rythm [open camp topic]

Even though becoming a medicine cat had not been something Smokestep had ever anticipated, she'd fallen into the routine more quickly than she ever could have imagined. It was initially difficult for her to memorize all the herbs, and know where they went in Plumleaf's den, but eventually, she'd learned, and now the young she-cat was even comfortable treating cats on her own, to some extent. Little things, of course - thankfully SkyClan hadn't been unfortunate enough to require any serious healing - but she'd grown more confident, more comfortable. Today, she found herself in the nursery, treating one of the recently delivered queens for a minor cough. Some coltsfoot for the cough, a little burnet for good measure, and her patient was all set. Smokestep wished her well, gave some instructions on when to come seeking treatment if it didn't get better, and then wandered her way outside, taking a deep breath of the fresh, warm air.

She didn't have any other plans for today, so when she saw a small, patched form sitting near the entrance of the nursery, Smokestep paused. The petite gray tabby smiled down at the kit. "Hi there," she said gently, squinting slightly to try and see if she could remember his name... "Stagkit, right? You're much bigger than the last time I saw you - you'll be an apprentice any day now."

An idea came to her then, and Smokestep added, "I'll be right back." She padded over to the fresh-kill pile, picking out a mouse for the young tom, and a sparrow for herself. She carried them both over, dropping the mouse for Stagkit. "Here, why don't we have breakfast together?" Part of her job as a medicine cat was to befriend her clanmates, and that started young...

Stagkit had been wandering the camp generally curious about the goings on and sights and smells of the camp, Often to bold for his own good he had found himself wandering near the nursery, Where he curiously watched as the Medicine cat worked on her patients. As he sat there he was surprised when she addressed him, He nodded when he was asked about how he was much bigger and smiled with pride when it was mentioned he would be an apprentice soon. His curiosity was peaked When she said she would be right back, After she returned he was excited to see she brought a meal for them both and he eagerly accepted her offering of a small mouse, which he eagerly began eating his tail flicking with excitement as he did . "Thank you" He said between  mouthfuls of food. "Busy today?" He asked gingerly as he enjoyed the meal with the medicine cat

As she chomped down her own piece of the mouse, Smokestep purred gently, shaking her head. "No," she told him, swiping her tongue across her mouth and hurriedly adding, "but that's a good thing! If I'm busy, that means someone in the clan is sick, or injured." The medicine cat took the final bite of her breakfast and then stretched out on her belly in the sun, grooming the remnants from her paws. She nibbled between her toes, watching as Stagkit finished up too, and wondering if the little tom knew already what he wanted to be in life.

He would make a fine warrior, certainly... he possessed the spirit, she could see it in him. For a moment, she flicked back her ears, wondering why she'd been born lacking that same spirit, that same ferocity and drive. But she forced herself to shake her head and dismiss the thoughts... that didn't matter anymore. She was a medicine cat and she was a value to SkyClan, no matter what she thought.

"Are you still hungry?" she asked him. "I can grab another."

He laid his ears back at her reply feeling a bit foolish for asking considering what it would have meant and said "I had not considered that..."" he watched her clean up and bask in the sun considering how to answer whether he wanted more... He was always hungry as a growing kit, but it felt greedy to ask for more. So he simply shook his head and thanked her again. "That's ok, it was delicious thank you" he said with a slight purr both in his voice and an actual slight purr, Before beginning grooming himself as well