hazardous occupation // rowanpaw

[COFFEESTAR]

Those of earth and herbs gather once more at the moonstone, watching pelts file in through the cave one after another. Coffeestar is pleasantly surprised to see Cicadabuzz and Magpiepaw among the first to arrive, but their dreams are still barricaded by thorny coils and toxic smog. Bugs apprentice does not bring the same sense of guarded steel doors, but he is not who she needs to meet with tonight.

A rust-shaded coat appeared before her attention, and the molly waited with patience for them all to pass acknowledgements before they brushed against the moonstone. Coffeestar's patience wavered, then, waiting not a second more as Rowanpaw sank into sleep to draw her close.

"It's so nice to see everyone cooperate for another night." Coffeestar attempted to soothe herself with pleasantry, but it is quite obvious something troubled her. "How does StarClan's gift fair, Rowanpaw? Has it helped you any?"

@rowanpaw

 

[rowanpaw]

☆ Just as she'd wished, when her nose touches the cool surface of the Moonstone, she is soon transported to the starry fields of Starclan, and there in front of her is Coffeestar. She dips her head in greeting, though the following question makes her shiver. She hesitates for a moment, uncertain, afraid. She knows that on the ground, Serpentberry is lying next to her… her mother, her mentor… her world. She can't meet Coffeestar's eyes when she answers the question.

"I… Yes…" she says quietly, pawing nervously at the starry dirt beneath her paws. "Or no… I… I think maybe it would've been easier to not know the truth, but now that I know it–" she swallows, ears flat to her head. "I'm lost, Coffeestar. You speak like you already know what I found out, so please don't make me say it. But I know, I know," she shakes her head, "I wish I didn't. I don't know what to do. She won't talk to me. She's keeping so many secrets, and she… she even threatened to stop treating cats that displeased her– that's not what a medicine cat should do, is it…? I… even if we don't like someone, we have a duty, don't we? To help…?"

She gets up and begins to pace in front of Coffeestar, her shoulders trembling, "she's sick," she says, "she's sick, but I don't know how to help her. It's her… her mind that's sick, not her body. What herbs help with that…?"

☆ ROWANPAW. 14 moons
mentored by serpentberry,
adopted daughter of serpentberry and thornstar
peaceful powerplay allowed
ooc -

 

[COFFEESTAR]

It is a shame how such an emboldened gift could bear so much weight, so quickly for Rowanpaw did her ability turn against her. To Coffeestar, she saw it as a necessity, as much as she wished for it not to be. For ThunderClan's safety, there must be someone who could unearth the truth while Juniperstar's sight was clouded with blushing hues. There was great potential in Rowanpaw, in what she could provide to her Clan and the forest. Already proven by her efforts alongside Swallowbreeze- StarClan could not afford to have it squandered right in it's infancy.

Coffeestar listened to Rowanpaw try to rationalize it all with sadness in her gaze, knowing she is not able to help more than the limited guidance she's allowed. Her maw opens, and the words she tries to say squeak and stammer into nonsense. She's sick. Coffeestar sighed.

"There isn't an herb that can cure what's happened to her." The starlit leader spoke, and there is relief in her voice as she realized she could hear herself. "Her mind... it is certainly addled, she has endured much in just these past seasons. Making difficult decisions when none else would, initiating action when paws remained still..." Coffeestar stepped closer to Rowanpaw, and rest her nose between the molly's ears.

"The secrets she is keeping is warping her mind, not even StarClan could undo what is tormenting her right now. It is even changing- changing-." Her head pulled back quickly to cough the word out of her mouth. Something unseen seizing what she wished to say. "There... are limits." She took a careful pause to breathe and think how she could give Rowanpaw what she wanted.

"StarClan is a sanctuary for the fallen. A home for those that have given their faith and lived honorably. Not entirely without sin or moments of fallen grace, but a soul that has put out more good to their world than not." Coffeestar's tail-tip twitched as she looked past Rowanpaw. "Those that reject StarClan, or use it's holy name for evil, are not given the eternal hunt...." An ear twitch as recalled the sickly cackling from her travels in empty misty lands.

"An herb is not the only cure, Rowanpaw. Serpentberry learned this once, too, that saving someone is more than just healing to live." Her gaze lowered to meet the apprentice's once more, her expression creased with sympathy. There was far more she wished to say, her voice wanted to spill all it could with more direction and less airy meaning, but it was all she could manage without it being ripped from her. "I think it's time for you to go back, now."