Private Medicine Cat's Den a heatless fire ] magpiepaw

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This thread takes place in the Medicine Cat Den.
122
11
Freshkill
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Pronouns
they/them

CICADABUZZ, 30 moons / shc + med. cat
a SH cinnamon tabby/chocolate tortie chimera w/ black eyes
parent to deathberrykit, hemlockkit, mistletoekit ; mentor to magpiepaw
a reserved, pragmatic healer driven by duty rather than sentiment
"This," Cicadabuzz murmurs, nose grazing the fuzzy leaves, "is borage." The word is spoken plainly, without ceremony, but there's a weight to it all the same—a reverence earned through seasons of use. Cicadabuzz sits back on their haunches and studies the herb for a moment, then picks it up. They set it down gently on a flat stone, nudging it toward their apprentice without a glance.

"It grows best in bright sunlight. It yearns for heat, for warmth. If not provided, it will not sprout properly." Their voice is quiet, but not soft. Measured, as if weighing every word before allowing it to slip free. "If you need to find it, use that knowledge to your advantage. Find somewhere with drier soil, where the sun rays reach the earth." With a flick of their tail, they lean forward and bite off a leaf with a quick nip of their sharp teeth, which they then give to Magpiepaw to examine. "The leaves are the best part to use. They are bitter in taste, but they are efficient." Another pause. Their eyes remain fixed on the plant as though it might withhold something if they don't pay it due attention.

"For nursing queens," they say next, gaze sharpening, "it helps keep the milk flowing if their bodies struggle to produce it at first. It helps to ensure kits will be able to nurse properly." They do not soften their tone for the mention of mothers or kits. They state it as they would the weather. Necessary. Unsentimental. "But it has other uses, as well." Cicadabuzz places the rest of the sprig of borage off to the side, safely tucked away back in their storage. "It cools fever. Useful in greenleaf, when sickness runs through the dens unbarred. Or leafbare, when cold settles too deep in the chest." A faint twitch of their whiskers as they glance towards the entrance of their den, then back. "Furthermore, it can ease stomachaches, and ease tightness in a cat's chest." They have always appreciated borage, with its many uses.

Cicadabuzz finally turns their gaze fully on Magpiepaw, head tilting slightly. The silence that follows is expectant, but not impatient, as they wait for the next question.

 
He'll learn your face by heart
BUT YOU'LL BE IN BLACK & WHITE IN HIS EYES
"Borage." The kitten chirps, voice low as he both repeats the word and mimics Cicadabuzz's more neutral tone. Several of the plants had many uses, none of the uses seemed to correlate really and he often wondered why, were burns and wounds similar? Was spilling milk and blood the same? A caregiver's penance surely mattered more than a fool's cold caught in carelessness - but they both got the same plant.

"Helps milk. Fever, stomach, chest..." He pauses, paw raised, nose wrinkling thoughtfully, "It likes the sun, so we won't find it in leafbare when it might be needed most." The kitten considers this, head tilting, "Does anything else help milk?" It would make sense to save borage in that case, but if there wasn't anything that meant having to decide to feed kittens now over handling fever come winter. Or maybe he was thinking about it backwards, maybe it was better to use now and there were other more easily obtained things closer to the cold seasons. It helped with rain sickness, stuffed noses from wandering the dripping marshlands. It was frankly a lot to consider. Not quite as dire as choosing who lived or died, but maybe in a way it was a more child friendly version of it for him. If only there were a plant that solved everyone's problems that was always around - how useful it would be. Maybe he could discover something like that one day, surely there were plants even Cicadabuzz didn't know about.
In the flick of a feather, he flies to your side
MAGPIEKIT

— kitten of shadowclan
— He/They
"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
— Solid black w/low white & blue-violet eyes.
— Has 'wobbly cat' syndrome.
#9272ee