itchin' all over !! | intro + ticks

H

HERONBELLY

Guest

it was a pleasant afternoon in thunderclan, the light breeze dancing around through the treetops and rustling the leaves that have been steadily shifting to more warmer hues of colors to reflect leaf-fall. things have been rather tame since the fire, cats have long since fallen back into their typical routine of going to and fro from camp to complete the daily tasks of patrol or training their apprentices.

heronbelly was one of the few who spent most of the day in camp, not that he wanted to but whenever he tried to do something on his own he's always steered right back to the elder's den with mighty protests spilling from his tongue. sure he's a little blind with joints that creak every few steps and maybe on occasions falls asleep mid-talk but that doesn't mean he couldn't take care of himself! the smushed faced tom in question was loafed infront of the hollow tree talking with another older feline when that dreaded itchy feeling crawled underneath his fur for the ump-teenth time today causing him to sit up and scratch at himself with a hind-leg.

the relief was brief and when he thought he got rid of it for good it would flare up again causing him to scowl in annoyance. "i'm itchier than a prickle bush!!" he rasped out loudly, flashing a look at the closest cat, well blob-shaped cat, who happened to be strolling by. "you! come here and check my fur i think i got ticks or fleas, either way i just need someone to get rid of whatever it is making me itch!!"
[ penned by cobi ]
 

Jaypaw is headed toward a puddle for a quick drink when all of a sudden a caterwauling rasp makes the apprentice jolt. Whipping his head toward the sound, he freezes in place because surely they can't mean him. "Wh-who? Me?" When looking around produces no magically appearing cat out of thin air, Jaypaw steps forward toward the elder cat and leans forward to peer toward his silvered fur with a questioning expression. Disobeying an older cat with such a commanding tone sounds like bad news and he realizes as he's saying it that it probably sounds dumb but, "Uh... what are ticks?" It'd probably be better if he knew what he was looking for, especially since there's so much space to look on this elder.

Raising a paw, Jay attempts to scoop it through Heronbelly's fur to make little trenches to try to see. The biter thingies, these fleas, he's already had the misfortune of learning about from his time away from the twoleg place. Not having to worry about being itchy sometimes is something he really does miss from his old home. Peering close, Jaypaw sees some strange tiny lump but then he has second thoughts. Suddenly the apprentice jerks his paw back and grits his small teeth, looking mortified. "Wait! It's not going to get me is it?" He just got his strength back! He doesn't need some little bug sucking it back out or his brain maybe or whatever it is that ticks eat.
[ I'M THE HERO THAT SAVES ME ]
 

☀ - WHILST MY HEART STILL BEATS
"You'll be fine kid, don't worry. To get ticks off you've got a couple options; go to Cinderfrost and ask for bile, or pinch those lil suckers around the head in your teeth and twist." Sunnyday felt bad for Jaypaw for getting roped into such a task, it was an unpleasant duty to say the least. Normally he'd work hard to avoid such a thing but he wasn't going to leave the poor youth to struggle with Heronbelly alone.

The leggy tom came closer and he offered a friendly smile as he came to sit next to Jaypaw. "Let me help, that way poor Heronbelly here can get some relief a little faster." The warrior took up position on the other side of the elder from the apprentice and he began working through the elder's fur, nipping and twisting any ticks he discovered.​

 

It seemed like Heronbelly had roped in poor Jaypaw to check for (and well, remove) ticks. At first, the small warrior attempted to slither by – he knew he would do much more for the clan outside the camp – but as Sunnyday kindly helped the young apprentice, the knot in Jackdawflight's belly tightened and he could only release a sigh. He stepped away from the camp entrance and came over to stand beside Jaypaw.

"Sunnyday's right, they won't be going after you. Ticks are no fun so we should help Heronbelly get rid of them," he sat himself down and began pushing the fur to the side again until he found the lump Jaypaw had previously shied away from. "Alright, you see how Sunnyday's getting rid of them? That'll be our go-to method unless you would like to try with mouse bile. It's a simpler... but also much smellier way of removing them." As he waited for Jaypaw to decide on a tick-removal method, he mirrored the other warrior's movements of nipping and twisting the uncovered tick off Heronbelly.
 

Ticks? What’s that? Can I watch?” Poking her head into the elder’s den, Dewkit would make her way forward, watching carefully as they pulled the ticks away from Heronbelly’s fur. Never had she seen anything like this, and wondered how long it would truly take for a cat to do this. It must be a good thing they didn’t have that many elders! Remaining quiet until further addressed, the child would glance between the cats as they worked, hoping to somehow be included.

// welcome to thunderclan again!!!


 
ah, the perks of being the oldest of the bunch is having everyone flock to your aid if it's called for even if it happens to be something ridiculous. it certainly didn't take long for an assortment of paws to be sifting through silvery tinted fur to search for the little buggers attached to his frame. olivine eyes would squint as they swept across the two curious kits that tottled over with questions about ticks, yeesh, just how many cats so far not know what these annoying bugs are?

"they're naaasty little things that bury into your fur and lay eggs under your skin!!" there was heavy dramatics in heronbelly's voice, sometimes it was fun to make up little fibs.
[ penned by cobi ]
 

"For bile?!" Jaypaw's dismayed exclamation comes with a voice crack he's so shocked. He stares at Sunnyday shortly, watching as he gets to work then turning his attention to Jackdawflight who does similarly. This must be what warriors do too it seems, helping the old folks... This less glamorous side, it's not all battles and sky cats. Jaypaw looks indecisive but though putting a mystery bug in his mouth sounds unpleasant, it's leagues better than coming anywhere near gut juice. "I get it... Uhm, well, this will help him faster right? I'll just do what you guys are doing." With the three of them, Heronbelly's ticks should be gone in no time he thinks.

Jay returns his paw to the elder's fur, looking along his neck for any of the strange critters but turns his head toward Dewkit a moment. "They're weird itchy fat bugs," he explains and seeing how she lingers, he adds on, "Do you see any on his tail?" Before Jay can repeat the same to Sparkkit, the elder himself's explanation comes and it is so much worse. "Ew..." Smelly mouse bile, eggy bitey bugs, he's almost afraid to know what else... Though unnerved, Jaypaw leans back in to grab an insect and since he's inexperienced, his sharp kitten teeth might accidentally prick at Heronbelly's skin in the process.
[ I'M THE HERO THAT SAVES ME ]