Private Camp SkC The greener grass grows where the wildfires fertilise || Swallowbreeze

[Ptarmigankit Ptarmigankit]

———————————— You're not meant to sing along, it isn't that kind of song. ✦

For the endless, undying kindness of these cats, a kindness she would never forget, Ptarmigankit still found herself... On the outside. It wasn't by anyone's fault; she knew she was loved by the clan. Doted on by the caretakers, entertained by the warriors and council, treated like friends by the apprentices and kittens. But even the kindness cats couldn't settle the unweildy nausea that curled in her stomach when there were too many cats about.

The tiny kitten always steeled herself, putting on a brave face when she was bombarded with questions or dragged along to play by the other kittens. And as much as she found Starlingtrails's three sweet and Skykit full of energy and life, sometimes it was too much for Ptarmigan to handle. Everyone here was warm and bright in one way or another, even cats like Stormcrow, whose way with words always seemed sharp; she was still a steady and strong presence. But, sometimes, all Ptarmigankit wanted was a little peace.

And there was seldom any place they had found that brought them as much as the medicine cat den. The first place they found Skyclan, and there in one of the few cats the kitten trusted implicitly, for her role in finally healing Ptarmigan of the illness that had struck them their whole life, and understood the delicate balance of existence that could be teetered with the usage of plans.

The rich scent of herbs filled Ptarmigan's lungs, which alone made the knot in their stomach relax, just a little. Where most found the kittens' fascination with plants unfortunate, having carried a debt unreasonable for someone her age, she was still enamoured with them. How they'd been used to save her, used to help the injured and aching, used to keep queens and kits healthy.

Tentatively, the kitten stepped within. She knew she wasn't unwelcome, but they didn't want to cause a disturbance. "Swallowbreeze?..." They called out softly; they didn't particularly want to be corralled away if someone noticed she had snuck out of the nursery. But, then again, it was more likely the other kitties were up to something as always; she should surely be fine. It didn't take long for their tired eyes to fall on the medicine cat, who seemed hard at work over some herbs. "Ah, good sunhigh!" She purred, a greeting she picked up from about the camp.

The kitten wandered over, eyes glittering curiously as her eyes flickered from the shelves to the herbs at Swallow's paws. It was just a momentary realisation, but the shelves that once towered overhead were no longer so far away; even so, she still couldn't reach, but something akin to pride burned in her chest.

Even so, she cast her gaze up at the medicine cat. "What are you doing?" While Ptarmigan was adept at finding and identifying plants, knowing the bare minimum when it came to pain relief and attending to wounds, most things were new and rather enchanting to her. They usually weren't ones to pry, but Swallowbreeze had proven to be a cat Ptarmigan didn't shy away from pestering a little. Brighnose and Flowercloud had served to join the medicine cat in that "honour".

——— Now you're lying face down.

You blend into the background. ———

• @SWALLOWBREEZE
• 
  Ptarmigankit
  ✦—Skyclan Kitten | 4 moons
  ✦—They/She/He
  ✦—"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  ✦—A long-haired sealpoint kitten with tired amber eyes.
  #94e4ae

 

[SWALLOWBREEZE]

swallowbreeze works in the comfort of her den, dried herbs hanging off the shelves, surrounding her in an aroma of bitter floral. now that the weather's fully shifted into leaf-fall, her to-do list has only grown in size... without a mentor to guide her, it's a daunting feeling, and she hopes starclan will be kind to them. after the events of the last pawful of moons, she's doubted that skyclan is their favorite out of the bunch.

she subtly jumps at the gentle call of her kitten friend, her fur standing on end for a fraction of a second before flattening. "yes?" she looks up from her task and turns to face the other cat. swallowbreeze cracks a small smile, a quiet laugh huffs from her muzzle. "happy sunhigh to you!"

curious minds come with the job. it's common for a kitten, or even an older warrior, to ask what she was doing. usually, whenever the latter does she assumes it's because there's not much else in common. swallowbreeze can't comment on how naughty the squirrels were today, or the awkward patrol by the windclan border. talking to children is a herculean task, but at least they're easily amused.

"oh! i'm tying up some dried herbs." she moves a paw so ptarmigankit can get a better look. a tiny cluster of feverfew lay on the ground, some twine lazily laying across the plants. "do you want to help? put your paw right here—" she points. "—so in can tie it up. the last time i tried to do this i tied it to my ankle and ruined the whole batch," she realizes what she admitted, and quickly adds, "don't— don't tell an adult i said that."

 

[Ptarmigankit Ptarmigankit]

———————————— You're not meant to sing along, it isn't that kind of song. ✦

Swallowbreeze seemed surprised by her sudden appearance, but not in a bad way, simply surprised. That was another reason she found comfort within the medicine den, no cats to look upon her with frustration for being where she wasn't supposed to, nor to shove her back to the nursery. Instead of ushering her away, the medicine cat motioned her closer to inspect her work.

Ptarmigankit tilted their head curiously, inspecting the dried herb with a glittering eye, delicate little white flowers sapped of all water. Though they were rather taken aback at the offer. "I help?- Y-yes of course!" They squeaked, delicately placing their paw atop the herbs just as instructed, watching curiously as Swallow explained her little mishap. It was hard not to giggle at the story, the kitten muffling herself with her free paw.

"I won't tell anyone!" Ptarmigan promised through her giggling. "Everyone messes up sometimes, but you learned from it, and that's all anyone's gotta know." She wasn't one to lie or keep secrets, but there wasn't a need for anyone to know Swallowbreeze's past mistakes; she had learned from them, and that's all that really mattered. Clearly, with helping paws, it had ended up far more fruitful as Swallowbreeze tied the bundle with ease as Ptarmigan slipped her paw from the bundle.

They tilted their head, inspecting the bundle, then craned their head up to look over the rest of the already tied bundles of herbs, some dried, some not quite. "I see why you have those shelves." He pondered, mostly to himself. "I coulda ruined something without thinking 'bout it..." Ptarmigan quietly lamented, eyes scanning row on row of herbs, carefully organised and even more delicately stored.

But she didn't focus on herself too long, a fleeting thought rather than anything. "They're being dried for leafbare, right? I know the herbalist sent out more gathering patrols before I left 'cause the cold season." Ptarmigankit paused again, in thought, sat on their haunches as they looked up to the medicine cat. "When do I get to go patrols, again, I wanna be able to help." The kitten didn't notice her tail thumping against the ground, in a quiet frustration, for all the gentleness of the clan for her to enjoy her kittenhood, the colony had left its mark on a kitten far too eager to serve her worth to her clan.

——— Now you're lying face down.

You blend into the background. ———

• 
  Ptarmigankit
  ✦—Skyclan Kitten | 4 moons
  ✦—They/She/He
  ✦—"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  ✦—A long-haired sealpoint kitten with tired amber eyes.
  #94e4ae

 

[SWALLOWBREEZE]

when ptarmigankit puts his little paw down, swallowbreeze carefully ties the feverfew together. it's tight, but not enough to harm the materials, there's enough twine for her to hang it off one of the shelves. "there," she says, admiring her work. "thank you!"

swallowbreeze shuffles the bundle around, setting it to the side for now. she decides enough work has been done today, so she can entertain ptarmigankit for as long as he wants. she can understand the disconnect the kitten may feel in skyclan, being forced to sit still unexpectedly, watch the warriors come and go as they please... she's glad to see his once sunken cheeks fluff out with kitten fat; and the rest of his body grow. it wasn't easy leaving downypaw behind to heal from her wounds, and it certainly wouldn't of been easy if ptarmigankit had the same fate.

"i would've restocked. i—i think i was um, planning on throwing some out the following day anyways." she states plainly, throwing a small fib the kitten's way to ease shame. this is why i don't stock poisons. swallowbreeze briefly reminds herself, even though her knowledge is nonexistent. a cat at any age could rummage through her herbs and just take something.

swallowbreeze's head turns to him, noticing the way his tail thumped against the ground, reminding her of her observations just a few seconds prior. "correct. cats are prone to sickness when it's cold, so i have to be prepared."

"don't forget about your warrior training, but... you can be my bodyguard on herb patrols." a tiny smile grows at the corners of her maw. "how much did you help in your old colony?"