practice makes perfect [private--immi]

[splashtana ★]

<sup>Remembering all the herbs could often be considered a hassle, if you didn’t have the mind for it. But Sweetleaf did, and she was sure Flickerpaw did as well. The medicine cat wouldn’t have appointed her if she didn’t believe so! Anyways, moving on. Sweetleaf could remember her first herb training session in WindClan quite vividly, as if it were only yesterday. It had been many moons ago, because oddly enough, as she was eighteen moons old now, and not ten as she had been when she began training. Even though she’d started late, due to her getting lost from RiverClan, suffering her miscarriage, and coming to WindClan, Sweetleaf had still turned out to be quite a good medicine cat by the normal standards. And that was because she had a passion for herbs from the second she was introduced to them in RiverClan all those moons ago. Oh dear, that had been nearly sixteen moons ago. Laughing softly at own self, the calico and white she-cat rose to her paws and padded over to the nest where her apprentice slept, prodding her gently with a single, alabaster paw. “Flickerpaw, wake up. We’re going to have your first training session today!” Sweetleaf purred enthusiastically, her baby blue does eyes bright with excitement.

After this little task, she trotted over to the rock wall of shelves and groves where she kept her medicinal supplies. Pulling out a few leaves of marigold, a few stalks of horsetail, and a couple of oak leaves. Setting them out in a line before her, she smiled softly. “Before we start, I’m going to go over a few things. I like to have everything perfectly organized, including training, so rather than jumbling random herbs into one lesson, we’ll be doing a certain topic at a time. So, today we’ll be doing herbs that cure infection. But, again, before we start, can you tell me what you already know, if you already know anything?” She asked politely with a smile, her tail wrapped neatly over her alabaster paws as she spoke, blinking her eyes hopefully at her apprentice. Of course, she didn’t expect Flickerpaw to have any prior knowledge to herbs, maybe cobwebs and poppy seeds, but she wouldn’t be upset with her new apprentice if she didn’t do anything. Because, quite frankly, that would be horrible and wrong on Sweetleaf’s part.</sup>

[Deleted]

Flickerpaw awoke with a start to the sound of Sweetleaf's meows. The lanky apprentice stifled a groan, deciding to stretch instead. Ugh, she was really hoping this day would never come, but oh well. To be honest? The she-cat hated the smell of herbs, and would have much preferred to be a regular apprentice. Sure, being the Medicine Cat Apprentice had its perks, most definitely. The biggest downside was that everyone was expecting her to be this nice, meek, kind-hearted she-cat and that she-cat was not Flickerpaw in any way shape or form. "Fine, fine! Ah'm gettin' up already!" She groaned, her slight 'Windclan' accent getting through in her half-asleep haze. Flickerpaw rolled her eyes while Sweetleaf faced the wall. The white apprentice stood up and shook the loose heather stalks from her fur.

"Okay, so curing infection? Yeah I got nothin', unless that yellow flowery stuff is... uh, marigold or something pretty like that?," The new Medicine Cat apprentice admitted, trying to keep her nose from wrinkling in distaste. Shrugging as best she could, Flickerpaw sat down across from her mentor, metally preparing herself for a verbal onslaught about the useful herbs she abhorred.

[splashtana ★]

<sup>As if. “Flickerpaw, do you even care? Gosh darn it, why am I saying this. I’m going to ask this once, and only once. Do you want to be my apprentice or not?” She asked with a frown. If Flickerpaw didn’t want her position, and she wanted to resign, Sweetleaf would be a bit upset, but at least it would mean someone who cared would train under her. To the young feline, medicine was very serious and could not be taken lightly at all whatsoever. Suddenly, as if realizing that what she had been saying had been horribly and heartbreakingly wrong, Sweetleaf flattened her ears and snarled inwardly to herself.

“Ignore me, I’m being horrible. Yes, it’s marigold. The long, green plant is horsetail, and the dried leaves are oak leaves.” The medicine cat meowed meekly, not daring to raise her brilliant, baby blue gaze to her apprentice. It was as if the medicine cat was afraid of her apprentice now. Whoop dee doo, wasn’t that fantastic? Stupid Sweetleaf, she was honestly such a jerk, and a timid little thing, at times. Allowing her ears to return to their usual stature, the calico and white she-cat cautiously raised her baby blue orbs back up to Flickerpaw, and sighed. “I’m sorry. Let me explain.”

Taking a deep breath, she looked her apprentice straight in the eye and blinked. Her composure was instantly changed, to a stressed and anxious air rather than a relaxed and casual one. “I-I’m just stressed because I think I’m breaking the medicine cat code by falling in love. I can’t help it, I’m a living thing, I have feelings. But, I’m trusting you with this. That you won’t tell a soul about Redfang.” She whispered, her eyes desperate and horrified all at once as she spoke through parted jaws. Shoot. Why did she have to spill things out all the time?

“But, I do trust you. As we continue training, you’ll probably learn a whole lot about me anyways. I tend to talk with no ending and spill everything out. Like, for example, when I was seven moons old I got pregnant with a loner, had a miscarriage, and became depressed. But, it’s gone, I’m good, we’re fine.” She meowed with a shudder, tears forming in her eyes as she spoke. What if Flickerpaw told everyone? Suddenly, everyone would know what she was feeling towards Redfang, and her past. Shoot.</sup>

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Flickerpaw raised her non-existant eyebrows. "Ookay, as heartbreakingly touching as that was, I really don't wanna know what nasty stuff you did as a kid. So let's just get this over with. An' yeah, I do want to be your apprentice... ish," Well. She most certainly did not expect Sweetleaf to come and wibble at her with all her problems, but she was going to be a decent apprentice and keep the secret.

Looking down, she hesitantly poked each herb with her left forepaw. 'Lets see, yellow flowers are marigold, weird long green things're horsetail, an' the crumbly leaves come from oaks. Simple enough,' the apprentice decided, mentally going over the list of plants to make sure she knew them.

Flickerpaw looked at her mentor, seeing a scared young she-cat instead of what she had expected, a strong medicine cat keeping her cool. "Look, Sweetleaf. I won't tell, okay? I may not understand what you're feelin', but I'm not about ta go an' ruin your life, just 'cause a some 'age old tradition that must be upheld at all costs', got it?" The Siamese meowed, hoping she sounded reassuring. Ugh, would she have to do this more often if she became the Medicine Cat? Uuuuuugh, no thanks!

For a moment Flickerpaw felt as though she was the mentor attempting to comfort her apprentice who had just made a horrible mistake, but she quickly dismissed the thought. After all, it wasn't Sweetleaf's fault, was it? No, that's right, it was the silly old cats who set down those very rules who were controlling the elder she-cat's fate! So obviously, the best thing to do would just be to get her mentor out of her little meltdown and continue on the twisted path of life. Yeah, that sounded about right.

[splashtana ★]

<sup>Everything that she had once admired in Flickerpaw when she took her on as an apprentice had suddenly vanished just like that, and Sweetleaf felt her fur prickling as her apprentice spoke to her in such a disrespectful and obnoxious tone. The little she-cat’s attitude was honestly getting to out of hand, and Flickerpaw needed to step off of her high horse and have a reality check. Her apprentice had no idea what she’d been through in her lifetime, and quite frankly brushing if off as nothing was annoying her to the point of another breakdown or outburst. But she was already past that point, and she couldn’t hold back a snarl of frustration.

“You’re really pushing it, Flickerpaw. Listen to me right now. Do you want to be my apprentice or not? I want an answer, because you really don’t seem to like your job and I don’t want to deal with whatever the heck this is everyday! Cut the attitude now, got it?</sup>

[/b]” She meowed sternly, her eyes narrowed to slits as she spoke. The medicine cat didn’t want to be so horrible like this, but there were certain things that just pushed her buttons to the maximum, and outburst just tended to happen quite like this one.

[remember, take none of this personally because it is just sweetleaf’s personality and I love you dearly<33]
[/sup][/blockquote][/blockquote]

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ooc;; wahh sorry for the late reply! flicky and sweets really don't seem to like each other ;o
-
Flickerpaw was very proud of her self-control, but in this instance was less than overjoyed to put it to use. The she-cat could only barely hold back the huff and eye-roll she would usually have displayed, and with pride. 'Well don't get your whine on, lady! You're the one who picked me!' The white she-cat mentally yelled, eyes flashing darkly at the thought.

Instead of reacting in her usual abrasive manner, Flickerpaw just dipped her head slightly, lowering her ears a fraction. The lanky, tall apprentice wasn't at all good at looking submissive and sorry, but this was her best shot.

"I'm sorry, okay? I'm just actin' the way that feels, well, natural. Ya probably didn't expect me tah be like this, right? Well, you're s'posed to be, like, my 'guidin' figure', I think is what they say. So I'm just tryin' tah be who I am inside, and not put on a smiley mask and be like 'this is me!' when it's not. Sure, I'm not convinced I can be a good Medicine Cat, when you picked me I didn't even wanna be one! But you picked me for a good reason, I'm guessin', so I wanna make this work, okay?" Flickerpaw meowed, trying her best to sound apologetic and sincere. Sure, about maybe half of that was true. If she was actually following her statement about being who she really was? Sweetleaf probably would've kicked her out the moment she opened her maw. And quite frankly? Flickerpaw might've preferred that, before and maybe now as well. Just a few seconds ago however, and now as well, she supposed, she would have to stay. After all, if she didn't, what in the world would she do about Sweetleaf's secret? At least as her apprentice it could be some kinda mentor-apprentice confidentiality thing, but if she was dismissed, she would be that random apprentice who knows one of the biggest secrets in Windclan history, and Flickerpaw just could not have that.

[splashtana ★]

<sup>Rolling her eyes, the medicine cat sat back down, letting her bristling fur relax, and recollected herself. "Tell me what you've learned today." Sweetleaf meowed, no emotion leaking from her expression or her tone of voice. To be frank, the pretty young calico was disappointed. Not in Flickerpaw, never with Flickerpaw, but with herself. Flickerpaw could easily be shaped into a wonderful medicine cat, she was sure of it, but the she-cat couldn't help feeling guilty for ripping the option of being a warrior apprentice away from the younger feline. Though, Flickerpaw hadn't protested, she'd accepted, and that confused Sweetleaf beyond words. Of course, with training on both herbs and manners, Flickerpaw would be fantastic. With a sigh, the medicine cat looked down at her paws with a frown. Dismissing her apprentice might not be the best idea, now that the apprentice knew her deepest secrets. There was no way to tell if she'd react badly, as Sweetleaf had never taken the time to get to know her and all. Another thing the pretty young medicine cat felt guilty about. So, demoting her apprentice was not happening. Not yet, anyways. What did it matter, all of this formalized training? Not even knowing the cat she was training was tearing her apart, and she looked up from her alabaster paws, baby blue eyes shining with a sudden determination. "I don't even know you, so how can I even think about training you? This is ridiculous."

Rising to her paws, a fiery expression on her face, the delicate medicine cat rushed over to the herbs that she'd been teaching Flickerpaw, and swept them to the side, then turned and dashed towards the entrance of the den. "Come on, darling, we're bonding today!" The medicine cat declared, then turned on her paws and darted out of the den, her tail streaming out behind her as she ran. Fantastic, she loved it. With a smile, feeling the wind rush through her pelt, Sweetleaf stretched her limbs out further as she reached the exit to the camp, shooting through it like a bullet, and raced across the stretch of land before her with ease. Skidding to a halt atop of a hill, the eighteen moon old turned to wait for her apprentice, a broad grin dancing across her maw, baby blue doe eyes gleaming with pure excitement as she spoke.</sup>

[Deleted]

    The apprentice sighed, and blinked very slowly. The Siamese jumped to her paws, turned to the door, but then began to walk leisurely. With a final sigh, Flickerpaw stretched slightly, then took off. The wind barely moved her short, soft furs. Springy grass massaged her beaten, tough paws as she sprinted, Sweetleaf already in view. With a hop-step-skid, Flickerpaw stopped her run right in front of the medicine cat. 

     "So... what.. do ya mean by 'bondin'?" She inquired, a little uncertain but also a little excited. She had had the answer to Sweetleaf's first question on the tip of her tongue, but forced it back into the admittedly empty recesses of her mind. In all honesty? Sweetleaf was very, very confusing. And temperamental. And not someone Flickerpaw would usually talk to. Oh well. She tried to bring pure honesty into her eyes, not wanting to upset the other she-cat. (Again.) Deciding that she didn't want to stand there awkwardly anymore, Flickerpaw brought herself into a half-sit, bottom not on the ground, but she wasn't standing any longer. Her maw twisted into an apprehensive, tight sideways smile, as if she was trying to calm Sweetleaf. Stop another outburst from tearing down her ego. "So, uh, like, girly stuff? Or do you mean something else? Because no offense, but that, uh, flowery-er types a' stuff aren't exactly mah, uh, cup o' tea, if ya will,"   Flickerpaw admitted, averting her aquamarine optics to look at the intensely interesting ground.