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Description
TOADSPECKLE: They smiled down at the apprentice. "Im Toadspeckle, little one. I was Lostwhisper's mentor," they answered kindly. "Your mentor has been... busy as of late. Im here to fill in and help. Where would you like to begin?" he asked, sitting neatly down next to the herb store, tail tucked around their paws.

JUNIPERPAW: Juniperpaw slowly inches towards the cat, his ears perked. “You’re Lostwhisper’s mentor?” He mewed. The moggy immediately became more comfortable, padding closer. “I want to know everything!” Juniperpaw chirped, his eyes wide in excitement. “Well...” He kneaded his paws nervously, “maybe... with the cold coming... the best remedies for white and green cough?” Juniperpaw spoke, glancing upon the piles of herbs amongst the storing.

TOADSPECKLE: Toadspeckle smiled. "I, uhm, I may be a contributing factor to the current temperature in the den. My apologies, Juniperpaw," he said, a slightly sad undertone to his voice. It wasn't exactly...enjoyable, making those important to you or the one you left behind uncomfortable. "The weather is turning, however, so the is a wonderful place to start. White-cough and green-cough are on opposite ends of a spectrum, so if a cat with white cough ever comes in it is important to treat it as rigorously as possible yet avoid using catmint. Catmint is valuable and Ive heard stories in the stars of clans going to war over it, so when you have any in stock it is important to reserve it for very dire cases.

"A good treatment for white cough is hawkweed since hawkweed is nearly as good as catmint and much easier to find. Another remedy used usually for the beginning stages of white cough or, if someone is trying to prevent themselves from falling ill from white cough, is tansy. Tansy is even more easily found than hawkweed but is even less effective in treating any sort of mildly advanced infection. _"Green cough can be cured with hawkweed but a large dose is needed in order to be effective. Catmint is the absolute best option and has a high success rate of curing those infected. When one cat falls ill with green cough it is best to keep elders, queens, and kits away from those infected. If the queens are not nursing then you may give them tansy to help further prevent them being sick. Kits and elders are usually extremely reluctant and stubborn when it comes to taking preventative herbs--herbs elders deem as 'not necessary'."_

Toadspeckle's pale eyes sparkled as they looked down at the apprentice. Yes, they had missed this, teaching and sharing and being of use. StarClan was peaceful and they wouldn't trade their position there for the world but, well, it got a little boring there sometimes.

JUNIPERPAW: The tom watched the previous medicine cat, soaking up every inch of information. ‘Wow... so many different types of herbs... how am I ever going to determine which is right?’ Juniperpaw thought nervously. He didn’t want to further injure a cat because of a foolish mistake. With a shake of his head, Juniperpaw decided not to grieve over something that may or may not happen. He was learning; and he would learn how to avoid mistakes. To perfect being a medicine cat.

“So... Catmint should be a priority when searching for herbs? Hawkweed is a lesser version but still important to have... and tansy should be on paw for early signs of white cough.” He meowed, mostly repeating what Toadspeckle spoke so the apprentice could really get a grip. “So no visitors when somebody comes down with green cough? But... what happens if the medicine cat becomes sick as well? Should I eat some tansy beforepaw to ensure I have a better defense against it?” Juniperpaw was full of questions; since the medicine cat was here, he wanted all he could get. (And he could really surprise Lostwhisper!)

The medicine cat apprentice crouched forward, sniffing at some herbs. He flicked his tail upwards, pawing at some cobweb. “No insects... especially no spiders. That wouldn’t help...” He simply muttered to himself, his whiskers twitching as he leaned back, glancing up at Toadspeckle with the hunger for knowledge, a smile painting his face.

TOADSPECKLE: Toadspeckle smiled and nodded. "A priority, yes, but never pick too much of the same herb. If you do the plant will not be able to regrow itself for the next season. As for eating tansy, many medicine cats are gifted with a stronger ability to fight diseases such as green cough. You must maintain your general upkeep so you are able to fight the illnesses within you, that means you must eat even when there is little to have. Drink when most is dry. And sleep at least a little when there seems to be no time for such. You take care of the entire clan, but that means you are also responsible for yourself. Mamy medicine cats forget this and allow themselves to sacrifice just a little too much, one time too many, to their patient and end up passing from something that could have been prevented."

The brown and white tom looked down at the herbs and sniffed them. "Do you know how to sort herbs and dry them?" they asked.

JUNIPERPAW: Juniperpaw nodded, seemingly absent minded as his eyes showered over the contents before him. He couldn’t identify some of the plants, but most he recognized through scent. “Oh... alright. It wouldn’t be good if the medicine cat got sick as well.” He chuckled light heartedly. As Juniperpaw looked at Toadspeckle, his ears twitched, for a second anticipating Lostwhisper to be beside him. It was... weird, being taught by a StarClan cat; but it was such an honor, the moggy almost choked back tears. His ancestors who soared the Stars were here, making sure their future clan mates were safe and well taught.

Juniperpaw shook his head, giving his shoulder a quick lick. “I think you dry them by leaving them out in The Sun... but that’s not an option on dark days... or when it’s raining... or snowing...” he grumbled.

TOADSPECKLE: Toadspeckle smiled. Yes, Juniperpaw would do well in the future as a medicine cat. He was looking AHEAD not just at the here and now. He saw future problems and was addressing them. "When the weather is not suitable to dry your herbs hang them nipped-stem up in the cave wall. Slip a small portion of the stem under a rock and it should stay. Ive had the occassional wind come in and wash a leaf or two down to the ground but it is not a difficult task to rehang them. Leaves can dry on their own, the sun makes the process a little faster."

Pale eyes glancing around the den as they looked to the herbs. When was the last time any had been gathered? Or the den cleared of leaf litter from the gsneral upkeep that went with storing herbs? "I will be back at noon to continue our lessons, little one. In the meantime take a warrior or two and gather whatever herbs YOU think are needed. Then you should clean the den and gather some fresh moss for patient beds. If you grab enough then you can put some fresh moss in your nest as well. Until next time, Juniperpaw."

The bicolour tom vanished, their body slowly fading from the young apprentice's vision until the faint glow of their eyes remained. Then those, to, faded to nothing. The temperature rose within the den back to something more comfortable once the last of Toadspeckle had left.

JUNIPERPAW: Juniperpaw stared in wonder from the herbs to Toadspeckle, nodding eagerly. “Okay!” He mewed enthusiastically, eyes twinkling. He continued to look around at the herbs, nose wrinkling at the different scents. Before long, he turned to face the older StarClan cat, his ears lowering in disappointment.

“You have to leave already...? Well... alright. I’ll go see who’s available.” Juniperpaw smiled softly, his tail waving in goodbye as the previous medicine cat disappeared. Feeling the slight warmth appear back within, the tom turned around and padded outside into the clearing. He looked around, unsure of who to ask for assistance. So instead he did what first came to mind; yell. “Uh... is anyone willing to assist me around the territory in search of herbs and moss?” Juniperpaw called nervously; a little too nervous to ask individually

Description
TOADSPECKLE: They smiled down at the apprentice. "Im Toadspeckle, little one. I was Lostwhisper's mentor," they answered kindly. "Your mentor has been... busy as of late. Im here to fill in and help. Where would you like to begin?" he asked, sitting neatly down next to the herb store, tail tucked around their paws.

JUNIPERPAW: Juniperpaw slowly inches towards the cat, his ears perked. “You’re Lostwhisper’s mentor?” He mewed. The moggy immediately became more comfortable, padding closer. “I want to know everything!” Juniperpaw chirped, his eyes wide in excitement. “Well...” He kneaded his paws nervously, “maybe... with the cold coming... the best remedies for white and green cough?” Juniperpaw spoke, glancing upon the piles of herbs amongst the storing.

TOADSPECKLE: Toadspeckle smiled. "I, uhm, I may be a contributing factor to the current temperature in the den. My apologies, Juniperpaw," he said, a slightly sad undertone to his voice. It wasn't exactly...enjoyable, making those important to you or the one you left behind uncomfortable. "The weather is turning, however, so the is a wonderful place to start. White-cough and green-cough are on opposite ends of a spectrum, so if a cat with white cough ever comes in it is important to treat it as rigorously as possible yet avoid using catmint. Catmint is valuable and Ive heard stories in the stars of clans going to war over it, so when you have any in stock it is important to reserve it for very dire cases.

"A good treatment for white cough is hawkweed since hawkweed is nearly as good as catmint and much easier to find. Another remedy used usually for the beginning stages of white cough or, if someone is trying to prevent themselves from falling ill from white cough, is tansy. Tansy is even more easily found than hawkweed but is even less effective in treating any sort of mildly advanced infection. _"Green cough can be cured with hawkweed but a large dose is needed in order to be effective. Catmint is the absolute best option and has a high success rate of curing those infected. When one cat falls ill with green cough it is best to keep elders, queens, and kits away from those infected. If the queens are not nursing then you may give them tansy to help further prevent them being sick. Kits and elders are usually extremely reluctant and stubborn when it comes to taking preventative herbs--herbs elders deem as 'not necessary'."_

Toadspeckle's pale eyes sparkled as they looked down at the apprentice. Yes, they had missed this, teaching and sharing and being of use. StarClan was peaceful and they wouldn't trade their position there for the world but, well, it got a little boring there sometimes.

JUNIPERPAW: The tom watched the previous medicine cat, soaking up every inch of information. ‘Wow... so many different types of herbs... how am I ever going to determine which is right?’ Juniperpaw thought nervously. He didn’t want to further injure a cat because of a foolish mistake. With a shake of his head, Juniperpaw decided not to grieve over something that may or may not happen. He was learning; and he would learn how to avoid mistakes. To perfect being a medicine cat.

“So... Catmint should be a priority when searching for herbs? Hawkweed is a lesser version but still important to have... and tansy should be on paw for early signs of white cough.” He meowed, mostly repeating what Toadspeckle spoke so the apprentice could really get a grip. “So no visitors when somebody comes down with green cough? But... what happens if the medicine cat becomes sick as well? Should I eat some tansy beforepaw to ensure I have a better defense against it?” Juniperpaw was full of questions; since the medicine cat was here, he wanted all he could get. (And he could really surprise Lostwhisper!)

The medicine cat apprentice crouched forward, sniffing at some herbs. He flicked his tail upwards, pawing at some cobweb. “No insects... especially no spiders. That wouldn’t help...” He simply muttered to himself, his whiskers twitching as he leaned back, glancing up at Toadspeckle with the hunger for knowledge, a smile painting his face.

TOADSPECKLE: Toadspeckle smiled and nodded. "A priority, yes, but never pick too much of the same herb. If you do the plant will not be able to regrow itself for the next season. As for eating tansy, many medicine cats are gifted with a stronger ability to fight diseases such as green cough. You must maintain your general upkeep so you are able to fight the illnesses within you, that means you must eat even when there is little to have. Drink when most is dry. And sleep at least a little when there seems to be no time for such. You take care of the entire clan, but that means you are also responsible for yourself. Mamy medicine cats forget this and allow themselves to sacrifice just a little too much, one time too many, to their patient and end up passing from something that could have been prevented."

The brown and white tom looked down at the herbs and sniffed them. "Do you know how to sort herbs and dry them?" they asked.

JUNIPERPAW: Juniperpaw nodded, seemingly absent minded as his eyes showered over the contents before him. He couldn’t identify some of the plants, but most he recognized through scent. “Oh... alright. It wouldn’t be good if the medicine cat got sick as well.” He chuckled light heartedly. As Juniperpaw looked at Toadspeckle, his ears twitched, for a second anticipating Lostwhisper to be beside him. It was... weird, being taught by a StarClan cat; but it was such an honor, the moggy almost choked back tears. His ancestors who soared the Stars were here, making sure their future clan mates were safe and well taught.

Juniperpaw shook his head, giving his shoulder a quick lick. “I think you dry them by leaving them out in The Sun... but that’s not an option on dark days... or when it’s raining... or snowing...” he grumbled.

TOADSPECKLE: Toadspeckle smiled. Yes, Juniperpaw would do well in the future as a medicine cat. He was looking AHEAD not just at the here and now. He saw future problems and was addressing them. "When the weather is not suitable to dry your herbs hang them nipped-stem up in the cave wall. Slip a small portion of the stem under a rock and it should stay. Ive had the occassional wind come in and wash a leaf or two down to the ground but it is not a difficult task to rehang them. Leaves can dry on their own, the sun makes the process a little faster."

Pale eyes glancing around the den as they looked to the herbs. When was the last time any had been gathered? Or the den cleared of leaf litter from the gsneral upkeep that went with storing herbs? "I will be back at noon to continue our lessons, little one. In the meantime take a warrior or two and gather whatever herbs YOU think are needed. Then you should clean the den and gather some fresh moss for patient beds. If you grab enough then you can put some fresh moss in your nest as well. Until next time, Juniperpaw."

The bicolour tom vanished, their body slowly fading from the young apprentice's vision until the faint glow of their eyes remained. Then those, to, faded to nothing. The temperature rose within the den back to something more comfortable once the last of Toadspeckle had left.

JUNIPERPAW: Juniperpaw stared in wonder from the herbs to Toadspeckle, nodding eagerly. “Okay!” He mewed enthusiastically, eyes twinkling. He continued to look around at the herbs, nose wrinkling at the different scents. Before long, he turned to face the older StarClan cat, his ears lowering in disappointment.

“You have to leave already...? Well... alright. I’ll go see who’s available.” Juniperpaw smiled softly, his tail waving in goodbye as the previous medicine cat disappeared. Feeling the slight warmth appear back within, the tom turned around and padded outside into the clearing. He looked around, unsure of who to ask for assistance. So instead he did what first came to mind; yell. “Uh... is anyone willing to assist me around the territory in search of herbs and moss?” Juniperpaw called nervously; a little too nervous to ask individually