Backwritten Camp WindClan a heartbreak away from a horrible place ✿ — glade

[Meadowpaw]

She's a liar, a calm to the fire
Shamed when we all follow suit

.

Why?

Why did the flames have to take away their home? Why did it have to take Alder and Chicken and Hoot? Why did it have to take her leg? Why hadn't Mama come to visit since it happened?

Sometimes Meadow still expected to wake up back in the loft, warm hay beneath her and her Mama's slumbering form somewhere nearby, grumbling in her sleep. But the pain was real. The missing weight of her leg, the dull ache that radiated through her body—was too real to be a dream.

Nutmeg visited often, but it didn't change how quiet everything had become. She remembered how full of life the barn had been, laughter and chatter—she even missed the arguments and the clucking of chickens. The den was silent more often than not, and though she tried to sleep or keep her mind busy, it never lasted long. An empty longing crept in between breaths, slipping into her thoughts and dreams.

Mama hadn't come to see her. Not once. Not even to scold her for running off and getting herself hurt. She was so… confused… and scared. Meadow wanted to know why but at the same time she worried what that meant. Did Mama not love her anymore?

Their new… home… it didn't feel the same. They all had to adapt to new names, new roles and a new way of living. It felt like she was being left behind—like everyone else had taken a step forward while she was still trying to crawl. She exhaled shakily, trying to steady herself.

Her gaze drifted to the entrance of the den, light filtering through the edges of the leaves. She couldn't lie in this nest anymore.

With a grunt, Meadow dragged herself upright. Her movements were stiff, bandages tight against her skin, wounds crackling, and every shift sent flickers of discomfort through her body. She grimaced, bearing weight on her remaining legs. The swelling was down, but it still hurt to move.

The process was slow, but it gave her something to focus on. She clenches her jaw in deep focus. It shouldn't be so hard, should it?

She made it only a few paces before her body gave out. Chest heaving, she eased herself back down, weary green eyes sweeping the den. Glade's scent lingered—fresh herbs and dried ones. At least the smell was a comfort—sweet—bitter—comforting.

Her eyes caught on something hanging just above, the brightness cutting through the colorless fog in her head. "Marigold…" Vibrant orange with ruffled petals, swaying gently with the breeze that drifted in. There was somethin' hopeful about it. Just seeing it made her chest ache just a little less.

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8 MOONS

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WINDCLAN

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bio

 

[Gladebloom Gladebloom]

The barn fire had been an unexpected event that took everyone by surprise, leaving a path of destruction creviced in destruction, loss, and suffering. They'd done their best to scavenge resources and save everyone that they could, but some sacrificed themselves for others to allow them to see the next sunrise. As they found themselves in a new territory, StarClan had reached out to Dusty and introduced her to the life of the clans, where everything was different from life before. Dusty became Dustystar and had been blessed with nine lives; then she held a meeting to teach everyone about the changes they would face: there was disbelief and confusion, but also trust in the grey-colored she-cat. She made mention that they would eventually have a healer, and coincidentally, a few days later, a strange, starry-coated kitten appeared before her that knew her name. Was it one of her kits in the future that she wished to have with Beetle in the future? They planned to have a litter sometime, but everything had been disrupted by the fire, and now she'd been blessed by the very stars that met Dustystar as a medicine cat.

Her ocean-blue gaze flicks across the gathered herbs as she finds herself lost in thought with everything happening. There's a sudden shuffling that unconsciously makes her ears twitch until a sudden voice finally drags her from her thoughts: Marigold... The medicine cat turns towards Meadow(paw) as she offers a gentle smile and nods in agreement.

"They're beautiful, aren't they?"

Gladebloom would murmur softly as she rises from her spot and moves to the young cat's spot as she grabs a small marigold hanging on a small slate of rock. A white paw places it before her as she looks down at Meadow's leg as one of her paws hovers over the injury slightly as she assesses the healing.

"It's healing well. It'll take time, but we'll get you back on the fields in no time, Meadow."

The chocolate tabby murmurs as she shifts her focus to the girl's gaze as she offers a small smile of reassurance. Meadow wasn't alone, and there was no doubt that everyone would work together to help the tortoiseshell to adjust to her new injury, just as barncats always had.

"May once the swelling comes down, we can try to go on a walk to help you adjust. I'm sure anyone would be happy to help."

 

[Meadowpaw]

She's a liar, a calm to the fire
Shamed when we all follow suit

.

She couldn't seem to return to the place where she met Deadwood—that dark place where no light touched. And yet, somehow, there she found a glimmer of it hidden away. Meadow still hummed to herself on sleepless nights, hoping the melody he soothed her with might take her back there.

Meadow thought she finally understood what he meant about giving up. Since waking up, the idea crept into her mind more than once. If not for Meggie and Peafowl, Meadow knew now she would've let the fever have its way. Turn her to ashes like the fire had done to their home.

But thoughts like that made her feel guilty. As if just thinking it betrayed those who poured so much of their time and care into keeping her here. Cats like her sister and even Gladebloom too…

The calico turned sluggishly. Glade was what they called a medicine cat now, wasn't she? She coaxed the worst of their injuries toward healing. She was still as the molly examined her raw skin. Sometimes she still had the urge to curl away from that prying gaze, even if it was kind. But now, at least, she kept her eyes to the ground. One paw reached forward, brushing the orange petals.

Her brow clenched. Meadow wants to ask if it will ever be the same. If she will ever be able to run through the fields with her sister again, or fetch feathers for Ashen. She wants to ask—knows the answer—but is too scared to hear it spoken.

"Can I do it on my own?" She rasps dryly, "I don't want—I—" The idea of going outside should fill her with anticipation, but it doesn't. Suddenly, she feels very uneasy... or scared... frustrated?

But none of that seems fair to dump on Gladebloom, though. Especially not after she's spent so much time helping her get better. "Sorry. I'm not sure what I was trying to say..."

She slowly lifts her head. "You use marigold, right? For wounds?" Everyone was always helping and worrying these days. Meadow didn't like that she couldn't do the same for them when they no doubt needed it most. Before she could help hunt or do things to make them smile. But Meadowpaw didn't know if she could do that for them anymore. Not when she could barely walk let alone run.

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8 MOONS

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WINDCLAN

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bio

 

[Gladebloom Gladebloom]

There's a flicker of uncertainty in the calico's eyes at her mention of them going on a walk to adjust to her disability as she feels a subtle pang to her heart. It was surely a crippling blow for her confidence and mental state that she would have to rely on others (or her) and adjust to do simple things that were a breeze before for her.

"I know, Meadow."

Gladebloom coos softly to comfort the bicolor as her plumed tail gives a subtle flick.

"It probably feels overwhelming, but we can take it one step at a time, okay?"

The medicine cat offers as she gives a motherly pat to the younger girl's head.

"You don't need to apologize. You did nothing wrong, little petal."

She murmurs softly as she turns her gaze to the entrance momentarily before shifting it back to the calico at her question.

"It is one of the things that I use, yes."

The chocolate tabby answers as she nods her head. She clasps the marigold on the palm of her paw to allow Meadowpaw to get a closer look at the ruffled, vibrant orange petals that came off with a subtle sweet smell.

"Marigold has all sorts of usages. It can be used for bleeding, when your joints are stiff, and for infections."

Gladebloom would respond as her gaze flicked up to the younger girl to watch her while she studied the herb. Meadowpaw reminded her of herself back in her younger days, when everything interested her and she had a natural pull towards nature and its herbal remedies.

"Did you know they smell different depending on the season? In new-leaf, they smell like this, and in leaf-fall, it smells like nettle."

She responds with a soft giggle as she holds her paw up if she wished to give the flower a sniff to smell the current sweet aroma it gives off.

 

[Meadowpaw]

She's a liar, a calm to the fire
Shamed when we all follow suit

.

Meadowpaw blinked slowly at the gentle touch to her head. Her scabbed ears gave a faint twitch, and she gave a soft nod. The kindness in Gladebloom's voice sent a tremor through her chest, tightening her throat. She almost felt undeserving of it, having already taken up so much of her time and effort and offering nothing in return. Her gaze stayed low, fixed on the petals between them. A part of her wanted to lean into that kindness, like she used to, before everything burned.

But that felt hard to do right now.

When Gladebloom lifted the marigold, Meadowpaw's dull eyes tracked the bright, crinkled edges of the petals. Her head tilted slightly, attention shifting up to the medicine cat's voice. A flicker of wonder stirred behind her weary expression.

"It can do all that?" She mewed, voice dry and scratchy. Meadowpaw always enjoyed the company of marigolds, but it surprised her to know such a beautiful and delicate thing could do all that.

She leaned in carefully, brushing her nose over the flower. The scent was faint—softer than she expected, chased by a distant smokiness she couldn't shake. Still, beneath it, she recognized the sweetness. Her whiskers twitched as a tiny smile lifted the corners of her mouth "I didn't know that...." Meadowpaw murmured. "That's actually pretty neat."

She gave the petals another gentle poke with her nose before settling back on her haunches with a thoughtful sigh. "I wish I still had all my dried flowers. I think I had some leaf-fall marigold..." She frowned, her eyes darting up to Gladebloom again, then around the medicine-den. "Do you have any nettle?"

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8 MOONS

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WINDCLAN

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bio

 

[Gladebloom Gladebloom]

"It can."

Her answer comes straightforwardly with the usual softness as she settles the marigold down once Meadowpaw finishes inspecting it.

"A lot of herbs actually have multiple ways to heal or help; each piece of the plant is special in its own way."

That went for more than flowers as well, as everyone had more value to themselves than just one part. Her gaze shifts back to the calico as she offers a damp bundle of moss,

"Do you want something to drink? I don't have any honey right now to help with the scratchiness, but it'll help with the dryness."

Gladebloom would murmur as she waited to see Meadowpaw's response. If she wanted to take a sip, she would pass it over; if not, she would place it back on a nearby spotless slate.

"It shows no matter how small something or someone may be, you can also be useful."

Her dark ears give a flick as Meadowpaw inquires about nettle as she glances around in her stores as she shifts through different herbs before letting out a thrumming hum.

"I don't. I'll try to look for some the next time I go out."

The chocolate tabby admits as she turns back to face the younger girl.

"We can collect some more flowers for you. How does that sound?"

She would offer before listening to her next question.

"Why did you ask about nettle?"

Gladebloom would inquire with a curious tilt of her head. Did she want some neetle for herself or was she interested in learning about its peculiarities?

 

[Meadowpaw]

She's a liar, a calm to the fire
Shamed when we all follow suit

.

"Yes, please," She rasped, accepting the offered drink. Her throat still felt raw, even if the worst of the burning had passed. Meadowpaw leaned forward, lapping at the cool liquid with slow, tentative laps until the dryness faded. She pulled back with a small sigh of relief. "Thank you."

As Gladebloom spoke, Meadowpaw's gaze drifted, distant with thought. Everything was different now. She was still reeling from the changes—everyone was. But even if she couldn't move like she used to, even if her leg never fully healed, maybe there were other ways to help out. That wouldn't be easy, and the idea of leaving the medicine-den still scared her, but she wanted to try. She had to try...

When Gladebloom offered to collect flowers for her, Meadowpaw's scabbed twitched, but her smile didn't return. "I don't want to make more work for you…" She murmured, glancing down at her paws. It was a kind gesture, and she didn't want to seem ungrateful, but so many were still recovering, not just her. Meadowpaw worried about how much of Gladebloom's time she was taking up... and that maybe it was more than she deserved. "But maybe… once I'm better, I could help you look for herbs?" She didn't know how much had been used to patch her up, but she would try to give some of that back.

"You said leaf-fall marigold smells like nettles. I wanted to try and memorize the scents until I can pick some myself…" She added with a slow blink. It felt like such a long time to wait—but still, she wanted to believe she'd get there.

Suddenly, her eyes widened with a realization. Again, curiosity edged out the gloom that weighed her down. "Wait, nettles sting you, don't they?" She remembered once tromping through a nettle patch by accident. It had stung her all over, the welts had hurt for hours after. "Are they used for something too?" Gladebloom had said that each piece of a plant was special, but how could something that caused pain be used to heal?

Speech, thoughts/emphasis

8 MOONS

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WINDCLAN

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SONG

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bio