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Days flitted by, the sweltering heat of green-leaf easing ever so slightly. Meadowpaw kept a watchful eye on the newest occupant of the medicine den. He was quieter than Bengt had been. While the older tom had been quick to strike up a conversation out of boredom, Talon hardly spoke at all since staying with them.
Meadowpaw did her best to make him feel welcome, but he remained distant. She could've tried harder to get him to open up, but nothing would come from forcing it. Still, having him there wasn't bad. While he was more jittery than any cat she'd ever known, he didn't fight her on treatment, and he hadn't tried to leave despite his discomfort.
So, she stayed patient. Ensuring that he stayed fed and comfortable, just as she did with everyone else. Everything else carried on as it always had.
Her eyes drifted over the herb stores, taking note of what they were running low on. With leaf-bare approaching, it was more important than ever to replenish their supplies. Constitutions weakened in the cold moons, and without Gladebloom to rely on, she needed to be ready.
Talon greeted her curtly, as he always did, and she turned to offer a warmer one of her own. The smile faded from her face as she refocused.
To her surprise, his paws didn't carry him back to his nest. Instead, they brought him toward her, settling beside her timidly. Even more surprising—he began to speak. A lot. More than she'd ever heard from him in all his time in WindClan.
Adjusting to the shock, Meadowpaw stayed quiet and listened. He spoke of his life. She'd known it must have been hard, but hearing it made the world outside WindClan sound far more brutal than she could have imagined. It was difficult not to feel pity, but she knew that if the roles were reversed, she wouldn't have wanted that. Pity from someone who couldn't possibly have understood the same struggles would only rub salt in an already raw wound.
Only when he finished did she speak up. "I had no idea it was like that out there... I can only imagine how strong you'd have to be to make it this far, it's not something I could've done." Mamas stories must've had some truth to them after all. If cats out there were struggling so much that they had to steal and kill each other to keep fed... Well, she was glad that she ended up at the barn.
"Thank you for telling me, Talon." Meadowpaw would've liked to know more, about him, about his life, but she was afraid to ask. He'd already shared so much and it seemed wrong to pry further.
Despite that, there was a bit of warmth in her chest. The fact that he trusted her enough to share meant a lot. She would be careful not to squander that. If it were up to her, he wouldn't owe them anything. But she understood where he was coming from. After the fire, Meadowpaw knew what it was like to rely on others—to feel like a burden. To feel guilty and worthless for never being able to give back when others gave. She could never help the cats she cared about, not in any way that felt significant.
A delicate smile sits on her muzzle. "If you really want to repay me… I have a more specific favor to ask." Something that's been on her mind for a while...
"Couldn't you at least stay until new-leaf?" Leaf-fall had already begun. While it was still hard to see, it wouldn't be long before the trees were stripped bare and frost lined the grass. If life out there had been so harsh for him, she'd feel better knowing he'd have the best chance of survival before he returned to it.
Dustystar wouldn't make him leave. None of them would. But he didn't know that—or them—despite all the time he'd spent here. "You won't be a burden, and honestly… we could use the help. We need prey and herbs the worst before leaf-bare sets in. It's windier out here than it was at our old home, so I'm afraid his leaf-bare will be a harsh one."
"Our warriors have enough to worry about, so I'd hoped—" Wait, what am I thinking? Her scarred ears flick back, and she looks down at her paws."Actually, n-no I'm sorry, you've been uncomfortable here, haven't you? You don't owe us more than what you already agreed to give, please forgive me." He'd seemed miserable since the day he arrived. Sitting by himself, walking on eggshells... He must've been counting the days til he could leave, and now she'd asked him to stay even longer? Paying off his debt wouldn't take that long, would it?
"I get what it's like to feel trapped. So if you want to move on sooner rather than later, I understand."
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| x | I BELIEVE THAT THERES COURAGE | | BUT ITS BURNIN' LIKE ASH IN THE WIND | x |
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| WINDCLAN | MEDICINE CAT APPRENTICE | 10 MOONS | SHE/HER |
Meadowpaw values kindness and remembrance. As a kit, she internalized her mother's lessons, but questioned whether her way is the only way. She has broken free from the heavy burden of her mother's expectations due to their estrangement after the fire. She remains kind and soft-spoken through all she's endured, but is not afraid to speak out for what she believes is right.
Meadow works tirelessly at any task she undertakes, desperate to prove herself capable and worthy despite her disability. Without her mother's guidance, she finds new ways to express herself.
In conversations, she is gentle, thoughtful, and withdrawn, often hiding her struggles, fearing others seeing her as incapable. She continues to have a strong bond not only with her sister, but with her adopted family as well. Meadow uses her new freedom to support and deepen the bonds with her clanmates. Additionally, she has started to explore the more spiritual side of herself…
Her worldview is a complicated mix of hope and frustration. She wants to believe that there's hope at the end of all the suffering, but feels trapped by her limitations. With enough time and support, she may find a way to overcome her limitations and accept herself.
