Running Out Of Time [Development] [Revelation] [Discovery]

Plot Name: Running Out of Time
Clans involved: All five (technically)
Characters Directly Involved: Aspenpaw/heart (Grizzly), medicine cats at the time

Will there be code-breaking?: No

Explain your Plot: Moons have passed since Aspenheart first took up the role of medicine cat. Every day has been a battle because of the epilepsy that crippled him, keeping him from the warriorship he always thought he wanted. For all his hopes and prayers, nothing could be done to fix what damage had been done. Aspenheart is a new cat now, much less reckless and bold, and with more confidence from the seasons of good work he has done for his clan. In what should be his prime, his epileptic seizures begin to progress. He is having them more frequently and more violently, dropping without warning in camp or on the way to Highstones. The medicine cat is hopeless. The disease is finally taking his life, piece by piece. Unfortunately, Aspenheart is a stubborn cat, and he refuses to die.

WindClan's dutiful medicine cat spends a moon developing different poultices intended to treat his illness for just long enough. His success is limited, and he comes to the conclusion that the next medicine meeting will be his last. He prepares for the day where he says goodbye to his loved ones and arranges to have his clan's medicine needs in good hands. However, at this medicine meeting, StarClan's medicine cats of long ago give him a vision. There is a weed, found near abandoned twoleg nests and wooden kittypet fences, that can save his life, and it is called mugwort. The flowers can be consumed to treat (but not cure) his falling-sickness and prevent his untimely death. On top of that, it can be used to enhance dreams, making it an ideal choice to bring to the Moonstone with apprentices. It is up to Aspenheart to deliver this highly potent plant to the forest, and with it, hope for those who come after him.

Upon finding this plant, he returns to the next medicine meeting with it, much to the surprise of the others, who assumed he would not survive to the next half moon. He shares his findings with each cat and instructs them to pass on their knowledge to every apprentice they mentor after. Though it does not prevent every seizure he has and is by no means a cure-all, it allows him to manage his symptoms in the way he was accustomed to prior. Aspenheart lives for many more seasons and continues to gift WindClan with the cynical, abrasive humor that can't be found elsewhere.

How will this impact the characters/clans involved?: Introduces a new herb to the forest/site and gives a new way for medicine cats to treat seizing patients. It could also result in a channel to update the herb list in-character! Also Aspen can have a near-death experience and I can write him with the cynicism dialed up to 1000 and make everybody sad

Provide links to relevant topics: This was primarily discussed on Discord as a concept.

Why should this plot be approved?: Mugwort is a real weed found in Europe and North America. All of the herbal remedies on the site have been pulled directly from the books/wiki and have roots in real human alternative medicine. Mugwort is sometimes used as an alternative medicine for epileptics via tea and other methods of consumption. Though this herb did not come from the books, there is no instance where epilepsy is treated in the series as far as I am aware. The most popular uses for mugwort as an alternative medicine are dream enhancement and epileptic seizures and I could not find any other substantial uses. Therefore, this unique herb could have a place on the site where no such plant is needed in the official canon.

Staff has discussed this, and the plot is approved!