camp DEAD MAN'S PARTY — POISON WARNING

──ᨒ↟↟ᨒ↟ᨒ↟↟ᨒ── This has taken longer than Wolfsong had intended, but between recent events, it is only lately that he feels he has proper room to breathe. He doesn't quite have that now, in truth; his horizon is dark with heavy clouds long past due their unburdening, an anxious storm clawing toward a catharsis that Wolfsong fears. If he keeps himself busy —but not stressfully busy— perhaps he can outpace its reach, so that when the hail comes he is far from feeling its effects. Not the wisest of approaches, maybe, but what are his options? To most of WindClan, he is not a warrior anymore, and he does not know whether he can unwind as a warrior does.

For now, with growth still slowly returning to the moors and Cottonsprig's find still on his mind, this is most pressing.

"Cottonsprig and I have a lesson for you, WindClan, one of utmost importance," he announces in the middle of camp, former apprentice close by. He still has his doubts about informing them of the poisonous herb, but after DuskClan's assault and their valiant efforts, he must admit most is unfounded paranoia. They can be trusted.

Come the next meeting, he will likely ask Sunstar for permission to announce this again, but he would prefer not to wait much longer given its importance.

//no need to wait for @cottonsprig !
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WOLFSONG of WINDCLAN FORMER ROGUE TURNED MEDICINE CAT. 42 MOONS, HE/HIM, NPC X NPC. MATES WITH SUNSTAR (07/05/2023). BIOGRAPHY, PINTEREST, & PLAYLIST.
  • ★★★☆☆ WOUNDS: You're (mostly) in safe paws. You'll know if he's less experienced if he asks for your permission to try a treatment. No wound can scare him away from knowledge.
    ★★★☆☆ INFECTION: He can prevent most infections. If you feel feverish, let him know; he'll hum thoughtfully over herbs and sniff your wound before saying, "With your blessing..."
  • ★☆☆☆☆ ACHES & PAINS: If you complain to him of pain, he'll ask where. If it's a headache, you'll likely feel a bit better. For anything else, "Try this, if you'd like, and tell me how you feel."
    ★☆☆☆☆ BROKEN BONES: At best. he can ask you to remain lying down in the den. He may try to distract you with conversation while he considers what herb to feed you.
  • ★★★★★ TRAVELING HERBS: Going somewhere? No worries; Wolfsong knows just what you need to stay hale and healthy during your journey. The rest is up to you.
    ★★★☆☆ KITTING: Thanks to Starlingheart and his own pregnancy, he's better prepared for the arrival of kits, but any complications will need a little faith and a lot of luck.
  • ★☆☆☆☆ POISONS: It's best if you avoid eating anything unfamiliar to you— it's probably just as unfamiliar to Wolfsong. The best he can do is offer you yarrow and sit with you.
    ★★☆☆☆ ILLNESS: If it's white or greencough, you'll likely recover. Otherwise, prepare for odd concoctions and the usual request that you consent to a little trial-and-error.
 

She hadn't nessecarily been keeping an eye on Wolfsong when he stepped into the middle of camp, but she always kept a mental picture of her parents somewhere in her mind, trying to track where they were though speech from other cats, or visual sightings herself. She was quietly aware that something felt off between her parents. Rivewhisper can't remember when they last pressed tight to eachother publicly, or perhaps, she wasn't paying attention to that either.

Ears perked as her ðir spoke, settling back from the gorse she was working on and padding over. "What do you have, ðir?" Rivewhisper asked, moving to sit nearby. She tipped her head in means of greeting to Cottonsprig too. They weren't the closest, but the former apprentice was as much a constant in Rivewhisper's life like her parents have been.
  • "speech"
  • RIVEWHISPER she/her, moor runner of windclan, eleven moons.
    LH broken braided chocolate tabby with high white and piercing blue eyes. scars stretch over her left eye and across her stomach. graceful, sleek, average height. built for running and stamina
    mentored by snakehiss / sunstar / / mentoring no one
    small romantic interest in redheart / / sibling to featherspine ; sunlitwing ; bearflight ; singedpaw
    peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
    penned by dallas ↛ dallasofnines on discord, feel free to dm for plots.

 
➴➴ Gravelsnap’s shoulder still aches, but the feeling has faded to a dull roar. It’s in strict opposition to the screaming, shrieking thing it had been before Wolfsong’s weeks of treatment—but the act of moving is still unpleasant. The stiffness in the joint makes for an irritating recovery, but the tom is determined to get back to his usual activities quickly. If DuskClan attacks again… he needs to be ready. He will be ready. DuskClan took a lot of things from their clan in the invasion, but the rogue group will not do so again. WindClan will be prepared—and Cottonpaw’s graduation to a full medicine cat has only helped their circumstances. They have not only one healer now, but two.

A black ear swivels to catch what the golden-furred medicine cat says, and Gravelsnap rises gingerly to his paws. "A lesson?" They echo Wolfsong’s words, tail flickering with curiosity. What kind of lesson could be so important that it would require the two healers to inform the entire clan of it?

  • ooc:
  • 58921334_LvhpdhRxLH7s4eM.png
    GRAVELSNAP ❯❯ they/he, moor runner of windclan
    average-sized black and white warrior who seems smaller than he is. speaks rarely and quietly.
    sibling to slateheart
    mentoring sheeppaw
    peaceful and healing powerplay permitted
    penned by foxlore
 

˖⁺‧₊ ☽◯☾ ₊‧⁺˖  The work of a medicine cat is a strange thing for a kit to comprehend. They turn plants into medicine like some strange sort of alchemy, and they speak to distant stars in whispers and dreams. It's as fascinating as it is frustrating, because they're always so secretive about it. Kits aren't allowed in the medicine den, just as they aren't in the leader's den. Both bear a divine sort of barrier keeping cats like Vulturekit away. Even their meetings are secret; Cottonspring was not named in front of the clan, but the stars and their mediums alone.

Naturally, when Wolfsong deigns something important enough to tell everyone, the kit is intrigued. He breaks from the group of kits he had been dragged into, playing some game or other he couldn't care less about. This is far more interesting. "Shhh," he hushes the nearest kit, sitting up straight as he waits for whatever secrets Wolfsong holds to be indulged. "Listen." It's a whisper, his eyes not breaking from the medicine cat.

  • feel free to be the kit he's shushing !
  • 78719023_Dn5AkWBYFbxxqzb.png


    "SPEECH"
  • VULTUREKIT he / they, kit of windclan, five moons.
    a spiky-furred dark tabby with amber eyes.
    skittish and dour, with little time for typical kit games.
    micheal x npc, adopted by periwinklebreeze. sibling to dustkit and bilberrykit.
    peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
    penned by SATURNIDsaturnids on discord, feel free to dm for plots.
 
𓆝 . ° ✦ Grasspaw was decidedly not having a good time all of a sudden. The sound of Wolfsong's voice through camp made his fur bristle on his neck a bit. Nothing he's announcing like this can be good news... he thought. With an uncomfortable shuffle towards the center of camp, he tried his best to stay as far from the elder medicine cat as he could while still being able to hear. While Wolfsong may not be his friend, per-say, Cottonsprig had not given him any reason to fear. He'd hear them out. From a distance.
 ° .  . ° 
  • ooc:
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    GRASSPAW — HE/HIM ・ 6 MOONS ・ TUNNELER APPRENTICE & WINDCLAN ・ PENNED BY TWITCHTAIL
    Small fawn tabby with pale green eyes.
    "speak" thoughts action
    — peaceful, healing, and minor injury powerplay allowed
 
The poison had almost left Cottonspring's mind, admittedly. It was stored so carefully out of sight to avoid kittenish paws that without the constant reminder that it was there... well, maybe it'd try out and lose its potency. Maybe that's the proper point of hiding it in the first place. Wolfsong may no longer be her mentor but she still treated the tom as a source of guidance as they both navigated their roles. Life had begun to slow down again, meaning now is the best time to teach a lesson to anyone who'd listen. A lesson that'd save a life, potentially.

She shares a brief smile with the kittens as they bicker and hush one another, but leaves the large part of the lesson to Wolfsong. She's ready to bat away curious paws and noses, however, feeling her skin itch with the idea that this was a bad idea. Maybe they should've kept the poison a secret... she's not sure now.​
 

There is as clear of a divide between warrior and medicine cat as there is between moor runner and tunneler: the former pair shares a common goal of contributing to the Clan just with different methods, while the latter serve the purpose of protecting one's own Clanmates. Where warriors remain grounded and use their teeth and claws, medicine cats turn to StarClan for guidance and study the lands around them for its healing properties. It is a system that proves to be working ever since the five Clans have been formed.

So; when Wolfsong calls for their attention, Dimmingsun could not fathom what the matter must be about. Neither him or Cottonsprig appear particularly at ease, and that attitude mirrors within the ranks of warriors as well.

He stifles an amused snort a Vulturekit's hushings — ever the smart little tom —, and gives the medicine cats his full attention. "Well, don't leave us hangin'."
 
AS HE RAISED HIS FIST BEFORE HE SPOKE — It was not often Wolfsong's voice that roused Rattleheart from her now usual peaceful existence, far more used to it being the call of the other half of his mated pair. Yet, that meant this was an important lesson, a fact which caused the tunneler to usher her kits along with her. "Come on, loves. Let's listen to what Wolfsong and Cottonsprig have to say. And pay attention." The lead warrior was more than proud of her children, and she knew them all to be smart and as capable for their age as they could be. However, they were also still kits. Still so young that their minds were primed for wandering, and the last thing she wanted was any of them drifting off or grabbing attention.

She ended up settling alongside Dimmingsun, nudging her shoulder against her fellow lead warrior's before her pale gaze zeroed in on Wolfsong. Rattleheart found herself searching his face for any sign of what this could be about, coming up frustratingly empty in the end. Cottonsprig's silence did little to assist in staving off her anxious curiosity. "It's not often that you have a lesson for all of us. I hope we haven't been trampling any herbs by accident." Her words were meant to be a joke, though even she could admit they held the slightest tinge of concern to them. While the tunneler couldn't even imagine mistreating any speck of green she came across right now, perhaps they had all been overlooking a resource less obvious?


  • 75034712_8183RsjuzqJmQXv.png
    longhaired black and white tom with pale green eyes
    53 moons old; ages the 1st every month
    afab; uses he/she/they pronouns
    homosexual homoromantic; mated to venomstrike
    sibling to scorchstreak, lizardbounce, and rabbitclaw
    mother to thistlekit, breezekit, splinterkit, crunchykit, and vinekit
    somewhat difficult to befriend; wary but kind
    "speech", thoughts, attacking
    peaceful powerplay allowed
    all opinions are ic
 
──ᨒ↟↟ᨒ↟ᨒ↟↟ᨒ── He watches his daughter approach, and offers her a welcoming smile, gladdened by her presence here. Then he thinks guiltily of his conversation with Cottonsprig, his suggestion that they keep such knowledge to themselves— he could have risked Rivewhisper's life doing so, even if he trusts her to know better than to pluck random plants. "All in due time," he tells her, his smile somewhat subdued now, and it remains so as more clanmates begin to shuffle over. He inclines his head to Gravelsnap in acknowledgement, and searches their pelt for signs of troublesome healing before Vulturekit's quiet admonishment draws his stare— and his short-lived amusement.

Cottonsprig seems to make the decision to allow him the lead. Perhaps it is simply what she is most comfortable with, after so much time as his apprentice.

He flicks his ear to show Dimmingsun he has heard his comment, swallowing the brief flare of prideful irritation in favor of watching Rattleheart escort her children. It is good to see the tunneler out and about, and he's glad for the apparent health of the little ones she herds. "No, no. Nothing of the sort— that I know of, at least." He does wonder whether that might actually be the case, but that is a trial for a different day.

Clearing his throat, Wolfsong shifts his tail to reveal a thin stem, one which branches off into a bouquet of even thinner stems, each ending in an array of tiny, delicate white flowers. "This is water hemlock, and it grows on the moors. Cottonsprig found this on the bank of the Sun-Warmed Pool, flourishing despite the fire." He shifts it carefully with his tail. "Should any of you see this plant, you are to avoid it and inform Cottonsprig or myself where it is. Water hemlock," he glances at the kits, but decides against softer euphemisms, "will kill anyone who swallows it, and painfully. It may be beautiful, but it is deadly, and none of you are to touch it."
78133981_OgqdbQiOYIHTMTk.png
WOLFSONG of WINDCLAN FORMER ROGUE TURNED MEDICINE CAT. 42 MOONS, HE/HIM, NPC X NPC. MATES WITH SUNSTAR (07/05/2023). BIOGRAPHY, PINTEREST, & PLAYLIST.
  • ★★★☆☆ WOUNDS: You're (mostly) in safe paws. You'll know if he's less experienced if he asks for your permission to try a treatment. No wound can scare him away from knowledge.
    ★★★☆☆ INFECTION: He can prevent most infections. If you feel feverish, let him know; he'll hum thoughtfully over herbs and sniff your wound before saying, "With your blessing..."
  • ★☆☆☆☆ ACHES & PAINS: If you complain to him of pain, he'll ask where. If it's a headache, you'll likely feel a bit better. For anything else, "Try this, if you'd like, and tell me how you feel."
    ★☆☆☆☆ BROKEN BONES: At best. he can ask you to remain lying down in the den. He may try to distract you with conversation while he considers what herb to feed you.
  • ★★★★★ TRAVELING HERBS: Going somewhere? No worries; Wolfsong knows just what you need to stay hale and healthy during your journey. The rest is up to you.
    ★★★☆☆ KITTING: Thanks to Starlingheart and his own pregnancy, he's better prepared for the arrival of kits, but any complications will need a little faith and a lot of luck.
  • ★☆☆☆☆ POISONS: It's best if you avoid eating anything unfamiliar to you— it's probably just as unfamiliar to Wolfsong. The best he can do is offer you yarrow and sit with you.
    ★★☆☆☆ ILLNESS: If it's white or greencough, you'll likely recover. Otherwise, prepare for odd concoctions and the usual request that you consent to a little trial-and-error.
 
  • WHAT
Reactions: Grasspaw

The smile on her ðir's face is more then warming- something she misses from her kithood when she cuddled close, from early apprenticeship where she'd still run to the medicine den on stormy nights. A soft breath left her as he spoke, and she nodded gently. The way the smile slipped from his face wasn't something that she ignored either, stepping aside to allow everyone have view of what he was about to speak on.

She settles as she listens to the others, ears twitching in greeting, a smile on her muzzle before it too fell away when Wolfsong began to speak. Rivewhisper looked towards her ðir again. Hemlock, she is taught, is a beautiful herb that is meant for harm. No one is to touch it, or swallow it. Well, the second went paw in paw with the first- she drew a breath to stop her spiraling thoughts of exaction. "Is there anything that can be done if somecat does swallow it, even on accident?" She asks, owl-eyes studying the tiny white flowers.
  • "speech"
  • RIVEWHISPER she/her, moor runner of windclan, eleven moons.
    LH broken braided chocolate tabby with high white and piercing blue eyes. scars stretch over her left eye and across her stomach. graceful, sleek, average height. built for running and stamina
    mentored by snakehiss / sunstar / / mentoring no one
    small romantic interest in redheart / / sibling to featherspine ; sunlitwing ; bearflight ; singedpaw
    peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
    penned by dallas ↛ dallasofnines on discord, feel free to dm for plots.

 
➴➴ More cats gather around to hear out Wolfsong’s announcement, a good sign if the announcement is to be a great one. The more cats who hear it and spread the news to their clanmates, the better. WindClan will be safer if everyone knows the words that their medicine cats speak. And it seems this announcement is a great one—a warning. The golden tom shows off a plant, and calls it water hemlock. It is poison, and it was found near the water. A fitting name. And a dangerous one, it seems. A poison in the disguise of a simple, innocent plant.

"Water hemlock," they confirm, nodding in response to the medicine cat’s warning. Their gaze flicks to the kits who have also heard the warning, and he cannot help but consider the safety of Periwinklebreeze’s young trio. "Should we search camp for it? To ensure that no kits can get hold of it." They haven’t spotted anything of the sort around camp, but before now they hadn’t even considered looking closely at any of the plant growth around the camp.

  • ooc:
  • 58921334_LvhpdhRxLH7s4eM.png
    GRAVELSNAP ❯❯ they/he, moor runner of windclan
    average-sized black and white warrior who seems smaller than he is. speaks rarely and quietly.
    mate to periwinklebreeze ; sibling to slateheart
    mentoring sheeppaw ; formerly mentored thriftfeather
    peaceful and healing powerplay permitted
    penned by foxlore