I'm not the same anymore... (Fawnstar)

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(@fawnstar ^^)

Cedarpaw had just woken up from a nap. He didn't know exactly what was wrong with him, but his rear right leg didn't feel... right. All he had been doing since he fell from the tree was sleep. He poked at the den floor with one of his paws. I wish someone would visit me... It's so boring in here, he thought with a sigh. 

What if someone was sick or hurt? What would I do? The thought popped into his head quickly. He really hoped that wouldn't happen, at least for awhile. He would be back to doing his duties soon. His leg would heal and everything would be better, right?

It wasn't fair! Why did he even have to climb that dumb tree in the first place? He wouldn't be laying here if he hadn't. He could have just stayed in his den. He groaned.

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Blazepaw raced through the forest with her usual energy, laughing as she went along, reveling in the feel of the wind in her fur. Her eyes were bright.

Then the scene shifted. The colors of the forest suddenly faded into a dark, sullen gray. The sun was gone and the trees loomed incredibly talk above her. She heard a cry and, without realizing it, raced toward the sound.

Ahead of her in a clearing, Cedarpaw lay pitifully, his leg twisted at an awful angle. She tried to reach him but the ground ahead of her suddenly slanted and melded into a sharp cliff. All she could do was watch helplessly from above as the life drained out of him.

Blazepaw woke suddenly, her heart racing. Had she fallen asleep? Again? She shook her head and silently chastised herself. She had promised herself that she would stay awake, right outside the medicine cat den, in case Cedarpaw needed anything.

As her dream demonstrated, Cedarpaw's injury had greatly frightened her at the time, and still haunted her while she slept and, occasionally, while she was still awake. She knew he would be fine, but sometimes her mind ran away.

Suddenly, Blazepaw heard a moan from inside the den. Cedarpaw!

Without a second thought, she raced into the den and skidded to a halt in front of her friend, concern filling her eyes.

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Cedarpaw heard the footsteps of a cat and looked in the direction of the den entrance. "Oh, Blazepaw!" he exclaimed and perked up immediately. Finally, someone to talk to! he thought. "It's so boring in here! When do you think I'll be able to return to my medicine cat duties?" he asked, not even noticing the concern in her eyes. For once, he wasn't grumpy. He was actually in a good mood even though he was stuck in his nest all day.

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Blazepaw was about to ask if he was okay, but for once, Cedarpaw kept her from talking instead of the other way around. Well, she guessed that answered that question the immediate relief in her eyes was obvious.

"Bored, huh?" she mewed, an amused look in her eyes. Then he asked about his medicine cat duties, and her protectiveness toward her friend returned.

"You shouldn't do that for a while, Cedarpaw. I want to make sure you're better so you don't strain yourself. Because..." Blazepaw stopped. She was going to say because she didn't want to lose her friend, but she couldn't bring herself to say it aloud. "You just need to be careful," she mewed, eyes downcast.

Suddenly, though, her optimistic personality returned.

"but, until then, tell me what to do! I can play medicine cat for a few days, I'm sure of it," she mewed. "Besides, I could use a break from training. I'm tired of somehow screwing up every time I leave camp. And sometimes I don't even make it that far," she added, not upset, simply stating facts. As usual, she was oblivious to the harshness of her own words.

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"Yes! I'm so bored! I haven't even gotten out of my nest since I fell!" Cedarpaw mewed. He hated not being able to do anything. 

"but Whisperclan needs me," he whined. Now that he couldn't do his duties, he actually wanted to do them. It was really weird not gathering herbs or trying to sort the herbs. He was definitely going to be more careful now.

"Wait, what?" he asked, confused. "but..." He was almost too proud to even consider letting her take over his duties for the next few days. "I don't know if that's a good idea..." he mewed. "Not because I don't think you're capable of doing it. but really, I'm fine. I can manage myself." 

"Blazepaw?" he asked, suddenly becoming very serious. "Do you... know what's wrong with my leg? It just doesn't feel how it should. Do you think it's even going to heal?" He had been trying to keep his mind off of the fact that his leg may never heal, but he just couldn't do it and he had to ask. It had made him very nervous and fearful...

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"Okay," Blazepaw mewed, but she wasn't that disappointed. She was just glad Cedarpaw was getting better.

Or was he? His next comment jarred her.

"I don't know," she mewed, and she knew it sounded pathetic. "I hope you get better, but I'm not a medicine cat, so I'm not sure what it's supposed to look like or feel like." She paused for a moment, then continued, her typical optimism returning.

"but I bet you'll get better because you're stubborn and you're gonna make yourself get better," she mewed, flopping down beside her friend. If he couldn't move, she could at least stay and talk to him and try to cheer him up.

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Cedarpaw was glad that Blazepaw didn't keep trying to convince him to let her do his duties while he recovered. He had a lot of pride even if he hated being the medicine cat sometimes. but, he was finally starting to understand why he was chosen to become the medicine cat. It was still really hard on him sometimes, but he promised himself he would do his best.

"I am the medicine cat and I still don't even know if I'm going to be okay!" he mewed, a bit frustrated. "I really hope so." He would admit that he was stubborn, but he didn't know if that would help him that much in this situation.

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Blazepaw sensed her friend's frustration and knew she had to distract him. And what better way than to talk? After all, she was certainly good at it. Maybe if she talked in her normal, random way for long enough, it might be enough.

"Remember when we were talking about your medicine cat name?" she asked, but she continued before he could answer. "I think I've decided that Cedarstorm would fit you," she mewed.