Rock Patrol (open to WC)

Daisypaw looked at the overflowing crevice filled with bright orange marigold flowers like it had personally offended her. Small ears flattened back against her head, she closed her eyes, the cooling darkness and pointed absence of the marigold in her vision calmed the flare of frustration that poked her sharply in the chest. She took a deep fortifying breath. StarClan offers their blessings in strange ways the marigold might be useful lat- Her breath hitched as another coughing fit slammed her heaving lungs against her ribcage. The wet hacking coughs shook her frame and she lowered her head against the intensity of them. For a long moment there was nothing but the blinding panic, a wave of dizziness that narrowed her vision to pinpricks as she scraped air desperately into her aching throat.

Finally the fit released her, and the bi-colored molly gingerly lowered herself onto her side in front of her herb stores, sucking in sharp, greedy breaths. Every part of her ached,  touched by a bone weary exhaustion she couldn’t shake. Her mouth stung with a sharp metallic taste, and she spit the bloody phlegm off to the side in distaste. She rested her head on her paws, chest wheezing with rattling breaths as she pointedly slowed her breathing, letting the forced rhythm calm her racing heart. Maybe she could just rest here for a moment, smothered by the sharp scents of her herbs. Her cheek pressed into the cool floor of the medicine den as she slumped bonelessly on the ground. The sound of shuffling pawsteps from outside made her crack one eye open, amber gaze stark against her pale face.

First one kit, and then another. Morningmoon’s kits left no corner of camp untouched it seemed. Daisypaw lifted her head off the ground, narrowing her eyes slightly against the glare of the sunlight spilling into the den. Cloudykit’s high ringing mew slammed a sharp rod of discomfort behind her fever-hazed eyes, and the molly blinked slowly at both of them. Still, she couldn’t blame the kits for getting into trouble, the few warriors well enough to entertain the kits were running themselves ragged trying to feed the weakened clan.

“Rocks?” She wheezed, a little mrrph of amusement struggled past the tightness of her chest. “It sounds like you’re both very brave, battling these uh rocks.” Daisypaw blinked again, the tiny silhouettes of the kits blurring out of focus as they melted into the black spots crawling over her vision like passing clouds. Was this a particularly gentle fever dream? The molly sunk her claws into the earth, confusion making her ears twitch.“but the rocks are trying to rest.” She said with utmost conviction, before realizing what she said. “Not the rocks. The rocks are fine. The sick are trying to rest.” She blinked again, hazy amber eyes rolling over the kits and looking over their heads for a minute as the silence lapsed. She snapped back to the present, closing her eyes against another wave of exhaustion. Stars her pelt was burning. Had it always been this hot in the den? The kits looked so excited, their bright eyes and noble conviction. She hated to disappoint them.

She heaved herself unsteadily to her paws, the whole den rocking sideways before the dizziness ebbed away. The bi-colored molly took two marigold flowers from her stores, nearly toppling the entire pile shoved into the crevice. She reached down and tucked one gently behind Cloudykit’s ear, and placed the second in Galekit’s scruff. “I Daisypaw, Medicine Cat Apprentice of WindClan, give a small token of honor to these two kits for their dedication and service to the clan.” She stepped back and dipped her head slightly to both kittens. She flicked her white-tipped tail towards the openness of camp. “I’m sure the elders could use your help next.” She wheezed, slowly lowering herself back into a seated position.

“And uh, if you two see Molehill could you send him this way?” She gave the kits a weak smile. “May StarClan grant you speed.” She closed her eyes against the fogginess that threatened to drown her. Hopefully her brother wasn’t too busy to stop by, just until her fever slogged off. Being alone with so many herbs and sick Clanmates did not seem like a good idea.