Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures [CLOSED]

The deputy left the den after memorizing the herbs that Gondeneye sketched him in the den before she could leave. His green eyes scanned the camp and he saw Otterleap and Finchstream coming to the den to help Tigerpaw. Perfect timing. "Otterleap! Goldeneye is gone to search herbs. I need you and Finchstream to guard the den while I'm gone. Don't let anyone in unless is me, you or the medicine cats. W-w-we can't let this disease to spread to all Riverclan." He ordered, desperation and fear taking control of his regular calm attitude. He dismissed them with a quick flick of his head pointing the entrance of the den and then he rushed to the centre of the camp.

The blue-grey warrior didn't have time to choose and think about who should come to this patrol. So he picked up the first clanmates he saw. "Splashwillow! Smokewish! We're going on a patrol now! Tigerpaw is sick and he needs herbs." He said as he reached their side. The older warrior was Tigerpaw's mother. He had no doubts that she would help him. And Smokewish surely knew him well since they shared dens when she was an apprentice. "Come on, there's no time to lose! These are the herbs we need." Just like the medicine cat did, the tom drew the four types of plants they needed before tossing some snow so he could use his claws on the muddy herbs. Quickly, he soon managed to do a rather accurate image of catmint, tansy, lavender and chickweed, even though he didn't know the exact names.

"Memorize them quickly. Tigerpaw needs us. Let's go!" The tom didn't wait for an answer. His deputy rank gave him the authority to give orders that they must follow and this was a desperate situation that surely must concern everyone in the clan.

As fast as his long legs allowed him, Jaystream left the camp with both Splashwillow and Smokewish. Quickly, he started sniffing the ground and walking around searching for any useful herb. Thanks to his recurrent visits to the medicine cat, the handsome deputy could easily identify the scent of medicinal herbs but it was harder to find anything in leafbare.

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OOC: Like I said in the Sign-Up topic, we'll use the Effect Dice in each post. We must four good herbs: Tansy, Lavender, Chickweed and Catmint. If you roll a 1 or a 2, you can choose which herb you find. Good luck!

A winding trail of paw prints decorated the light coating of snow that still dusted the camp, leaving behind fresh evidence of frantic pacing. Splashwillow had heard Minnowslip's panicked yowling and the commotion that had ensued from the Medicine Cat's den in response, but they hadn't allowed her in to see her son. And so, left alone with nothing but the terrible realization that something was wrong with her son, she had resorted to agitated pacing through the clearing. With unsheathed claws and a lashing tail, the calico she-cat continued mindless marching, shallow score marks left behind in the earth in her wake. At the sound of Jaystream's voice, the apprehensive Splashwillow was forced to halt her repetitive movements. Her ears twitched at the Deputy's command- herbs? In the middle of Leafbare? Oh great StarClan.

The nagging wound deep within her gut only deepened at the realization of how difficult it'd be to find what they needed. Why was StarClan doing this to Tigerpaw? Making him so ill in a season of scarceness? Swallowing down the bitter taste that had arose in her mouth with a visible amount of effort, Splashwillow merely nodded in response to Jaystream's words, not trusting her voice. Breaking into a smooth stride close behind Jaystream, Splashwillow easily swept through sparse clumps of decaying reeds, feeling the faintest spark of bitterness creep down her spine. She had lost one son already, but heaven and earth alike would burn before she saw Tigerpaw fall to a similar fate. Sweeping past Jaystream and plunging into a thick swath of brittle undergrowth, she lowered her muzzle close to the frosted earth and began desperately searching.

Splashwillow hardly had a clue what most of the herbs that Jaystream had described smelt like- the only times she had ever truly been in the Medicine Cat's den was for a simple patch up following the battle for the Sunningrocks and for a brief pregnancy related question. She was practically useless. Using a careful forepaw to smooth away the snow from her path, the calico began to gently search the barren earth for...anything that remotely resembled what Jaystream had explained. Continuing to gently lift away pawfuls of bitterly cold snow, she was quite surprised to find a pitifully small patch of greenery that was somehow untouched beneath the blanket of snow that had fallen upon it. Pulling back and giving the fat, almond-shaped leaves a hard stare, it took her several moments to recognize the plant.

"Jaystream! Smokewish!" Splashwillow called, lifting her head to peer for her Clanmates who had likely scattered in their own search for herbs, "I think I found some Chickweed!"

The member 'Seer' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Effect Dice' : 1

Smokewish sprinted over to Jaystream. She had kept on hearing about Tigerpaw and this sickness, and worry clutched at her heart. Tigerpaw. Her old denmate. StarClan wouldn’t be so cruel as to snatch him from them, would they? She stared long and hard at the herb drawings, trying to memorise them. The apprentice’s life was at stake if she forgot even one of them! She bolted off with Splashwillow and Jaystream, repeatedly sniffing the air. She had spent rather more than her fair share of time in the medicine den, but she doubted she could sort one herb scent out from another. Her eyes narrowed into slits as she searched, pushing aside snow and crawling through reeds, her muzzle close to the ground.

After a while, she had brushed aside a large clump of snow to find herbs. The hope that had flickered in her chest died out immediately as she saw them. They would have been so useful! Purple-tipped flowers on top of long green stems. Lavender? Well, it was hard to tell with how shrivelled up they were. Obviously the cold was too much for them. She sighed deeply and continued her search.

OOC: really bad xD

The member 'Titanium' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Effect Dice' : 5

His ears perked at Splashwillow's call and, from his spot, he glanced at the she-cat holding the exact herbs that Goldeneye's requested. A bright smile appeared on his muzzle. "Great! Keep them away from the snow and continue! We have to find three more." He mewed loudly before returning to his own search.

Soon, the tom found a peculiar scent. He followed him, not having many hopes until he saw a small spot of green in the middle of the white snow. He quickly tossed the snow away with his big paws and a purple plant appeared. Lavender... The poor herb managed to survive in this cold without taking many damages. It was perfect. "I found another one! It's lavender! Thanks to Starclan!" He mewed delightedly.

The member 'Jay Bird' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Effect Dice' : 2

A heated blossom of hope unfurled within Splashwillow's chest as she carefully pulled the pitifully small clump of Chickweed from the brittle earth, but she did her best to keep the light contained within her. She was no fool- false hope was just as dangerous as the illness that ravaged her son's body. Tentatively gathering up the fat leaves and ignoring the bitter taste that was wept onto her tongue in response, the calico Warrior gently cleared away a safe resting place for the Chickweed, her gaze occasionally darting back to check in on Jaystream and Smokewish. Although Jaystream seemed to have a minimal success similar to her own, it still made her gut twist sharply as she witnessed Smokewish come up empty-pawed.

Depositing the Chickweed beneath a sloping swath of reeds that would hopefully protect it from any cold-related damage, Splashwillow's gaze turned skyward for a brief heartbeat. Allowing her eyes to drift shut for a brief moment, she exhaled a silent prayer to Sparkwillow and Snowpaw that quickly disappeared alongside the steaming cloud of her breath. Please. Not Tigerpaw. Not her sweet son. Through her wordless pleading, the faintest scent of something sweet and vaguely familiar caught her tongue. Eyes snapping open, Splashwillow's head swung around as she hurriedly sought after the source of the scent.

Keeping her muzzle close to the ground, and sending up a flurry of half-frozen snow from her breath, Splashwillow hurriedly traced the mouthwatering scent. She remembered it vaguely from whenever one of her littermates had fallen ill all those moons ago, but it was difficult to name the scent- even as she drew close to it. Pausing in front of a heavily frosted and half-dead clump of thorns, the calico Warrior ducked down slightly to peer at the herb that resided within the limited shelter. The heavily leafed clump of herbs was even smaller than the bundle of Chickweed she had managed to find first, but as soon as she gazed at the wilted leaves she recognized the plant.

Catmint! Clearly the herb hadn't fared well in the bitter weather, as its leaves were rotten and wilted; only barely managing to cling to the slumped over stem of the plant. "No..." Splashwillow whimpered softly, despairingly glancing at the plant before her. Catmint was the best herb for treating illness! It was the one herb they truly needed!

The member 'Seer' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Effect Dice' : 3

After a quick glance at her clanmates, Smokewish could easily tell that things could be going better. They needed these herbs! She refused to let Tigerpaw die. Her tail lashed sharply through the air, brushing the thick white blanket of cold below her and stirring up snowflakes. Her sharp eyes glared around as she held her muzzle close to the ground, tasting the air and walking at the fastest pace she felt she could still effectively search at.

She came to a stop a little way after. She could smell something! It was vaguely familiar from all the time she had spent in the medicine cat den from her apprentice days. The young warrior quickened her pace, shoving aside pawfuls of snow, until she thought she was close. Delicately, she brushed away a little more, and her face fell at the sight.

The herb she had came upon must have once been tansy. It had round, yellow flowers on top of long green stems. However, this thing she had found was so blackened and shrivelled it was hard to make it out. No....no, no! She had the worst luck! They needed these! Goldeneye and Cloudstone had to have these herbs - it was imperative. She nosed at the plants, her hope evaporating into the cold Leafbare air. There was no way to salvage these ones. With her head hung low, she continued her search.

The member 'Titanium' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Effect Dice' : 4

Jaystream hopeful started to fade quickly as he saw how the other she-cats were unable to find any other herb. He couldn't... he couldn't let Tigerpaw die like this, he repeated to himself pressing his nose against the snow to find the most minimus scent of a herb. Even if his nose was starting to hurt, the deputy ignored it. Right now, that young tom was the one who was suffering the most. They couldn't simply give up. This had to be done... even behind Ivystar's back.

As he walked through the snow, a golden dot in the snow showed up. Not raising his hopes, the handsome warrior approached and started to shove the snow with his paws carefully. But the flower of tansy was the only left from a dead, frozen plant that lied behind all the snow. The grey warrior let out a frustrated growl but he continued searching. There needed just to more healthy herbs. Nothing more. They had to find them.

The member 'Jay Bird' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Effect Dice' : 3

Pulling away from the blackened and foul clump of Catmint, Splashwillow ignored the sensation of prickly branches raking down the previously well-groomed fur atop her shoulders as she wiggled free of the shrub. The faint flicker of hope felt heavy in her chest, the weak flames swaying back and forth precariously- almost as if it was taunting her for the momentary indulgence she had allowed herself. Swallowing down the flood of bitter-tasting bile, the calico instead turned back to the snow laden territory that unfolded around her. Despite her desperation and quiet prayers, it seemed as if Jaystream and Smokewish were suffering the same ill-fated luck as she was.

Don't let this happen. Splashwillow uttered out, her throat so tight that she could hardly eek the silent words out. Just let them have this one thing. Asking for herbs wasn't like asking for the stars to fall to the earth! Head lurching forwards with weak determination, the calico forced herself to keep moving. There had to be more herbs out there, right? It wasn't impossible for them to survive a bit of snow and bad weather, right? A bitter scent somewhat close to Chickweed hung heavily to the trunk of a near by willow tree, practically undetectable due to the trees strong scent of partial decay. Bending down and twisting her head slightly so that she could peer at the herb that was hidden beneath the tangle of heavy roots.

Whatever plant had resided beneath the roots looked unrecognizable- with only the rough shape of some sort of foliage related appearance making it evident that it had once been some sort of herb. The disappointment that weighed down upon her limbs was so heavy that it took all of Splashwillow's strength to stand once more.

The member 'Seer' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Effect Dice' : 3