- the young apprentice wasn't one to waken early. he must appreciated his sleep, especially being one responsible for the physical wellbeing of his clanmates. it was a taxing job for the apprentice, and he hadn't yet grasped the importance of his role. at eight moons old he still brushed it off, seeing it as merely another daily task to perform, sort of like a warrior's patrol or an apprentice's fighting practice. being a medicine cat was just an excuse to stay inside the camp, he believed, and he liked it like that.
but those daily duties had to be finished eventually. peachpaw tried to stay asleep for as long as he could without being scolded by ternleaf or tallhaze, though the one most likely to force him to start the day would be phloxpaw. his fellow apprentice was a bit of a stick in the mud to peachpaw, and she had a different way of being a medicine cat. peachpaw couldn't stand her constant serious nature and her over-the-top worrying, and wished she wouldn't constantly boss him around like a little kit - he was only two moons younger than her! luckily this morning wasn't one that involved a tail being stepped on or a sharp swipe to the ear, and peachpaw could arise with the sun. it barely crept through the opening of the den but it was enough to get peachpaw to his paws, after rolling over a few times and grumbling with annoyance. he could hear the soft pawsteps of other cats gathering outside, and figured he should probably do the same. the vigils held in remembrance of the lost warriors to thunderclaw would be wrapping up, although peachpaw couldn't dare to step close to either of the bodies lying in the clearing. of course he had payed his respects to them like any good apprentice should, however he had to keep his eyes shut the entire time. the creature terrified him beyond belief, and he didn't want to imagine the power it had against cats like himself.
peachpaw stepped groggily out of the medicine cat den, letting his eyes scan the clearing and noted the few warriors already gathered in the camp. everyone looked shaken up from the attacks last night, and also worried about the coming leafbare. peachpaw was too, as it meant an increase in weather-related diseases and injuries. his close friend, the fellow apprentice applepaw, was fortunate enough to not have to deal with that, he thought as he noticed her sitting outside the apprentice's den. peachpaw wandered over to the young molly, giving her a slight nod in greeting as he sat himself down beside her. "g'morning, applepaw! how's the morning treating you?" the tom had a feeling she was also a bit frightened by the thunderclaw attacks, the air was full of anxious tension between the cats, and he wanted to perhaps brighten her up.
- totoro had found a medium-sized divot in the moor the previous night and was able to keep safe from the roaming predators. every day felt like a challenge to the outsider, and she was always discovering something new about the land. being a loner, she had to fend for herself, which made her way more alert and cautious than another cat. she had to stay alive, not only for herself but for the siblings she lost. totoro wished to find them again, and prayed that they were still well. after all, her parents had taught her and her siblings all they needed to know about outcast living, even if they weren't together anymore. nowadays she wanders for great distances every day, never settling in a single place for too long, firstly because it was to her survival not to leave her scent for other creatures to track down, but mostly because she believed she could find her siblings that way.
as per any other morning, totoro was early to rise, even before the musky sky turned to a brighter shade indicating that the sun had risen. she began her journey yet again, now in search of prey to eat. her parents had taught her well of what to hunt down and what to stray clear of, and she now had quite a knack for tracking down non-poisoned prey. the young molly continued wandering through the grasslands until she reached a small stream, pausing to sniff the air. her nose told her the water was safe to drink, so she hunched down next to the stream and began lapping up the water. it was rare to stumble upon such a fresh water source, so she wouldn't take it for granted. several moments passed before totoro finally stood and continued in search of breakfast, though it didn't take long to find the scent of a rabbit who likely had also wanted a drink from the stream. rabbits were quick and posed a risk of injury from their hind legs, but the young cat was desperate during times like this. she changed her gait to a slow pace, which slowed further as she saw brown fur peeking out of the tall weeds. totoro got low on her haunches, crept forward until she was only a few fox-lengths away, then sprang at the rabbit. her anticipated landing spot, however, wasn't the most accurate, as the rabbit had already begun bolting away by the time her paws hit the ground. totoro charged after the small animal, staying weary of its hind paws, until she was able to knock it over with a quick jab to the side. she killed it quickly with a swift bite to the throat, and began enjoying her meal that would likely have to last until the evening.
