Skipperpaw | WindClan's energetic medicine cat apprentice
Several sunrises had passed since their arrival in the bitter cold depths of the mountains that towered over the moorland that once was called home. Treacherous weather activity had driven them from their warm dens and had driven them to the only place that might be considered safe until the passing of the storms. The new camp wasn't anything special, but at the very least it was dry and didn't threaten to drown them in their sleep.
A soft yawn parted the ivory jaws of the fluffy apprentice and she carefully uncurled herself from the little patient that had basically become her best friend. She was careful not to disturb Daisykit when she rose to her paws, though she did gently nuzzle the smaller cat and ensure that she was warmly tucked into the nest so that she wouldn't miss too much of Skipperpaw's fluff and warmth. She did, however, lean down to whisper to the kit, knowing that she'd be just awake enough to hear her. "Oasismist agreed to take me on another herb scouting mission today, but I shouldn't be gone too long, okay? I'll bring back another surprise - promise." She swept her tail gently across the sleeping kit and then turned and bounded out of the makeshift medicine cat den.
The sudden sunlight was harsh on her pale golden eyes as she emerged into the temporary camp's clearing and she slowed her paw steps to a trot so that she could properly examine the few cats who were also awake at this late morning hour. Finally she set eyes on her escort and made her way over to where she at the dedicated entrance of the camp. She had her typical cheerful smile on her face and an unmistakable skip in her step. "Good morning, Miss Oasismist! I'm ready for the scouting mission! I can't wait to see what kind of herbs we'll find today! Littlewoods has been very happy with what we've been able to find, and he wanted me to pass along his appreciation for taking me while he stays in camp. We make a great herb-scouting duo!"
"Thank you so very much, Oasismist - but I'm definitely not ready to be a full-fledged medicine cat yet! I've still got a lot to learn from Littlewoods, after all," she purred. She lowered the frontal half of her body to the ground in a well-needed stretch as she hadn't quite had the option to do so in the makeshift medicine cat den without awakening her patient and mentor.
Her tufted ears perked and she was immediately at full attention at the mention of there being a location of interest with the potential of rare herbs. "Absolutely! Maybe it's thyme, or yarrow! Either one would be wonderfully helpful to the Clan after their travels. Let's go!"
Unaware of Daisykit eavesdropping on her conversation with Oasismist, Skipperpaw took the lead and headed out of the 'camp' where she began her careful trek along the winding pathways of the mountains. She paused once they hit a forked pathway and turned to peer over her shoulder at Oasismist. "Do you want to lead from here? I've kind of just realized that I'm not entirely positive where we're going," she mrr'ed with a laugh.
“Mhnnn...” Oasismist hummed in response to Skipperpaw’s words, and nodded a small smile sketched itself onto their maw, and something shimmered in their eyes. Something that someone as young as Skipperpaw wouldn’t be able to place.
Something elusive in nature.
“Indeed, we do, young Skipperpaw.” The feline rose up from their little patch of emerald, green grass that was in short supply up in the mountains and stretched their body out like a snake. If they had a rattle at the end of their tail, it would no doubt be causing a cacophony.
Flashing their fangs, Oasismist smirked with pride, though it wasn’t aimed at Skipperpaw, no. This smirk was directed towards the delectable and delicious scheme they’d been cooking up for several moons now.
They’d been itching to ensnare someone in a trap, and they hadn’t been able to do so in quite some time, due to the clan being spread so thin by the dreadful weather.
It was nothing personal against Skipperpaw, really. They were just too convenient of a target. They trusted so easily, and it would be effortless on Oasismist's part to take them to the location of their trap. Now, if Skipperpaw ended caught up in it, or if they narrowly avoided it, that was up to them.
It wouldn't be Oasismist's fault if Skipperpaw stood just a little too close to the ledge of a cliff, where Oasismist had worked tirelessly to loosen the rocks and dirt on the edge of it... Now, would it?
“You’ve been such a dutiful little apprentice. Windclan would be proud to have you as a full-fledged medicine cat. I’ll be sure to pass along my praises to your mentor.”
After they finished stretching, they stood straight and tall.
“Say, Skipperpaw, it slipped my mind, but I have somewhere to take you today. On a solo patrol the other day, I found a plateau and I do believe I saw some very rare herbs there. Though, with my limited knowledge of medicine, I cannot say for certain exactly what they were. We ought to see if my hunch is correct, don’t you think?”
Oasismist circled round the young apprentice, gently brushing their tail tip over the top of Skipperpaw’s shoulders, their voice like that of a siren’s song.
So convincing and so welcoming, so warm and safe.
“Then after that, I have a surprise for you, since you’ve been working so hard. It’s secret.” Oasismist winked, and then flicked their tail away from Skipperpaw and towards the entrance of camp, “After you, Skipperpaw dear.”
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Though Skipperpaw had tried to keep from waking Daisykit, the young feline had felt the shift in temperature, in spite of Skipperpaw’s attempt to not leave her missing any warmth and fluff. Daisykit’s eyes fluttered open and they took notice of Skipperpaw’s absence immediately. Suddenly all the drowsiness that had a hold of Daisykit vanished and was filled up instead by curiosity and wonder.
Where could her best friend have gone?
The kit let her gaze sweep over the medicine den, however she found no signs of Skipperpaw. Just Littlewoods taking a catnap. That’s when Diasykit’s eyes fell onto the entrance of the den.
Maybe... outside?
Daisykit wasn’t allowed outside, not without someone there for her in case her illness reared its ugly maw. Yet, the loss of Skipperpaw’s warmth was too much to ignore. She couldn’t go back to sleep without it. Sure, she could curl up with Littlewoods, but it wasn’t the same. The texture of their coats was too different.
Scampering out of the den, like a crab scuttling across the beach, lacking any coordination or grace- Daisykit slipped outside, and her attention was immediately grabbed by Oasismist’s voice.
Daisykit turned their gaze to the entrance of camp and spotted their very best friend standing near Oasismist. They were talking about a surprise. Daisykit’s eyes gleamed with excitement.
What kind of surprise?
She wanted to go, but... Skipperpaw and Oasismist wouldn’t let her. She knew if she asked, they would send her straight back to the Medicine Cat den. So, that settles it, Daisykit knew that the only way she’d get to see this surprise.
She would have to...
Sneak out!
Fortunately for her, Oasismist and Skipperpaw weren’t looking her way. They wouldn’t see her. Now, all she had to do was wait until they left and tail them. That should be easy, right? She was small enough, she could hide.
Daisykit was going to see that surprise!