rusty nails & dog teeth ✸ intro

[Bearflight]

'Why am I here?' A question with a weight that far exceeded his tiny existence thus far, but one that was even heavier due to its scope. He had never spoken prior to that.
His first words had been a question, telling as it was, the desire to know things even if they were outside the scope of his understanding was more powerful than his urge to keep silent unless absolutely necessary. But what was a question if not necessary? All questions had purpose, while not always the most beneficial they could broaden a view rather than limit it and that had to be good no matter what was being asked. Right? He found his preferred the quiet above all else, his own voice thought to not exist until his curiousity got the better of him and even then he guards it carefully inside his chest to release when he saw fit. Bearkit did not rumble and growl about as his namesake, his steps were light and careful and not the plodding and thunderous gait of the great predator and when he did bless the world with a noise it was a softly spoken and curt reply to a question or a quick observation he felt important enough to bring up.
He didn't waste energy making noise, he didn't run about and chase things like most kits, but he also didn't begrudge others their needs to release their energy and make themselves heard. In a way to be loud was to be seen and being seen was important to some cats. Just not to him. Bearkit was content simply being, simply existing, perched on the sidelines an eternal observer and listening with ears pricked and awareness ever present.
He has found in time that the answer to a question sometimes isn't more important than the question itself. So why he was here was hardly important at all. What he did with his time here, however, had been a new query to rise in his mind and Bearkit had decided he liked to listen. The world was so noisy and loud at times but he could find moments where it was gentle and a hum almost soothing in nature and it was this he most enjoyed. The kit, rosette dappled and bright as the sun above and the one that sired him, tucked his paws under himself and comfortably perched near the medicine cat den with eyes closed to listen to the comings and goings of their clanmates that he had not yet made an effort to introduce himself to. In time, eventually, but right now he was content to simple be.
​

 

[cottonsprig]

It is fascinating to watch little fuzzy bodies grow and bloom personalities within themselves. The kittens are not hers, obviously, however her time in the den with them has allowed her to be privy to their growth and development. Perhaps a lesson in itself, if Wolfsong ever wanted his kittens to be a lesson. Watching them grow from her careful distance, brimming with curiosity, often makes her wonder if anyone had watched her litter with fascination as they diverged into new sorts and interests. A smaller piece of her wonders if one day, she'll get to watch a litter of her own grow like that.

Bearkit finds himself among the several quiet ones (truthfully, aside from calculated or snide remarks, or a dam breaking with questions, Rivekit might be the only loud kitten,) and Cottonpaw only finds her own curiosity compounding as the broad shouldered tomkit watches the days go by, often without a word. She almost feels bad to interrupt him, he with his eyes closed in kittenish serenity, but she wants to make sure he's not left out.

"Hey, Bearkit, I'm heading out soon - do you want me to bring you anything back?" Her tail swishes across the ground as she steps out of the den, head inclined towards him, "A feather, a moss ball, a bunch of grass... anything?"​

 

[WOLFSONG]

──ᨒ↟↟ᨒ↟ᨒ↟↟ᨒ── He is, in truth, somewhat surprised by the gradual development of his kits' personalities. He has wondered whether Rivekit's unfettered voice is derived from some of her siblings' preference for silence. They are still children, of course, and Wolfsong expects certain traits to change as they grow older —such as Sunlitkit's skittishness, which continues to baffle him— but it is still...curious. Perhaps they have simply inherited his and Sunstride's museful minds, more so than their proclivity for speech. They are not without their cleverness, fortunately; Wolfsong would not love them less for being simple-minded, but it would be disheartening.

He steps out of the medicine den after Cottonpaw, whose presence has been of great help, especially with the kits. "He appears quite occupied even without such amusements," he comments with a brief chuckle. "Perhaps we could...guide a few insects nearby, hm? Something else for you to watch, my Bearkit." ​

WOLFSONG of WINDCLAN FORMER ROGUE TURNED MEDICINE CAT. 38 MOONS, HE/HIM, NPC X NPC. MATES WITH SUNSTRIDE (07/05/2023). BIOGRAPHY, PINTEREST, & PLAYLIST.

medicinal expertise med. part ii med. part iii med. part iv

• — ★★★☆☆ 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, 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.

​

 

[FEATHERSPINE]

Bearkit was quiet, something even-toned Featherkit tended to appreciate. The chocolate tom himself was not ever-steeped in silence, but what left his maw was often tinged with irritation- whereas her brother, spitting image of Sunstride, tended to pipe up with more positive musings. Sun-glow eyes regarded her brother for a few moments before she finally wandered over, settling to a comfortable spot at his side. She wouldn't interrupt his musings, but- in truth, Featherkit was rarely willing to seek company outside of her family. There was some... block in front of it, that he couldn't quite manoeuvre around or crumble.

Featherkit too was content to close his eyes, perhaps face the fickle embrace of sleep- but out in the open, that was a rare privilege. Yellow eyes darkened with a frown glanced up at Cottonpaw, voice cutting through the quiet- surely trying to be kind, though Featherkit did very little to hide his deep sigh. For once, Wolfsong's entrance did not soothe his soul- for he brought up perhaps the lease entertaining entertainment that Featherkit could possibly fathom. From fear of... something... judgement, embarrassment or otherwise, she had never mentioned her instinctual dislike for insects. Their menagerie limbs, moving as if they had minds of their own...

His nose wrinkled, mane bursting into a pin-feather thorn-bed. ​

✦ penned by pin​

 

[Bearflight]

Both blue eyes open to the sound of pawsteps and the beaming ashen maw of his ðir's apprentice approaching; the scar on her eye not dampening her cheerful visage even a little.
"Cottonpaw." He greets and it is both to share that he remembers her name and to be polite, he prided himself in memorizing things quickly and his clanmates were the current bountiful archive of knowledge he could dip his paws into and practice upon until he was allowed to leave the camp as an apprentice proper; outside of any lessons his parents thought to spare him or his siblings. Sunstride did like to talk a lot of things and while he would've liked to ask his own questions regarding Wolfsong and Cottonpaw's work he was content just listening and not distrupting them.
The offer of a gift, a thing to play with, is tempting but he finds he doesn't have a lot of interest in chasing about mossballs or feathers and his enjoyment was strictly the act of observing as Wolfsong so plainly put; he would not mind seeing bugs - he had watched a dragonfly dart about the camp the entirety of sunhigh the other day and it had kept him entertained quite thoroughly. Bearkit nods to the suggestion with an eager but restrained smile.

The russet and crisp-edged figure of his sibling steps from the den, his fur forever prickling and expression dour.
"Featherkit, your face will stick." He repeats a silly chiding he had heard spoken of, that should one make such an unseemly expression for a prolonged period of time it would remain that way eternally; he could not tell if this was jest or an actual warning but knowing his sibling she would only scowl all the harder and he would soon get his answer either way.
​

 

[rivewhisper]

"BABY, DON'T YOU KNOW I SUFFER?"​

Energy was something Rivekit had boundless amounts of. Sitting still and simply enjoying life hadn't come naturally to her- unlike some of her siblings. Bearkit seemed perfectly occupied with his nose lifted to the the sun, which the warmth was barely seeping through these days as leaffall settled in, but Rivekit couldn't sit still. So with his small dig at mossball, Rivekit was over in the corner smacking it around. The sound of conversation caused her ears to perk, and she turned towards her siblings and the collection of two or threeother cats.

A closer look confirmed it was Cottonpaw and Wolfsong, as well as Featherkit. Rivekit wandered in that direction, lifting her voice in order to be heard. "Bugs are cool, but I think Featherkit might not like them, if his face makes any sense." She giggled quietly. No, it wasn't a dig or an offense directed at her sibling, but it was definitely funny for Rivekit. She pressed up against Wolfsong, icy blue eyes lighting up in a bit of excitement. Her head turned towards Cottonpaw, butting in perhaps where she hadn't needed to. "If you find any feathers, I call dibs on the coolest one." Rivekit proudly proclaimed, ears wiggling. She really wanted an owl's feather, but those were so rare... A hot breath left her mouth in exasperation of the thought.​

✦ ★ ✦​