Its hard to be an elder

[Thornflower/Fadedstar]

Stormclaw awoke to the bitter morning. His joints ached terribly and he was very stiff. The cold had chilled him to the bone. He started to try and stand slowly to let his muscles stretch at their own pace and possibly get his joints to loosen up some. He winced with discomfort at the effort, but eventually made it to his feet. He stretched a little more and padded slowly out of the den and to the fresh-kill pile. Everything there was slowly turning to crowfood and had spoiled over night. He sighed and sat down, waiting for a warrior to come along.

Dawnlight and Silverstreak padded out of the warriors den stretching and yawning a bit as they chatted away about what they would do today. Just then they saw their father Stormclaw sitting by the fresh-kill pile that had spoiled. "Stormclaw!" Dawnlight called out as she ran over to meet her father with her sister at her side. She gave him a light nudge. "How are you doing this morning? It's cold today..."

"Hungry..." he said lightly, returning his daughter's nudge. "But other than that I'm alright, a little stiff, but nothing a little stretch can't fix." He said, returning his gaze to the fresh-kill pile.

"Well thats good news." Silverstreak said. "Why don't you go back to the elder's den where it's warmer and we'll go get you some fresh-kill. We'll bring it to you when we get back."

"Don't treat me like a crippled old elder." he said giving Silverstreak a light cuff of the ear with one of his forepaw. "I am on my way there, but not quite there yet. But thank you you two. I'll be waiting for you to come back." He said before standing again, his joints still aching a bit, but refusing to show his weakness to his daughters.

"Looks like you've volunteered me for another hunting patrol." Dawnlight said, cuffing her sister over her other ear. "As usual, going and making offers without considering others first.

"You're so cold Dawnlight!" Silverstreak exclaimed. "He is our father. You're saying you'd just let him starve?!" Her fur fluffed out and her ears went back.

"No Silverstreak...I'm not saying that....Of course I'd go hunt for Stormclaw. But we can't just go and bring food back for him, now we have togo hunt for the whole Clan." She stood and shook the cold away from her fur. "Lets get going." She said before turning from her sister and heading out of the camp.

Silverstreak was still a little irked at Dawnlight, but followed none the less.

[Firepaw]

Flamefoot woke, suddenly, to the terrible sound of a crow. He stood and mumbled, sarcastically, "Best way to wake up!" Then he padded out of his den, the abandoned fox den and stepped into the elders' den. "Good morning, Stormclaw!" he meowed, looking at the elder, "Need anything?"

[Thornflower/Fadedstar]

Stormclaw looked to the Medicine cat emerging from his den. "Good morning Flamefoot." He said lightly. "I'm alright for now. Just some achy joints is all."

[Firepaw]

Flamefoot looked at Stormclaw and meowed, "Alright. I'll check back in later. Call me if you need anything!" He dipped his head and stepped out of the elders' den.

[Thornflower/Fadedstar]

Stormclaw smiled and nodded to the medicine cat before laying down and waiting for his daughters to return.

[Firepaw]

Spottedstripe sat up and meowed, in a raspy voice, "What's all the racket?" She looked at Stormclaw, and grunted. "Good morning, Stormclaw. Where's Flamefoot? I need him." she meowed, stretching her legs.

[Thornflower/Fadedstar]

"Good morning Spottedstripe." He said with a polite nod to the she-cat. "Flamefoot just left. Would you like me to fetch him?"

[Firepaw]

Spottedstripe nodded and meowed, "Please." She sat back in her nest and curled up to stay warm. "I think I may be getting sick." she meowed, with a loud cough.

[Thornflower/Fadedstar]

"I hope it's not serious..." He said quietly. "I'll be right back." He said with a nod to the she-cat and stood slowly, his joints still aching a little. He walked slowly out of the elders den and over to the medicine cat's den. "Flamefoot." He called inside. "Are you in?"

[Firepaw]

Flamefoot jumped when he heard Stormclaw's meow. "Oh. Yes, I am. What do you need?" he meowed, backing away from his herbs. "Has Spottedstripe woken up yet?" He came over to Stormclaw and waited.

[Thornflower/Fadedstar]

"Ye she has." He said. "She has a cough."

[Firepaw]

Flamefoot's ears pricked up. "Well, you should know that she gets a cough every leaf-bare. I'll be there in a minute, Stormclaw. Tell Spottedstripe I'm getting some herbs." he meowed, going to the back of his den where his herbs were.

[Thornflower/Fadedstar]

"Yes Flamefoot. Thank you." He gave a nod to the medicine cat and then padded back to the Elder's Den. "Spottedstripe, Flamefoot is coming with your herbs."

[Firepaw]

Spottedstripe nodded and meowed, "Thanks, Stormclaw!" She waited for Flamefoot to enter, and after a while he did. "Good morning, Spottedstripe. Stormclaw told me you were feeling sick?" he meowed, though his sound was muffled because of the herb bundles he had in his mouth. "Yes, Flamefoot. I feel sick and I'm coughing and sneezing." Spottedstripe meowed. Flamefoot nodded and laid down a bundle for her to chew. Spottedstripe nodded and Flamefoot waited for her to finish.

[Thornflower/Fadedstar]

Stormclaw padded over towards his nest and nestled in, watching the medicine cat work.