PAFP Camp your heart, like a guillotine — flashcards on medicine

[DIMMINGSUN]

It's funny, really, though Dimmingsun doesn't dare voice his amusement. It shows on his face, as it often does, but that's the extent of it.

The fact of the matter is, it's a bit eerie to be on the other side this time. Talon had come to WindClan, bloodied and aching, just like he had. What was it now? A moon, or two? How fast time flies. The tom in question—Talon—is much younger than Dimmingsun, but has miraculously survived the most critical phase of such an injury. A true fighter, this one. That time comes to him only in hazy bits, but Dimmingsun still recalls the concern and fear on Meadowpaw's face when she had looked at him. How brave she had been now; she all but took control of the situation when Talon first arrived. Dimmingsun had lingered and helped, but he had watched her evident improvement with great interest.

Now, for the time being, it's his turn to check on Talon. He is recovering well, but he will feel the side-effects of an eye's loss for much longer. Dimmingsun's clawed-out eye twitches in response.

"How are you feeling?"

Dimmingsun inquires, nearing the nest where Talon rests in.

"You know, if you need suggestions on how to get used to one eye, just ask me I would wink if I could."

He blinks to make a point.

"I arrived to WindClan just like you did."

Talon most likely doesn't know the story, or has only heard it in bits and pieces. It's strange to no longer be the newest attraction around camp.

The curtain of grass and heather shivers. Dimmingsun looks over his shoulder to glance at Ravenmask; seemingly uninjured, but an elder can carry invisible pains.

"Can I help you?"

@Talon
Please wait for @Ravenmask !

 

[Ravenmask]

Faith was a curious thing to Ravenmask. Sure, he believed when Dustystar said she was granted nine lives by their ancestors, and that Meadowpaw had some special connection. And they were all former barn cats and strangers who bundled together into this new group.

But Dimmingsun still perplexed him.

If these ancestor cats were real, why give a stranger this authority, especially over Meadowpaw? Meadowpaw, who'd been training and learning. If some stranger couyld just be granted the position by the stars, why did she have to work harder for it?

Still. His old injury was acting up now that the mornings were getting cold, and Meadowpaw was checking in on the kits and queens, so to Dimmingsun it was. He gave a brief dip of the head to Talon as he entered, then matched his gaze with Dimmingsun.

"Mm, yeah," he answered. "My old injury's been achy in the mornings. Was wonderin' if you could give me something to help soothe it."

Couldn't hurt to test this new guy's procedures - see if he really knew enough to take control from Meadowpaw.

OOC BIO

•  
• 92 moons || he/him
  SPEECH || THOUGHTS
  

 

[Talonpaw Talonpaw]

There were fewer words said to Dimmingsun then there were to Meadowpaw. Even if they shared the same ailments, his jaw sat glued shut, blue eye distant. He had talked to a few others at this point, but it was hard nonetheless. And Even if Dimmingsun was only trying to help, Talon was intimidated by the much bigger size then most others. He was a giant, with scars deep like his own- and paws as huge as his face.

His tongue rolled in his mouth as Dimmingsun spoke, and talon would hold respect as best as he was able. He felt the repetitiveness was in unnecessary, the annoyance of asking how he was. And he still felt the burn of shame in the hairs on the back of his neck and ears from his nose being torn while catching the rabbit. His gaze flickered suddenly to him, not for the humor, but for the fact they arrived in the same shape. "Why? Couldn't y' defend y' self?" He asked, his voice almost too blunt, too cold, yet his eyebrow raised- suddenly feeling the need to question the one before him.

And then there was movement, just barely out of sight. He recognized this one- Ravenmask. Blue eye tried to watch them both carefully, yet harder with only half his sight. A low murmur, a breath. "Tansy helps me an' Owlbear." He said, gaze flickering to Dimmingsun, then back at Ravenmask as he rolled his tongue in his mouth again. He wasn't sure what else did, he just knew that one.
​

 

[DIMMINGSUN]

Old injury.

Dimmingsun's eye lowers until it catches on Ravenmask's twisted paw. He doesn't know the reason behind that injury, but the end result should be the same regardless. At least the elder feels comfortable enough with Dimmingsun now- or at least enough to seek out his aid, too, and not just Meadowpaw's.

"Tansy is good,"

he says, momentarily ignoring Talon's question.

"It doesn't seem to grow on our moors, though. I'd rather use something that we can get easier instead. Something that doesn't cover that wide variety of illnesses and wounds."

With Talon now more focused on the elder's matters instead of his own, Dimmingsun has no qualms against rising from behind the young cat's nest. The medicine cat noses through the herb stock, an action cut short as realization dawns on him. There is a near-constant abundance of heather on WindClan's territory, and it just so happens to be good for Ravenmask's issue. Dimmingsun remembers using it on his own injuries when they felt particularly sensitive.

Swift on his paws, Dimmingsun carries the heather back, grabbing a few non-important leaves as well.

"If you settle down, I can treat your paw. As for your question,"

Dimmingsun glances at Talon,

"ouch."

Humor sparkles in his eye as he begins mixing the heather into a mixture, even if memories of that unfortunate fight still stung his pride.

"Let's just say I returned the favor. The both of us left that scene with one less eye to speak of."

 

[Ravenmask]

Ravenmask listened attentively to Dimmingsun, looking over to Talon every so often. The little one certainly had no qualms about telling it like it was! Though accusing their new medicine cat of being incapable (out loud) was a bit further than telling it like it was.

"Well, that sure sounds like a tale I'd be interested in hearin' one day, if you have the time," Ravenmask commented. He sits down, holding out his twisted leg for the medicine cat to inspect it. "Twisted my back paw somethin' awful in the fire all those moons back, never quite healed right. I'm not too old that I couldn't have joined the warriors, but Dusty 'n I agreed it was better for me to just retire."

Heather, huh? Not bad.

OOC BIO

•  
• 92 moons || he/him
  SPEECH || THOUGHTS
  

 

[DIMMINGSUN]

Dimmingsun merely hums, using the excuse of being too focused on his work to actually commit to a response. The truth is, there's not much to tell; two cats had fought over nothing in particular, and they had reached a stalemate, forcing them to separate and go on their own way. Although he had entertained the kits with stories of his explorations, they are acted as nothing more than entertainment. He had not lied in his tales, but he had colored them where the adventure had been too boring, or had left out gory details that are not for the ears of cats at the age of just a few moons or less.

His paws easily crush the heather and roll it into the leaves he had brought along, creating a swift poultice.

"Stretch out your paw,"

he commands, soon using soothing circles to make sure that the herb covers all the areas that it needs.

"I've heard a lot about that fire. Had seen it from afar, actually... but I guess, at the time of night, it would have been hard to miss."

He remembers wondering whether he ought to investigate. In the end, he had decided against it—there's nothing exciting about coal and ash and smoke.

Judging by the injuries that some of his Clanmates carry from that event, Dimmingsun believes he had been right in avoiding the scene.

"And how does retirement serve you?"

The question is there to fill space, but Dimmingsun finds he is actually interested in Ravenmask's answer. He doesn't voice it aloud out of respect, but becoming an elder that is forced away from any duty and all sounds incredibly boring. His time as Meadowpaw's patient had stretched on for long enough; to imagine needing other cats' help with day-to-day life sounds even more dull.

 

[Ravenmask]

Ravenmask's ear twitches at the deflection. Must be some hard story to talk about, if Dimmingsun won't get into it at the moment. Fair enough. Plenty of cats have hard stories out here, and not just WindClan. From what he's heard of all the talk around that Gathering... Well, seems that all the Clans have their own traumas to reconcile with.

The poultice is applied swiftly enough as he stretches out his leg, letting out a sigh at the feeling of the paws massaging the soreness away. Okay. Not badly done.

He keeps the leg stretched out as he ponders the question.

"It's suiting me alright," he says. "Some of these cats treat me like I'm older than I actually am! Were it not for this, I'd probably be in the warrior's den with all the rest of 'em." He pauses. That probably sounds ungrateful, but there's no one here but the three of them, and Talon clearly doesn't give a rat's tail about covering words in honey.

"I like being able to help with the apprentices and kits," he adds. "Givin' them a sense of responsibility... And helpin' the queens when they need someone to watch the little'uns for a bit. The kits seem to like my stories more than the apprentices do!"

OOC BIO

•  
• 93 moons || he/him
  SPEECH || THOUGHTS
  

 

[Talonpaw Talonpaw]

At first, he was not answered. He did not blame the other, admitting such was even hard for him. But he was left in his most vulnerable, splayed for everyone to see- so it was no secret to anyone here, he was certain. They had been looking for the raccoon scent, and found him.

But, he went on with Tansy not growing here, which surprised him, and confused him. How did tansy not grow here, yet Meadowpaw had used it? Perhaps he had mixed something up- he will speak to her about it later, giving a simple nod. Dimmingsun requested Ravenmask to settle down, and then went to finally answer his question.

There was a small blink- perhaps surprise, as Dimmingsun directed an 'ouch' towards him. Blue gaze flickered to Ravenmask, then back at Dimmingsun. Quickly, he spoke- "I did not touch you." He said, lowering his head defensively, uneasy, jaws tightening underneath taught lips. Perhaps it was more of a blurt- escaping his lips quickly. Ouch was in reference to pain- to someone getting hurt. His paws were sheathed, and ravens were as well, so the defensiveness rose. His body shifting to the side, towards the entrance, leaning his weight on paws that prepared themselves.

But there was no lashout, something in his gaze he didn't understand. But it made him uneasy. He continued vaguely, and even when Ravenmask persisted, he did not answer. Talons tongue rolled in his mouth, shifting slowly to recenter himself. Dimmingsun had not said what he was working with, but moved it and rubbed it carefully, answering whatever Ravenmask asked, and they spoke a carefully crafted conversation that did not interest Talon. But he took in the details nonetheless of the small talk. Perhaps... They said ouch involving a topic they did not wish to speak about. That would seem likely.

They spoke of retirement, and he did not know what that meant, besides old-but-not-old, which was well, also foreign to him. But more questions did not get asked, and instead, the boy absorbed as a shadow. He learned better that way anyways.

​

 

[DIMMINGSUN]

"I can see how that'd get confusing,"

Dimmingsun says, amused,

"I hear the word elder and I think of aching joints. Oh wait..."

His eye flicks up to meet Ravenmask, hopefully getting the message across: a harmless joke and nothing else. Dimmingsun might be new to the art of healing in this fashion, but he understands fully that Clan elders of considerable age are to be respected. Reaching old age is never a certainty that life promises you in the wild. He continues listening to Ravenmask's explanation of what his daily routine entails, right up until Talon speaks up again at last.

Dimmingsun's paws stop working, and his head lifts to look over at the tom. Did not touch him? What does he mean? The medicine cat's face screams confusion.

And then it dawns on him.

"Oh,"

he breathes. The edge of his mouth curl up, as if he is uncertain whether he can smile now or not.

"The ouch, you mean?"

Stars, he hopes that's what Talon is referencing. How is Dimmingsun supposed to explain that one? Somehow, he feels like jumping into an in-depth explanation of what exaggeration and sarcasm mean is going to be even more awkward than this moment.

"That's not... it just hurt my ego, that's all. When you asked if I couldn't defend myself. It's not often I get to think about my shortcomings. Nobody likes that."

A pause.

"You didn't say anything wrong though."

Dimmingsun swears there are too many little ants crawling in his fur. Maybe he shouldn't have said anything. He's probably just overthinking the whole situation, and now it's going to feel odd without Meadowpaw talking to Talon instead of him all the time. In an attempt to escape the moment and focus on something he knows how to traverse, he returns his attention to Ravenmask.

"You should be done, by the way. If possible, don't drag this leg in dust or water for a bit, or we'll have to reapply this before the day is over."

 

[Ravenmask]

"Ha!" he caws at the joke. Maybe this Dimmingsun fella would be alright after all.

Every so often, his gaze flicked to Talon, the quiet little cat who seemed more content to listen than to speak. That was no matter to him - so long as they didn't mind him talking, he'd carry on a conversation as needed.

He gave his leg a stretch, groaning in relief as the muscles moved, a pleasant tension releasing. He dipped his head to Dimmingsun, giving the new medicine cat a friendly grin.

"Gotta say, wasn't quite certain of ya at first," he mewed. "But ya seem to know yer stuff. Glad to have ya around - I'll keep my leg clean, just like ya asked." He stood, preparing to leave the hollow, but turned back to look at Talon.

"Talon, kiddo, if you want any more stories or anythin', you can always come join me in my den. Don't gotta chat or nothin'." With a wave goodbye of his tail, Ravenmask stepped out into the daylight, mewing a greeting to the closest passing warrior.

___________________ UPHILL IN THE SNOW ☆ BOTH WAYS ___________________

• "speech" || "thoughts"
  Tagging:
  
• 
  
• RAVENMASK he/him, windclan elder, 93 moons.
  ☆ White and black tom with smoky stripes, bright green eyes, and a twisted back paw.
  ☆ brother of Mallowfeather
  ☆ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline when attacking/physically interacting
  ☆ penned by plot ↛ plot_twists on discord, feel free to dm for interacts.

 

[Talonpaw Talonpaw]

Dimmingsun seemed to stop in his tracks after Talon spoke, head lifting to look at him- and Talons fur bristled on his spine. Blue eye locked against green, rocking further to the side, paws the only thing glued to his spot as he began chewing in the space around his tongue.

And then he spoke finally, and the tabby only blinked in what could only mean confirmation. Hurt his ego? And he didn't say anything wrong? But it only confused the boy more. "That's very contradictory. You're big- it was just a question unintentional t' hurt. Nothin' wrong with scars, Dimmingsun. I lost t' a raccoon." After a moment, it seemed realization dawned on him with a flick back of his ears. Jaws stiffened as he noted Ravenmask leaving. The guy was taking a liking to Talon, and he wasn't sure if that was a good thing.

"Perhaps. Goodbye, Ravenmask." He dismissed easily, unsure. Go to another den? That didn't seem right, he wasn't certain about that, even if it was for whatever 'stories' were. Adults were strange, weren't they?

It was just the two of them now, and Talon flicked his blue gaze back to Dimmingsun. "Shortcomings." He repeated, watching the bigger tom. "Do y' feel like y' failed? I did." His jaw tensed, his teeth pressing together as he felt the muscles almost tear in his shoulders from how stiff it made him to admit that- to an adult nonetheless. "But I survived. Y' survived. Is it really a shortcoming?" He asked, blue eye narrowing. All over again, finding himself repeating himself. Maybe he would never understand why others saw themselves the way they did. "I told Meadowpaw that she shouldn't be ashamed of her leg, and Morningpaw she shouldn't be ashamed of her purple eyes. Must I tell you the same?"

​

Talon he/him, windclan 8 moons old.
black tabby with dark greyish brown undercoat and white underbelly. white crest on chest, and scars lining left side of face, blinding his right eye. icey blue eyes and white that is slowly starting to streak his features. Back scars non-existent for now.
mentored by Merrystalk // mentoring none
littermate to none
NPC x NPC / father/mother to none / mated to none
"speech" // "thoughts"
penned by Deidre ↛ deidre on discord, feel free to dm for plots. Art by PurpleCandyCorn.