Fandom A Runaway’s New Home [Private 1x1]

[Honeypool]

Honeypool's ears flatten as his remark towards her. House cat?! What on earth gave him that impression? She wanted to snap back at him, but she could feel familiar cold claws scratching along her spine, so she said nothing and chose to ignore his remark, though it did hurt her feelings. So much for trying to be nice. She mental scolded herself realizing it was her fault for causing a scene to begin with. Embarrassed she gave her chest fur a few small licks. He still didn't need to be so harsh with her. Honeypool was now wishing he had been bitten but shoved the cruel thought down quickly fearing he would then he stuck in the medicine cat den with her. He already acts like he has a thorn in his pelt, just imagine his attitude if he did get bit. The brown she-cat shuttered at the thought of it.

Her eyes zoned in on the frog, a pit of disgust catching in her throat. She could already feel its cold skin running along her tongue, and she didn't want to actually feel it. She turned her nose up to it. "I'm not hungry." She said quickly. She could feel him watching her which made her extremely uncomfortable. She didn't need him hovering over her like a kit. She didn't want him doing that. She shuffled her paws nervously.

Suddenly, as if he call out her lie, her stomach gave a tiny wail of hungry. Honeypool's ears pricked up as her body heated up with embarrassment. She cleared her throat and ducked her head down, her tail wrapping around her paws as she looked down at the creature once more. She really didn't want to eat it. She looked up slightly, glancing at Robinfang with almost pleading eyes before she looked back down but this time at the snake he had brought back. What's with ShadowClan and such smooth feeling creatures? They might as well lick rocks too. "Someone else can use the prey other than me." Her voice was quiet though her request was honest she just really wanted something more appealing to her. Not a smooth, probably, salty frog, or a scaly snake that looked like it has gotten into a brutal fight.

"What even happened to it?" Honeypool asked out loud as she flipped the battered creature over with her paws, examining it.

 

[Chill Alley Cat]

RobinFang's tail curled around him neatly, settling into the moss floor of the hollow, not really paying attention to the she-cat's reaction to his crude comparison. His pelt prickled at the slight dampness of the musky den, green squishing between his toes with a grimace, before being able to pull his eyes up to Honeypool's.


The tom observed as the cream and marron cat eyed the frog and snake in disgust. He rolled his eyes at the cat's pickiness, the image of coddled Windclan cats turning their noses to anything but divine prey blessed by Starclan giving him a fleet moment of entertainment, but smirk quickly falling as the brown warrior outed some poor miserable excuse instead.

"I'm not hungry." HoneyPool spoke curtly, but her growling innards gave her away. RobinFang flicked a torn ear unimpressed, the resounding feeling of dread making his eyes heavy with annoyance remembering CoalStar and KestrelFall's warning of an unavoidable fate. The lean tom forced himself to stay sharp, chasing away the coming feeling of discouragement for only a moment longer to respond.


As HoneyPool turned the worn snake about in paws questioning its condition, it was RobinFang's turn for his ego to be scorned with embracement heating his pelt. He flicked his tail as a rattlesnake would, his words quick to turn sour to defend his pride.

"I just got a bit rough while hunting." He spat a half-truth, his bothered and creased expression refusing to give any more context to his response. The tortoiseshell was quick to check himself, forcing his tail still after the unreasonable snap, a now awkward quiet taking form that heated his pelt in an internal shame.


He sighed before he crouched down on his patch of moss, eyeing the she-cat while he spoke "You'll have to get used to shadowclan prey at some point, may as well be now before sunset comes." RobinFang informed with a sharp gaze, positive of the meeting to be called dusk where the lack of light wouldn't itch CoalStar's sensitive albino pelt.

"-So eat up." He ordered stubbornly, with a light stomp of his paw.

 

[Honeypool]

The brown she-cat flinched at his behavior, her pelt prickling with uneasiness as she now felt very uncomfortable around him. They all made her feel uncomfortable, but his current aura wanted to make her shrink under the mossy covered den, out of his sight. There was no way only frogs and snakes could be the only prey ShadowClan ate. What cat would even look at these and think prey? She was now wishing she had been caught by a different clan instead of this one.

She sighed, her paws lightly shuffling the ground below her unsure of which one she should eat first. She sat on the idea for a few moments before settling on the frog, leaving the snake for its hunter. "You should eat if you haven't yet." Maybe something in his stomach will keep him from being so cranky. She personally just wanted to get this over with. She touched the creature, its skin cool to the touch. The feeling of it made her body shiver with disgust but she held back from saying anything as she bent down to take a bite.

The feeling of it on her tongue was enough to make her pause for a moment, wincing at the unfamiliar texture before she held her breath to finally like a proper bite and begin to eat. The taste was alright. She blinked in surprise before taking another bite followed by another until she was finished. She said nothing as she cleaned her paws, but a small wave of embarrassment made her ears hot at the temper tantrum she has thrown about.

She glanced over at Robinfang. "Happy now?" She mumbled out.

 

[Chill Alley Cat]

RobinFang stood still only breaking a smile as HoneyPool succumbed to her hungry, his satisfaction smeared across his black muzzle. “Very, we’ll have a meeting when sun sinks and it be a shame for you to be introduced as some half starved corpse.” He smirked.

He lingered for a moment longer, his sharp green eyes gazed to the disregard frog. “I should eat right?-“ He repeated her words with a tilt of his head and a bounce of his black ears.


The warrior doesn’t wait for a response, as a his paw curls around the amphibian. The tortoiseshell hanging the limp creature above his open jaws and long teeth by its rubbery back leg, before snapping his fangs with a clink.

He looked to the she-cat with a raised brow as he chewed. “..ThornMask tried to bribe you?” He spoke knowingly with his mouth still full, awkward to making conversation in effort to avoid his duties in the nursery.

 

[Honeypool]

Her ears pricked up as curiosity filled her eyes. A meeting? She hummed softly figuring out it had to do with her arrival in the new clan. She couldn't shake the feeling of uneasiness that nipped at her paws and belly. She was going to be a ShadowClan cat soon. Even though the role was temporary to her the thought of it made her sick. She never thought she would have left her birth clan to join any other clan. ShadowClan being the last one on her mind.

Her tail wrapped around her body as she starred out towards the camp clearing. She could make out the shape of Coalstar's den as nervousness gripped her throat. He wouldn't change her name, right? Just what did the furless leader have in mind for her. Her body felt cold as she dug her nails into the soft moss bedding.

She turned her head hearing the male speak to her. "Thornmask?" Honeypool echoed back before the she-cat from eariler's image clicked in her mind. So that's her name. She shrugged unsure of how to answer. "I am unsure?" She mewed softly her paw smoothing out the clump of moss she had began to dig out unknowingly. "She came in asking me why I was joining ShadowClan and left when I didn't give her any answers." Honeypool explained the short interaction they had earlier.

"I guess you can say it was a bribe." She said sheepishly. She hadn't thought of it as a bribe at all, more of a joke, but the idea of a bribe also fell into place. "Does she normally bride people into giving her answers?" She asked lifting her gaze to look over at him.

 

[Chill Alley Cat]

“She’s once offered me a worm in exchange of information-“ He cut himself off with a hearty swallow, conveniently grooming between his pad. He rolls his greens eyes as he continues.

“ThornMask has been the nosy cat I know since she was an apprentice.” He huffs his tail curling tightly around himself in uncertainty. His gaze flickers to the clearing, avoiding the she-cat’s eyes as he almost accidentally reveled his clanless origin forgetting what it’s like to speak to a cat outside of shadowclan.

 

[Honeypool]

Honeypool blinked slowly understanding. She smiled slightly before blowing air out of her nose to imitate a laugh. "I'm sure she was even worse as a kit though. They are always so curious about everything, including their own paws." Her voice saddened a bit before her gaze fell back to the floor. A ball of moss rested in between her paws as she gentle knocked it back and forth between herself. Things were also so simple as a kit, you didn't have to worry about anything except food and not getting trampled on.

No worries about hiding cuts, or bruises, no worries about ex-mates and sneaking away. No worries about winding up in a different clan with weird prey. Her amber eyes darkened as a sigh escaped her mouth. She smooshed the moss ball down with her paws before turning her attention to the unattended herb pile Dewspring had left for her. She had completely forgotten about it until now.

Slidding the pile over towards herself she slowly began to eat it. The tang of bitter, sharp, and earthy blend coated her mouth, making her flick her tongue across her mouth a few times as if she was trying to rub it off. Swallowing her first mouthful she felt her body shiver on its own. "Do you have any idea what Coalstar has in mind for me?" She asked Robinfang hoping to get some type of answer to help settle the mix of emotions she was feeling.

 

[Chill Alley Cat]

The tortoiseshell gave a weak nod in consideration as a poor show he was listening while resting on the burrow’s overgrown floor. RobinFang subtly creased a brow as HoneyPool tone turned to sadness, witnessing as the she-cat shyly ate her herbs as her eyes dragged across the earth.

A frown flickered across muzzle as a familiar feeling of melancholy for home waved from the the roughened up warrior. He mentally swatted away the feeling, logically aware he was just pushing his own mentality on to the stranger, but unconsciously felt sympathy grow for the Windclan cat.



He sat in the more comfortable but sad silence HoneyPool established, looking back to the clearing where his clanmates stopped idle chit chat and sharing of toungues to get started on the day. While he brought it upon himself, RobinFang couldn’t help but wonder if not having an proper apprentice was for the best as he seemed to fail to hold a proper connection to even the most warm and open of clanmates.



His internal monologue halted to a stop as HoneyPool broke the silence, her breath smelling of herbs. She was asking a fair question, being new to the secretive clan, but he paused to have a response roll on his tongue.

CoalStar was to have her stick around for a couple of moons to prove her worthiness, but to truly be one of the clan it most likely take more then moons, maybe years, to become part of Shadowclan. At least that’s what he assumed, never feeling the sense of belonging himself.

“The leader will have you train and you will a simulated with the clan to deem your loyalty and skill over the course of a couple moons.” He shrugged, leaving the possible isolation out of the picture wishing to give the she-cat hope in her new life. It was obvious that HoneyPool’s paranoia meant the warrior was some sort or exile or runaway of Windclan, leaving her with no other option other than to seek a new home. RobinFang wasn’t cruel enough to squash the relatable desire.


“…The outcome is up to you.” He finished truthfully with a finally lick to his still dirty pelt before his eyes returned to hers.

 

[Honeypool]

Honeypool laid there, taking in his words with a flick of her tail. She blinked slowly before nodding her head a few times, symbolizing she understood where he was coming from. It was only fair that Coalstar would want to know she was a loyal warrior, not that she would ever truly be, not to this clan. Her ears twitched, but would she be loyal to the clan she was born in after everything that happened? Could she remain loyal when they seemed to have betray her. Or had she betrayed herself into thinking no one cared.

Her tail fluffed up as she awkwardly avoided Robinfang's gaze, not wanting to dwell on her past for too much longer. There were so many different outcomes for her life and too many what if's she could have chosen and thought about, but none of them mattered as she was stuck here, in this reality, resting in an enemy clan's medicine den. Her current path felt cruel and unjustified for any cat to walk along.

She felt bitter watching all the other mates walking around happily while she had been stuck with someone who turned out to be so cruel. Her eyes clouded over, and she lifted up a paw to wipe her eyes which had slightly began to water. She had seemed to make a bunch of terrible choices in her days, and she wasn't convinced that this would be something finally good placed into her numbing paws.

"I understand." She spoke at last, her voice soft as she closed her eyes not wanting to look over at Robinfang anymore. She didn't want to give too much away despite her demeanor already casting a shadow of her past. "He already said I can't run though." The next sentence was quieter, unsure if she was speaking out loud to him or to herself. Where could she run? She was a clan cat through and through. The soft kittypet life didn't make her feel comfortable and living alone, despite feeling not fully see, wasn't something she wished for either. "Regardless of if I do stay or not, I would always be an outsider to them." Her voice picked up a bit louder.

 

[Chill Alley Cat]

RobinFang observed with a careful eye, the warrior’s pupils scanning as the she-cat took his words into consideration. His green eyes reflecting her diverted gaze as she spoke, recognition lighting his expression at her final words.


“It’s not bad to be an outsider.” He spoke quick to defend but his tone hinting understanding. He craned his neck to retain his distance before recovering from his response to not revel his own backstory. While he was sure the she-cat would figure it out soon enough, he’d like to keep the little face he had.

“Shadowclan is full of outsiders, some loners and others rouge. Our only Queen at the moment is an ex-thunderclan she-cat.” He went on, his tone still cold despite trying to be comforting. “You’re not the only missed placed cat out there you know.” He finished his pitch stern and almost condescending, likely failing to ease the she-cat’s worries. His ears flatten as awkwardness overcame him for getting too involved too poorly.


RobinFang gaze turned to the clearing once more, avoiding HoneyPool’s response to the fox dung he spat out. He coughed sitting up, readying to take his leave.

 

[Honeypool]

Honeypool finally turned to look at the ginger and black tom. She was taken back, not expecting this clan to be so full out outsiders themselves. She blinked, but her eyes were still wide with realization. Usually, clans would shun any outsider. Her clanmates being all from WindClan and born within the clan itself. She wasn't aware of any clanmates that might have outsider blood within them. She looked down slightly at her paws, her ears flushing hot.

She was aware she wasn't the only cat who may be or felt misplaced, but this feeling was new to her nevertheless. She nodded her head to herself letting a few warm words of encouragement fill her. "You sure do have a way with words when you're not snapping at others." She said sincerely. She couldn't understand why the tom had be to so distant and bitter, not that it was her place to know and not that it was her business to pry either. That could just be his personality, but the words had stuck her slightly.

His words were still harsh, but she could tell he wasn't trying to be so harsh on her. At least she hopped. Her attention turned to her paws. Despite all that she still knew when it came down to it she would have to save no one else but herself. Her tail swished back and forth before she glanced over to see him getting up. "Thank you for saying that though, and thank you for the meal." She said politely trying to meet his gaze.

 

[Chill Alley Cat]

He gives off a huff in response, hot air blowing out his nose gruffly unsure how to response otherwise. RobinFang, his pelt hot for being so talkative, slinked his way through the exit of the medicine den.


“That’s the most I think RobinFang ever talked.” A slow voice suddenly appeared behind HoneyPool like a ghost. DewSpring appeared back into the medicine den after apparently leaving, her jaw full of spiky leaves and tangy roots.

The healer gave a slow blink and lazy smile, confirming her evident brain fog and friendliness to her patient.






The hot winds of the starting day raced through his short pelt, the tom’s orange paws punching the shadowy scapes of morning. His fur rippled as the warrior leapt from between clearings of bramble to along the barks of trees.

The sound of morning birds that help guide RobinFang to his target was occasionally interrupted by the whisper’s of his and HoneyPool’s conversation, his green eyes turned to slits as he forced them to locked on to nothing but the dove. His fangs out stretched as he neared the low branch, his nose wrinkled as the Tom scrambled towards the low branch.

His full might snapped at the bird’s neck with an explosion of feathers and splintering wood. He halted on the branch as his jaws closed around the dove’s neck.

‘Wait. Splintering wood?’ RobinFang thought his eyes suddenly less sharp as they blown wide, the weak bark finally succumbing to his weight with a crack.



He yowls as he falls, his prey dragged down with him as if a starclan cat themselves shot the poor animal down. He bites his tongue painfully as he twist his body to meet the forest floor, unsuccessfully trying to claw along the the bark but only serving to to bleed his paws.

He groans as he hits the ground, the sudden stop of gravity pushing the air out of his lungs. He whines as he finds himself among a patch of thorn, having to drag and snag his fur out from the clawing talons of vines.


He sneers at the limp form of white crooked feathers, bending his body back to shape as he. He shook his head to clear with the clapping sound of his ears hitting his skull, confusion and doubt gnawing at his belly.

He huffs as he picks up the prey with a wince, he wasn’t sure why he was so distracted but it sure was annoying and served him no purpose. He flicks his dark tail with a grumble of displeasure, making his way back to the camp’s nursery.

 

[Honeypool]

Honeypool's fur bristled, for a split second she had forgotten all about Dewspring and this being her den. When did she leave? She looked over at her, her amber eyes filled with an unknowing emotion before she turned her head to watch Robinfang leave out of her line of sight. She blinked once before turning to rest her head on her paws unsure of what to really do with herself at the moment. "Is he always so...?" She trailed off her thoughts not coming up the right way.

"It sounds like he wants to be nice, but his tone is so rude. Almost like he is being sarcastic." She continued on trying to find a better way to explain what she meant to the medicine cat without sounding confusing. She couldn't figure it out and the confusion switching of personalities with her last mate made her feel unsettled a bit. "Do toms always act so weird and rude?" She questioned again, unknowing talking to someone or herself.

It was possible that she just didn't understand males as well as she thought or maybe they were just a gender she would never understand because she was a she-cat and both genders just thought differently. She twitched her tail tip back and forth. She opened her mouth but let it run dry as she quickly stopped herself from talking out loud again. That was a thought she would have to keep to herself, unsure if she truly wanted to know it answer.

 

[Chill Alley Cat]

She slugged her body over to the herb supply, stretching like a sloth as she entangled the weeds and roots with the ivy above using her long claws. The medicine cat nodded along as HoneyPool vented her confusion, humming almost silently her infinite tune, looking past her shoulder with heavy sleepy eyes in response.

"Nope!" Her lips popped around the O with a short wet laugh. "Just RobinFang. Surprised you got as much as you did out of him, that stubborn mule will limp around camp with an injury all day just to avoid the extra attention." She continues, with a glint of entertainment in her olive eyes.

"You'll have to tell me your secret." She spoke reassuringly, confirming the tortoiseshell as their most difficult warrior.





"-Get off of me." The tom growls at the large red and black kit through the neck feathers that stuck in his mouth, FoxKit first tensing at the harsh tone before sticking his tongue out slyly at the stern warrior, letting go of his sore foreleg. RobinFang holds back a hiss at the change in pressure on his blistered paws before focusing back on the conversation with the queen.

FoxKit leaps into his mother's black tail where his brother, a brown and cream fluffy kit, resides, the bushy dark red she-cat curled into the patches of moonflowers and white lilies under the coverage of newly born pine seedlings. "...As I was saying, Thank you RobinFang." PoppyBush kind voice layered with snark toward the snappy tom, giving a loving lick to the upside FoxKit and RushKit's heads in one swoop.


The warrior lowered his head humbly to place the bird at the densely furred red she-cat's feet, only to pause as FoxKit gave a challenging know-it-all sneer to the tom for RobinFang to narrow his green eyes sharply at. While RushKit tried to mouth an apology, the tortoiseshell was quick to sharp-shot the snotty little kit, tossing the dove on top of the young ginger with a rightful bonk.

RobinFang huffed with a smirk at the kitten exclaimed in surprise, PoppyBush rearing to tear the warrior apart if it weren't for the shy and small voice that came between the two. "Hey, PoppyBush." A small patchy brown and white warrior waved with an awkward smile bordering the flower bed and rolling hill that was dedicated as the nursery.

PoppyBush halted all sighs of aggression spotting her mate, gesturing a grateful and loving paw for the tiny warrior to join her, QuailBerry racing shyly to follow the command. The queen leaned a folded ear of the bicolored tom's chest with a purr, the two starting an idle chit-chat as their children bounded about their father's presence.

RobinFang feeling out of place, he took the hint, leaving the family alone to continue his task. His long fang dug into his lips with a hiss, his pawprints leaving white petals spotted red.

 

[Honeypool]

"But wouldn't him limping cause extra attention?" Honeypool mewed softly before peering out towards the clearing. He was a weird cat that was for sure, but she could sense the of wanting to avoid extra attention as well as wanting to feel less invisible. Her dark brown tail curled around her body as the warm air from outside made it's way though the clearing.

The scent of pine needles and sap wafted about and Honeypool found herself sitting back on the moor. Her fur neat and tidy and clean once again as she sat on top of the highest slope she could find. Her gaze stretching out past WindClan territory towards the neighboring clans. She could make out the dark green pine trees of ShadowClan and the oak trees that rested in between RiverClan. She could make out the glittering of the lake in the distance. The setting sun making the water glisten a soft pink and yellow.

She blinked and found here back in the ShadowClan's territory. Back in the medicine cat's den where the scent of herbs smelled even stronger today. She turned to look back over at Dewspring not expecting her to praise her for speaking to the ginger and black tom. Surely, he had to talk to someone else? She sighed loudly. "Maybe I just tend to attract difficult cats." She mumbled out before curling up where she laid. The bundle of herbs and the prey from earlier had now made her slightly drowsy, and the warm newleaf air was not helping her case either. She had began to close her eyes but all too quickly sat up.

She looked over at Dewspring shuffling her paws nervously. "Do you have anything to help with nightmares?" She asked gently. Her own question making her spine shiver.

 

[Chill Alley Cat]

DewSring shrugged, not sure herself what went through the tom's mind when he did the things he did. Her tangled cinnamon pelt dragged lowly across the moss floor as she worked, while the den's herbs hung in ivy and looked randomly placed, the stout cat seemed to know intimately where everything was kept as she finished up organizing her supply.


I'm glad you asked!" DewSpring smiled absolutely oblivious, her paws moving a hint faster as they waved about examining her varied supply, claws parting past hanging ivy to brush against long spindly roots to bundles of soft round felt leaves. She tilts her head back, and the long fur of her cheeks caught on the tangles of her chest.

"Depends, what are your nightmares about?" She spoke her mouth a flat line.




RobinFang wanted to wail as he walked, the skin on his pads becoming more and more raw as he walked. He paused a few foxtails away from camp in a field of crossing thorns and stones marked by the budding thistles of Greenleaf to finally allow himself to whimper as he peeled his pads off the rocky earth. He flinched as his dark pad opened by the bark now peeled and bled from the opening.

The warrior scowled at the limitation, his tail flickering in anger as he smeared the blood along the stone beneath him with a hiss. He was so close to finishing his duties for the day, only needing to hunt once more for the elder's den before he could properly rest the minor wound away. His eyes harden in determination, he wouldn't allow himself to only be a limitation to his clan much like how his paws were.

He convinced himself long ago he could never hold back Shadowclan out of admiration and gratefulness long ago, ignoring the spiteful doubt that tugged upward on his heart, never granting the warrior to be looked down upon by his peers. He shook his head of the terrible ink of those thoughts that consistently submerged his mind to settle in the bottom of his skull.

The tortoiseshell tom pulled his squared shoulder back, his lean form forced to even his labored pained breaths. RobinFang faced forward, his green eyes carrying him deeper into the woods.

 

[Honeypool]

Her soft fur tensed up at the question. She didn't think she would need to tell the medicine cat what her nightmares had been about. She now wished she didn't ask for anything at all and just kept her maw shut. She couldn't even tell herself really what her recent nightmares had been about. She hadn't been sleeping well since the incident itself. Each night she would dream of different things, sometimes she was drowning, running from a fire, or stuck in the middle of a large grassy field with no signs of life at all. The themes were always different and the only thing that ever seemed to stay the same was him.

Her eyes narrowed. Either was he causing her pain or lurking just around the corner. Her tail fluffed up at the base and she could feel his fur against hers, only for a moment it was warm before turning ice cold and she stood up to shake herself off. Her legs almost not holding her up as she steadied herself. She swallowed. He wasn't here. He was well on the other side of the forest. He had no clue where she was at. But he could get to you. The fur along her spine rose sharply as she peered out at nothing in the distance. The bottom of her paw pads feeling warm and wet as she began to rub them on the moss below her.

He surely wouldn't come to ShadowClan. No cat willing walked into ShadowClan territory unless it was an emergency, or they were asking for it. She calmed down slightly, feeling her paranoia begin to melt away. She sighed and looked down, now noticing her claws had pierced her other paw drawing blood. She quickly sheathed her claws and brought her paw up to lick it. "They are just generic nightmares." She finally spoke answering the round calico healer. Her eyes hazing over. "Fires and stuff." Her voice trailed off.

 

[Chill Alley Cat]

The healer's natural glint of hopefulness in her green eyes dimmed watching the HoneyPool's eyes skitter about the room and her whole pelt tense as if dumped into Leafbare's waters before the she-cat's reality seemed to flash before her eyes, remembering where she was. She frowned at the she-cat's poor cover of response, despite being slow she was no emotional dimwit, sadness and empathy inflating her heart knowing the feline still distrusted her. She sighed understanding but still hurt.

DewSpring's lengthy talons untangled sprigs of sticky leaves, bright white flora, and small dried orange flowers from the ceiling, her coat weighing the medicine cat down as she walked over to her nest. The stout cat shook the flowers above the bundle of leaves, specs of black seeds and white petals sticking to the sticks of tangy-smelling green. When done she offered it to the she-cat with, the concoction tied together with the stems of flowers.

"Take these before you sleep every night." She ordered, her breath smelling of catmint and pelt of dirt. She turned to continue making more batches for future use but paused to turn around as she remembered something.

"I will give you a warning however, whatever is causing your terror won't go away with those herbs so I find it best cats sort out their fears and move on." She advised with a hopeful but concerned smile wishing the she-cat to feel safe in her own skin. 'Hope she opens up soon. I know it's only been a day, but the safer she feels among clan mates the better' DewSpring thought while turning to continue her work and retrieve herbs from the deeper darkness of the burrow, knowing from past patients and tales that the path of isolation was a painful one.






RobinFang limped, his two front paws aching from the stretches of dirt and moss irritating his pads, the frog between his teeth drew blood as his fangs clamped down to push through the sour pain that shot through his legs. His ears flattened as he closed in on the camp, the minor noise of far-away clanmates grinding his already short nerves.

His paw's skin splintered and burned from running about all day in the bog, the mud of the wetlands only serving to sting his wounds instead of cooling them as the warrior hoped. He looked up at the sun much farther across the sky than he expected, his nose wrinkling in displeasure at the wasted time as he entered the camp through the passage of thorns.


The elder's den was a short distance from the entrance, the tangle of dry yew and pine roots making for thin but study coverage for the senior cats. His legs were forced straight, no longer dancing light paw steps to save face in front of the older cats, as he peered between the roots into the shallow rook of gossiping cats.

A large black tom was the first to notice his presence, stopping in the middle of his conversation hesitantly as his square face turned stern. The spiky and scarred-pelted cat quickly went back to his idle chit-chat, only his fluffy tail flicking to demand the warrior forward. RobinFang would have groaned at the act of laziness if he wasn't afraid he'd squeak in pain instead, stepping to meet the cat.

LynxSwipe inspected the large toad with a judgmental eye, his green eyes sharpening to see the fresh-kill. The elder gives a shrug to the warrior, waving him off as he split the polliwog among his peers with a sort of sharp claw. While RobinFang usually would've made a point about the tom's ungratefulness, his feet ached too much to care.


While he made his way to DewSpring in search of some poppy, he sneered as he overheard the elders speak.
"Is it just me or are the warriors getting lazier with their fresh-kill every season?"
"No. The whole clan's gotten slack when they let kittypets in."

He bit his tongue, his long fangs drawing iron to flood his mouth from the recent injury, as he walked a pace faster to the healer's burrow.

 

[Honeypool]

Honeypool stared down at the bundle. Guilt gripping at her pelt as she frowned deeply. Of course no herb could help cure her, for there wasn't a cure for betrayal or the anguish of it. She sighed before taking in a deep breath. She probably wouldn't sleep well again until Mistletuft was dead or at least felt the same pain that she had. Her tail lashed back and forth with annoyance. He was always so cocky about his looks, always wanting someone to fuel his ego. The second he got the chance he ruined her looks. He probably would've done more damage if she didn't move out the way in time.

But then again, he could've roughed her up more while she was down, but he wouldn't have felt any pleasure in attacking an already down cat. She rubbed her bandaged cheek against her right shoulder. Her eyes closed as the dwelled on the feeling of it. She could feel the deep scars even now under the pile of cobwebs. She would forever wear his mark, a reminder of that day. Irritation pricked at her skin and she looked over in the direction of where Dewspring had wobbled off. "How does one sort out their fears when they are so close behind?" She spoke to no one as her amber eyes fell upon the tangy bundle left for her.

If Mistletuft wasn't on his way now he would be, and possibly soon. Her stomach turned and clenched tightly as she wiggled herself deeper into her nest, squeezing her eyes tightly for a few moments before she lightly began to pick at the bundle to eat.

 

[Chill Alley Cat]

DewSpring halted before she was completely consumed by the darkness, the end of her curly tail flickered in consideration. Her ears flatten at HoneyPool’s cornered tone, her green eyes hesitantly looking over her shoulder.

“I’m not sure, but I think I’d you be able to feel safer if you seek connection.” She smiled, wanting the she-cat to know she wasn’t alone in whatever fear she faced.



Minutes ticked by, the lively murmur of the clearing’s deep toned warriors and their heavy footsteps trapped in the insulated camp. DewSpring spending most of her time organizing herbs and occasional short breaks to fetch supplies while humming, forgetting the tense mood her and HoneyPool’s conversation set.


When the sun turned Orange in the afternoon sky, orange paws crept into the healer’s burrow.

“…DewSpring?” Called out the Tom for the medicine cat that wasn’t there, his tortoiseshell pelt stinking of dirt and sweat that covered the waft of iron that followed him too.

His black nose poked around as his eyes scanned about, releasing a huff of annoyance when he only found HoneyPool. He looked tense as he spoke, something already having set him off earlier.

“Do you by any chance know where that mouse brain keeps her poppy?” He asked sternly.

 

[Honeypool]

A connection? But to who? She watched as Dewspring disappeared into the darkness. A sigh escaped her lips before she rolled onto her left side. Her gaze staring out past the clearing for a few moments before she had fallen asleep.

She had found herself in and out of sleep throughout the rest of the day, not wanting to bother Dewspring and not really having anything better to do until the meeting she had heard about would start. She had honestly let the memory of it drift from her mind as she was too caught up in the small events of what happened today. She had found herself back in her nest, curled into a ball, with the bundle of herbs Dewspring had given her now half gone she was able to sleep a bit better.

Her nightmares didn't seem to come as she napped on, the only issue now was that she was restless and would wake up within an hour or so, before falling back asleep within the same time frame. She had given up on sleeping after waking up for what felt like the 5th time and decided to help herself to a small patch of sunlight she had found. Feeling the warm rays warming her back was peaceful and made her groggy as rested.

Only when she heard Robinfang's familiar voice did she open her eyes to look over at him. A soft yawn escaping her lips as she sat up and gave her body a big stretch. "The what?" Honeypool had hardly heard him. Lifting a paw, she rubbed the sleep from her eyes and breathed in deeply. The scent of blood could be smelled as well as the mix of earth and musk. Her nose twitched a bit as she eyed the tom cat with confused eyes. "Are you hurt? I smell blood." She spoke softly as she padded up to him. Keeping her distance, she eyed his fur trying to see a wound. She easily noticed how filthy he was. "You look like the whole marsh attacked you." She said breathlessly as she removed a soggy looking leaf from between his ears.

 

[Chill Alley Cat]

RobinFang ear flicked, his anger deflating seeing only the sleepy she-cat in the den. He huffed in a failed attempt get rid of his irritability with a puff of hot air, his green eyes skimming the dangled of Ivy for any sign of the flowers.

“Obviously, why else would I be in the medicine den.” He hissed when he places his now redden pass down despite the cushioning of the moss bed. Not noticing HoneyPool drawing closer, his green eyes focus on the herbs above as his paws reach to search through the supply.

He tensed suddenly feeling the light touch between his ears, flinching backwards from the contact. He flushed when realizing it was still just the injured she-cat, a short pause of recovery taken before being able to speak “I was hunting, of course I’m dirty.” He eased.


“Now, where is that medicine cat?” RobinFang seethed, now only able to focus on the pain shooting up his two front legs from the base of his paws. He slammed his paw on the burrow’s ground hopping the noise would summon the cinnamon cat, only to wince at the action.

 

[Honeypool]

Honeypool/s ears flatten at his tone. It's always so peaceful until he shows up. Her tail twitched in annoyance. "You came in here earlier and you didn't need anything." She quickly shot back at him. The memory of him with the battered snake hovered in her mind for a few seconds before vanishing as he spoke again. "Hunting for what? You look like you crawled your way out of a mudslide." She mumbled before turning her eyes to scan the seemingly disorganized den.

She lifted her nose up, noticing him wince back. "She stepped out. She's been in and out all day." Honeypool mewed before looking around the den a bit more before turning to look a Robinfang. "What's wrong with your paws?" She questioned. Her head tilting slightly.

 

[Chill Alley Cat]

RobinFang hesitates for a moment, not sure to trust the she-cat, before he peeled his paw off the moss bed once deciding he needs her help in the search. His normally dark gray pads were pink with raw flesh, exposed by splinters and opened by rough surfaces that blistered the skin.

“Happy now?” He huffed, his ears flattened a bit bothered by the intrusion. “Now help me look for poppyseeds.” The tortoiseshell ordered with his tone a pitch less stern from the flames that lit his two front feet, wanting nothing more then to sleep.


His jade green eyes look up through the herb supply with a sharp gaze, under his breath murmuring to complain about DewSpring haphazardly organization.

 

[Honeypool]

"You're probably going to need to put some chervil and yarrow as well." Honeypool whispered taking his paw gently in hers. She examined it slightly before letting it go. How does Dewspring deal with this type of stuff? She felt squeamish looking at the cracked and exposed flesh, her eyes narrowing slightly to blur it out. She looked over her shoulder feeling a bit confident in knowing where somethings may be. "Wait here." She said not wanting him to walk on his paws anymore as she trotted towards the back of the den.

She nosed through a few bundles trying to remember what the herbs looked like. She had used a similar mixture on her paws earlier. After a few moments of digging around and carefully not trying to disturb the organized mess the healer had left behind she padded back to Robinfang with a few leaves and a root in her mouth. The bitterness of the herbs making her want to spit them out as soon as she picked up them. "I frwound fae dock leaf." Honeypool muffled through the bundle she had gathered.

She placed them down next to the tom and eyed them carefully. She was sure she had gathered the right herbs for him. Her ears pricked up with pride before she bent down to chew up them up. The taste making her eyes squeeze shut as she spit out the bitter and tangy concoction onto a big leaf.

She grabbed his paw again before he could protest and placed the medicine on them, trying to be as gentle as possible, but probably failing. Her eyes were steady with concentration as she worked on him, carefully coating both his paws in it and wrapping them up with some cobwebs. Her work was not as neat as Dewspring's that was for sure. Her wrapping as a but lumpy and didn't quite cover every inch, but she had tried, and she was mentally proud of herself.

She had stepped back slightly, her eyes shining like an apprentice who had just caught their first prey. "Oh! Your poppy seeds." She suddenly remembered why he had came in here to begin with. She turned back around scanning the den again. Her tail twitching nervously. She wasn't exactly sure where those were, nor had she seen them on her mini scavenger hunt. She went back to the herb pile, trying to remember something but the scent from the other herbs and from the mixture that was still on her tongue made it hard for her to sniff around.

Her tail lashing back and forth, the tip hitting the top of the vines above her she nosed through leaf after leaf. Finding nothing she huffed slightly. Her tail roughly hitting another vine before she sat down. Where would Dewspring keep poppy seeds? She thought but no thought could cross her mind. She grew frustrated and turned to head back to Robinfang in defeat before a light fluttering brushed against her head. She flinched before quickly shaking her head. A withered flower fell in between her paws. A poppy!

Honeypool looked up slightly, seeing a mix of flowers tangled in the vines above. They were dry and had lost most, if not all of their colors. She blinked taking in the dried flower vines before rolling a few seeds onto a leaf and tucking the flower into another vine so it wouldn't get trampled. She padded back to Robinfang with a glint in her eye. Had he seen that? Her body flushed warm from embarrassment as she handed him the leaf. "Sorry." She mumbled out, apologizing for the time she had taken up.