[ my heart was racing, my mind was screaming ]

[Crowzerplorodon]

Her current mind set was... relaxed, to say the least. It had been so long since Foxflower had been given the chance to relieve herself from warrior duties and spend some time ogling at the nature that thrived here in the forest. Situated on the MeadowClan/StreamClan border had lately become her favorite place to rest. Watching each ripple and wave from the stream lap at the tall grass that surrounded it on both sides was marvelous as well as informative. Sitting here, Foxflower could keep an eye on the StreamClanners that enjoyed the wild river so much, and her view of FogClan's dense border wasn't all that horrid, either.

Eyes the color of the mud that nearby reeds rested laxly in closed slowly as the ginger and white she-cat took a deep breath. The moments ticked by as she held it, pressure building up in her chest but going ignored as she focused on the light trickling in through her lidded eyelids. Only when the pressure in her lungs began to ache and spread pain through her front did Foxflower finally breathe out, eyes opening in time again. An odd habit of hers, but a habit nonetheless that eased her mind. The deep breath was like a metaphorical way of removing the pressures on her mind.

As the same earthy brown eyes that had just closed turned their attention back to the river, the ginger she-cat felt another ache, one not caused by hold your breath, seep into her body. It was a deep sort of pain, settled deep in her bones and threatening to consume her before she realized that she was just exaggerating. Just focusing on the emotion that caused her eyes to water ever so slightly. Loneliness, she whispered in a voice so soft it was caught and devoured by the lapping waters of the stream.

Such a silly reaction to a common emotion. As of late Foxflower's interactions with other members of her clan had dwindled. When she wasn't assigned to a duty she preferred coming out here, by the river, rather than find a friend to go out hunting with. It was her own decision to pull away from her friends, if only for a little bit. The fact that she still felt the loneliness from her own choice, though, puzzled the she-cat. Then again, most emotions puzzled her. There never seemed to be a cold, hard fact as to why cats would feel the way they did toward different things.

Her tail shifted in the long, dry grass and Foxflower was surprised to find herself purring ever so softly. Perhaps, despite the chilling loneliness that froze her in place by the growling river, today's relaxation session would result in something benefiting. Perhaps today she would work out an answer to something.

[Slug]

The sound of a bubbling stream assured Sandpaw that he was close to his destination, slinking through the foliage like a murderer on the prowl for a new victim, long strides kept silent on light ginger paws. Sandpaw had been sent by his mentor to retrieve some watermint-- quite a few elders had bellyaches, and the tom was beginning to wonder if it was a new sickness. And that scared him. The thought of a new sickness? It was possible, but that would mean more deaths if this possible sickness progressed. It had been hard to find the right herbs for greencough, whitecough, and blackcough. Who knew how hard it would be to cure this sickness?

But no matter, Sandpaw would not allow those elders to die, let alone the "sickness" progress. He would get rid of their bellyaches-- well, Icetail would, but it was he who was gathering the watermint, after all-- and he would sleep without worry tonight. It was more possible that it was just a few bad prey caught, and the elders received bellyaches from them. Yes, that was it.

He'd have to scold the apprentices and warriors about this. Sandpaw refused to let them get away with it. Not only that, but he'd have to check the queens as well. After all, their prey could have been bad as well. The safety of the future kits were in his paws now, now that he thought about it. Matter of fact... Sandpaw would have to check everyone. If the prey was getting sick, it was possible that at least half the camp was having bellyaches.

...This was going to need a lot of watermint.

With a new burning determination, Sandpaw sped up a little, slipping out out a pair of bushes and scanning the stream's edge, orange eyes searching for the wanted herb. His eyes caught a fluffy tail, and they traveled up to a ginger-and-white body before landing on a thoughtful face. It was a she-cat from her scent-- and a MeadowClanner.

And it was none other than Foxflower.

Sandpaw, eyes softening at the sight of the she-cat, relaxed-- he had almost thought it was an enemy Clanner. Whoo-boy. That would've been a messy fight if it had been. "Foxflower," The medicine cat apprentice began, analyzing the she-cat for a moment before adding "Greetings. Do you have a bellyache? Did you hunt today as well?"

Well, that was certainly straight-forward. But that was one clanmate down-- only a thirty more or so left!

[Cloud of Diamonds]

Well, this was interesting. The medicine cat apprentice and Foxflower, he saw over by the river. With a freshly killed mouse in his jaws, the gray-blue warrior wondered if he should go join them. It seemed an innocent enough meeting-he wouldn't be intruding, he thought. So why not? Always good to associate with your fellow warriors. So, quickly burying the dead brown creature and noting its location by a small tan rock, he elegantly made his way over to the pair. "Good day, m'lady Foxflower. And salutations, good Sandpaw." He gave them both a polite nod, thanking StarClan for the oppertunity to have a nice chat.

OOC: It's short, I know. Sorreh.

[Crowzerplorodon]

Thoroughly engrossed in her musing, Foxflower didn't even notice the arrival of Sandpaw until the medicine cat apprentice had spoken. She was definitely in a trance of some sort at the moment. Her eyes glazed over in thought and her ears drooping lazily. Not a single part of her was alert. In fact, only her tail, which was swishing in the grass, was even moving, hinting that the she-cat was awake.

Instead of jolting, though, Foxflower just turned her head to view Sandpaw better, keeping the moment of pure shock and horror to herself so the world would never see. That's what she got for letting her guard down, the ginger she-cat supposed. She had to deal with the bottled up feeling of being scared half way to StarClan. It took a few moments for Foxflower to compose herself from her daze and scare, but she managed to grind out a decent answer for the medicine cat apprentice.

"Oh, no, Sandpaw. I've no bellyache. I've yet to hunt or eat since the sun took steps over the horizon, as well." She smiled at him, ears flicked back as she paid attention to the other cat approaching (she wouldn't be caught off guard this time), before continuing her thought. "Why, dearest Sandpaw? Are cats complaining to you too much?" Oh the woes of being a medicine cat, she supposed. Having so many cats complain to you on a daily basis, often for pointless or stupid reasons.

Turning a little more (she refused to get up) Foxflower nodded kindly to the politely-spoken Stormclaw, regarding the blue-gray tom with a pleasant look. "Good day to you as well, Stormclaw. I trust that you are well on this sun shining day?" Well, so much for the loneliness.

[Slug]

"Oh, no, Sandpaw. I've no bellyache. I've yet to hunt or eat since the sun took steps over the horizon, as well."

Well, that meant he had no need to check or scold the she-cat. Nodding at the answers, Sandpaw allowed himself to relax his feelings, though not his body, his form still straight as an arrow and head held high, ears forward and tail curled around his paws. You could say he looked elegant, and some would say he looked propper.

But the better word for it would be alert, because this tom was, not exactly paranoid, but wary of all. Yes, he, Sandpaw, was wary of his own clanmate? What rubbish that was! Foxflower was not the case, rather, a new scent was.

The smell hit the roof of Sandpaw's mouth, and before you could say mouse, he snapped his head in the different clanner's direction, eyes narrowing just the slightest. "Greetings to you as well, Stormclaw." He said, voice cold and clipped. Then another scent met Sandpaw, and he stared at Stormclaw for a few moments, unmoving.

Finally, he spoke "No, Foxflower. A few elders have bellyaches, and I am sure it is caused by our prey. I merely wanted to know if you had hunted, or ate some prey yourself." He said to the she-cat, turning his attention to her for just a split second before switching it over to the MeadowClan warrior. "I smell the scent of prey upon you, Stormclaw. I advise that you give it a once over, MeadowClanner, for anything odd. I fear that there may be a new sickness, but I am not too sure." His eyes glinted with a determind spark, before the light went out of his eyes.

"I do not want any Clan's cats dying. You will tell your other clanmates to check their kills as well, yes?"

[Cloud of Diamonds]

The warrior nodded enthusiastically. Of course he would! It would be a blight upon his honor if any of Clanmates fell sick because of his carelessness. "Oh yes, I am fine." He turned to Sandpaw. "I shall do as you say, Sandpaw. The mouse I caught did not smell of anything odd, but I shall sniff it over before I bring it back. And if I see any other cat hunting, I shall warn them, yes. Quite distraughting, the thought of a new illness, though. May StarClan protect us. However, I am confident you and Icetail can deal with it." And he was. Knowing nothing of herbs, he just trusted to medicine cats whenever it came to herbal matters, like pretty much everyone else. After all, Icetail had done a good job when the badger had clawed him up, he only had a few small scars now. And Sandpaw, as her apprentice with moons of training would be almost as skilled as his mentor now, most likely. He should probably get back to hunting, but he would keep the medicine cat apprentice's words in mind and warn any other cat he saw, even if they were PineClan or StreamClan. After all, prey could easily run across the border, and Sandpaw had specifically stated he didn't want any Clan's cats to get sick. That was a good medicine cat, thought Stormclaw, one that thought of all cats, not just their own Clan's. But perhaps Foxflower would like to hunt with him? He should offer, just in case. "Foxflower, would you enjoy hunting with me?"

[Crowzerplorodon]

Oh how kind Sandpaw was, Foxflower thought with a gentle smile. Yes, the medicine cat apprentice was rather formal and seemed to be looking at the world through a plane of glass that prevented him from connecting with others, but he was kind. And that's what matter, she supposed, when it came to being a medicine cat. That and being good with herbs, which she knew Sandpaw was. His bushy tail flicked in a mixture of worry and hope, for she was worried over the elders but knew Sandpaw could do this.

"Dear, the poor elders. I do hope they return to full health to enjoy the wonderful weather soon." Her earthy brown eyes closed. "Thank you for informing me, Sandpaw. It was kind of you." At that she returned to gazing out at the river, not listening to Stormclaw speak to Sandpaw as the lapping water stole her attention. She imagined she could see silver minnows dashing in and out of the currents, accompanied by water bugs and tadpoles.

"Foxflower, would you enjoy hunting with me?"

"Wha...? Oh, why, Stormclaw, I'd love to," she replied quickly, snapping back from her stuttering without so much as a moments pause. Giving the gray warrior a pleased look, the ginger and white she cat stood, stretching her legs before padding closer to her clanmate. "Perhaps Sandpaw would like to accompany us?" She added as a thought, turning to the light colored tom. "I know Sandpaw is not a warrior's apprentice, but I'm sure a hunt would be nice. You can tell us which prey may contain the sickness or not." Her eyes closed and raised in a happy gesture as she motioned for the apprentice to follow along with them.

[/blockquote]

[Slug]

OOC: Omg. e.e I just realized that all three of them are from the same clan. /shot

If y'all got confused by my post, forgive me and forget about said post. D| I thought.... gah. Idk what I was thinking. e_e

[Slug]

"I shall do as you say, Sandpaw. The mouse I caught did not smell of anything odd, but I shall sniff it over before I bring it back. And if I see any other cat hunting, I shall warn them, yes. Quite distraughting, the thought of a new illness, though. May StarClan protect us. However, I am confident you and Icetail can deal with it."

A burning sensation began forming in Sandpaw's chest at the name of StarClan, but he mercilessly squashed the feeling, his whiskers quivering violently and ears twitching; with a face as blank as paper, the ginger MeadowClanner spoke."Do not fear, Stormclaw, for we will swiftly rid of the stomach aches before they manifest into something more." Speaking of manifesting, the feeling from before had came back with a vengeance, pulling at Sandpaw's gut like a persistent kit who wanted to play.

Clearing his throat, Sandpaw added, "Have no doubt, Stormclaw. There is no need to use may. StarClan has been with us since the beginning. It will not be leaving soon, nor shirking it's protection." The apprentice reassured the grey feline, his tail hiding his paws that were digging their claws into the ground with frustration. Oh, how troublesome this was. StarClan was not real, and here a perfectly good warrior was, believing a kit's tale.

"Foxflower, would you enjoy hunting with me?"

Sandpaw resisted raising a brow at the she-cat as she stuttered a reply, his whiskers jutting forward with amusement. Then his ears perked, and whiskers trembled as Foxflower added "Perhaps Sandpaw would like to accompany us?", her words birthing many protesting thoughts in Sandpaw's head.

He had to retrieve the watermint! The elder's bellyaches could turn into something worse if he didn't... but if the warriors didn't know what to look for when they were hunting, they could easily catch a prey with the sickness. Weighing his pros and cons, Sandpaw gave another nod at Foxflower's next words. The she-cat was a mind reader, so it seemed.

"I will go. But only if you both return with me here, so we may collect much watermint for the elders."
---

OOC: Forgive me. This might seem like crap to some. e_e;

[Cloud of Diamonds]

Stormclaw nodded. All of what the medicine cat said was true. "Indeed Sandpaw, you speak words of wisdom. And I certainly agree to your condition, what do you think, Foxflower? It sounds reasonable." He looked at the bi-colored she-cat who was now beside him. Good, now they could all have a good time with each other, and serve their Clan to the utmost. Stormclaw sniffed the air. No scents around, but that did not surprise him. All the prey was most likely further away because of their presence. He slowly padded in the opposite direction from which he'd come, pausing every step or so to scent the air stirred by a faint breeze that had begun to blow.