Careworn [Spottedstar]

Riverclan allowing the displaced Skyclan into their own camp was a surprise to the apprentice, but being back in the forest was welcome. Beechpaw felt as if she could relax a bit more, despite the tension and Riverclan's camp being so crowded.

The tall apprentice carefully sorted through Skyclan's herbs, brow furrowed in concentration as she mentally listed off their uses. Several herbs - juniper, goldenrod, oak leaves - were already set aside, she just needed something to sooth throats. Turns out, breathing in smoke was an absolutely terrible idea. Now, if she could just find the honey that Sagelight had managed to procure...

It took her a moment to find the honey, and Beechpaw carefully set some of it aside with her other herbs. She took another moment to make sure the store was properly organized before carefully picking up her bundle. Spottedstar was... somewhere in camp, she knew, probably trying to get away from all the noise. It didn't take the large she-cat long to pick up his scent, and she quickly followed it to find the spotted tabby.

"Spottedstar...?" Beechpaw's voice was somewhat muffled through the mouthful of herbs, and her discomfort at approaching the injured leader evident. Aside from finding him in twolegplace and bringing him back to camp (where her brother had done most of the talking) she hadn't interacted much with her father's grandfather. She didn't really have a solid opinion of him, though she knew both her parents disliked the tom. Still, that was their opinion, and not really any of Beechpaw's business. He was an injured clanmate, which mattered more to her at the moment.

The dry, reed-covered territory of RiverClan was unusual and uncomfortable, but Spottedstar definitely preferred it to the miserable hardened stone of twolegplace and the barren waste of SkyClan. He didn't see much of it, however, as he spent a good majority of his time in RiverClan's medicine den. On this particular day, he rested just outside of it yet far enough away from the bustle of camp to remain unbothered while he was dozing and also to keep from scaring young kits by his ghastly breathing. The most he could do at this time was rest. Bloodstrike had made a jab at his inability to provide for the Clan in their latest confrontation, and though it stung that he was right, Spottedstar knew it was not by choice but by circumstance. Even a deaf old dog would hear him from across the territory; attempting to hunt would do more harm to both Clans than good. Thus, the weakened leader rested and recovered... or rather, managed to not get worse.

Beechpaw's call startled him. Spottedstar blinked and looked up at the approaching apprentice with her mouth full of herbs and guessed quickly what she was here for. It was a relief to see her, even if he hardly knew her. He had to wonder how Sagelight had managed to appoint and train her while they were sheltering in the twolegplace. Perhaps StarClan had done something special for her? Maybe she would reveal it herself. "Hello, Beechpaw," He paused to clear his throat, although by his wincing it was obvious that it was quite painful. "I hope you have... something good for me."

"One out of four resting like Sagelight told them to... I suppose I should be grateful that I didn't have to track you down." Beechpaw gave a derisive snort. It had been sheer luck that she'd caught Wolfcall coming back from hunting. Stars knew that both their deputy and her parents didn't enjoy being in another clan's camp. Beechpaw sympathized, but if they'd just stay put that would make her job so much easier. And refusing to rest wouldn't do them any favors or help in their recoveries. The trek to Riverclan territory had brought them uncomfortably close to their own scorched lands, which had aggravated Smokefeather's coughing. It was nowhere near as bad as Spottedstar's issues, and Smokefeather was determined to suppress the worst of it, but Beechpaw would have preferred her dear mother rest all the same.

Spottedstar cleared his throat, and Beechpaw couldn't help wincing. It sounded painful, as if his loud, raspy breathes weren't clear enough each time they rang out, announcing their leader's sorry state for anyone listening.

"Eat these, they'll help with your throat and make breathing a bit easier." Beechpaw indicated the juniper berries and honey that she placed in front of him. The honey would help swallowing too, but truthfully Beechpaw wasn't sure how much of an affect they would have on Spottedstar. From what she knew, he hadn't gotten worse, but he hadn't improved much, either. Still, it was worth trying.

"I'm... sure it wouldn't have been too hard to find me." The leader responded, holding back a rumbling chuckle that would have only made things worse. Spottedstar had seen a fair number of his own warriors and apprentices injured and wasn't quite sure which other three were specifically being told to rest, but knowing his particular flock of larks and their work ethic, he could make a few guesses. His attention returned to the medicine cat apprentice and her plants. He wasn't so fond of herbs, but he recognized their benefits and thus lapped up the berries and honey without protest. A sour expression passed over his muzzle before being quickly replaced by a tired yet grateful look. The sweetness of the honey barely registered as his focus was entirely on the slight soothing of his throat.

"You must have your... paws full, Beechpaw. Medicine cats have... tough jobs. I'm glad... you're there for... Sagelight. My brother needs support. Of course you can count on him to support... you, too." Spottedstar sighed and cleared his throat once more, eyes dropping to the sandy ground beneath his paws. His brows furrowed pensively. "That reminds me. I'd like to know... how he's managed to train you under the circumstances. Twoleg... gardens?" He inquired, recalling Amberdawn's final contribution to SkyClan before she left and became Marmalade for good: catmint and thyme. He remembered turning and leaving them behind in the snow. Surely Sagelight had been clever enough to find a similar stock somewhere?

His response to her humor was met with an eye roll, though he was right. His rough breathing and coughing were enough to give his location away even if he hadn't been mostly keeping to the same spots. Her parents were likely out hunting or training their apprentices despite their injuries, as eager to be away from the overcrowded camp as the next cat. Smokefeather had seemed even more unhappy about being in such crowded quarters, and hardly seemed to stay in one place for long. in turns restless and irritable. Beechpaw had to wonder what was bothering her most about their situation, though the options were obvious.

At Spottedstar's next words, Beechpaw's ears twitched back slightly in evident discomfort, though she stubbornly ignored the urge to retort what was on her mind. Support Sagelight? Well, Spottedstar wasn't wrong that he needed someone. Beechpaw didn't know if she was the cat for that job, though. Nor did she really think the opposite was true. Training aside, Beechpaw hardly knew the old medicine cat, and part of her didn't want to get close to him. Was she resentful about things? Quite possibly. Yet how could she not be when her world had been upended just as surely as Skyclan's living arrangements had been? If she'd been more familiar with Spottedstar, maybe she'd confide her insecurities to him, but she hardly knew the leader. They were more or less strangers, despite sharing a clan and blood. He wasn't Wolfcall, or Primrosepaw, who she was comfortable enough with to share her thoughts openly. Maybe she grow used to thinking of Sagelight as her mentor eventually, but as much as she was under his tutelage now, the words still seemed wrong when put together.

"Picking through the abandoned gardens, mostly. Sagelight took me to the moonstone a day or two before you found us, and the trip there was more of him explaining herbs." She responded. The time spent in twolegplace hadn't been enjoyable, and Beechpaw very much would have rather forgotten about it entirely. The journey to highstones had been long, much longer than it would've been if they had started it in clan territory, but along the way she'd learned as Sagelight pointed out plants and their uses during the trek. They'd done the same thing on the way back. Beechpaw had still been reeling from Aspenheart's advice, but she'd committed herself to memorizing and learning what she could. Now that they were in Riverclan's camp, things had settled a bit more into a routine, and their own medicine cats seemed just as eager to share knowledge as Sagelight was.