Firetooth was silent, turned away with his back facing the Queen and kit as he went over the various herbs he had collected for this procedure one last time. It seemed almost redundant, considering he had spent most of the previous day doing the exact same thing, only taking breaks to draw out the steps of the process in the dirt. Ghostcrown had to practically drag the Medicine Cat to his nest to make him go to sleep. But he had to be sure; asthma, heart conditions, and even broken or lost limbs he could deal with, but this was beyond what most basic and even advanced herb knowledge covered. He would have to physically cut open the kit in order to push the bubble back in. That wasn't something he was going to take lightly.

Taking a deep breath, he used his claw to separate three poppy seeds from the pile - more than enough to put Secretkit out like a light for a good portion of the day - along with some Lamb's Ear leaves for strength and Ash Tree Seeds that would hopefully numb the kit to any sort of pain or uncomfortableness while he was asleep. As simple as the procedure was, Firetooth couldn't afford to take any chances with a kit. "Ghostcrown's right, Secretkit," he meowed, sounding somewhat disinterested to cover up the anxiety he was feeling. "Getting this bubble fixed will prove you're even braver than Chimerastar." Not particularly a difficult milestone to pass, but the kit didn't know that. "When you're ready, eat these herbs, okay?"

"Chimerastar being ugly has nothing to do with his scars, that's just his personality," Firetooth remarked, rolling his eyes in mild exasperation at the kits' theatrics. Who would've thought that this would be the hard part? "Everybody has scars, Secretkit. Even me." Lifting his front paw to his neck with a sigh, he pushed away both the fur and the squirrel-pelt he wore around his shoulders to reveal a surprisingly nasty-looking, but completely healed scar that circled his neck like a kittypet collar. He let Secretkit - along with Jetfire and Ghostcrown - gawk at it for a moment before covering it with the squirrel-pelt again. "It's just as your mother said; they aren't ugly, they tell a story; what you've been through, and how you've overcome the obstacles against you. I could probably grab any random warrior that passed by this den, and they'd be able to show you a scar they have...plus if you don't get this bubble removed I can't in good conscience as a Medicine Cat permit you to become an apprentice, so eat up, squirt."

His eyes widened slightly as he took in Firetooth's scar for the first time. What had happened to his brother? He was a medicine cat, he shouldn't be fighting in any battles, but that didn't look like an ordinary fight wound either. It was too even, too exacting, if Ghostcrown didn't know better he would think the tom had been executed. His fur fluffed, uncomfortable with the thought.

That was a talk for another day. He glanced away as the scar was covered once again and nodded his support. Ghostcrown had scars, but none were very unique or interesting, so he didn't bother to share them. They were the normal nicks and scuffs from a fighting life.

"Er... sure, a pangolin, why not," Ghostcrown agreed. He wasn't sure what that was either, but it was a harmless lie. "Ready to take your drugs?"

What in Starclan's name was a pangolin? A type of bat? Granted, the kit himself didn't seem to know, so Firetooth decided it was best not to dwell on it. It was probably just some creature Secretkit made up. "We'll get you a tasty mouse or something after this is over," the Medicine Cat reassured. "The herbs don't make you fall asleep right away, just be patient and you'll fall asleep in no time." Which meant that soon it would be his own go-time. Glancing over his pile of herbs once again, the Medicine Cat mentally readied himself to start the procedure.

With Jetfire's confirmation, Firetooth slowly rose to his paws and walked over to Secretkit's side with cautious but steady steps, taking a moment to take a breath and steal himself. He could do this. He would do this, so that Secretkit could live an easier and more fulfilling life as an apprentice and a warrior. Heck, with how strong-willed and confident this kit was, he could maybe even become leader someday. "Alright," he finally meowed, mind completely focused on the task at paw. "Let's get started."

...

It hadn't been a particularly quick procedure - a good hour or two by the Medicine Cat's estimation - but it was certainly a successful one. The bubble had been pushed back into Secretkit's stomach without any complications whatsoever, to Jetfire's relief and Firetooth's pride. Now, the little tom was curled up beside his mother with a matching belt of cobwebs and leaves circling his abdomen. All that was left to do was wait until the patient slept off the herbs. The ginger tom padded back into the Medicine Den, having stepped out for a few minutes for a well-deserved drink of water. Glancing over at the Queen, he smiled slightly when he noticed Secretkit snoring. "Your kit's quite the trooper, I'll give him that."