Cold Stone.

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Still the snow fell, layer after layer after layer, settling over the flattened moorland like a thick blanket, muffling all the sounds and reflecting the blinding light of the sun. Any prey that was still above ground was apparently easy to find, owing to the tracks in the snow, however Pebblefur wouldn't know. She'd spent two long moons in the nursery, one whilst she was still an expecting mother and the second to nurse her newborns as well as Nightfeather's mother-less pair. She missed the sounds and smells of life outside the camp, even blighted as they were by the snow. Further still, though she loved them all dearly, she missed life without kits. A life untroubled by questioning meows, disturbed sleep, and constant trips to the nursery entrance to retrieve whichever one was trying to sneak away unseen. It had been a week since Oakkit's dabble with freedom and ever since the new Queen had found herself suffering with a nasty cold. This was the reason she had risked leaving her four kits - to seek out a medicine cats guidance.

'Commetdance? I need to speak with you if that's okay, or Everpaw, I don't mind who..' she mewled, strolling briskly into the den to get out of the cold and shaking the recent snow flurry from her pelt. She had adjusted well to Clan life, having previously been a kittypet. This life was so much more satisfying and real in comparison to a cosy cushion and as much milk and boiled fish that a cat could ever eat in a day. Unfortunately there was also and increased risk of illness. The grey and white patched cat ran one frost-coloured paw over her nose, licking and wiping to try and get rid of the constant dripping. It was driving her mad! She'd also started coughing a sunrise ago, something she really hoped would clear up soon as it always woke the kits and several hours of play fighting and noise was guaranteed to ensue. Please Commetdance, there must be something you can do..' she pondered quietly.

[featherstorm]

Commetdance was in the back den where the herbs were. She was cleaning some old herbs and putting in new ones. She was also seeing what herbs she was low on and if she could last till the spring. She did this once a week, to make sure she wasn't running low on herbs. If she was then she would go out and try and find some, but if they were herbs she didn't really need then she would wait till spring. She licked her paw and ran her paw on her head. She has a good supply of all the herbs. Some of them she's a bit low on but those herbs could wait till spring.

She heard someone walk in. 'Commetdance? I need to speak with you if that's okay, or Everpaw, I don't mind who..' . She walked out of the herbs den. She looked to the middle of the den. " Oh! Pebblefur what a surprise. I don't mind what do you need? Is there something wrong?" asked Commetdance. She walked over toward the other she-cat. She could tell she wasn't feeling good.

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As the she-cat waited patiently for someone to answer her she heard faint shuffling noises from the very back of the den, the smaller area she had never been in before. At least there was someone here, and she was content to wait for whoever it was to finish their work before seeing to her. She took a seat almost a second before a brilliant white she-cat left the den. Commetdance and Everpaw were both pure white cats and she'd heard that some of the other Clans often got them confused. However this she-cat was about the same size as her, meaning it was mentor, not apprentice, that she was talking to now.

'Oh Commetdance, I'm sorry to trouble you, I know you must be busy already.. it's just that-' she paused to lick her paw and wipe it over her nose, quelling the line of mucus that was threatening to drip from her nose onto the dusty floor. 'Sorry, I seem to have developed somewhat of a cold. My coughing is waking the kits during the night and I'm not sure it's doing them any good' she looked questioningly at the experienced feline in front of her, noticing for the first time the fragrant scent of many different herbs that clung to her white pelt and the gleaming sparkle that existed in her eyes. Pebblefur remained seated, her coughing had not only kept the kits awake, but herself as well and she was more tired than usual. Standing took so much effort these days, it was a relief that she wasn't expected to carry on with her Warrior duties also.

[featherstorm]

Commetdance looked at the she-cat. She studied her closely, She did have a fever. If what pebblefur says is true, about her coughing it might turn into whitecough. Unless she already has whitecough, if thats the case it would turn into greencough. " How long have you had the fever and cough?" asked Commetdance. She went into the back den again to find some herbs Pebblefur could take. " Is there anything else besides a fever and cough?" She called from the den. Wondering if there was, if so she would need to know.

She saw some herbs she could use for fever and cough. She carefully picked up the herbs Borage Leaves, Catmint, Chickweed, and Tansy. She placed them on a leaf one at a time. She picked up the leaf and walked out of the herbs den. She layed the leaf near pebblefur. " These are borage leaves, this is catmit, this ones chickweed, and this ones tansy" said Commetdance pointing to each herb as she named them. She like to tell the cats the herb before she gave it to them. It helps her to make sure she was giving them the right herb, and it also helps the cats so their not so worried about it.

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Pebblefur watched the she-cat with curious eyes, she was so intelligent, it was fascinating. Her ears pricked at the sound of Commetdance's voice and she waited until the medicine cat had reappeared from her herb stash, a leaf firmly clamped in her jaws, before she replied.

'I suppose I've had it for a few suns now, ever since Oakkit's disasterous adventure in the snow. My nose is constantly dripping and I feel exhausted no matter how much I rest..' she reeled off the speech she'd been thinking up whilst she waited. It was true that her nose just would not stop dripping, as she stopped speaking another drip quivered, ready to fall, and it was only by licking her paw and quickly running it over her face that she managed to stop it. Her blue eyes seemed to have lost some of their usual shine but she watched carefully as Commetdance laid out the leaf wrap and named the herbs inside it. She liked it when the medicine cat did this, it made her feel like she was learning something. Bending down to sniff them she caught the enticing smell of catmint. She knew what that herb was used for - every cat did.. Greencough. Sitting bolt upright she stared at Commetdance in horror, she didn't have greencough did she? What in StarClans name would happen to her kits?

'I don't.. I mean, do I-do you think it's.. greencough?' the last word was a hushed whisper, the fear in her voice evident as she named the single biggest killer of cats in Leafbare.

[featherstorm]

Commetdance sat down and placed her tail on her paws. She listened to what she was saying. " I see" She said, thinking of which herb would be best to give her now. She looked around the den it was peaceful. She thought about Pebblefur's kits. Pebblefur would have to stay in here with her till she gets better. " Is there another queen that would be able to take care of your kits for the time being?" asked Commetdance.

She watched Pebblefur sniff each herb."Relax you don't have greencough. But you do have a fever and you might have whitecough." said Commetdance in a relaxed tone. "Catmit is not justed used for greencough, but it is the only herb that cures greencough"said Commetdance. She tried to explain to Pebblefur that she didn't bring it out because she had greencough. "But till I know for sure you got whitcough, I think it's best if you take the borage leaves and tansy for now." said COmmetdance. She gave Pebblefur a smile to make her a little more relaxed.

She took the leaf and went to the herbs den to put the catmit and Chickweed back with her other suply. She gently placed the catmit and chickweed back. She walked back out and walked near a big stone near the back of the den. She placed the leaf on the stone, she placed her paw on the tansy and crushed it till it trund into a pulp. Once that was down she carfully picked up the leaf and placed it in front of Pebblefur.

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The grey and white queen's body visibly slumped with relief when she was told she didn't have the dreaded disease. Her ears perked and her eyes seemed brighter as she listened to Commetdance explaining why the catmint was there, nodding every so often as she understood.

'I'm the only queen at the moment, that's why Moonkit and Snakekit are with me.' she stated, unable to offer up an alternative carer for all four of her kits, both fostered and blood related. 'Moonkit and Snakekit are moving onto freshkill now though, so they should be able to cope without me.. it's just Rowankit and Oakkit that would suffer'

Pebblefur graciously lapped up the crushed herbs that her medicine cat laid infront of her, making a face at the sour taste on her tongue, but not complaining otherwise. She knew it was good for her, and if it helped her to be back with her kits sooner - she would take as many disgusting herbs as was necessary. As she waited for a response she ran her paw over her face, cleaning away the latest drip that ran down her muzzle from her nose. Her whiskers were crusty with mucus that hadn't been wiped off soon enough and she had to scrub extra hard with her toes to chip the most part off. With a stifled sigh, she wished desperately that she might feel a little better.