aftermath [open]

[[Note: Thanks to time soup, this topic is set when Juniperheart and Sunfire are still apprentices and directly follows this one: https://warriorclancats.forumotion.com/t50513-danger-danger-c]]

"Help!"

The singular cry rang out to anyone in earshot of the camp. Sunpaw's strangled voice, colored with fear and panic. The young tom shoved his way through the camp entrance, bringing with him the scent of blood and battle. Juniperpaw was half-slung across his broad shoulders, and blood from her wounds seeped into his fur, leaving bloodied streaks down his sides. Thornstalker was on his heels, having saved the two apprentices from what would have been almost certain death for at least one of them. But Sunpaw had insisted on carrying Juniperpaw, and now, as he practically dragged her weak form through the camp and towards the medicine den, he finally felt the adrenaline begin to ebb, taking with it the remainder of his own strength. Sunpaw's front legs collapsed just as they reached the medicine den, and he went down as slowly as he could, trying not to jostle Juniperpaw too badly.

"We got attacked by a fox," he said almost hysterically, to anyone who would listen. "She's badly wounded. Please help her. Don't let her die."

"What-" ...Happened? Wolfblossom was going to ask, but Sunpaw had already explained. A fox... Another one. A growl rumbled in Wolfblossom's chest at seeing the blood on their pelts, at the injuries marring Juniperpaw. Sunpaw had slid to the ground as carefully as he probably could have, but it was clear he too was exhausted, and from where Wolfblossom was standing she couldn't tell if all the blood staining his pelt was Juniperpaw's or not. Thornstalker had followed them into camp, and there was blood on her pelt as well. She would ask the warrior what had happened as well, but Juniperpaw... Priorities.

"Great Starclan... Help me get her into the medicine den! Plumleaf, Smokstep!" Wolfblossom called for the clan's medicine cats, gingerly moving towards Juniperpaw.

I'm so sorry for the delay, oh god

Juniperpaw felt warm. Cold was all that consumed her for what felt like eons now, so bitter and nostalgic, and she was about ready to give in to the icy fog when she was suddenly hit with a wave of heat. Warmth brushed the side of her face, wrapped around her soaked pelt— why was she wet? it must be the blood, she supposed— and lulled her into an almost dream-like state. She floated somewhere between awake and asleep, half acknowledging Wolfblossom’s panicked voice and Foxpaw’s mewing, and while her mother’s voice called for her body to reach out, Juniperpaw couldn’t focus on much else besides snuggling into that warm fur.

…Fur?

As Foxpaw moved to her side Juniperpaw cracked an eye half open. The sudden onslaught of bright light was far too overwhelming to handle, but through the haze she could make out a pair of broad orange shoulders, the back of an orange head… two orange ears… and a familiar voice far too close to her for comfort. Sunpaw was carrying her.

[i]”No, don’t take me from him… Don’t make him go…” she mumbled incoherently, face smushed between Sunpaw’s shoulderblades. The last thing she wanted was her warmth to go away.

A cry for help reached her ears just before the scent of blood flooded her nostrils. Smokestep was on her paws in an instant, her fur spiked with panic, her green-gold eyes seeking the source of the commotion. Before she'd even made it out of the medicine den, several cats were making their way inside, and the medicine cat apprentice moved out of the way to let them in. Juniperpaw was badly injured, and as she cast her gaze over the apprentice's limp form, searching for the worst of her injuries, Smokestep felt a wave of calm and collectiveness wash over her for the first time.

This is how she could help. This is how she would be useful to SkyClan. The stars had been right... this was her calling.

Sprinting over to the stored herbs, Smokestep snatched a bundle of cobwebs and turned back to the injured apprentice, coming close enough to hear her words. She glanced towards Sunpaw, who had practically collapsed at the entrance of the medicine den, chest heaving with exhaustion or panic, probably both. He looked mostly uninjured save for some superficial scrapes, so she said, firmly, "Sunpaw, come hold these cobwebs in place," she padded the worst of the wounds with cobwebs and guided him over, watching Juniperpaw seem to relax at her friend's touch. That would do for now.

Returning to their supplies, she picked out some burdock root. "Foxpaw, can you please chew this into a pulp, for me?"

She grabbed some thyme and ragwort, pressing them into a bundle, and then moved on. They'd been out of poppy seeds when Smokestep had first taken stock of their herbs, but luckily she'd found some not long ago, and completely replenished the supply. Smokestep shook one of the heads and dropped some poppy seeds on to a tansy leaf, wrapping them together before moving over to Juniperpaw. "Here, darling, eat this... it will help with the pain." To Sunpaw, she gave the first bundle - that would help him calm down, and once Juniperpaw was no longer in severe distress, Smokestep could move on to actually fixing the wounds.

*

Sunpaw did as he was bid, allowing the medicine cat to guide him over without complaint, and pressing his paws against the cobweb dressed wounds. His limbs trembled, and his stare was blank and distant. He was exhausted. The adrenaline from the fight had long since abandoned him, and though he had escaped harm for the most part, he was sore all over. Smokestep returned, giving each of them a small bundle of herbs, and Sunpaw chewed and swallowed his obediently despite the awful taste. He curled next to Juniperpaw, making sure to keep pressure with his forepaws on the wound, but all he wanted to do was sleep. When would he be able to sleep?

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