Medicine Cat Apprentice {Info Blog}

"The bond between Medicine cats felt almost stronger than the bond between Clanmates. They shared knowledge and visions warriors could never experience. Their connection with Starclan tied them to one another almost like kin."
-Aldertheart's thoughts in Darkest Night.

So, either by some fate your paws are lead down the path of a Medicine cat, and you desire to learn more about your purpose, about what your vows are, what they entail and how you must behave?

Here is how your story will begin.

Your Story

Here is what your timeline should include, no telling you what happens in between or the hurdles you face, but this is the most vanilla vague timeline you could possibly follow.

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You will be summoned before the clan on your sixth moon, be it at the side of your kin or others who were born around the same time. Perhaps there's been discussion before, you've always been fascinated with the thought of helping your clan in a different way.

Or perhaps you are eager to become a warrior, brave, fast and strong- ready to take down anyone who poses a threat to the (hopefully) peaceful life you've been brought into.

The Medicine cat has spoken to your leader before-paw, and inquired about taking you on as their apprentice. You showed Promise, or perhaps your fate has been murmured and eluded to by Starclan.

"I call upon our ancestors now, to guide this cats paws. After six moons, they are finally ready to offer their service to ___Clan."  A hush will fall over the crowd, all eyes fallen on you with bated anticipation. "___Kit," You jolt upright, eyes rounded to moons as you stare at the leader. "Until you receive your name, you shall be known as ___Paw." Your name howls through the sky with energy that almost makes your pelt hot.

"Our Medicine cat has requested to take on an apprentice," The leader further announced, causing the chanting to settle down. " [Medicine Cat], I entrust this apprentice to you. May you guide them in the ways of our ancestors, and bring hope to the future of the clan."

The Medicine cat would approach you, bowing to touch noses, as the contact seals your life to come as a trainee to one of the most important roles in a clan.

After receiving your apprentice name, you will not notice a lot of changes at first. You will begin training as most apprentices do, you will learn to hunt, basic means to defend yourself, and the most base knowledge of herb gathering and caretaking.

Likely, your mentor will show you what is best for everyday ailments, such as a thorn in the pad and bramble scratches. (If you are looking for a blog of tiered treatments, that will come soon and will be updated in the Mother Post when it's finished.)

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When it reaches Half-moon, it is considered your Medicine Cat apprentice-ship has officially begun. You and your mentor will set off to the [Moonstone] / [Moonpool], where you will be greeted by all the other Medicine cats. You will sit and chatter with the other apprentices, learning more about their lives in a formal setting and preparing for your future connection to them bound by similar oaths.

You will be guided forward, those behind you hushed and silent. You were made aware before entering the sacred place, no words would be uttered. No words of trivial matters, at least.

"___Paw," Your mentor will begin, as the other Medicine cats settle around and watch in silence. "Is it your wish to enter the mysteries of Starclan as a Medicine cat?" You have had time to decide if this is what you want or not, you may feel compelled to decline, but in this instance; you do not.

"It is." You chirp out, not uttering another word in its wake.

Your Mentor stands in front of the [Moonstone] / [Moonpool], "Then come forward." And as you do, they speak again, moving aside to give you a view of the [Moonlit] / [Star reflected] beauty before you.

"Warriors of Starclan, I present you with this apprentice. They have chosen the path of a Medicine cat. Grant them with your wisdom and insight, so that they may understand your ways and heal their clan in accordance with your will."

As gestured, you bow your head and [Touch your nose to the stone] / [Lap from the pond] before you're gripped by a frosty sleep, and lie down to rest; where you will begin your first experience with Starclan.

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First experiences with Starclan are always exciting, there's a lot of room to be creative; have your character see someone in their life who has passed away, or perhaps have a cat of great import from the clans history come to them with an ominous message.

It's important to establish a plot point for your character here, as everything else will continue as follows:

After you leave the dream, and return home; your life truly begins. Every day will be a lesson in treatment, and you will be confined to the camp aside from gatherings, herb collecting and the occasional hunt if you so wish.

Medicine cats deal with a lot of things day to day, for example.

Some of the tasks a Medicine cat preforms often are: Sorting through herbs, If you are stumped and have nothing to do in a roleplay, consider taking the time to write out your character finding their herb stores to have hit a damp patch with a recent rainfall, and taking the time to dry the leaves out in the sun. Some herbs can benefit from this, while others do prefer to be damp. Just think logically about what herbs you're drying out. Anything aquatic based should be fine!

Another thing they frequently do, is Check on Queens, Elders and the Warriors.

Be it in stormy seasons, Medicine cats will sometimes ask warriors and apprentices to come in for check ups. Its a good way to keep connections invested with others, while also including more people in your storyline who may otherwise not be involved if they don't get gravely injured enough/at all. A Medicine cats biggest strength is being close with their clanmates, knowing everyone by name and frequently checking on their well-being. 

Check ups would include: Checking the breathing to make sure they aren't sickly, pressing an ear against their chest or their flank. Looking at their paw pads, as well as their noses. Most of the apprentices will likely need ointments on their paws from training and walking a lot, as their pads haven't gotten use to it yet. It's important to catch issues before they become too bad, so checking in on your clanmates regularly can help to keep busy.

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So you and your mentor have fallen in to a rhythm, you have been training beneath them for moons and you can handle most issues on your own if they need to take a break. They are getting older, and appreciate having all the help but it is time your friends are all getting their warrior names and you are left wondering when its time for yours.

Depending on circumstances, and the age of your mentor- you may get your name after 12 moons or you may not. Sometimes it can be much later, this also is a step toward how much you have learned and how well you deal under pressure.

But you are now getting your name, its an important date.

You stand before the [Moonstone] / [Moonpool], with a bated excitement fluttering around in your belly. The medicine cats you've come to know over the past lifetime all happy for you.

Your mentor regards you with warmth, "I [Name], call upon my ancestors to look down on this apprentice. They have trained hard to understand the ways of a Medicine cat, and with your help, they will serve ___Clan for many moons. ___Paw, do you promise to uphold the ways of a medicine cat, to stand apart from rivalry between Clan and Clan and to protect all cats equally, even at the cost of your life?"

You will utter a singular, "I do."

"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your true name as  a Medicine Cat. __Paw, from this moment you will be known as [Name], Starclan honors your [Virtues], and we welcome you as a full Medicine cat of ___Clan."

Your name will be chanted by all those present, before you succumb to dream and share tongues with Starclan.

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Your Oaths

As a Medicine cat, your position is unique. Your responsibilities differing than the normal cat, you are an aide, a guiding form to the Leader. Acknowledged as a power able to Commune with Starclan, your word is to be respected and in turn as are you.

Your code is your life.

These are the codes you live by, and agreed to upon completing your training:

1: A Medicine cat must never fall in love, or take a mate- Perhaps the most controversial rule, and one often broken by Medicine cats. I believe this rule to be outlandish, and extremely targeted toward she-cats. I say, if a Medicine cat falls in love, has an apprentice, there should be no issue with them stepping down to have a family of their own. After-all, their service to the clan is great, and who is to say it wont become stronger once they've contributed to it as a parent as well? Anyhow, Forbiddens always tend to spice up a roleplay and add a lovely slice of drama, so really have fun with this one.

2: A medicine cat must never have kits. - Harboring back onto my prior statement, I feel this rule should be adjusted entirely and instead what I suggested. Have fun.

3: A medicine cat can only retire when their apprentice is ready to take their place - As a Medicine cat it is your job to train the one who will be next in line. If a kit expresses curiosity, it is in your best interest to suggest that cat to be your apprentice in the future.

4: A medicine cat only shares dreams with Starclan - This means interference and association with the Dark Forest is extremely frowned upon. Of course Starclan nor the Clanmates have any way of knowing, 

5: A Medicine cat may only discuss dreams, prophecies, or omens with their leader or other Medicine Cats at their monthly meetings - So that means no confiding in just any random warrior they come across.

6: A Medicine cat will never let personal feelings get in the way of their duties. - As its implied, emotions can be tricky, especially when you have to remain impartial to conflicts between clans usually at each others throats. Being the voice of reason can sometimes be difficult. Say for example, you dislike Riverclan, as a Thunderclan cat, you can't simply turn away and not help an injured cat because you dont particularly like fish.

7: Medicine cats are outside Clan rivalries, but they must still learn basic fighting moves - Medicine cats will never partake in fighting, unless their life depends on it, and unfortunately, in some cases, their life may. Its important they know the basics to defend themselves.

8: A medicine cat may be trained as a warrior before becoming a medicine cat, but a medicine cat cannot become a normal warrior. - Perhaps my most favorite trope of all, the most interesting thing. Imagine you train your whole life to protect your clan in a way you thought was best, then all of the sudden you're needed in a different way, and here you are- with this new burden resting upon your shoulders. Such brilliant things can come from these story lines, I implore you to try one sometime.

9. Medicine cats cannot reject any injured cats / A medicine cat must do everything in their power to save a cat. - As implied heavily through a Medicine cats journey, they are outside of a warriors code. Regardless of the situations, they are by oath required to heal anyone who is gravely wounded or even hurt in the slightest if another Medicine cat is not there to do it.

10. A medicine cat must be able to interpret signs from Starclan. - As it says there, being able to process omens and prophecies is the most important thing to being a Medicine cat. Not saying they need to understand things right away, building suspense is nice.

11. A medicine cat must give it's life to save a cat -  Just as a warrior would give its life for a clanmate, a Medicine cat would give its life for anyone. 

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This has been a vague guide to everything you should need to know starting out, there is a whole world out there to explore, Young medicine cat, Go explore it.

Thank you for reading, and have a wonderful day.