wash over me [open]

[foxxeh]

<sub>With a sigh, a small brown and white cat sniffed through the ferns. He was looking for some more herbs to collect just in case something had to happen to the clan or happen to the medicine cat's den. It was green-leaf, the most plentiful and new for the clan. New kits meant more work, but in this cat's eyes it meant it was good for the clan and giving him something to do. This cat was small, but he had a big heart for doing his job and for his clan. Mousenose lifted his head from the ferns as he waved through the water and spotted a small water vole although didn't even bother to catch it. There was no need to - not yet at least. He watched it carefully, how the soft brown fur scurried across the floor and how it splashed in the water. A smile was placed on his face for a moment.

"Mother, how do water vole's swim or do they just drown?" Mousekit asked as he looked at the two little water voles swimming at the edge of the lake. His mother smiled and licked Mousekit's forehead, "They swim and the mother won't let her kits down. Because a mother loves her kits deeply when they are in trouble..."

The memory faded and Mousenose dropped his herbs on the dry land, he shook his long pelt and twitched his ears before looking back at the water vole. He shook his head and went back to herb hunting. I have to collect catnip. Catnip. The small brown cat licked his muzzle and continued to look for catnip, no matter how long it took.</sub>

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[x - - glass w i s h]

Silently, the small gray and white she-cat stalked through the undergrowth. Her underbelly brushed the grass underfoot, and her paw steps made no sound nor vibrations. She was like a ghost, floating quickly through the bushes. The sound of the rushing river crashed behind her, and the occasional birdsong drifted through the canopy. Swallowpaw's target was ahead, right now looking like a pointy, brown triangle sticking up in between the bushes. Swallowpaw ghosted forward, keeping her head low and tail down. She did not want to get spotted. As she accidentally stepped on a crunchy leaf, she hissed softly in frustration. This could take all day! Plucking up her courage, she dashed from bush to bush until the towering white twoleg invention was in front of her.

Glancing around, she hesitantly stepped through the gap where two white spikes parted. Suddenly, a yowl from a twoleg kit crashed upon her ears. Her tail fluffed up in alarm, and she darted back into the safety of her bush. Swallowpaw could feel her hear hammering inside her chest, and was surprised the sparrows overhead did not fly off in alarm. She watched for many agonizing minutes as the twoleg kit searched bush after bush for her. Swallowpaw let out a sigh of relief as it's mother summoned it back inside the giant den. Still, she waited until she was sure they were not coming back.

Gingerly, she padded inside the white spike boundary, alert for any sounds. There were many flowers and herbs that would be useful, but she wanted to find something that would make Mousenose proud of her. She scanned the organized bushes when a delicious smell wafted into her nose. Catmint! Carefully, Swallowpaw found the purple flowered plant. Ever so gently, she broke off a good sized stem. Now they wouldn't have to worry about greencough! Unfortunately, her victory was short lived. The twoleg kit from earlier came tramping back, yowling in delight. Her tail fluffed up, and she ran for the gap in the white spikes.

Panting, she clenched her precious cargo gently. Swallowpaw could smell nothing but the delicious scent of the catmint in her jaws. She didn't notice Mousenose until she saw him. The medicine cat apprentice darted forward excitedly, "Moufnose! Look wha' I foun'!" Swallowpaw couldn't talk properly with the catmint in her mouth. She laid it carefully in front of her, then spoke more clearly, "Look, Mousenose, look! I had to run into a twoleg garden to get it, and this twoleg kit nearly got me!" She recounted excitedly, and maybe a little too fast.

Swallowpaw could be a little energetic at times, but she was sure her mentor knew that her intentions were good.