Concerning the leader and I.&.&

[whitepaw]

LittleLeaf

Littleleaf, just a medicine cat. Some medicine cat! Littleleaf sat in the medicine cat den, heaved a sigh, then blew a leaf that was stray. Littleleaf knew it. Soon, soon, she would have to make the trip to the moonpool. Soon, Littleleaf would have to heal more, teach her knowledge, and lead the clan through fight. Someday the leader would rely on her to tell her what was in the stars, and what if she wasn't ready?Littleleaf cursed at herself. I AM READY! She screamed, but wasnt convinced. At last, Littleleaf heaved herself to her sore paws. It felt as if needles were poking into her legs and stomach. Littleleaf was yet not medicine cat, but surely able to talk to the leader. Littleleaf's legs shook as she walked across the camp, and her eyes twitched. Her tail swept the ground, and Littleleaf was there. At the leaders den, Littlelead stood outside of it for a moment.
"Smallstar?" Littleleaf called into the den, not going in though. Littleleaf didn't feel like invading privacy, so she sat as she waited, thinking of what to say to her leader.

[c e d a r *]

Smallstar was in the corner of her den, laying silently in her moss bedding, her eyes closed, and her body relaxed. She listened to the wet sound of fresh rain gently thrumming on the top of her den, and just as she was about to drift into subconsciousness, a somber and private lullaby playing itself over and over in her head. She was ready for some sleep, and hoping she would get some.

"Smallstar?"

The voice alone nearly brought the leader to her paws. Body going rigid, the leader tried to not let out a frustrated sigh, but the truth was inevitable, she was tired, and she didn't really expect this to happen right at the very moment. She knew the voice of Littleleaf, and Smallstar sat up, her limbs aching for laying so still in the same position for such a large amount of time.

"Yes, Littleleaf?" asked a hushed voice of Smallstar, a small hint of her known sharpness heard through the murmur. The leader managed to stand up, shaking the pine needles that had fallen lightly on her coat. She shivered as her warmth suddenly seemed to drain from her bones. Taking a step forward, the leader's bodice shuddered as her paws touched the cool, wet, ground. "You can come in if you'd like to do so. It would make the Clan quite unhappy if the Medicine Cat Apprentice was to catch cold because I wouldn't let her inside my own den. Quite cruel in fact," rambled the she-cat.

"Did you need something?" Smallstar asked quietly, pricking her ears forward. It was dark in her den, she liked the dark, but the leader could easily spot the Apprentice's bright blue eyes, although her dark coat mixed in well with the wet, cold air that surrounded herself. Another sigh bubbled in the back of her throat, but the small, calico she-cat pushed it back, knowing that she was to listen attentively to whatever the Medicine Cat Apprentice needed to say to her. She was the leader after all.

[whitepaw]

Littleleaf nodded her head and gratefully stepped inside, shaking her pelt out first. She sat down inside, looking at the groggy Smallstar. Littleleaf felt guilty, she had just awakened Smallstar. Before attempting to dry her pelt, Littleleaf answered Smallstar.
"Yes, I did." She answered, then took a couple of licks at her pelt.
Littleleaf began cleaning her pelt, then looked up at Smallstar. She was awaiting her question, and seemed as if she wanted to get over with it so she could fall asleep again. Littleleaf took a deep breath, then began.
"I'm concerned about Darksoul, I mean, he goes missing a lot, rarely helps and seems half-dead." Littleleaf took a breath, then began again. "I think, I think I need to take the trip to the moonpool and become medicine cat."
Littleleaf looked at Smallstar and shook her head slightly. She had no idea how Smallstar would answer, or react. So Littleleaf sat in silence, watching the rain hit the ground and began drying herself again.

[c e d a r *]

Smallfoot's eyes watched the Medicine Cat Apprentice as she entered her den, sat down, and started to clean her wet fur. Narrowing every few seconds, the leader waited impatiently for her to say something. Another yawn threatened to split her jaws open wide, but her ears pricked as the apprentice finally mentioned Darksoul. Now she was somewhat interested in what the Apprentice had to say.

"I'm concerned about Darksoul, I mean, he goes missing a lot, rarely helps and seems half-dead."

Smallstar bit her lip. Darksoul hadn't served as the real Medicine Cat in ages, and it was a wonder that she kept calling Littleleaf the Medicine Cat Apprentice. "You're right," stated Smallstar simply, keeping her voice tight and impatient. A sigh bubbled up to her lips and she covered it up with a cough. What was coming next? She stated the obvious, but what was to be asked? She didn't really hint anything..or else she had missed the hint..

"I think, I think I need to take the trip to the Moonpool and become Medicine Cat."

The leader was sure her eyes widened, but in the dark, it probably wasn't noticeable. Of course Littleleaf was ready to become the Medicine Cat, but was it really the right time to ask that question? Swallowing back her fear, Smallstar opened her mouth and began to speak, thinking over every word before she actually spoke it.

"Littleleaf, I am not against your decision to become the Medicine Cat, for when Darksoul as gone, you took over his duties. But asking at this time..with all the rain and with the first upcoming gathering..the first we've had in moons, do you really think it is safe to travel through the other Clans, and then still make it to the Moonpool? Many cats are probably itching for a reason to blame us for something..and I don't really want to risk it. Although I could have a warrior accompany you, I'm not sure if I'd like one warrior out of Camp for that amount of time.." mused the she-cat, biting down hard on her lip. Shifting uncomfortably, the leader didn't know what to think, she was torn.

She didn't have a real Medicine Cat, but she also didn't want to risk the death of one warrior and their own Medicine Cat..She sighed once more, frustrated more than irritated, for not being able to think clearly.

[whitepaw]

Littleleaf stopped licking her fur as the she-cat spoke, because she could sense the leader's impatience with her. Smallstar had seemed tired and annoyed with Littleleaf right now, but Littleleaf didn't want to loose this chance.

Littleleaf listened to all of Smallstar's words carefully, then thought it over before she spoke her own kind of speech.
"Yes, as leader I know. But Smallstar, the other clans are always blaming things on us, besides, most clans regonize me and know I am medicine apprentice. We could say we're just passing through. A warrior sent with me would be better protection, as I am no help that much. But I'm sure we could get there safely. But if you would not like to risk it, I understand. But I see that I need to become Medicine cat soon. Perhaps we could wait until after the gathering, if you see fit. I understand your worries, with the rain, however, after the gathering there may be a little more peace between us clans, and maybe a little less rain. If that is your decision, I will not go against it, but if you would like to think it over, it's fine with me."
Littleleaf blinked hard, took a deep breath, then licked her paw anxiously. Wider-eyed, Littleleaf bit her leaf so hard a dot of blood formed. She winced but awaited her leader's reply. Would she be angry? Smallstar seemed anxious already. Littleleaf sucked on her lip and scraped her claws against the floor of Smallstar's den.

[c e d a r *]

An idea hit the mind of the leader so suddenly, she almost yowled out loud. She stood up quickly and began to pace, side to side, wondering if it could possibly work. Her breathing slowed as she processed her idea in her mind, trying to find out how it could work. Of course there would be questions to ask the Medicine Cat apprentice, but would she be able to answer the questions she needed in oder to figure out if the plan could work?

"Say...do you possibly know how long it takes for StarClan to speak to you?" asked the leader, once more choosing her words delicately. She would need to think this through but it might possibly work. Just might. "Would it take the time..oh..say..from when you get to the stream upward until the end of the gathering? It sounds crazy, but what If we take you and one other warrior with us on the way to the gathering, and you and the warrior continue to the stream while we're at the gathering?" mused the she-cat.

"Unless - unless, Littleleaf, how...much do you want to attend this gathering? I have quite a good, er, possibly bad feeling that the gathering will take longer than any of the others we've attended, seeing as it has been seasons since all four Clans have met peacefully," murmured the leader.

"What do you think?" asked Smallfoot, sitting down in front of the Medicine Cat apprentice, curling her tail over her white paws, licking the dried blood off her lip.

[whitepaw]

Littleleaf jumped, startled at Smallstar's sudden movement. Littleleaf took a step back and watched Smallstar anxiously pace, letting the delicate words tumble out of her mouth and into Littleleaf's ears. The first question Smallstar asked was not answered, but the second part was.
"That, I guess is an excellent idea. However a warrior would have to want to also sacrafice the gathering. I would be glad too, as this is important. As for time. I suppose it would take from the time we, me and the warrior, get to the moonpool to the time it takes to contact Starclan and become Medicine Cat, probably would be around the ending of the gathering. Al together, a god idea."
Littleleaf relaxed as Smallstar did, sitting next to her. Now, Littleleaf felt important. Now Littleleaf felt like a real part of the clan, important. She could train her own apprentice to be as good as her and make decisions like her own. But how soon would that be? Soon. Littleleaf told herself. Soon.

[c e d a r *]

A thoughtful look crossed through the leader's eyes. She wasn't sure how she would be able to take one extra warrior with them who wasn't itching to go to the gathering and still have enough apprentices and warriors to guard the camp. "Hm.." pondered the she-cat, sighing. Obviously Littleleaf wouldn't feel very safe with an Apprentice accompanying her, but it would be good practice. Had she even thought about having an apprentice? I guess she probably didn't have time, but it was an interesting thought. The Clan needed more kits, too. So little pairings in ShadowClan, the other apprentices all seemed keen on the life of a warrior.

"Say, Littleleaf, you haven't thought about apprentices yet, have you?" asked the she-cat, her voice quiet but with a rather unusual tone of curiosity seeping its way in. She was curious if the Medicine Cat had thought of any of the apprentices bright or worthy or whatever it was that made them special, in order to become thought of to become the next Medicine Cat of ShadowClan. It was, after all, just a thought that occurred to her. Maybe StarClan would have something to say. Maybe not, she'd learned from the past, that StarClan can be completely spontaneous in what they say, her becomming leader, for example.

The leader's paws began to hurt from the cold, so she got to her paws and began to pace. "I wouldn't mind having you at the Moonpool while we were at the Gathering, but it would also be nice for you to be there just in case anything happens. The half moon is far away," whispered the she-cat. Wait. The medicine cat would be going to the Moonpool, the only question was who to allow to go with her? It was a long Journey, and a jorney some warriors probably didn't want to take. The small streams banks were probably overflowed and the whole darned area would probably be wet.

Decisions were never easy for this she-cat.

[whitepaw]

Littleleaf waited silently in front of Smallstar. Smallstar was deep in thought, and Littleleaf waited. She watched her movement, every word she said, and saw how deep in thought she was. No disturbance was heard from Littleleaf. She listened intently to her small "Hm" then to the question. That is when Littleleaf noticed her nervousness and the searing pain of frozen pads. She kneaded her paws against the ground, got up walked in a circle, then sat again.
"Actually, I have."She answered without a flaw, then continued. "I've thought about how I would need to train one and whatnot, so yes"
Littleleaf rubbed her frozen paws against the floor and listened intently once again to what her leader had to say, taking in every word so she would understand it correctly.
Very carefully, Littleleaf answered:"Oh, yes, I see your point. It would be nice to have me there but to them I'm only apprentice. The desicion is hard, because I would be needed at both places." That's when Littleleaf thought of the pouring rain, the moonpool, and a bad thought. "T-The M-Moonpool with be f-flooded." She stuttered, then looked up at Smallstar, the thought banging in her head restlessly.

[c e d a r *]

An annoyed hiss escaped the mouth of the leader. "So do you want to become the real medicine cat or not?" hissed the she-cat, lashing her tail angrily. "I assume you're worried, but you shouldn't. You'll have a warrior with you and it won't melt you," she meowed irritably. A heavy sigh escaped her parted lips and she sat down on the cool floor once more. Holding her breath for five moments, she managed to calm down. "There's nothing to worry about, Littleleaf, I promise. Nothing will get you," she meowed tiredly. "Now listen, I have been having trouble sleeping, worried about the upcoming gathering, if you must know," she sighed, placing her chin on her chest, closing her eyes tiredly. "I have a terrible headache, so if you could please bring me some herbs?" asked the leader quietly, sighing unhappily.

Her head began to throb as unhappily as she was, and the she-cat laid down, tucking her paws under her chest. She yawned and looked sadly up at Littleleaf. "I'd feel much better if you could bring me some poppyseeds and something to ease this headache of mine," sighed the warrior, looking at the ground.

[whitepaw]

Littleleaf jumped at Smallstar's sudden surge of anger at her. Littleleaf stuttered to get words out but just listened as Smallstar snapped away at her. Feeling once again worthless, she looked at her paws, legs trembling the slightest.
"Of-Of course I want to become Medicine Cat. Your right. Nothing to worry abou--"Littleleaf's mind drifted off to that darned thought again, but she snapped into focus.
Littleleaf's eyes were a faded, sad color of blue, and she snapped into her medicine cat instincts at Smallstar's words. "headache" Her mind went all the way back to when she was in training, learning the herbs. She remembered the smell, then her thoughts poofed as Smallstar said "poppyseed". Littleleaf snorted. Yea, she wants something for her headache. But I'll collect some of that too to put her to sleep. Littleleaf's lips were a frown, eyes cold.
"Of course, Smallstar, I'll fetch you some poppyseed along with some feverfew for you to eat, if your headache gets bad enough."
Littleleaf nodded a short nod, then danced down on her paws to the medicine den, quickly wrapping a paw of poppyseed and a feverfew leaf. Wrapping them carefully, Littleleaf held the herbs delicately and trotted up to Smallstar's den.
At arriving there, she set the herbs down in front of Smallstar.
"Alright, eat these poppyseeds to help you sleep and ease a headache. If your headache gets bad, eat this feverfew. The best thing to do is rest. If something gets terrible fetch me."Littleleaf nodded to Smallstar and ran off to her den, preparing the herbs for a new patient.