"Thanks a lot," Bitterpaw sighed, glancing from Badgerpaw to Frostmouse. "He will heal, right?"
"I should think so," Frostmouse meowed. "I am the medicine cat, aren't I?"
"Right," Bitterpaw meowed, smiling. "Sorry to doubt your skills." He turned and padded out of the medicine den. As he trotted out, he passed Darkpaw, who was leading Rainpaw, who was bleeding from a scratch over her eye and walking on three legs, carefully to Frostmouse. He heard Rainpaw meow,
"Really, Darkpaw, I'm fine." Frostmouse groaned when he saw he had another patient.
Bitterpaw realized as he was padding away that he hadn't asked Frostmouse about his dreams. He headed for the fresh kill pile. Maybe Pigeonwing will do some training with me, he thought hopefully. He took two mice and padded towards the warriors' den to give one to his mentor. As Bitterpaw was trotting over, Pigeonwing squeezed out, stiff-legged. He blinked at Bitterpaw, glancing hopefully at the mice he held in his jaws. Bitterpaw purred, setting them down.
"If you're wondering if these are for you or not, who else in the warriors' den would I want to share a mouse with?" He meowed. Pigeonwing purred, flicking his tail. He sat down uncomfortably.
"Was it raining?" He asked, as he took a bite of a mouse. "Because I think there might be a leak in the warriors' den. I'm as stiff as… well, I'm just stiff. And still tired." He stifled a yawn. Bitterpaw glanced worriedly at his mentor.
"I could ask Frostmouse to see if there's an herb to help," He suggested. I could also ask about my dream while I'm at it. Pigeonwing shook his head, but Bitterpaw got up and padded towards the medicine den anyway. "I insist!" He called over his shoulder. Pigeonwing shrugged stiffly.
Bitterpaw pushed his way inside the crowded medicine den, calling for Frostmouse. "Oh, what is it this time? Surely not another injury…" Frostmouse padded over to Bitterpaw, holding a wad of cobwebs in his paw. He looked relieved to see Bitterpaw was alone and unhurt. "Well then, how can I help you?" Frostmouse meowed more cheerfully. He set the cobwebs down and curled his tail around his paws.
"I came to ask if you have an herb for stiff joints. Pigeonwing thinks there's a leak in the roof of the warriors' den," Bitterpaw replied. Frostmouse smiled and stood up.
"Why, that's easy!" He turned and shuffled his way past Badgerpaw and Rainpaw. Bitterpaw followed, careful not to disturb his sleeping denmates. "Daisy leaves… daisy leaves," Frostmouse murmured, looking through all his herbs. "Ah-ha! Here they are!" He turned, holding what looked like regular leaves to Bitterpaw, but what must be some sort of herb he didn't know about. "Give these to Pigeonwing, and he should feel much better!" Frostmouse handed the leaves to Bitterpaw. "I think after you're made a warrior, Pigeonwing's going to be joining the elders, so if you ever need more, come straight here," he whispered.
"I wanted to tell you something else," Bitterpaw meowed.
"Later," Frostmouse mewed. "Go and treat your patient." Bitterpaw nodded, grabbed the leaves, and headed back out into the clearing.