[Gathering] What secrets dwell in the Clans?

[*Nimbles*]

Patchpaw:;
Patchpaw twitched his tail and proceeded to follow his Clan but was cut short when Dankstar began to talk to him. There wasn't many occasions when Dankstar had spoken to him. He dipped his head as Dankstar began to speak. "As you wish," he said and nodded.
Patchpaw padded away to the furthest part of the Fourtrees. He saw the circle of Medicine Cats and approached them with his head lowered as a sign of respect. "I am sorry to interupt, but Dankstar said that ShadowClan is leaving and that you are welcome to stay here for as long as you like," he said, directing his speech as Firestone. He backed away slowly and turned before bounding back to his own Clan. He didn't like Medicine Cat company. He was always scared that they knew of his secret. He only knew of two other cats knowing about his heritage, his mother being one, and Dankstar being the other. He knew he could easily trust either of them but the Medicine Cats...? What if StarClan had spoken to them and told them of his mother or father?
His thoughts concluded before he came back to his Clan. "I've told Firestone," he reported to Dankstar with his tail high. He was proud that Dankstar had chosen him above the others.

[--dankheart--]

"Thank you, Patchpaw." Grinning briefly at the young apprentice, he raised his voice and called out to his Clan - "We're moving out. Say your good-byes and come on." Lashing his tail, he leaped to the top of the hollow, disappearing into the shadows there.

[Would Firestone and Crescentgaze please post here.]

[Crescent]

Crescentgaze half-listened to the announcements the leaders made. The other medicine cats seemed to have a sense of urgency about them. Her suspicions were confirmed as Rivermist, then Winter, spoke. It concerns the safety of all the Clans? She was bewildered. Although not inexperienced, the she-cat had never faced what seemed to be a serious predicament such as this before. What was it? A prophecy from StarClan? An impending threat of other predators, like dogs or badgers? Whatever it is, StarClan will keep us safe. Right? Right. They had to. But that didn't mean it had to be ignored, either. Crescentgaze almost missed it when Windstar asked her if she needed her time, and acknowledged the question with a dip of her head. "Yes, Windstar. Thank you." She turned her attention back to the medicine cats, willing them to say whatever troubled their minds.

[/blockquote][/color]

[fleabittengray]

Firestone grolwed and satlked back to the medicine cats. He wanted to see Edbonyflame again...... He shook his head and sat besiees Cresentgaze. What is so important that you must put a halt in my personal activities? he asked, his voice neither mean or kind.

ooc//cant post long not home

[Windfleet]

The Clans slowly began to trickle back towards their seperate camps, leaving the four medicine cats alone by the Great Rock. They could take their time - there was still several more hours until the moon went down and day started again. The temperature, though, was dropping rapidly, and Rivermist shivered. She would try to make this as quick as she could, no matter how long they had. Once all was quiet in Fourtrees, except for the soft breathing of her companions and the sounds of the night, Rivermist opened her mouth to speak. She was, however, interrupted before she could speak by Firestone.
"What is so important that you must put a halt in my personal activities?"
Rivermist shot him a look. "Oh, so suddenly your personal activities are more important that taking care of your Clan? ShadowClan pride," she said, shaking her head. "You're Clan is so stubborn." She grinned at him, showing she was just jesting. The light mood was quick to change, though, as she turned back to the topic of discussion. "As I was saying, this is a matter of safety for each Clan. One of our apprentices found a dead rabbit on WindClan territory. Upon inspection, the rabbit was filled with crowfood. One of our warriors recognized the scent of sickness and brought it back to ThunderClan, where they brought it to Autumnstar and I." She was silent, watching the faces of the other medicine cats. "Though Autumnstar had already gotten her own assumptions, I confirmed them. The rabbit had been suffering from ShadowClan illness." Her tail twitched as she considered what next she was going to say. "When Autumnstar asked me if I remembered the cure for the illness, I answered yes. But I cannot be sure. The memory has faded, and it no longer is clear in my memory. The only herb I remember positively is poppy seed, for the pre-pain of the sickness as it starts to overtake you." Another pause. "Do you have any remembrance of the cure?"

[ Since the cure was never stated obviously in the book, just as the "right combination of herbs" by Cinderpaw in Fire and Ice, we're gonna have to improvise. Hope you all have a good knowledge of your herbs. And anything goes, as long as you have a good enough explanation of its workings and its function - in other words, what it does. ]

[Crescent]

( ooc - Okay. If anyone's interested, I made a medicine cat guide a while ago, and still refer to it sometimes. geocities.com/herb.list/ )

The air seemed less clogged as the cats departed. But as the congestion faded, so did the body heat. A fine mist had settled over the area, adding a bit of dampness to the already uncomfortable setting. Crescentgaze shifted anxiously, and glanced up at the moon again. A few clouds were visible now in the sky; they seemed to cover the moon's silver rays for a split second before moving on. That insignificant movement chilled her more than her surroundings did. Was it a sign from StarClan that something terrible was about to befall the Clans?
Rivermist began to speak, and even joked a bit before turning serious. Crescentgaze's heart sank at Rivermist's news, but as a medicine cat must do, the she-cat retained a level appearance and calm posture. Rivermist's question sent the tortoiseshell she-cat thinking. Poppy seeds, of course. But what else? Although a story had been passed down of how this sickness had come and passed once before, she didn't recall being told any cure for it. That'd happened long before she had been born. And she hadn't been told of any similar epidemics plaguing the Clans. It would, however, be best to stop it from spreading at the onset of the illness. What were the symptoms? Crescentgaze racked her brain, and some elder's sayings came up: "They were coughing feverishly. There was lots of phlegm and they were in so much pain that they could barely walk!"
She decided to talk before any other cat could, though the tortoiseshell still hesitated, as if she were interrupting something. "We could use boneset or feverfew for the fever." And then, more curiously, "Has any cat been afflicted with the disease as of yet?" She knew that once the illness overtook the Clans, the affected cats would most likely be separated from the healthy Clan members. And that would make the Clan more vulnerable, more open to attack from rogues. Crescentgaze doubted other Clans would attack if the disease were to spread throughout all of them, but reminded herself that now wasn't the time to be thinking about battle.

[/blockquote]

[fleabittengray]

Firestone blinked back at Rivermist an dlifted his head higher still. HE sniffed the air. Maybe it was just him, but ShadowClan were starting to stink. He had teh most threat from the sickness. A sudden thoat struck him. What if Edbonyflame...? he wouldn't let himself finish the thoaught. HE hoped no one noticed teh shiver that slowly ran down his spine and made him want to cry out. The 25 moon old tom-cat stood up and started pacing aorund. He was trying to think about what to do. What if they didn't survive this one? Like all illnesses, it got stronger after each strain and developed some imunity to some herbs. Yes, they will all work. But what if it is stronger then before? WHat if it is now immun to those herbs? We need to experiment! We need to test on someone who is sick and possiby make a way to make us immun to the rats. ShadowClan are the most vumerabull! And I think no one should let their apprentice go hunting alone untill the sickness is gone and no kits shoul dbe let out of camp. Maybe he should tell them what he did back home when he lived with rats. THey ate the rats as kits, they were forced fed them, and tehn given herbs so he himself could not be infected by the rats. Only his Clan. And all the others.

[--dankheart--]

In the silence that followed after Rivermist's speech, Winter noted that the other medicine cat's seemed cold. Because of her thick RiverClan pelt for the water, she felt nothing, but could see that the small breeze that had sprung up was cold to the other cats. After a few moments, Crescentgaze spoke.
"We could use boneset or feverfew for the fever. Has any cat been afflicted with the disease as of yet?"
Winter pondered the herbs she had named. Boneset would be good for sickness and as a stimulant for the cats, but it was incredibly rare. Feverfew was a much better bet. She gave voice to the two opinions. "Boneset is rare in the Clan's territory. Or RiverClan's, at least. I havn't run across one in a while." She shook her head. "We could always check the two-leg garden; there might be more there. For now, though, I think Feverfew would be our best bet. Rivermist?" The ThunderClan medicine cat was the oldest and most experienced of the four, and it was always a good thing to run it past her. As for the herbs... being a former loner, Winter knew hardly anything about the mysterious illness called the ShadowClan sickness that could wipe out an entire Clan, if spread around enough. "I don't know much about this disease, to be honest. It wasn't covered much in my studies with the former medicine cat. How is it transferred? Or can it be transferred at all?" A pause while she contemplated the extensive list of herbs in her memory. "What about Burdock? It help cures rat bites; it might help fight some of the infections from a rat bite into another peice of prey." Frowning, she continued to think hard, one ear tuned to Rivermist in case she chose to speak. This was something not be trifled about.

[Windfleet]

"I agree with Winter," Rivermist meowed after listening to the other medicine cat answer Crescentgaze's question. "Boneset it too rare, unless you know of a place where we can find it." She gazed at the WindClan medicine cat for a second, then answered the second question the medicine cat had asked. "I havn't heard of anybody in the Clans being affected yet. I had the cats who brought me the rabbit in the first place go wash their paws thoroughly and bury the piece of prey. Since it's come as a surprise to both Firestone and you, it probably hasn't become a problem in your Clan yet. RiverClan, too, is fine, I think."
As soon as she finished speaking, Firestone, who was looking particularly agitated at the news, spoke. "Yes, they will all work. But what if it is stronger then before? What if it is now immune to those herbs? We need to experiment! We need to test on someone who is sick and possibly make a way to make us immune to the rats. ShadowClan are the most vulnerable! And I think no one should let their apprentice go hunting alone until the sickness is gone and no kits should be let out of camp."
"Wise precautions, Firestone, but I see some things wrong with them." Rivermist eyed the ShadowClan medicine cat, her eyes hard. "Unless you have a sick cat in your Clan that you'd like to 'experiment' on, I would stay well away from that option unless absolutely necessary. What if we give them the wrong herbs, and accidently strengthen the illness instead of weaken it? The apprentices and kits are the leaders decision. And I doubt you are the most vulnerable; The disease is prone to strike anywhere, at anytime." She watched him for a moment. "Stop trying to immediately figure out all the specifics about it. Just try to help us find a good enough combination of herbs that's worth trying out. We can deal with the rest later." Turning away from him, she glanced at Winter, who had opened her mouth to say something. Hopefully it would be something about the herbs.
"I don't know much about this disease, to be honest. It wasn't covered much in my studies with the former medicine cat. How is it transferred? Or can it be transferred at all?"
Rivermist looked at Firestone. "I'll let you answer that. ShadowClan originally were the ones who had the sickness." Before he could do so, however, Winter spoke again.
"What about Burdock? It help cures rat bites; it might help fight some of the infections from a rat bite into another piece of prey."
"Maybe, but I doubt it." Rivermist looked skeptical. "The sickness is inside of a cat, not something that can be treated physically on the outside, like a wound. But it might. Let Firestone tell you about the history of the sickness first and offer his advice, then we'll talk about it." Another glance, this time at ShadowClan's medicine cat. Rivermist nodded at him, then sat down, making herself comfortable on the ground as she waited for the tale to begin. Maybe a re-telling would trigger something in their memories, help them remember the herbs. Maybe.

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[fleabittengray]

Firestone sighed a sigh of agitation. These cats took no risks! How were they to defeat this starin if they did not fight it head on? He bit his lip an dsat as Rivermist spoke. He flinced every time they calle dit the "ShadowClan illness". It had been quiet common back home, and he though really nothing about it. But back home, almost everyone was immune to it. He widened his orbs when asked ot recite teh history of the illness. He didn't know any history! He hardly knew the history of ShadowClan! He was, after all, still a newcomer. But he knew what they did back in TerrorClan, not that these cats would like it. A cruel smile spread across his mual and he picked up a paw, lickin between his toeas and shaking his pelt.

I do not see why you keep calling it the "ShadowClan illness" for these disease is accutally quiet common. It is only kitty-oets are given shots to keep it away from them and, if you come form the Twolegplace Clans, you are foirced to become immune to it. HE started off, eyeing Rivermist with a cold stare. I myself can not get the disease because I grew up with it around every corner and even had it a little as a kit. These cats should tresssure teh feew details I spare tehm about my past. I give it to no one. he growled to himself.

ooc//perhaps a little backround of Firestone is needed? he grew up in a dump surrounded by rats in TerrorClan. SunCLan, AllyClan, and TerrorCLan are unknown to these Calns here, though. They live in the outskirts of a city and are vilent and cruel. Firestone is immune to it because half teh cats in the Clan had this disease and the reats around all had it.

[Crescent]

[ooc - sorry I haven't been posting much, I'll try to post more often]

The tortoiseshell she-cat shrugged. "No, I guess not. I have a few leaves in my den, but they wouldn't be of much use. So Feverfew it is, then." Firestone spoke next, talking about experiments and how ShadowClan was the most vulnerable; the medicine cat seemed to be considering his idea for a moment before letting it go. Rivermist put the words into her mouth as she replied to the ShadowClanner; the ThunderClan medicine cat seemed to be the most experienced, and for a second Crescentgaze felt a pang of envy. I'm older. Shouldn't I be wiser? But with age did not always come wisdom, and besides, herbs to cure the illness should be the first priority right now. Suddenly a thought flashed through her head. What if Firestone was right, and the disease had morphed since the last time it had struck? That was, however, the reason they were assembling herbs right now. In case one didn't work, there was one more to back it up. And Rivermist had said they'd work out all the details later. So Crescentgaze dropped it and listened as Winter then offered a suggestion, the usage of burdock root, which the ThunderClan medicine cat deemed invalid. Rivermist then turned to Firestone, prompting him to tell the story of the first time the disease had happened.
Firestone seemed to be thinking, and a strange smile spread across his features. Crescentgaze wondered if he was always this... well... angry, or if it was all in her mind. Her ears pricked as he mentioned it had been common 'back home'. Why? Where had he come from? She felt the shortest pang of exasperation as he abruptly cut off. What, is he too stubborn to tell us enough information so that we can save the lives of other cats? But the brief summary he had given them was enough. She was giving in to her own curiosity, and Crescentgaze pushed it away to concentrate. "We call it the 'ShadowClan illness' because only ShadowClan were plagued by it once before, and though it may seem common to you it actually appears to be quite rare in this forest, as it hasn't happened before now," she pointed out mildly. She felt like she was wasting time with these useless details, and wondered about what he had just said. It was common in the Twolegplace Clans, and kittypets were given shots to drive it away? That didn't help much. They still needed to have an adequate amount of herbs at hand.
"I myself can not get the disease because I grew up with it around every corner and even had it a little as a kit." A bitter smile flashed across Crescentgaze's maw at that statement. So if all the medicine cats died, at least there would be one left to train three more apprentices. "Do you remember what the symptoms of the disease were?" she asked. Crescentgaze herself didn't remember, and wasn't sure if the other two cats did. Like Winter, it hadn't been covered in her previous studies with the former medicine cat either. But if Firestone had grown up with it, he should know the symptoms, and that would help tremendously.

[/blockquote]

[fleabittengray]

Firestone knew he had teh cat's attention now! He calmly licked his orange flaming stone on his broad chest and shook his cranium to clear away unnessicary thoughts and feelings. He cleard his trhorght and begain to speak again. Well, teh disease got a little stronger every time. (this is wha ti remember of teh disease some might not be true but what teh hec) But as a kit, I remember a high fever, (lose of words) throwing up, and being a little disorented at times. But, as I was sitll made to hunt and such and train, all I remeber much is the hurt and oain that was always trhoughought me. I always felt weak and in pian, but our healer could do nothing about it, THey weren't aloud. Every cat had to get teh disease an dlive throug it...or die. He ended. So that is high fever, pain, throwing up, and weakness that I can remember. But wehre i came from, this was not uncommon.

[Windfleet]

"Thank you, Crescentgaze." Rivermist inclined her head at the WindClan medicine cat, a thank you for answering Firestone's question. She held the position for a bit longer then the norm - a silent acknowledgement of the WindClan cat's superiority - her age, and wisdom - of the four Clans. Sitting back, she let the other she-cat calmly counter Firestone's words, gently pointing out that they were not biased against ShadowClan because they would call the illness the 'ShadowClan illness,' just because they were the ones who originally got it. Inside, Rivermist was envious of the other she-cat. Impatient by nature, Rivermist found it hard to deal with the ShadowClan stubborness and pride - not just Firestone's, but all of them. Them meaning ShadowClan, of course. Perhaps it was just her imagination, but the ShadowClan medicine cat seemed most disagreeable today - the most argumentative she had ever seen him. It rubbed her the wrong way, too - it made her feel annoyed and angry all at once, and ready to start shouting at him at any moment. But that wouldn't be good - now more than ever, they needed all the medicine cat's working together to find a cure before anyone in the Clans became ill. She perked up as Crescentgaze asked for the symptoms - knowing what to expect in an ill patient always helped.
"Well, the disease got a little stronger every time. But as a kit, I remember a high fever, throwing up, and being a little disorented at times. But, as I was still made to hunt and such and train, all I remember much is the hurt and pain that was always throughout me. I always felt weak and in pain, but our healer could do nothing about it, they weren't allowed. Every cat had to get the disease an live through it...or die." A pause. "So that is high fever, pain, throwing up, and weakness that I can remember. But where I came from, this was not uncommon."
"Oh, that's good," broke in Rivermist testily. "We'll be able to depend on you not to get sick, then. As for the symptoms..." Her brow furrowed as she thought. "Yes, feverfew would work admirably..." The frown deepened. There were two other names on the tip of her tongue; two other herbs that she knew would help... got 'em.
"Basil and dandelion." She burst out with the words. "Basil and dandelion would help. We should also collect that." Nodding in satisfaction, she waited to see what the other medicine cats would think.

[you're doing a great job with Firestone, Gray - managing to make up a history and symptoms of the disease we don't really know anything about right on the spot. Its great. And Crescent -- that herb list is a frikkin' safe gaurd from StarClan itself... xP]

[fleabittengray]

ooc//thanks! this is really my first tim eas med cat lol!
ic//Firsestone nodded his approvsl. He thought evey herb should be tried as his clan woul dhave done, if allowed, but these Clans were really dofferent. He was still getting used to all teh differences. Some he hated, like how he wasnt supposed to have kits. The helaer back home had more then three mates as was the custum with high ranking cats.