**Elmshadow**
@
Alchemist Kitsune @
x ghostie @
carmen @
ares @
Omari
His glance toward Drizzlecloud and Springpaw told him most of what he had needed to know and the discovery made his pelt crawl, though his face remained a stony mask. The two were either feigning ignorance, leave it to Thunderclan to constantly play the victim. Of course they were a clan that was too high and mighty to have been responsible for the underhandedness in an altercation between them and Shadowclan. It wouldn't surprise the dark tom a bit if they'd milk that image for as long as they could. Either that or, in Elmshadow's mind, potentially worse, they truly didn't know. Two of their clanmates, their charges, dead at the border by the claws of a lone medicine cat apprentice and they had no idea,
Typical. Bumblestar was asking for fights she had no business in and that fact had never been so clear as now, with her medicine cats clueless as new apprentices, or manipulative as the snakes they claimed Shadowclan was. It was insulting, the clan of mice. He'd been immersed in the politics of clan life long enough to know when to hold his tongue and play nice, though. Thunderclan would repent, but cowing their medicine cats at a halfmoon meeting was near as cowardly as outnumbering and murdering a lone medicine cat apprentice at the border.
Cowtuft, Lightningpaw, and Stonepaw seemed equally, but in their cases reasonably, shocked by the news. Cowtuft's expression said enough that Elmshadow was confident enough interpreting his signs as condolences and well wishes. Lightningpaw confirmed as much with her translation and a rather rare glimpse of contriteness in the boisterous young she-cat as well. He had to admit he was only gaining more respect for the seemingly soft large medicine cat in his choice of apprentice. Each meeting seemed to show Elmshadow more of what Lightningpaw could grow to become. She was lightning ready to strike unexpectedly but showed good judgement on when to temper herself. He dipped his head back respectfully toward Cowtuft and then Lightningpaw.
"I have no doubt that she is comfortable and thriving in her new role." He was confident enough in Ivysnake's path to the Dark Forest but was also aware that mention of such was a discomforting notion among his current company, a bit that Cowtuft seemed to be aware of as well judging by Lightningpaw's uncertain translation.
He listened blandly as Drizzlecloud brought up lavender, an herb he'd used plenty but had never before considered using for uses beyond its masking scent. That was an oversight that he was impressed he had made, though he wasn't prepared to simply take the Thunderclanner's word for it, but he saw no reason for the information to not be accurate based on what he already knew. Springpaw's addition, much to his chagrin, made his ears twitch.
Coldamber, he'd heard her name spoken by somebody else before as well, who had it been?
Who was she in life? The former medicine cat had given him so little information about herself, leaving him only to deduce she had not been Shadowclan and thus it had left him suspicious of her motives. But it seemed she was apparently training the little Thunderclan apprentice now as well. But it was Cowtuft's reaction to the comment that struck him more. He seemed surprised though Elmshadow couldn't make out what he signed after mentioning the Starclan medicine cat's name aloud. Was he also visited by Coldamber, or did he know her? Lightningpaw seemed to have the same question surrounding Cowtuft and Coldamber so he kept his own mouth shut and observed.
He awaited some of the responses, especially wanting to see Cowtuft's answer to Lightningpaw's question around Coldamber and, to a lesser degree, what Springpaw had to elaborate on regarding the herbs she'd decided to list but not explain. He knew of all but chamomile, interestingly enough considering that was the herb one of his daughters had been named for. He'd begun testing with it but was unsure exactly of all of its uses. Stonepaw was slowly beginning to surpass his moons for a medicine cat who was appointed at such a young age, his response to the Thunderclan medicine cats seemed both mature and direct.
#water