurelpaw, how are you-" The molly cut herself off mid-sentence, as she noticed that her friend wasn't quite alone in the medicine cat den anymore. Before her, nesting in what used to be Speckledmoss's den, was a creamy-and-white she-cat. Oh, I know her! She realized, noting upon further inspection the familiar frame of Ceruleansky, a warrior whom while she didn't know personally, had been spoken of between her parents a lot recently. Was she unwell? To be nesting in the medicine den next to Laurelpaw, she naturally assumed that the she-cat was in need of treatment. But it didn't look like the apprentice had awoken yet. "I'm sorry," she instantly apologized, feeling as though she had just walked in on a patient trying to rest and had perhaps even woken her up in the process. "Do you need anything? Maybe I can help while Laurelpaw rests."
⊱ ────── {⋅. ✦ .⋅} ────── ⊰ Ceruleansky ⊱ ────── {⋅. ✦ .⋅} ────── ⊰
She slept lightly in her nest, new and not yet developed to that sense of familiarity of comfort of sinking down into it after a long day or a quick rest after returning from dawn patrol. It was awfully plain - waiting to be decorated and adorned with plush feathers, interesting stones, and anything else that might catch her eye while out and about. In the green seasons the molly preferred to have a rotation of fresh flowers woven in, drifting off and waking up to the gentle perfume as it twisted through the strands of her coat.
No longer did she drift off to the gentle sounds of her clanmates sleeping around her, huddled into their warmth and exchanging small talk about their days, but instead to the heavy silence of this new den. The young molly had yet to fully adjust and so, when the little visitor had entered with an excited little chirp, her head rose and thick lashes parted to allow two pools of soft, sky blue to see who had come. The easy smile that had settled into the curve of her maw came naturally, reaching her eyes in a gentle curve as she pushed against the earth and rose to greet the young one.
"No need for apologies, you're always welcome here." Ceruleansky's purr echoed in the quiet of the den, motioning with her tail for the apprentice to come in as she wished. A glimmer appeared in her eye at the innocence of her question. It seemed she was not the only one who still had yet to adjust to this sudden change.
Not only had she been tasked with the role of healer, but an apprentice had been delivered into her care as well - the one who young Cosmopaw had come looking for. Ceruleansky had been looking forward to this, but got the sense that there were still those who questioned her intentions. "Well I could use some more sunshine and warmth-" the molly began as she rose to all fours, "-but unless you're able to control the weather I don't think you need to worry yourself about all of that." Carefully, she leaned forward, voice hushed but still carrying the unmistakable quality of a laugh. "If you can, though, I promise not to tell anyone."