[attr="class","pintag"]# timberwolf

[attr="class","pinscroll"] Timberwolf hated admitting that the combination of the cold and his age was beginning to take its toll on him. Timberwolf, in his younger days, had been a strong and proud tom, who carried himself with an overt amount of confidence that was not easily mistaken for cockiness, but rather a knowledge of his own prowess. However, as he aged, the tom lost some of his former bulk. Once upon a time, it was simply the graying of his muzzle, but now, his body betrayed him far more than his pelt ever could. He had the hunched look of an old tom, far past his prime. When Timberwolf had first retried to the elder’s den, he still had that upright confidence that showed a lingering strength. But now, it was undeniable that he was the oldest cat in the clan, perhaps amongst even all three clans, although he could think of a few that were close to him in age. At this point in his life, Timberwolf knew that he was far beyond his prime, and while he was thankful that he had a break after so many seasons of wear and tear on his body… He hated the fact that he could no longer fool himself into thinking that his retirement had been a need to step aside for the younger ones to take his place but had rather been something much needed because he could no longer keep up in the way that he once had. [break][break]

In a way, it was humiliating to the tom to admit that he was becoming somewhat feeble, despite his size. His pelt no longer shone with the brilliance of a healthy cat and, instead, hung on a frame that had once been much bulkier. It wasn’t to say, however, that Timberwolf was not healthy, but his age showed on him more and more with each passing season, with each passing turn of the moon. [break][break]

“Joint pain is understandable with the chill. I felt it reach even me in my nest this morning,” Ice-eyes said. Timberwolf smiled slightly, feeling slightly better in that he hadn’t been the only one impacted by the cold, and it was not simply a matter of his age. [break][break]

“I’m sorry to hear that,” he meowed. He watched as she vanished into the area where the herbs were stored, speaking as she did so. Timberwolf had never known much about herbs and had never had the mind for most things. He knew well enough that cobwebs and moss could staunch a bleeding wound, but beyond that, Timberwolf had always needed a medicine cat for anything worse than a cut or stuck thorn. He looked down at the herbs that were placed in front of him. [break][break]

“Thank you, Ice-eyes,” Timberwolf said as he stooped down, feeling even some protest with the movement as he did so. He gratefully chewed up the herbs, scrunching his face at their taste. They weren’t the worst things he’d ever tasted, but they were by no means something he wanted to have to consume daily for comfort’s sake. [break][break]

“I think these should work just fine,” he said after he finished chewing and swallowed. “Hopefully, I won’t have to come back for anything stronger. With any luck, the weather should start getting a bit warmer soon, and my problems should be lessened.”

[attr="class","pintag"]# timberwolf

[attr="class","pinscroll"] Timberwolf himself wasn’t quite so sure that he was right about it. But as long as the herbs took the sharp edge off of the discomfort, then he could admittedly tolerate a base level of pain at this point. Timberwolf didn’t like to complain about his aches and pains, mostly because it was a glaring issue from his age alone, and it was not a fact that he liked to bring attention to. It hurt his pride to admit that his age was beginning to get the better of him and become a more constant affliction. The most recent leaf-bare had been the worst that he’d experienced, and in seasons past, Timberwolf had noticed a pattern of feeling it more in leaf-bare, but then, as the world around them warmed up, the aches and pain became more of a background thing for him that he could ignore. That did not seem to be the case this time. [break][break]

Mentally, Timberwolf still felt like a warrior. In the few seasons since he’d retired to the elder’s den, Timberwolf had never mentally felt like an elder. In some part of his mind, he didn’t think he outwardly acted like one much either. But, clearly, that was beginning to change as the moons ticked by in their steady march. [break][break]

He was not one who usually wondered what others thought of him because, on some basic level, he knew the general opinion that others had when it came to himself. Now, he wondered if others looked at him and no longer saw the strong, confident warrior that once existed. Instead, he saw nothing more than an addled old tom far past his prime. Would others begin to believe that he was a burden the older he got? That was not something that Timberwolf wanted. ‘Sometimes I wish I had gone to Starclan during battle,’ he thought to himself. ‘Then no one would have to see this… deterioration.’ He didn’t know how else to think about it. [break][break]

“Just let me know if the pain doesn’t lessen or gets worse. You’re right that leaf-green is right around the corner. Just a few moons doesn’t seem like a long time anymore.” Ice-eyes said. Timberwolf was glad she did not seem to think him a burden on her supplies for asking for a little relief. Though, despite her non-judgemental words, Timberwolf would probably not come back if nothing changed. He didn’t want to be a drain on the supplies that could be used on younger cats in need of them. Some nagging part of his mind whispered that he hadn’t earned the right to have the herbs. He tried to ignore that portion of his mind by rationalizing that help from the Medicine Cat was not something that he had to earn, and more so, that he had more than once earned help throughout his time as a warrior. [break][break]

“Has anything else been bothering you? I can send an apprentice to the elders den to help you with any fleas or ticks that have been bothering you. Oh I might have some thistle leaves that you can add to your bedding to maybe help through the fur,” Ice-eyes said. [break][break]

“No, I’ve been fine otherwise,” Timberwolf said. “I don’t want to take too much of your supplies.” A small glimpse into the turmoil that he was beginning to feel inside.