HiveMind: Medical Mysteries

Have you ever wondered about the intricacy of the Clans' medicinal practices?

How can the medicine cats always know exactly what's going on? Do they? Or is it just an illusion they adopt to keep their paitents calm?

What does the unique social pressure put on medicine cats from different Clans do to their bond with each other?

Wonder no more with the new addition to the HiveMind franchise! See through the eyes of all the Clans' medicine cats and get to see the problems and medicinal quandaries they face.

Does something additional lie underneath the narrative? Is there a reason why the Clans' healers are under so much undue stress?

...

We'll see.

## Chapter One: [Beetlefoot]

Beetlefoot blinks awake and pulls himself up, a quiet wheeze accompanying the effort.

In a groggy haze, the brown tom stumbles over to the herb shelf and settles down, coughing and wheezing as he does so.

Beetlefoot's paw skims the herb shelf in search of his set-aside herbs, feeling for the smooth, round form of juniper berries.

The SkyClan medicine cat laps up the juniper and some catmint, relaxing with a quiet sigh as his airways clear.

*That's better..*

"Y-you alright, Beetlefoot?" a shaky voice inquires.

"Hm?' Beetlefoot turns around, flicking an ear as his wheezing starts to let up.

"Yep, it's all good, Flakefrost," the brown tom reassures his apprentice with a stifled cough, though unconvinced of that himself.

"Did- did you have another dream last night? I have the thyme set aside-" Beetlefoot tentatively reaches out for the bundle of thyme, his paw twitching.

"N-no, I'm fine," Flakefrost replies quietly, seeming to jitter and twitch as he glances around.

"You're sure? You still seem a bit shaken up."

"Y-yeah...." Flakefrost fidgets with his paws, his ears flat. The younger medicine cat scratches his ear with a hind paw, his feathery fur billowing with the movement.

"Alright. It's here if you need it, though." Beetlefoot smiles amicably at his apprentice.

"I don't want to use it all.." Flakefrost murmurs, smoothing down his bristled white fur.

Beetlefoot holds the thyme stack in place with a paw while he sifts through a pile of chervil leaves and discards the wilted plants.

"No, it's fine, Flakefrost; I always have thyme set aside for you.." Beetlefoot mews, flicking an ear in his apprentice's direction.

"If you say so..." Flakefrost trudges over to the herb shelf, lapping up the thyme with a hesitant shine in his eyes.

Beetlefoot sighs in relief, flicking his tufted tail.

*That should help him...*

"I need to try and get some of the dust out of here," Beetlefoot murmurs, getting to his paws.

"I-I can help," Flakefrost mews, scrabbling up with a quiet squeak.

"Alright," Beetlefoot replies, resting his tail on the white tom's back.

"Can you try to get some of the dust out of the corners?"

"Sure," Flakefrost replies eagerly, fluffing out his tail and starting to sweep the crevices of the den.

Beetlefoot clears his throat as it starts to itch again, starting to veer towards the den mouth.

"..I'll be outside.."

"Alright," Flakefrost mews, shaking out his tail.

Beetlefoot ducks out of the medicine den, squinting at the bright rays of sunshine filtering through the treetops.

A robin's trill rings throughout the camp as Beetlefoot settles down outside the medicine den and lets the crisp forest air fill his lungs.

Beetlefoot closes his eyes, letting himself relax-

"Beetlefoot!" a sharp voice interjects, a tinge of impatience prevalent.

*Never mind, then...*

"Yes, Snailswirl?" Beetlefoot replies, opening an eye and regarding the grayish-brown tabby standing in front of him with a skeptical expression.

Snailswirl clears his throat expectantly, motioning towards the warriors' den with his tail.

*Is he too prideful to ask for my help outright? Why pull this nonsense otherwise?*

"Do you need something-" Beetlefoot starts before breaking into a momentary coughing fit and starting to wheeze again.

Snailswirl scoffs.

"Why would I take help from a medicine cat who can't even care for himself?" the tabby mutters,

sneering down at Beetlefoot.

Not in the mood to deal with this, Beetlefoot closes his eyes again.

"If you want to be that way.."

Beetlefoot hears Snailswirl let out a sigh of irritation and stalk away.

*Oh, well...*

Beetlefoot returns to relaxing, curling his tail neatly over his paws.

The brown tom pricks an ear as he hears uncertain pawsteps approaching, more specifically those indicative of a staggering gait.

*Who's this-*

"..Beetlefoot?" a dull brown she-cat inquires, notably quieter than Snailswirl before her.

"..Yes, Poolshine?" Beetlefoot mews, exhaling with a quiet wheeze.

"I don't want to bother you..but- uhm- my pads are cracked and they hurt.."

"...If you're busy I can just come later," Poolshine murmurs, shifting uncomfortably.

"Oh, it's fine, don't worry," Beetlefoot assures, getting to his paws and letting Poolshine lean on him.

"I'm here to help."

Poolshine stumbles forward, casting an uncertain look around through round, clear heather blue eyes.

"C'mon," Beetlefoot mews, helping Poolshine into the medicine den.

Upon reentering the den, Beetlefoot starts to wheeze again from the built-up dust but manages to ignore it as he helps Poolshine settle down in a nest.

"Alright, sit tight," Beetlefoot mews, turning to Flakefrost.

*Let's see...yarrow ointment for the cracked pads and oak so they don't get infected, and some poppy seeds as well to take her mind off the pain.*

"Flakefrost, can you get some yarrow and oak leaf? And-"

"Poppy seeds?" Flakefrost finishes, pulling some herbs into a bundle and bringing them over. "And here's some juniper for you."

Beetlefoot nods his thanks, lapping up the juniper berries and beginning to make the yarrow and oak into a poultice.

Poolshine flinches slightly as Beetlefoot spreads the poultice on her paw pads but relaxes a bit as Flakefrost offers her the poppy seeds.

"Alright, you should be good for now," Beetlefoot mews, scraping up the remaining herb ointment and wrapping it in an ivy leaf.

"Do I need to stay in here? I don't want to take up too much space-" Poolshine murmurs uncertainly, glancing downward.

*Hm..*

"It's fine, and we want to make sure your pads don't get infected," Beetlefoot replies, flicking an ear.

"Don't worry, there's plenty of room," Flakefrost mews, smiling weakly at the dull brown she-cat.

"..If you insist.."

Poolshine rests her head on her paws, her ears twitching.

Beetlefoot motions to Flakefrost to keep an eye on Poolshine as he heads back outside and towards Tumblestar's den.

The wind ruffles Beetlefoot's short fur, blowing away some of the leaf scraps scattered through his pelt.

The SkyClan medicine cat pauses outside the hollow tree, tentatively glancing inside.

"Tumblestar?"

Beetlefoot hears a quiet groan and some shuffling as he waits for a response.

"Yes?" the SkyClan leader replies, sounding strained.

"Oh, hello, Beetlefoot."

Beetlefoot sticks his head inside the den, flicking his ears.

"Do you need anything? Some prey, or herbs-"

Tumblestar shakes his head, clearing his throat with a slight cough.

"I'll be quite alright but I do appreciate the offer, Beetlefoot," the dusty brown tom mews, smoothing down his ruffled, spiky fur with a paw.

Beetlefoot dips his head politely, withdrawing from Tumblestar's den.

"I'll be back to check on you later, then."

Tumblestar nods, curling back up with a yawn.

*He's not as active as he used to be...but then again he is getting quite old...*

Beetlefoot shakes his head to clear it, glancing down at the ground.

*It'll be alright, I'm sure...I'll just let him get his rest..*