[Cardinalwhisper, Bearjaw, ?] Don't.Eat.That!

[EvilSilverDragon]

Her Mother was so sick, Foxkit was so sick and Stonebelly so busy. Laying down at the entrance of the sick den, Cardinalwhisper couldn't help a noiseless sigh. Laying her head on her paws, she watched the rest of the camp feeling useless. Sure, she and her brother were helping, and learning, but it wasn't enough. No, she wanted to do more, to help her clan.

The question was, what could she do? They needed more herbs, maybe different ones she'd be taught. Mother couldn't go with her, or the little bit of rebellion pointed out that she couldn't be stopped either. It was an idea, to go out and hunt for herbs herself. Her clan needed it, her family needed it.

Plopping her head on her paws, she huffed soundlessly again. An orange and brown leaf floated down, catching her eyes and teasing the huntress within. Standing up, the young apprentice leapt forward to catch the offending leaf. Never in her life had she seen so many fall. Damp leaves muffled already silent steps, that was fun.

Looking up from her 'kill' she spotted a loaf of fur resting near the kill pile. Ears primed forward, tail twitching behind her, the she cat moved to approach the orange and black tom.

Shutting off her usual purr, the red she-cat approached him carefully. Some how the idea of showing him the death berries so he knew not to eat them evolved into a bit of a game. The slow stalking motion and whiskers pulled upward telegraphed the game. She laughed, soundlessly, amused by herself.

Getting right next to the tom, she reached out her paw, hovering over his flank before she poked his side while saying 'Hai Bearjaw!' without a sound.

Fea Line

 

[Fea Line]

Bearjaw had been having a lovely dream, one of his usual dreams, of being surrounded by a multitude of fish, lizards, birds, mice and anything else the tom cat could think to put into his belly. He licked his lips, open wide, ready to take a bite. The cat was so lost to the world that he didn't hear the pawsteps approach him, her light footedness adding to that assurance.

Even the hovering paw failed to give him warning as he dosed away, side softly rising and falling.

Untail a paw poke sent him high into the air.

With a yowl, Bearjaw sprang to his feet and even higher than that, landing in a four legged splay of a mess, fur completely on end, eyes wide and dilated, breath coming fast and heavy. He glanced around a moment, his claws sliding out from their sheaths until he noticed the red she cat at his side, a very obvious laughter emanating from her features despite not having any sound. Allowing him to relax, he took several more breaths before slumping down into a deflated yet still chonky loaf. "Oh.....Cardinalwhisper....d-don't do that!" he breathed again, flailing a paw at her as he caught his breath and regained composure.  

[EvilSilverDragon]

With great amusement, Cardinalwhisper noted that Bearjaw could really jump when it was needed. Maybe all that food he ate stored up to allow such feats. This was one tom that never ceased to surprise, amaze and completely amuse her.

Turning on that near constant purr, she communicated a form of peacemaking as best she could. With a purr and a light to head touch. Any seriousness to it melted a little when he flailed his paw at her. Instinct, or just playfulness, earned a few paw touches in return.

Almost completely distracted, the red she cat settled into a sit and just smiled content with the companionship. Once he seemed to catch his breath, she popped up on to her paws like something bit her. Wondering mind found its way back to the original reason she had even dared come out by herself.

Keeping her back paw roughly half a paw's length from her friend, she nudged her head towards the entrance to the camp then looked back at him. Her tail drifted down to 'bop' his side as she repeated the action.

Would he understand and go with her? Herb hunting would be safer with another cat. That remained true even if she was fairly certain she could take care of her self. There was something else she wanted to show him.
 

[Fea Line]

Growing up, Bearjaw had always thought it was strange Cardinalwhisper never talked, only purred. It wasn't until he was an apprentice did he understand why. For a while he felt sorry for her, not fully understanding why Starclan or Forestclan had taken her voice. At times however, he felt her luckier than Bumblebreeze. The silvery tomcat had a bit harder challenge to work through, or at least Bearjaw thought.

Now, he was used to it and found it one of her special quirks. She wasn't quite like any other cat and not in a bad way. However, sometimes, it still took the slow tom a while to figure out all of her gestures. "Me?" he tilted his head at first. He had gotten that much so far. The repeated pokes and tail bops to the side was clue enough. It was the other part that took him a while to follow.

He glanced at the entrance then to her then back to the entrance then back to her. "OOOH. You need me to go with you? Sure!" he nodded and smiled, though mid way it erupted into a yawn and a stretch. He recalled that the two had been pursuing the path of medicine cat and had both become Stonebelly's apprentices. It was peculiar to him at first, he hadn't ever heard of a medcat taking on two at one time but the circumstances made sense. Bumble couldn't hear but he could talk. Cardinal couldn't talk but she could hear. And the two communicated on another level that just always blew his mind. Plus.... this was more Forestclan territory and they seemed more lax in their rules. "You lead, I'll follow!" he nodded smiling.  

[EvilSilverDragon]

Bearjaw earned a bit of a shoulder nudge for the use of the word 'need'. The hitch in her purr that followed as a silent laugh interrupted the sound. Sudden yawn attack. Bemused, Cardinalwhisper reflected that the fear had worn off at this point.

Hopefully her mother and brother would be resting and not notice a certain red cat was missing.

Shaking that thought out of her head before her paws refused to move, Cardinalwhisper started to move towards the camp entrance. Just when she was far enough that her tail tip would lose contact wit the black and orange tom cat, she paused. As soon as he started to move, the hunt for herbs would begin!

The list in her head included more tansy, that was the closest thing to a treatement known to her. To the east the might even find those warning berries if they were lucky.  

[Fea Line]

Still blinking sleepily, Bearjaw lagged behind a little bit only when he realized he was being left behind. Leaping to his paws, he bounded heavily after Cardinalwhisper, catching up and making sure he stayed close so that she knew he wasn't leaving her somewhere without someone who could warn of danger. "Lead the way!" he nodded, taking a moment to swipe his tongue over a paw then run that over his whiskers. Maybe he could snag a small hunt while they were out...

Speaking of. "Are you looking for more herbs? You still doin that med cat thing yeah?" he tilted his head glancing at her as he waited for her to leave the way. He had heard a bit that she was showing some good promise. Her brother seemed slow to get it but wasn't bad either. The thought of Riverclan having three med cats only made Bearjaw laugh. "We are going to be the best clan. Three amazing med cats. PFffff, hunt that Lightnignclan." he purred, amused by his own lame joke.  

[EvilSilverDragon]

He may not be Bumblebreeze, but Bearjaw still received tail touch treatment. A casual motion for comfort as she traveled. Each step held more confidence then she earned. Moving forward, her ears perked and eyes scanning, the she-cat lead east. Different hunting ground for a vastly different prey then her partner in this adventure.

Not that she'd turn down the other type either.

Proudly, Cardinalwhisper looked back at Bearjaw nodding her head and highstepping for a few moments. Her first patient survived, Stonebelly was actively teaching them so much. Their clan will have the strongest healers and the strongest warriors.

Holding back just long enough, the red cat nudged Bearjaw's shoulder and just purred harder when he said they are going to be the best clan. Oh he was paws down one of the reasons their clan earned the best title. The show against that fox? Saved the lot of them for certain.

Her purring hitched several times as she laughed. Either at his joke or with him. A secret she kept.

Looking critically, the yellow flowers of tansy caught her attention first before she came to a full stop. There it was, the red berries. Perfect, now she could warn him not to eat them. Making a turn, Cardinalwhisper trotted towards the tree with the bright red berries.

Fea Line

bearjaw don't eat before you can be warned plzkthx

 

[Fea Line]

Bearjaw purred at her purr, knowing she was a cat of few words but that never seemed to stop her, nor did it ever seem weird either. He fell instep with her, glancing around at what prey was running or flying today, wondering if he’d be able to join any of the hunting parties later. His stomach was already rumbling, signifying that he’d need his second and third breakfast in a hour or two. His tongue rasped across his whiskers at the thought.

“Smells so good out here!” he said softly, almost in a dreamy sigh before something caught his attention. A few red berries on a bush he hadn’t quite noticed before. His head tilted curiously as he padded up to them and sniffed. “Huh…never noticed these before….” He said, reaching out and test batting the air in front of the bush. Something like this wouldn’t usually tempt him but…well….he was hungry kinda…and he’d live for trying anything once.

“Think they taste good?” he turned and asked the red she cat before slowly turning his head back towards the bush, mouth already beginning to part.
 

[EvilSilverDragon]

Cardinalwhisper reacted in a blurr. Her purr stopped cold, instant cut off. Then she forced herself between him and the berries. Her ears lay flat against her head while she made a mighty hiss. Soundless as it was, her fangs were bared and her whiskers pulled up. To further make her point, she stepped on one of the berries several times.

Just in case the point wasn't made, she actually batted the offending well dead berry away from them with a final hiss. Then, ears were back up and she was looking at him intently, nudging her nose at his direction as if to ask 'what have you learned?' It was vital, life or death vital that he understood the berries were bad. Her little heart clinched at the idea that the brave,but hungry warrior might see the berries by himself and eat one.

To lose any of her clan to something preventable was unforgivable.

Fea Line

Went between picturing her batting him on the head like the Lightfurry did to Toothless or murdering the berries. Decisions were made XD

 

[Fea Line]

Bearjaw had no idea what just happened but he watched the medicine cat shove herself between him and the bush then proceeded to murder one of the innocent little berries until it almost blended into her paw entirely.

Blinking, his mouth was slightly ajar as she stared at him expectantly. “Uh.....” was all that came out at first. Was he supposed to have gotten something from this? He eyed her, then the bush, then the smashed berries as things slowly began to trickle into place. “Ahh..... I....shouldn’t.....eat those?” He tilted his head.

He had always maybe...kinda...heard about something the med cats knew was dangerous to cats...but usually Bearjaw listened with his stomach first, his head later. Maybe that’s what these were. But then he glanced down at her paw, his whiskers prickling in confusion and slight fear. “UM...but now its on your paw....Don’t... lick it!? Please...” he gulped, hoping they could make it down to the river so she could wash it off.

EvilSilverDragon

 

[EvilSilverDragon]

Purring up a thunderstorm, Cardinalwhisper nodded her head in an exaggerated manner. This was important, way too important to risk him not completely understanding. With Bearjaw, words weren't needed. Even so, his concern earned an affectionate head bonk.

It would be awfully silly of her to make such strong point then to go ahead and get sick herself. Bumblebreeze would surely give her an earful, followed by her mother!

All she could do was purr harder, thoroughly amused and proud of herself. This would keep him safe, and help keep other cats safe if they went paroling with Bearjaw. For every moment she couldn't be there, a lesson learned meant she could still be there to protect them.

One final kick of dirt with her hindpaws to the offending plant, Cardinalwhisper rubbed her paw into the dirt. The earth would start the cleaning process.

Mission accomplished, the she-cat began to trot off. After three steps, she paused, waiting for her companion.

Fea Line

 

[Fea Line]

Bearjaw was still in momentary shock.

He wasn’t sure why his stomach felt so awful right now when he hadn’t even eaten anything. Of course the thought of having eaten something that could have killed him didn’t help either. It was almost like several worms were crawling around in his tummy and Cardinalwhisper had just prevented him from eating more.

He watched as sand flew into the bush, taking a moment to study it further and commit its looks to memory when he realized she had already trotted off. “Hey.. wait!” He called, bounding over to her side with a faint purr. He gently laid his tail against her flank. “Um...” he blinked, feeling a little embarrassed. “Thanks Cardinalwhisper..... you are the best.” He nodded and smiled. If she hadn’t of stopped him, that would have been his last meal.

Who knew a mute cat could be so vocal?!

EvilSilverDragon

 

[EvilSilverDragon]

Purring, she nuzzled his cheek and neck. She had to give his jaw a nose nudge when he said she was the best. Naturally, it was nice to hear and she had to let him know he was pretty great too.

The clear answer was to find him something tasty to eat. Best reward for any brave warrior willing to escort her around. Might take some thinking but she'd come up with it.

For the moment, the red she-cat just enjoyed the journey. Course her eyes were out looking for herbs, barks and other useful material.

Medicine cat priorities!

Fea Line