Make it Right [Closed]

Ploverpuddle wasn't expecting to be the one to escort Cloverpaw out into the territory for some herbs but he couldn't say no to the medicine cat. Aspenheart had asked him to escort Cloverpaw over to the Lone Stump to gather some herb that was growing there. Did Ploverpuddle remember what the Herb was? No. Hopefully Cloverpaw did. The young tom was more experienced with the herbs and the medicine den than the warrior was.

The warrior stood by the entrance of the camp. On the outside he looked calm as he waited, looking like a proper and patient warrior, but on the inside he was very nervous. He may have been with Windclan for a few moons now but he still couldn't help but getting nervous from time to time. He was never great with words so he always appreciated being in groups where he could just sit back and listen, and he wasn't an apprentice anymore so he couldn't just stay silent and wait for direction. He hoped Cloverpaw was okay with this. He hoped the apprentice wouldn't be too uncomfortable around the awkward warrior. Ploverpuddle hoped he wouldn't screw up his words. Maybe he wouldn't make a fool of himself in front of this well liked apprentice. The warrior let out a sigh. He was over thinking this. That is what he got for being on his on for a good number of moons.

Cloverpaw was always in favor of doing little errands and tasks for his friend, medicine cat, and wobbly uncle Aspenheart. The tom had endured so much while Cloverpaw was healing in his medicine den, listening to all the apprentice's ramblings and having to endure all his questions and aimless musings. Truthfully, they'd grown quite close, but even Cloverpaw knew he could be a bit much when he'd been sitting still too long. It was part of why he was so willing to help; a little bit of repayment.

It was a bit nerve-racking to leave camp nowadays, but Cloverpaw had been relieved to learn that Ploverpuddle - a newly named but moons-seasoned warrior - would be coming with him. The apprentice hadn't gotten to learn much of the thick-furred gray tom due to their differing schedules, but it seemed that somehow things had aligned. They would go together to fetch the lamb's ear and ragweeds that the medicine cat required. Cloverpaw was at least looking forward to getting to know his newest-but-not Clanmate.

The tom was already waiting by the entrance when Cloverpaw emerged from the medicine den, his final tail check completed and his final instructions solidified. The silver tabby apprentice saw Ploverpuddle and immediately flashed him a grin, twitching his crimped tail awkwardly in greeting as he made his way across the gap between them. When they were face to face Cloverpaw noticed the way the warrior's shoulders had sunk slightly. "Heya - sorry, I hope I didn't keep you waiting?" Cloverpaw asked in a warm greeting. "Just getting a tail touch-up from Aspenheart, and we got talking about the spiders... well, you know how that goes."

Some relief flooded the warrior once he saw the apprentice emerge and smile at him. Ploverpuddle shook his head at the younger tom's words. "No it is alright. I was not waiting long." He couldn't deny how he was a bit jealous at the fact the apprentice could handle conversations easily, but he didn't hate the apprentice for it. More so he was mad at himself.

The tom stood up from his spot next to the entrance, he nodded at Cloverpaw before padding out of the camp to head to the Lone Stump. Once they fell into a set pace, Ploverpuddle decided to speak again. "So what is it that we are looking for?" He was just trying to make conversation. His mind going into overdrive, scolding him for asking that instead of anything else. It didn't really matter if he knew what herbs they needed as long as Cloverpaw knew. Why were conversations so hard?

Fortunately, Ploverpuddle's greeting was amicable and showed no signs of outward displeasure. Cloverpaw smiled even more easily when the tom reassured that he wasn't too late. "Great! Well then, let's get on our way," he purred, and the warrior stood, nodded, and began to lead the way from the camp. Cloverpaw followed with a bright, content expression, looking forward to getting to know his returned Clanmate a little more on this patrol.

Ploverpuddle's voice was first to break the easy, natural silence. Oh, right - of course he needs to know what Aspenheart wants; hard to hunt for something particular if you don't even know what the particular thing is! Aloud, though, Cloverpaw teased with a playfully flicking tail, "Uh-oh. When the apprentice knows more about the patrol than the warrior, that's not a good sign." He gazed at his warrior friend with a clear grin, trying to gauge his response for a moment. Cloverpaw then added, "When the apprentice spends more time with the medicine cat than their mentor, that's a worse one. Have you ever looked much at Aspenheart's herbs?"

Ploverpuddle let a small chuckle escape him at Cloverpaw's words. "Certainly not a good sign indeed." He added softly. "I have not had much of an opportunity to look at his herbs. I have not had much of a reason to be in the medicine den." He got a scratch here and there but nothing ever serious enough to require either of the medicine cat's attention. "So I am relying on you to show me what we are looking for, or I might end up giving Aspenheart a weed and looking funny in front of him." The warrior said with a slight laugh at the mental imagine. A small grin making it's way onto his maw just imagining the medicine cat's reaction.

Quickly it was easy for Cloverpaw to tell that, though he was quiet, Ploverpuddle had a sense of humor. As the warrior explained he hadn't spent much time looking at herbs, the silver tabby thought how he wished his own experience were a little more like that and he chuckled; in that regard they were different, but at least in this instance it would be useful. "Don't worry, I wouldn't let you look like a goof in front of him," Cloverpaw reassured with another chuckle. "I've spent more time in there than I think anybody wanted. I know exactly what we need - and Aspenheart told me the best places to find them too. We'll find ragweed and lamb's ear around the Gorge or near Outlook Rock."

Knowing the way, Cloverpaw took a few bouncing steps forward, his kinked tail held high now. "They're traveling herbs, mostly, but they're also good for cats who can't eat to keep up their strength. One's kinda fuzzy, round, and pale, but the other one is tall, scraggly and green."

Ploverpuddle listened intently as the apprentice described the herbs. He would try his best to keep an eye out for them though it was going to be tough for him to identify them until he actually saw them. The warrior couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped him as the apprentice bounced forward a few steps. "Lead the way oh wise apprentice." There was a playful gleam in Ploverpuddle's yellow eyes. It was comfortable talking with Cloverpaw. Not as bad as he was thinking it was going to be initially. Though he couldn't help but ask. "How funny do you think Aspenheart's expression would be if I actually brought him a weed?"

Cloverpaw was satisfied that Ploverpuddle had listened and would retain his instructions, even if the fluffy tom did tease him slightly. As offered, the apprentice lead the way, feeling much more comfortable on the moor in the bright daylight than at dawn, dusk, or, StarClan forbid, night. The pair set off towards their destination, and immediately Ploverpuddle asked what, exactly, Aspenheart might look like if the warrior brought him a weed. "Oh, all Aspenheart's expressions are funny," Cloverpaw teased the medicine cat who couldn't hear him, but then he added more genuinely, "He'd probably look at you like a poor gullible kit that fell for something obvious, and he'd look at me like I grew the weed right out of my nose and told you to give it to him."

Another low rumble of a laugh escaped Ploverpuddle. "So he would automatically think you are to blame?" The tom said. "That is not fair. Maybe I would want to mess with him too." He wouldn't mind messing around. He never really got the chance when he was younger, but at the same time it would probably seem out of character for him to do something like that. He was always the serious one. His situation always needed him to be. First being split between two clans and then ending up on his own at a young age. There was never time for him to relax and mess around.

At the other tom's laugh and question of amusement and surprise, Cloverpaw nodded emphatically. Ploverpuddle's admission of mischievousness made him laugh, and he warned playfully, "It's pretty fun to mess with him, but he will mess with you back. I mean, not in your traveling herbs or anything, but he'll get you." Outlook Rock was drawing nearer now, and Cloverpaw added, "I bet we could find some funny plant around here if you wanted."

"I would not expect anything less from our medicine cat." Ploverpuddle said, his tone becoming more relaxed as he grew comfortable with the tom he was going to collect herbs with. At Cloverpaw's suggest of finding a funny looking plant the warrior hummed. "I will consider it. He might expect something like that too easily." If he was going to cause a bit of trouble he wanted it to be something newer. Something the medicine cat wouldn't expect. His yellow eyes looked up from his younger companion. He could see the line stump now. A thought popped into his head. "Race you there." The tom said quickly before taking off, not really going his fastest pace. It was more so for the enjoyment of the wind.

Cloverpaw listened with perked ears to see what Ploverpuddle would think about his suggestion - it seemed, after all, like the warrior did want to test their medicine cat's humor - and nodded in acceptance when the tom said it might be too predictable. Cloverpaw laughed and answered, "Well, that's true. There are plenty of ideas out there." At Ploverpuddle's suggestion of a race, Cloverpaw's grin only widened. The warrior gestured towards the lone stump, and the apprentice nodded enthusiastically in reply. "You're on!" the silver tabby trilled, and without missing a beat the pair of them set off at a pleasant canter.

Though it was unspoken, the two both moved at a pace that was less than their fastest. Cloverpaw, himself, was testing not only Ploverpuddle's waters but his own. Running still felt strange with the odd bend in his tail, and it showed in the way that his back legs seemed to hop ever so slightly sideways. Ploverpuddle was magnificent, though; Cloverpaw had never seen such thick fur before, and the way it glistened against the wind and sun of the moors made him wish he had such a lovely coat, too. "Can you feel the breeze on your skin with all that fur?" Cloverpaw asked, and though his voice was teasing he was curious.

A smile made it's way on to Ploverpuddle's face. "Of course I can!" He said over the sound of the wind as they both moved closing the gap that remained between them and the Lone Stump. His fur may protect him for harsh cold weather but he could still feel the wind through it. It wasn't as much for him as it was with those with short fur but it was still there. It still felt relaxing to him.

The pace they had set and the lack of competitive drive from either of them, they had reached the stump at the same time. Slowing to a stop just before the stump the older tom spoke up. "I think it is safe to call it a draw." The tom then looked over to the apprentice. "Or we can say you won. I think you got a little ahead at the end there." He would be happy to give the younger tom a win if it meant making the apprentice happy. The could ignore their responsibilities for a little longer, and enjoy the peaceful moment they had.