#i just think it's neat that she'd lower her guard enough around some of them to be affectionate with them when sleeby

[thunders-warcats-stuff]

poor berry I

Wolf *freezes* when they see Berrykit being carried by Bramblestep and the rest of their patrol to the herb den. They'd been so *careful*! Everyone knew about the fox traps. The SoftPads weren't supposed to leave camp. The Fangs and Claws knew to be on-guard.

<*But you can't account for every kitten all the time and you know it.*>

Poor kid. This was *so* unfair...

Cold trickled down their spine, causing them to jerk upright awkwardly as they remembered *the rest* of this part in the books.

They were on their paws and moving to intercept the patrol before their brain caught up with them.

"Was anyone there?" Wolf asked in a quiet tone that quivered just barely.

"Hey, Uncle Flame. This isn't the best time, Berry needs-."

"I know, come on." Wolf said, leading the way to the medicine den.

"Leafy, incoming rough one!" They called when they got close enough.

"Thanks, Dad, what do I nee-? Oh shit! Cobwebs. All of the cobwebs. In the forest and beyond. And poppy... Poppy what?"

"Leaf-."

"I can't give him the seeds, they're too strong for kits. What can I-? I'll see if Brightheart knows. What else?Marigold-."

"Leafy-."

"*All* of the marigold *ever*! Uh, wait let me put something in the nest he'll use. One sec-."

"Leafpath!"

"*What*, Dad! He needs-!"

"You to give someone that cobweb-leaf-wrap and come here."

Leafpath deflated, taking deep, ragged breaths and choking them out as she struggled with the effort of holding back sobs.

Some cat Wolf couldn't see took the leaf-wrap lined with cobwebs and laid it on a nest. From the corner of their eye, Wolf saw Bramble slowly lower Berry into the nest, trying his best not to move or bump or shake the kitten too much as he did so.

Berrykit whimpered no matter what he did.

"I know, I know, baby, I'm so sorry, I just need to-. Yeah, we have to make sure this goes around your bum. You have to sit on it. Do you think you can stand for a bit? If you lean on me?"

Wolf couldn't hear what Berry said, but Bramble must have, because he kept talking, slowly encouraging the kitten to take his own weight and offering a paw and leg as needed while he did so.

Meanwhile, Leafpath had gone back to running around the den like a madcat, tearing through her usually-neat stores in her angst.

"I... I'm going to get Brightheart," Wolf heard someone say.

They sounded scared. Wolf didn't blame them. Leaf didn't panic very often. The last time she'd been like this, Squirrel had followed Bramble to the ends of the Earth and Leaf had been forced to watch.

"Yeah, do that. Thanks, kid," Wolf said, stepping forward to tap their frazzled daughter's flank.

Leafpath jolted and sent herbs scattering all over the caveground.

"You are going to take some deep breaths, sob into my shoulder for a minute or so, and go help that kid. Then you're going to come back and sob some more. Okay?"

"Okay," Leaf said, voice shaking. "Okay, yeah. I... Yeah." Leafpath buries her face in Wolf's shoulder.

"He's just a kid!" She wailed. "That's his whole entire tail! What the fuck even happened? How did-?! Stars, I don't even know if I can ease his pain, I-."

"We'll figure something out."

"I'm a failure of a healer-."

"Sweetheart-."

"Just sitting here crying and not even sure if-."

"Hey, none of that, Vine," Brightheart insisted sharply as she and Cinderpelt hurried into the den. "You're extremely capable and empathetic on top of that."

"You will cry more when this is all over." Cinderpelt added. "*Everyone* will. A kid got his *tail ripped off*, for fuck's sake!"

"Wow, I curse way too much," Wolf noted, slightly unnerved.

"Brightheart, Cinderpelt, thank you for coming," Leafpath said, doing her best to project some calm.

"Bright, do you remember what I gave White when she had her first toothache? I think she was the same age Berry is now and whatever it was worked like a charm."

Brightheart nodded and tilted her head, tail lashing as she thought for a heartbeat.

"Alder bark to chew on and bite through as needed, I think the pain-reliever was chamomile mixed with something..."

"Chamomile's a good start. That boy won't be in pain a second longer than he already has been."

"Atta girl," Wolf rumbled, glad to see Leaf's 'eye-of-the-storm' mode shining through.

Much like Leopard back home, Leafpath was a champ at handling crises. Wolf wished they could do more to help.

"We've got this if you want to go check on the rest of the patrol and Daisy. I imagine she'll want to tell Floss and Smoky at the barn."

"Thanks, kid, I was just wondering what I should do."

"Yeah, you get a certain look on your face," Cinderpelt laughed.

She screwed up her face in a way that made her look like she had gas.

Wolf wrinkled their nose, unimpressed and slightly embarrassed.

Rustling further in the den revealed Bramblestep padding over to them.

"He's finally asleep," the dark brown tabby sighed, relieved. "Leaf gave him chamomile and checked the leaf-wrap. Apparently I'm gettong good at those," he shivered uneasily.

Wolf couldn't blame the poor boy. The ones he's done were for sprained paws and deeply bruised ribs. This was so much *worse*...

"I think I hurt him more than I helped." He admitted worriedly. "Every move I made, he couldn't stop his pain-cries even though he wanted to. Every move he made seemed to hurt him more! I just... What do we *do* with that?"

"We ease his pain and help him heal. We let him know he's not alone." Brightheart said gently. "We back off when he asks, but not too far. He deserves to know he'll get through this and we'll be there when he does."

"Will that be enough?" Bramble asked, sounding miserable.

"It was for me. No reason we can't at least try first. If he needs something else, we can adapt."

Wolf felt heat rush to their face at Brightheart's casual praise.

"Okay," Bramblestep sighed. "I'll be there for him. As much as he needs me to."

"I'm going to check on the nursery." Cinderpelt said. "I'm pretty sure Daisy's about to find out-."

A horrified wail rocked the camp.

Wolf pushed past the others and out of the den to find several cats racing to the nursery.

"What happened?!" Someone cried frantically. "Who's hurt?!"

"Berry is... He got caught-. That's so much..."

"Try not to look, dear girl," Ferncloud choked out, just as horrified. "Come on, Flame looks like he has news."

Daisy let herself be guided to the healer's den, where Wolf stood blocking the entrance.

"He's okay, Daisy-Maisy. Just got to sleep. Leaf, Cinder, and Bright, are working out what to do long-term. Bramble and his patrol were the ones to bring him in and help him get settled."

"Get settled how? What can you even *do* for that?" Daisy sputtered, alarmed.

"Sturdier leaf-wrap that has herbs to help keep infection away.

Pain-relievers to help him sleep.

In a month or so he'll need training for balance.

Gods, I wish Sparrowpelt was here. He earned the battle's-end-name Halftail after he fought a badger in the old forest. Long before most of us were born, at least."

"Oh, good idea, bringing him up!" Ferncloud exclaimed. "Mousefur might remember what he had to do to heal. Or at least some of the stories he told might have clues."

"Oh that's excellent!" Wolf blurted out, stunned. "Can you remind me to bring that up to Leaf and the Paramedics when they're more settled?"

"Yeah, if you forget and haven't in a couple days, I can do it."

"You're a gem, kid!"

Ferncloud laughed and turned to Daisy.

"This poor dumb fuck!" She cackled. ("Wow, I *really* curse too much," Wolf grumbled. "Hope the kids never hear me.")

"Will forget what he ate for breakfast sometimes but remember the pelt of someone he met *once* who left an impression on him! Not their name or anything about them, just their pelt and what they did!"

Daisy snickered.

"Oh, Floss is gonna tease you so much if she ever gets wins of that!" She chirped. "She likes to laugh at how clumsy she can be since we moved into the barn with Smoky. Oh God, I need to tell her-."

"I was just coming to ask who you'd want with you."

"With me?"

"Yeah, lady, even if the fox traps weren't something to watch out for, you're in a terrible situation and severely distressed, rightly so. We don't let cats go off on their own when they're feeling the worst. Bad things happen and you often regret leaving things how you did."

"Huh... Okay. Well, I guess... Cloudtail and Brightheart? But wait, she's helping Berry and he's gonna wanna stay here and do what he can... I don't know. Dustthorn, maybe? He's good with his kids. And he fawns over mine just as much."

"Dustthorn it is. And he might have an idea for at least one other cat to go with you. Thanks, Flower-petals. Now," Wolf said, fighting the urge to shiver. "What are we telling the kids?"