|☾ ☼ ϟ ≈ ☁| FiveClan Moonstone |☾ ☼ ϟ ≈ ☁|

Bumbleskip turned to run back toward Cedarstar once he was sure he could follow the path again. He was almost completely out of breath by the time he reached the leader and the first prey-mauler again. "Found the path but Cedarstar, there's a lot of them. I don't think we can fight them all." Bumbleskip ducked as the prey-mauler lashed out toward him, the tom swiping his claws at the beast's face again. He was so tired, his legs were shaking. He wasn't sure how much further he could go on.

Bumbleskip sighed but nodded, "Alright, but if it becomes too dangerous promise me we'll turn around. The clan needs you Cedarstar." He took this brief moment to catch his breath and ready himself to start running again. He wasn't the young warrior he used to be and with his lazing about in the shadows the last couple moons, he was severely out of shape.

Bumbleskip shook out his fur, cringing when he felt dried blood making it matt together, both his and the prey-maulers. "Well, may Starclan light our way then," he murmured. Following Cedarstar's orders he picked back up on the trail but followed a slower approach now as he slipped into the shadows. His brown pelt easily blended in with the brush around them.

Bumbleskip trembled beside Cedarstar, shaking his head slowly. "I-its too late. Cedarstar we have to get the apprentices and get out of here. They'll come out looking for us at any moment now. I'm so sorry Moonpetal."

Bumbleskip cursed under his breath and took off again after the leader back toward the tree he had left them in. The leader was quickly pulling ahead but Bumbleskip refused to be left behind, pushing himself as hard as he could to match Cedarstar's strides.

Bumbleskip hurtled for the apprentices as Cedarstar went for the prey mauler, hackles raised as he growled toward the beast, standing in front of the young cats as he watched Cedarstar go for the beast's throat. He crouched low, ready to attack alongside the leader if his blow didn't finish the beast off.

Bumbleskip turned to face the apprentice, ears flying back as he saw how much blood was pouring out of the wound on Palepaw's shoulders. "Cobwebs, I need cobwebs right now." He pressed his paws above the wound, trying to stifle the flow the best he could. "Hold on Palepaw." he encouraged lowly. "You'll be just fine."

Bumbleskip didn't move his paws as he turned to the look at the leader, "I want you to place them on the wound when I move my paws. It'll give the best chance to stop the bleeding. I'll rearrange them then just press them firmly down. On three ready? One, two, three." Bumbleskip hopped to the side removing both paws from the wound so Cedarstar could place the cobwebs down, he watched the leader closely, trying not to think about how much blood was currently staining him.

"Good, look see? The bleeding is already slowing." Bumbleskip soothed, "Hold it there for a moment, I'm going to see if I can find anything to stop an infection from setting in and to help with his pain." The senior warrior wracked his brain for other options besides poppy seeds and marigolds wondering if he'd be able to find them out here. He hurried into the surrounding forest knowing that soon the scent of blood would lead the prey-maulers back to them. Bumbleskip spotted a small stream nearby and hurried for it, knowing there had to be herbs growing nearby. He grinned when he spotted the familiar horsetail plant. Carefully extracting the stems, a tangy scent caught his nose. Feverfew! Grabbing both the herbs he hurried back to the patrol, chewing up the horsetail on the way.

Once he reached the apprentice's side, he spat the poultice of the horsetail onto his paw and set the feverfew to the side. "Alright Cedarstar, you can move your paws now. I'm going to place the poultice over the cobwebs."

Bumbleskip spread the poultice over the wound, his application was nowhere near as precise as Snowdance's would have been but the blood had slowed significantly. He nosed at Palepaw, speaking softly to the apprentice, "Palepaw? Can you hear me?"

Bumbleskip sighed as the apprentice moaned, that was something at least. "Let me give him this feverfew, it'll help with the pain. Then we'll be okay to move him. Can you carry him? That way I can keep an eye on the wound." Bumbleskip grabbed the feverfew in his mouth, chewing it up as well. He grinded it into a smooth paste before gently opening Palepaw's mouth. Placing the poultice inside he closed the apprentice's mouth and moved his paw down his throat to make him swallow. "Sorry Palepaw. I know that doesn't taste very good."

Bumbleskip nodded, "Sunpaw help steady him on the other side." he instructed. Carefully lifting Palepaw's scruff and hauling him up onto Cedarstar's back. He winced when he noticed the wound starting a slow trickle of blood again and quickly patted the cobwebs back down.

Bumbleskip followed Cedarstar's pace, his eyes constantly flickering first ahead of them and then back to Palepaw and his wounds. His novice cobweb and poultice were doing as good of a job as they could have and the bleeding had seemed to stop again. He knew Snowdance would have better remedies though compared to his quick patch-up job. "We'll get him back to camp Cedarstar. Snowdance will know what to do."

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