growth [SOLO]

After their discussion with Batsong, their head was whirling. She thought they were ready for their full name. When Birchpaw really thought about it, they had grown a lot since they first took on the medicine cat apprentice position, both physically and mentally. They started to make their way back to camp but their paws took them in a different direction, to the Lone Stump, as they walked lost in thought.

There wasn't any real reason they could think of that they wouldn't be ready, aside from the fact that change was scary and so was growing up. But Birchpaw supposed every cat had to at some point, whether they liked it or not. They sighed and sat down before the Stump, dragging a paw through the snow absently. The Stump had a yawning mouth of dead wood, and there was something inside it. Curious, the gray tabby poked their head in, whiskers brushing against the sides, and their paw drew out a fungus. It was somewhat squishy but also firm, with a little stalk and a wider, rounded cap on top. Birchpaw studied it with interest, sniffing it. The stump was dead, yet this little thing was growing inside of it. It wasn't a tree, it didn't even remotely resemble a tree sapling.

They tilted their head, turning their gaze upward to look at the gray Leafbare sky. Death really did blossom into new life. They had of course heard that since they were a kit, but had yet to truly see it in action until now. A faint smile crossed their maw as hope sprouted in their chest. The death of their apprenticeship was blossoming into the birth of the rest of their life. There was nothing to be scared of. Carefully, they put the fungus back where it was, hoping it would begin to grow once more even after they had plucked it with their claws. They got to their paws; while they were here they might as well restock the herb stores.

Rooting around in the snow, they scraped the ice away to reveal the ground underneath, hoping to find something useful.

ooc: notes go here

Nothing immediately came into view, just dead grasses and dirt, so they padded further away and tried again, scratching up where bits of plants were starting to sprout through the snow to prepare for the upcoming Newleaf. If they couldn't come up with anything, at the very least they should be able to find some moss or cobwebs.

ooc: notes go here

Luckily, their scraping had uncovered a burnet plant that was still alive, so with deft teeth they plucked it from the earth, making sure to leave behind a leaf or two in the dirt so the plant could regenerate itself. Birchpaw continued on, tucking the burnet into their thick fur to keep it from wilting against the snow. Their fur was usually messy and covered in bits of plants anyway, what was one more?

ooc: Burnet x1

Fortunate were they as they now uncovered a bit of lavender. Carefully they picked off a few bits of the plant and stored it away for later. They would search around a bit longer before returning to camp, the cold, wet snow was beginning to seep into the fur on their paws.

ooc: Burnet x1
Lavender x1

On their last search expedition for the time being, they found some sorrel near a group of rocks and stones. It was a little soggy from the snow, but it should still work. They gathered it with practiced skill, tucked it away, and made the trek back to camp, satisfied.

ooc:
Burnet x1
Lavender x1
Sorrel x1