You Look like a Hedgehog [healing topic]

Getting back to camp had taken a record amount of time- it seemed like the sun was halfway down the sky by the time Elmpaw had managed to  awkwardly waddle into the warm shelter of the camp. He ignored the curious glances of his Clanmates, unable to find any humor in the fact that he probably looked like he had been dragged backwards through a thorn bush. Countless splinters were evident in his abnormally messy fur and partially dried blood left sticky trails weeping from his left ear, but his external injuries did little to compare to his wounded pride. Rippedsky had yelled at him to climb and then had the nerve to yell at him again once he fell? Letting out a sulky huff of annoyance, the young tom ruefully held his tongue- it was already sore enough due to him biting it during his fall, so why wear it out anymore by complaining?

"Oceanlight? Rabbitfoot?" Elmpaw hesitantly called as he lingered within a few pawsteps of the entrance, the pungent scent of various herbs only making his aching head throb more fiercely, "I need some help." He kept shuffling his weight awkwardly, his wrenched claws aching unmercifully as he continued to stand by idly.

Oceanlight perked her ears at her and Rabbitfoot's name being called. She got up then looked at Elmpaw. 'Rippedsky's apprentice... she thought with a sigh. She didn't have to get close to notice the scrapes and the splinters, must have been climbing a tree. She then walked over and lead Elmpaw to the medicine den where she started removing the splinters. Once they were all out, she placed some burnet in front of Elmpaw, insisting him to eat it. She rubbed some crushed wild garlic over the wounds, then pressed some cobwebs over them. Finally, she chewed up some comfrey root and placed it over his wretched claws. "That should do it." she said. She used a wad of cobweb to clean up the splinters and drops of blood."Rippedsky was too hard on training, I assume?" she asked.

Elmpaw let out a short sigh of relief as Oceanlight appeared and led him further into the shelter of the quiet den. Although initially, the pulling of the splinters stung quite fiercely and made him wince, but after several long heartbeats he began to further appreciate the Medicine Cat's quick ministrations and he ate the burnet placed before him without much complaint. At Oceanlight's words, Elmpaw found himself looking at the gray-furred she-cat with a rueful expression. "Is it that obvious?" He grumbled, sullen gaze drifting down to the comfrey roots that were carefully positioned around his claws before speaking up once more, "But I don't see him snapping constantly at Fernpaw or any other cat he trains." He knew that Oceanlight was probably much too busy to listen to the complaints of a disgruntled apprentice, but now that the worst of his pain was fading, it seemed like his foul mood was only worsening.

Oceanlight listened as Elmpaw talked. "I don't know why he would shout at any cat." she replied. She looked down and saw the splinters were cleaned, so she flicked the wad of cobweb off before grabbing it with her mouth. "Just get some rest, and you should be fine." she said through the cobwebs, taking it outside to discard it.

Elmpaw listened to Oceanlight speak once more with a wary expression, but said nothing more in response to the grey Medicine Cat's words. Giving his head a small shake to clear the remaining traces of dried blood that still clung to his left ear, the ruddy brown tom quickly held still as the Medicine Cat pulled away the remaining cobwebs. "Thanks, Oceanlight." Elmpaw mewed hastily, before stiffly rising to his paws and slinking out of the shelter of the den.