Healing paws (OPEN)

Sunup was upon the world as Sootstripe padded along, taking in the scent of morning dew and small critters stirring in their nests. This was her favourite time in the day. Most of StoneClan's Warriors had still been sleeping when she decided to venture out on her own. She was prone to wandering out of camp in the early day to explore the territory for fresh herbs to bring back. StoneClan's territory could be fairly unforgiving to certain medicines, especially when the air was thick and hot. Being surrounded by stone cliffs had many perks, but it sure did make her job significantly harder sometimes. Many of her herbs had to be collected early to avoid any unfortunate spoiling before she returned to camp, and considering how many herbs struggled to grow in stony terrain she couldn't afford to loose any. Thankfully, the other Medicine Cats were more than happy to exchange some of their own medicinal herbs for the lamb's ear and ragweed that grew exclusively in her territory. Although the other clan cats didn't have a great need for travelling herbs, you never really knew when you'd end up needing them. It was always good to have some stocked away, and despite being from different Clans, Sootstripe had grown fond of the other three Medicine Cats. she would even consider them her friends. The life of a Medicine Cat could be almost contradictory to the Warrior code at times; but she was not a Warrior. Her heart was too gentle for that. Her paws were for healing, not for damaging. 
Slick and limber, the odd eyed she-cat leaped from rock to rock, scenting the air cautiously as she came to the Cliffside bridge. The chasm that separated StoneClan from LeafClan was a massive one, and as such it was unlikely for her to come across trouble from them;  however it was always best to stay alert. This side of StoneClan territory held a majority of the territories greenery, so she found herself drawn to it more often than the upper cliffs. Either way, the upper cliffs were known as the End of the World; the stony paths were almost inhabitable for both prey and plants, and StoneClan cats were taught not to go past that point. Not only were the pathways very dangerous, but they led down to where the rogues had taken up camp. The thought made her shudder. Those rogues were vile creatures, living lives of malice and gluttony for pain and suffering. Many of the rogues were once Clan cats themselves before they were cast away for their heinous crimes. One cat stood out in Sootstripe's mind; A tom she had grown to know in her younger days. Stripedpaw had been a powerful apprentice, and had been nearing his Warrior ceremony when she had finally been given the name Sootpaw. She had only just been given the opportunity to become a Medicine Cat when the older apprentice was dragged back to camp, his body nearly lifeless. While out hunting he had been attacked by a hawk and had suffered a great deal before loosing consciousness. She remembered her mentor's sad eyes as she informed their noble Leader that Stripedpaw likely would not make it to sunup. She had been tasked with cleaning the fallen apprentice's bloody wounds and making him comfortable for his transition into StarClan. As their Leader came in to perform the tom's Warrior ceremony, she watched with great sadness as his name changed entirely. Stripedpaw became Slitstorm, and so it seemed the tom would be welcomed into their ancestors ranks. 
Yet against all odds Slitstorm survived. Sootpaw spent much of her time talking to the injured Warrior when he gained consciousness. Experiencing something so traumatic seemed to have changed him, and not for the better. She began to worry about what kind of effect this would leave on him, excluding the many raised scars that now decorated his flanks. His recovery was slow, but soon enough he was on his own paws again with little help. 
Their Leader eventually graced the large tom with his first apprentice, Slenderpaw. Slenderpaw was almost five moons younger than Sootstripe, who had recently received her Warrior ceremony and taken over for her ageing Mentor. Slenderpaw was sweet and gentle, and was in no way prepared to have a mentor as ruthless as Slitstorm. The burly tom had developed a cut throat personality that bled over into the personal areas of his life. Sootstripe remembered seeing Slenderpaw coming back from training sessions in rough shape, and could recall feeling very concerned for her; she had even voiced her concerns to their Leader. They planned to send in a spy to watch over her and make sure Slitstorm was honourably training the Warrior to be. They quickly discovered that he wasn't. 
When Slenderpaw staggered back into camp alone and bleeding, Sootstripe ran to her and brought her to the safety of her den. Slenderpaw was hysterical, claiming she had witnessed Slitstorm rip out their sleuths throat. Trying to keep calm Sootstripe immediately informed her Leader of the Warrior's violation of the code. 
Upon returning to camp, Slitstorm already fabricated a story to cover his own tail. He had clearly taken the time to clean himself up before returning, but he had been sold out and his Leader met him at the entrance with a pack of Warriors in tow. He was banished and escorted to the StoneClan boarder, being forced to walk the dangerous path out of Clan territory entirely. Seeing the toms complete lack of compassion for the Warrior they had sent out to follow him broke her heart. His body was nearly unrecognizable. She would occasionally go to the End of the World to survey territory, and she could have sworn she had seen the violent tom there amongst their cruel ranks. 
Thinking about Slitstorm caused her stomach to twist uneasily. She remembered the last thing he had ever said to her and her Clan mates with unsettling discomfort: "One day I will return here, and you will all bow before me or die for your insolence." She shook herself uneasily, trying to turn her attention back to the task at hand. 'Now is not the time to worry about Slitstorm.' Her internal voice reminded her. 'His words were nothing but empty threats.'