#ratleaf

Ratleaf...

Ratleaf: Greetings, Frost Water. I thank you for your inquiries into my work.

My tasks are many. It is my task to gather herbs and tend to my Clanmates in all manners of life. I tend to their physical well being, for instance by helping those prone to overworking and encouraging them to rest sufficiently. I tend to their spiritual well being through means such as helping the Queens teach the Kits about StarClan and the Spirit Kits. I tend to their mental health by supporting those in need; for instance, I provided support and assistance and comfort to Buzzardpelt – a former Elder – he walks with StarClan now – who at times suffered through tremendously grievous nightmares and battle flashbacks. I am also tasked with burying those who pass on to StarClan before me. Fortunately I have not had the task of disposing of a body belonging to a Forgotten cat; they, by their betrayal, have opted out of an honourable burial. I pray I will never have to make such a burial. My duties are many; indeed, the ones I have listed only barely sum up my tasks. Other duties include but are not limited to advising my Leader and Deputy on various matters, helping Apprentices rearrange Den bedding and nesting for the comfort and needs of the inhabitants, and performing ceremonies to bless all who enter this world, all who leave this world, and all who pass from one Rank to another. I am also bound to tend to those in need from other Clans if it is required. My duties go beyond Clan boundaries. However, I would not trade my work for anything in existence. I love serving my Clan so. I care little for hunting or fighting, though I am adept, and political matters interest me little if they do not impact the well-being of my Clanmates.

My Clan is grateful for the work I and all cats of my rank do or have done or will do, regardless of Clan. The other Clans are also grateful for Medicine Cats. No Medicine Cat is more or less important than any other. Regardless of suffix, we all tend to the Clan. We all bury the departed. We all give blessings and speak with StarClan and Spirit Kits and advise the Clan and more. We are to the Clan as a stem is to a plant; hardly noteworthy, but without the stem the plant could not grow, and without Medicine Cats the Clan would die. The Clans all acknowledge this reality and highly respect all Medicine Cats, be they past, present, or future.

I communicate with StarClan and the Spirit Kits through a variety of methods. By far the most common is the case of a Spirit Kit – or multiple, as the case may be – appearing and requesting – at times demanding – to speak with me. The Spirit Kits serve as intermediaries between the realm of the living and the realm of StarClan. At times, StarClan cats appear to me in my dreams. Usually it is only one, and usually this is only because I have made a request to meet with them so as to discuss a matter that I feel I cannot possible decide on by myself. Naturally, when Cloverclaw was my Apprentice – fully named or not – she also partook in these dreams. She of course participated fully in all requirements of her job.

Signs outside of dreams are extremely rare. Signs within dreams may well be StarClan’s way of having others beyond my dreams tell me their opinions on my matter. It is why I spend time in that Dream realm even after my discussion partner has departed. Often there are signs left, indicating what other StarClan cats feel about my issue of discussion.

A sign outside of a dream indicates that something incredibly misfortunate is in the works. If I recall correctly, Alderface of WindClan received a Sign of Warning shortly before a Forgotten Leader moved to drive out WindClan. This warning gave them time to prepare and fend off the invasion, proving their strength and right to exist on those moors.

Such major signs are vague but understandable. A Sign of Warning, for instance, takes the form of a dream involving a harmful matter; a forest fire, for instance, or a completely frozen river. Alderface has told me that the Sign of Warning he saw was an abandoned, fruitless moor.

These major signs do not, however, give the specifics of what harm may befall the Clan. This is because StarClan does not see all. We observe the living and may make predictions based on what we see that others may not; however, things may turn out in an unpredicted fashion. Not all major catastrophes are preceded by a Sign of Warning, for instance, because not all major catastrophes can be predicted by StarClan.

Ratleaf: Well, some of my scars I obtained from various scuffles or incidents. Others come from the battle training Cloverclaw and I would have. I always encouraged her to go all out in battle practise; after all, what’s the point in training half heartedly? I’ve never been supportive of what I see as ‘Training for Kits’. What’s the harm in a few nicks and scratches? They help you learn better, and they also served as practical lessons for how to use various herbs and treatments. All in all, a winning situation.

Foxflower: Nightclaw means well, but he doesn’t always do well. He’s very outgoing, and he’s prone to acting before thinking. One time, he managed to convince some of the Kits to attempt to create a /hunting patrol/ so as to repay the Warriors for their hard work. Thank StarClan I was around to keep the Kits from actually attempting to sneak out. Nightclaw said he meant to just tell a story about how young clowder Kits have to begin learning practical lessons, but…

But he does own up to his mistakes, even if he can be sulky sometimes. He’s open, warm, friendly, protective, passionate. He’s dramatic and very much a -storm with his highs and lows, and sometimes he’s more clumsy than a two-legged frog. But I still love him.

Our love, it began gradually. We were friends since, mm, since late Apprenticeship. I believe he’s a moon or so younger than I am. We gradually became friends, and that friendship strengthened over the moons.

He was actually the first one to gain romantic feelings for me. It was after his unreciprocated crush on Ratcloud before she became a Medicine Cat. He came to admire me, he said that he really looked up to how much I did for the Clan and how respected I was, and he had come to admire how I don’t betray my beliefs when things get difficult and when it’d be easier to just change my mind.

And I began falling for him, too. Slowly but surely. I admire his guts, his willingness to do just about anything to help the Clan. He’s honest, he’s brave, he’s supportive in difficult times and he strives to participate in Clan life as often as he can. He takes his flaws in stride, and that’s a trait that’s more rare than people realize.

It was a natural progression towards romance, I would say. Over time, everything just…fell into place.

Batwhisker: Ok, so like, I only have hearsay about Maplewhisker. She was a super awesome huntress, but she didn’t really like Kits, but she still had them for her sister Tigerflower who was sterile. And she mentored two cats, and then a third as Deputy? Who were they again…. Um, I think they were Cherrypelt, Spidertail, and Mistwhisker? Hey, any cat who knows how to Mentor so well despite her abrasiveness is totally fine in my books! I think she probably would’ve lasted a lot longer than old Shrikestar lasted. Seriously, did he not learn from Twitestar that ticking off loners is a bad idea?

Shrewstar: Gee, well uh, she certainly would’ve been an intense Leader. But she worked really hard for the Clan, she’d have died for them. She doesn’t like Kits, but she never actually banned the Kits from going near her, which she probably could’ve done as Deputy. I almost wonder if she doesn’t actually hate Kits, but hates how she ‘lacks maternal instincts’ because ‘Tigerflower stole them all in the belly’.

Blizzardfur: Who? Oh. Maplewhisker. Wasn’t she the sap who died of a fever a day before old Twitestar died? Hah! Lame! Though I think RiverClan could’ve used a tougher Leader, what, with so many Sunningrocks deaths and the loner deaths and all… But I don’t get what her deal is against Kits! Ain’t nothin’ wrong with them. I probably sired quite a few. Sure, I wasn’t good daddy material, but I didn’t need to be! I did my duty in feeding and protecting the Clan, and that’s what matters most!

Barleycloud: Hmm. Well, Maplewhisker is quite the interesting cat. I’m not sure what she’d be like as Leader. You often think one thing, but unforeseen circumstances can entirely alter your perspective. Though I think she would have been a Leader to remember for all time to come; whether for good or bad reasons, I cannot be sure…

Dawnfoot: Ehe, well, to be honest Maplewhisker kind of scares me….a lot… Like, she’s so loud and outgoing and doesn’t let anyone tell her any nonsense! But I really respect her hunting skills. I know what it’s like to die of something embarrassing. Like, I died because I ended up trying to practise swimming, failing, and then hitting my head when I tried to surface. Talk about embarrassing! But anyway. Uh, I think she might’ve offered stability after so many quick deaths and all. Maybe? I’m not sure.

Redclaw: Maplewhisker is a strange kind of she-cat. Ambitious, but for the sake of the Clan. Highly annoyed by Kits, but she cannot bear to ban them and she allows Waxkit to hang around her almost all the time. She’s brilliant with hunting, but her fighting is very basic. I think she’d have been an interesting Leader, one who could not possibly be forgotten soon. I do wonder who she might’ve chosen as Deputy…

Foxflower: I’ve heard much about Maplewhisker, and I’ve even seen her a few times. She’s a Minder frequently, and so she often seeks to round up unruly Spirit Kits. I will say right now that I don’t like her abrasive attitude towards Kits or the way she talks about them as pests. But, I think Shrewstar made a fine point. I truly believe that she convinced herself that she’ll be awful with Kits, because Tigerflower is so good, and so she doesn’t bother trying to be better. In that sense, she reminds me of my own sister, Lightfur… She certainly would have had the sense to avoid angering the neighbours, even if she’s got a bit of a temper. She’s not blood thirty by any stretch of the word, merely exceedingly passionate. Overall, I feel she’d have been a suitable Leader, if perhaps a tad over-zealous.

Ratleaf: Ah, Maplewhisker. I do lament her passing, so unfortunate. She truly is the only Deputy to have died a sunrise before the Leader lost their last life. As a Leader, she would’ve aimed to make RiverClan stronger. I fear she might have overworked herself in her zeal to aid her Clan, and perhaps she might not have lasted as long as many others seem to think… Though I respect her dedication to Mentoring. Cherrypelt, Spidertail, and Mistwhisker all made fine Warriors. In fact, I do believe Leopardstar is descended from Mistwhisker!

Hello, I am Ratleaf. I am one of RiverClan's past Medicine Cats. I am a black ticked tabby with hazel eyes and a fair bit of scarring to me, despite my post.

I was born to a Queen named Daceface and a Warrior named Sorrelcloud. Sorrelcloud had actually been a loner, but ended up joining the Clan and swiftly falling in love with my mother. My sisters and I were born soon after.

One sister, Leechkit, is a Spirit Kit. She enjoys making it rain over WindClan's camp. She's quite spirited, if I may say so.

The other, Toadface, is a beautiful tortoiseshell with amber eyes. She inherited her tuxedo markings from our father, whereas I obtained our father's tabby markings.

From an early age I had interest in StarClan. I always loved the stories my mother would tell us about the Ancient Cats. I took to following around Smokepelt, the Medicine Cat, as soon as I was able. Was it any wonder I became her Apprentice?

The proudest moment of my life was likely when I became a Medicine Cat and earned -leaf as a suffix. It was a dream come true.

My Mentor was Smokepelt, and I adored learning from her. I still do. She's so wise, I feel I may never know as much as she knows. I was rather prone to overworking myself; I was so keen to learn about herbs and omens and StarClan that she had to make me go take a nap to keep me from overworking. Nowadays I'm less prone to overworking because there's far less for me to do in StarClan.

My Apprentice was Cloverclaw. She is the reason all Medicine Cats now receive proper battle training. I enjoyed debating with her, and still do. She's very good at adapting to new information, and she's very bold.