Herb Searching {open to anyone}

[Anemonemist]

So perhaps, at one point, Anemonemist had tried to create a herb patrol before. But then when she became rather busy and--again she'll say it--anit-social, the thought of having RockClanners assist in plucking and finding herbs seemed rather dissatisfying. So, she had dropped the idea. Giving no indication to the cats who offered to join they weren't going to do anything at all. Just simply let it slip away until they forgot. Until now, while trying to get over her anti-social lifestyle... which she really saw no problem with... she was doing this again. Only she hadn't asked cats to offer up their time and await for the day. Instead, she just spread the news around camp that on this particular day at sunhigh, Anemone would be waiting at the camp entrance and if anyone wanted to waste their time with her, then they would join in her waiting. That seemed easier. Although since RockClan's population was all but nonexistence in the eyes of a shut-in medicine cat, she doubted anyone would even show up.

But still, here she was. At the camp entrance, sitting patiently with her paws around her tail and a neutral expression. She had placed her bets on no one arriving. And maybe no one would.

Yet what was the point of reaching out to her Clanmates if no one would even return the gesture?

{ since my last idea died before, just gonna do this... might make this... a thing...? dunno, but anyone is allowed to join and at any time. there is no limited amount of cats. ^-^ hopefully someone is willing to do this, yeah? }

[Ripplepaw]

Herb patrol... Ripplepaw murmered to himself, heading towards Rockclan's territory. He had overheard some warriors mention that the medicine cat Anemonemist was going out to refill her herb stock and the cats of Rockclan were welcome to join her. Although Ripplepaw had never met Anemonemist and didn't know next to anything about herbs, he liked the thought of actually being useful, and learning about herbs actually caught his interest. It would definitely be useful and put Ripplepaw's mind to rest to know that the random leaf next to you would help out with that cut you just got.

The closer Ripplepaw got to where everyone was supposed to meet, the more he realized that he probably wouldn't know anyone there and he hadn't even gotten a proper tour of Rockclan's territory yet. What if I get lost... or just inconvenience everyone...? Anxiety began to sweep over the tom and he began contemplating turning around, but the thought of just sitting around camp doing nothing and yet knowing he could have been helping out by collecting herbs was too loud to ignore and so he tred on in spite of how he felt.

A cat he assumed was Anemonemist fell into his line of sight but he didn't see anyone else around. Inhaling deeply to calm his nerves, Ripplepaw smiled slightly at the cat. "Er, excuse me, but you're Anemonemist right? I was wanting to help out in collecting herbs..." He began, ignoring his the nervous churn in his stomach.

[Anemonemist]

Anemonemist raised her head as a cat approached, her dusty blue eyes wary. So, RockClanners were caring about their medicine cat. It was to be expected, for she was the only one on the job at the moment. Perhaps soon she would train an apprentice if anyone seemed appropriate. But it would be fairly difficult to win the approval of her. "Right," the healer muttered to his words. Though she was unlucky enough to get an apprentice, a cat was a cat. And this at least gave Ane no chance of backing out now. "We'll start with just the two of us for now." If anyone else was thinking of arriving, they would have to catch up. Anemonemist wasn't about to sit around and wait any longer. So, standing up with a light stretch of her muscles, the she-cat started to take off in another direction with the expectation of the tomcat following. "I'm searching for blackberry leaves, daisy leaves, elder leaves, goldenrod, goosegrass and juniper berries for now. If I feel like finding anything else, I'll let you know. I'll leave the daisy leaves and juniper berries to you, since those two are the easiest to identify for an apprentice." The healer paused to glance back at him, her eyes narrowing. "Unless you happen to know what goosegrass and goldenrod look like?"

Though she doubted he did. So, she added sharply. "And you already know my name. Who are you?"

[Ripplepaw]

'Right,'

His smile fell, and Ripplepaw tried with his whole being not to shrink in on himself. That seemed to be one of the most unenthusiastic replies he had ever heard. A smile part of him wanted to protest and say the atleast someone had showed up, but... then again, he would probably have the same reaction as she did. An apprentice who had barely started his training and didn't even know the lay of the land? Ripplepaw's ears drooped. Pathetic.

The tom listened as the medicine cat listed off several herbs that he had never recalled hearing in his life. He was beginning to decide that maybe he should just leave. He could just say sorry and walk off and spend the rest of his life avoiding her out of embarrassment. And that's what he had planned to do as he opened his mouth to reply to her, but instead said, "Unfortunately, I don't know what those look like, and I don't think I even knew that juniper berries and daisy leaves existed until now. I've not been taught these things." Oh, and I've never even had a proper training lesson... Better leave that thought unsaid.

'Who are you?'

"I'm Ripplepaw." He told her simply. He wasn't anyone. "So, how exactly does one find these berries and leaves?" He asked Anemonemist, his tail flicking anxiously, ignoring the small part of him that protested against being there.

[Ratpaw]

guess who's back after 32u49124 months of being inactive? c; I think Ratpaw will find one of the two in his next post! Probably Ripplepaw so he doesn't get too freaked out!

Ratpaw was watching the two gather by the camp entrance. The older cat first and then apprentice. It looked like they were meeting, but it also looked like it was their first encounter. First training session, maybe? The lilac tom sighed. Maybe he should go searching for Flamepath soon to resume his training. Now that he was feeling better once again.

Something looked wrong though. Like the older cat was waiting for someone else? He did not know. Maybe something was going on, and he wanted to know, but once he finished brushing himself clean, the duo was already gone. Like in a flash.

'You have to follow them. Find out what they're doing.' But he was also afraid. What if something ate him out there? Even after his mentor's reassurances, there was still worry. But he decided to run after the two, practicing his hunting skills. Follow a trail, and hopefully run into them. He hoped that nothing was going to happen out in the wild.

[Anemonemist]

Anemonemist stared at the apprentice with such unneeded boredom it almost hurt her face. Then stiffly, after a few moments of just staring, she blinked and whipped her head away. "Of course the one cat who doesn't know fox-dung about herbs decides to go herb searching." she growled lowly, her dusty blue eyes slowly peering back towards Ripplepaw's eyes. She sighed, deep and disappointed, before gathering what little patience she had left. "Fine. At least someone is here." Anemonemist muttered, as if to prove a point to herself, and then dipped her head to Ripplepaw in acknowledgement. "Then pay attention. I don't like to repeat myself."

Peering around, the medicine cat searched for what she needed. And out of luck, there it was. A bush of juniper berries. Trotting over with a sharp lash of her tail, a signal for Ripplepaw to follow, Ane stopped at the bush and jabbed a paw towards the purple-blue berries. "These are juniper berries. They treat bellyaches, help cats with their breathing, give strength and can also calm someone. Simple enough to find?" She decided giving the effect of the herb would help, either for Ripplepaw to just know the herb if ever in the future he needed it, or just out of defense to give a reason as to why these berries were important. "Make sure when you pluck them, you don't break the skin. I need these in good condition, too, so don't take the dried out ones." She paused for a moment, giving the apprentice a dull look. "And I hope you know what a daisy is--the flower. It's white, with oval shaped leaves. It eases the pain of aching joints, and a travelling herb. Do I need to point one of them out for you as well?"

[Ripplepaw]

'Of course the one cat who doesn't know fox-dung about herbs decides to go herb searching.'

Ripplepaw frowned, his fur bristling in embarrassment much to his dismay. "Er, I can hear you. But whatever. That's fine." He muttered, more to himself. He felt heat run to his face, but he ignored it. This was the worst idea ever. So much for being useful. His expression turned solemn, although he tried not to let on that he was offended.

His attitude did improve as she began to explain the uses of the herbs, though. Ripplepaw loved to learn knew things, which is why he enjoys being an apprentice; Learning was all he did these days. He nodded, sinking in the information he needed. He wouldn't mess this up. Maybe, just maybe, she wouldn't be as sour with him if he proved he could at least do this simple task. "I won't break them." He confirmed.

Once again, as she asked her last question his face was beginning to heat up. "I know what daisies look like... No need to point those out." He felt out of breath. This cat had a presence Ripplepaw never had to deal with until now; He wasn't sure what to think of her... Or how to act. He was sure he appeared small to her...

[Not ignoring you Ratpaw, I'll just interact with you once you make your character present in-character!]

[Ratpaw]

Ratpaw continued, making sure to keep the trail still fresh. He did not know what to do if he were to lose his clanmates. He hardly even finished a territory tour. 'Ugh, I'd really need to find Flamepath once I get back home,' he concluded, nose pressed against rock to dirt. He could not lose them.

It started getting fainter at one point, and the apprentice freaked. Where was he supposed to go? He was confused. He was scared. What was going on? Ratpaw didn't know what to do. Left, or right? 'One of them has to be right. I'll eventually end up somewhere.' 

So he went right, trusting his logic. The lilac apprentice then saw the two, and was he ecstatic. "Oh boy, oh boy!" he called out, coming to a hop. The apprentice jogged over to his clanmates, only to see herbs gathered around. His nose quivered and the tom's ears flattened. 'Did I seriously just come all this way to interrupt a medicine cat training session? Boring!' Ratpaw then turned around, about to head back to the camp, only to remember that he did not remember the way back. Or how he even got to where he currently was.

'Ugh, I might as well just accompany them,' he mumbled, coming beside the apprentice. 'Boy, he looks scared.'

"Do you need help today?" he asked, directing the other one. Since she looked like she knew what was going on.

[Anemonemist]

Ripplepaw promised not to break the juniper berries. Good, she would believe him until he did fail. He was an apprentice, so of course he would. The chances of it happening would increase as more time went on. Anemonemist wasn't too excited to spend a long time out in the territory, but she at least needed to collect a good number of herbs to be satisfied. "Great," she drawled out, flicking an ear towards a sound nearby after he finished up. At least he knew what daisies were. She could work with him now.

Now turning her attention to the sound, another apprentice appeared. Her eyes widened for only a second in dismay, before they narrowed a moment later back to the cold stare. A hyper apprentice. the she-cat growled, giving Ripplepaw a look. Makes you seem like a blessing compared to them. Though she kept that thought to herself as she watched the new RockClanner whip around, pause, and then turn back to them. Did he not know the way back to camp, or did he suddenly remember why he was out here? Was this tomcat even here to help search for herbs?

Tch. Apprentices.

With a roll of her dusty blue eyes, Anemonemist stepped away from the juniper bush and addressed the apprentice. "If you're willing to," she grumbled, adding a sigh after. "You'll be assigned to find goldenrod and goosegrass. I assume I need to show you what they look like?" Perhaps she should have given the easier herbs to this one. At least Ripplepaw seemed a little bit more stable....