Successor [Plumleaf]

The medicine den was not a place Beechfang had frequented often after becoming a warrior. She had worried at her own former apprentice for a while after, but it had been his den to run. His responsibility to teach a successor. Things had not panned out the way Beechfang had ever thought they would, with one apprentice sacrificing themselves to Starclan, Muddythorn's untimely disappearance and two of her own kits being called to the position in a time of need. Moons had come and gone since, and Fogfeather had seemed to disappear, the cycle continuing.

She found her paws hesitant as she approached the den. It wasn't a place she ever wanted to be in other than to visit, and even then... She had hightailed it out of the position of medicine cat with her father's blessing the moment she was able, and had tried her hardest not to look back. But it was her daughter's den now, And from the looks of the clan, she and her siblings had done well for themselves. The thought filled her with pride as much as it did less pleasant emotions. She had not wanted this life for them, she knew how the burden of leadership could destroy a cat's sanity. Had seen it far too many times. But she was proud of them, even still. Especially for those who had taken to the medicine den that their parents had left behind. In a way, she'd left them behind, too. She was back now, but... Beechfang shook her head as she came to a stop outside the den's entrance.

"Plumleaf?" Beechfang called into the den, hoping that her presence wasn't disturbing anything important.

Beechfang's return had been a source of happiness, relief, and anxiety for Plumleaf. On one paw, she was overjoyed to have her mother back in camp, especially after so many moons spent worrying about her well-being. Obviously Beechfang knew how to take care of herself, being a former medicine cat as well as a seasoned warrior, but Plumleaf had never been able to stop her tendency to worry about those she loved, even when they were safe and sound within her sights. On the other paw, she was worried about how Riverclan would react to the news that she had returned. As a medicine cat, she'd always been grateful for the opportunity to detach herself from the stress of the rivalries between the clans, but she didn't want to have to use valuable herbs healing wounds that could easily be avoided. Trying to set her tumultuous thoughts aside, she busied herself with sorting through the herbs she and Wolfblossom had collected the day before, not recognizing the sound of pawsteps padding toward her den until her name was called.

"Yes?" She responded, making her way out of the den and meeting Beechfang just outside. A quick once-over told her that the molly was thankfully uninjured, a reassurance that quelled the initial anxiety and worry she always felt when her clanmates called for her.

Beechfang smiled softly as Plumleaf stepped out of the den, though the way the she-cat glanced over her with worry did not escape her. "I'm alright, kit." She mewed softly, lightly brushing her tail along Plumleaf's flank. She was as alright as she'd ever be, probably, but that was enough. "I know that worry. It doesn't go away, does it?" It was a part of being a medicine cat. A curse gifted upon them by knowing the lives of their clanmates were in their paws.

"How have you been?" She had seen her kits in only the briefest of moments since her exile, and rarely had those moments been calm or without interruption of something serious. "It's... Been a while, I know. I'm sorry." She added quietly.