#snailpaw

Snowypaw slipped into the medicine den, his mouth laden with herbs and his ears pinned back. He tried not to spend much time here, now that he had another apprentice nesting here that filled his den with noise and energy that made him want to claw her ears. But no, the others wouldn't accept that.

"Hi!" Snailpaw popped her head out of the alcove where the herbs were stored, darting forward with her tail high. "Is that the catmint?" She sniffed at the sweet-smelling bundle in Snowypaw's jaws. "It is, right?" Snowypaw nodded, setting it down in the alcove and setting to work rearranging the herbs. "You moved the herbs." He grunted.

Snailpaw flicked her tail. "Not much. Fringepaw and Wigglepaw were in here for their tick fever, so I was looking for the dandelions—" "I told you not to give them anything!" Snowypaw whirled around. "I told you not to give them herbs. Their next doses aren't until tonight." Sailpaw's eyes widened at his outburst, and she sank into a crouch. "I— I'm sorry, I wanted to help—"

"Well you've done enough of that." Snowypaw hissed. He unsheathed his claws, digging them into the earth beside his newly-gathered catmint. And a thought occurred to him.

Taking a deep breath, Snowypaw turned to look at Snailpaw; she was still crouched, ears flat against her head as she shuffled her paws.

"Hey," he said quietly, unable to miss her flinch. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped." He nudged a pawful of catmint (not everything he'd gathered— just enough for what he wanted to do) towards Snailpaw, flicking his tail. "Here. It'll settle your nerves."

Snailpaw blinked, sniffing at the catmint. "Oh, really? You never told me that."

A chuckle left Snowypaw's jaws. "Well, if I told any old cat that sort of thing, then we'd have no catmint left come leaf-bare." He nudged the leaves towards her again. "Eat. It'll make everything easier."

That was all the invitation Snailpaw needed; with the sweetness still flooding her nose, she swallowed all of the catmint Snowypaw offered to her. "Thanks," she said after a few moments. Snowypaw could already see the sluggishness overtaking her. "It's... it's working already..."

Snowypaw flicked his tail proudly, stepping around Snailpaw’s drooping body. "Good. Rest."

Settling into his own nest, Snowypaw enjoyed the peace and quiet as Snailpaw's breath evened, growing longer and deeper. He didn't get up when that rhythm turned sharp and panicked, her body rebelling against the catmint's effects.

"S— Snowy—" She gasped.