A Day In The Life...

[* Annika ;;]

Swiftwind padded into the medicine den, a bit disjointed. She had tried to get some herbs, but she had stumbled on her paws and torn up leaves with her claws, which she had forgotten to sheathe. Maybe I can get Sootpaw to do it for me. She's smaller than me, and can probably do a better job. she thought. The blue-grey she-cat stretched in her den for a moment, then sat up. She could hear pawsteps outside her den. "Hello?" she mewed.

[á£Îmaý---♫♥]

"Help!"
A mottled ginger tabby she-cat burst into camp. Her sides were heaving as she fought to catch her breath. Maplepaw had spent too long in the camp and was beginning to feel the strain of regular apprentice duties. "Fighting, near the Grove!" she meowed loudly. She looked around the camp, her eyes searching but for what she didn't know. "Tussockwind sent me back. He went to check it out," she added.

There was a rustle and thud of paws falling first as Tussockwind tore through the camp entrance, leaves clinging to his tangled pelt. "Rogues!" he yowled, pushing past his sister. "Hawkstar wants Wolfheart leading a patrol around the Grove and nearby borders. We need Sootpaw and Swiftwind now. The rogues made a mess of Honeyfrost and Owlfoot. Hawkstar's not so pretty himself."

"Oh, StarClan."
Desertflower stared up from what had been her morning meal with stunned eyes. "How many?" she choked," How many rogues?"
"Two," Tussockwind meowed. "But they bolted when Hawkstar arrived. Come on! I don't think anybody wants to be sitting vigil tonight. It'll be freezing."

[* Annika ;;]

Swiftwind poked her head out of her den. A few cats had been calling for help. The blue-grey she-cat snapped out of her small trance and rose to her full height, stepping out of her den. "What is it?" Swiftwind asked. If something was wrong, she needed to know. That was her duty. "What's wrong?" she asked again.

[á£Îmaý---♫♥]

Maplepaw jumped, startled by the sound of Swiftwind's voice. She took a deep breath to steady her nerves before blurting out what her brother had just told the Clan. "At the Grove there were rogues and Honeyfrost and Owlfoot were out hunting this morning and then Hawkstar, Tussockwind and I went out and there were yowls and Tussockwind sent me back-"
Tussockwind cut her off with a slice of his tail. She was beginning to panic. Of course, she had a right too. Owlfoot looked rather dead to him but at the moment they all had a duty to fulfil which didn't involve babbling like an idiot. "Rogues at the Grove," he meowed," Made a mess of Honeyfrost and Owlfoot. They don't look that good if you're following what I'm saying. We have to go now. Grab Sootpaw, somes herbs, whatever."
He turned back to the camp gesturing for a handful of warriors to follow them. Some would be needed to help Swiftwind with the injured while the others could begin a patrol.

[* Annika ;;]

Swiftwind's pale green eyes widened at the news from the apprentice and warrior. She knew she shouldn't lose her patience or temper. Swiftwind had rarely been not startled at the thought of a cat in need, but she had to stay calm. She turned her back on the two, digging around to find cobwebs, poppy seeds, and marigold. Although her den was perfectly tidy, Swiftwind couldn't think straight – this usually happened when there was an emergency.

[á£Îmaý---♫♥]

((Loaym's away for the moment, so no Sootpaw. Just remembered.))

"Maplepaw, help Swiftwind," Tussockwind told her. "You've been in that den more than any cat in the Clan, except for Swiftwind herself."
Maplepaw nodded meekly and slipped into the den beside the silver she-cat. She quickly began gathering some dock leaves which could act as wrapping for the loose herbs and cover for poultices. "What do you want me to carry?" she asked.

[* Annika ;;]

Swiftwind looked down at the apprentice. Okay, so I've got some cobwebs, horsetail, and marigold… she thought for a moment, and then replied, "Please carry that dock. You can wrap some poppy seeds in them as well." She looked over the herbs she had grabbed for a moment, and then let out a small sigh. She had gathered all the herbs she needed and made it in one piece. She then looked at Tussockwind. "So where are Honeyfrost and Owlfoot? How bad are their wounds?" she asked.

[á£Îmaý---♫♥]

Maplepaw nodded and nosed some of the nice black seeds onto the dock leaf. Satisfied she had enough, she folded the leaf over and made it into a bundle that she could carry.

"The Grove," Tussockwind told her, padding towards the camp entrance. "They're just under one of the trees. Owlfoot was unconcious when I left and the base of his neck was torn open. There's blood all over his face too but I'm not sure if it's his own or the rogues. Honeyfrost is in a slightly better condition but I think she might be in shock. All around her neck and shoulders is blood and torn flesh. A right real mess."

[* Annika ;;]

Swiftwind nodded, trying to remain calm. Whatever happened, she hoped she could save the deputy and warrior. "Come on, Maplepaw," she mewed. The medicine cat wrapped the herbs she needed to bring with her in a dock leaf, and picked it up. She followed Tussockwind to the camp entrance.

[OOC: Should we move this to another thread?]

[heartnet]

Wolfheart bounded up behind Swiftwind, Tussockwind, and Maplepaw. "I was informed to what happened. I shall gather some others and start the patrol soon. Tussockwind, once you're done helping, meet us straight away at the Aquaclan border." He said firmly, then nodded to Swiftwind. "May Starclan guide your paws to help our leader and clanmates." he said quietly.

[á£Îmaý---♫♥]

ooc: Er. Yes. I think that would be okay.

Tussockwind nodded. "I'll meet you there as soon as possible. Might take a while though. I think we'll need some help carrying Owlfoot back and maybe Honeyfrost. I doubt we can carry them by their scruffs...we'll have to leave them there until they can get back." He grimaced, starting to feel unsure about himself. He wasn't exactly sure what he should be doing. Hawkstar was with their injured deputy so there was nobody at camp to make the decisions. He didn't like taking charge.
"StarClan help us," Maplepaw murmured, bounding after Swiftwind.