Closed Thread [Closed] A Fateful Encounter

Survival demands caution, but greatness requires daring
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 Kosmo wasn't far from the so called borders of Windclan. He wasn't a stranger to these lands, for he had been the cat who had seen Badgerstar's capture by unusual white clad humans. Never again would that cat set paw on clan lands, he was quite sure, for few touched by humans could ever escape - and certainly not as the same cat as before.

The first creature to join Aspenberry as she took strides to explore the open world was not the cinnamon mink tom, but rather, an ascended shadow swooping low against the grasses. Its wings stretched, scenting the source of blood, and with an interested squawk that would descend from the air. A crow perched just out of reach of the mostly white she-cat, head turning to the side as it glared at the wounded creature. Not ready to be scavenged, anyway.

"Got yourself a nasty cut there."

The voice had not come from the bird, but rather a suave voice laced with intrigue. From behind the foliage a tomcat stepped out from besides the crow, each sharing a moment of eye contact before the bird sprung up into the air with a weedy bounce, wings slow and sluggish as if it didn't want to abandon the pair to their own devices. Or perhaps it was just sore it couldn't peck away at the she-cat.

Kosmo seemed unfazed, and surely could have easily bat the creature out of the sky at its slow ascent, but kept his four feet planted on the ground, odd-eyes staring at her for a moment before he turned to rip up at a small patch of moss. When he had stripped it from his curved claws and balled it, he glanced at her casually.

"Keep your head high and don't move. I'll stanch the bleeding and see if I might have an herb or two that may help." He then proceeded to stand there holding the moss ball in his jaws. Part of the rogue wondered if she would bolt from the shock, but he doubted she'd get too far with that sort of wound. So uncoordinated.

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
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As her wound continued to obscure her vision, she whipped her head around at the sound of an unfamiliar voice, and she shot the newcomer a curious yet slightly hostile glare with her one visible eye. She hadn't even noticed the crow that had come to accompany her, let alone this strange cat who now approached her. 

'Really? I hadn't noticed' she replied sarcastically, though there was no hint of malice, and it could almost be interpreted as playful.

 With her initial surprise now she gave the tom a quick survey with her eye. He was quite larger than her, and she almost felt a little intimidated, but she couldn't keep her gaze of his unique two-coloured eyes. She also knew that if it came to it, she could beat him up fair and square. She was a warrior after all! Though her thoughts never led down that path. This seemed like an encounter that lacked hostility, and Aspenberry overall had little concern, other than the fact that she looked like a mess. 

'Excuse the uhh, appearance. Just had a little fall' she said awkwardly, quickly brushing over the reason her her wound. What did surprise her was the cat's willingness to assist her. It wasn't that she was used to being greeted with unfriendliness, but the fact that the tom had made his way over here to help her out. 'No, its okay, I don't want to bother you. I'll just make my way to a puddle and wash it off' she mewed, though she didn't move, happy to continue the conversation, still locked onto his two coloured gaze. 

As she brushed off his help, she made the decision to enquire further about the tom. Despite her hobby of roaming, she had never met an outsider before, and was fundamentally intrigued. 'So, are you from around here? I've never seen you before' she asked cautiously, not wanting to seem as though she had some sort of ulterior motive. 

Survival demands caution, but greatness requires daring
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 It wasn't the only thing she didn't seem to notice. His chin tilted towards the sky, hoping to see the shadow of the crow above him, but it seemed he may have abandoned him. Typical, smart creatures crows - but selfish. The stunted length of his tail lashed to the side, the tip like the ticking of a rattlesnake as it teased the air.

How quickly warriors were to brush off any sort of injury, especially if it was to save face in front of a strange cat whom she had no knowledge of. His expression hardened beneath the fluff of moss as she spoke, off eyes leveling a bit boredly. If she believed she would brush him off that easily she'd be sorely mistake. Emphasis on sorely.

Kosmo stalked forward to cut her off if she decided to move, but halted his paws when she didn't seem too motivated to heed her own suggestion. The moss dropped from his maw abruptly, and his cat like brows twisted up suspiciously. "You probably have a concussion - a minor one..." He murmured pointedly, expression neutral if a bit lofty. She was the one in need of help.

"I'll answer your questions, but first you should follow my instruction." A paw softly flexed into the moss ball as he stared at her, not entirely into her eyes as might be proper for conversing cats, but grazing her form, how she was holding herself to the wound itself - her eye, her manner of speech. "You didn't fall unconscious did you?" After waiting a moment, he continued. "I want you to move each of your paws in turn. Front right, front left, back right, back left." He demonstrated by doing so himself, to see if she could follow direction and show him she still possessed motor control. She had not moved since he first saw her, so he wanted to make sure. She could still verbalize, though. That was good.

"Try and open your eyes wide. How is your vision? Are you experiencing any dizziness, blurriness in your sight?" Kosmo continued to drill her for information, knowing that concussions could easily end a warrior's career - or end a life. Fatalities could be common in more severe cases.

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
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The white she-cat's ears twitched with a little bit of irritation, but she knew the help was good for her, and she had noticed he seemed a little bored by her not so surprising response to his offer of help. She let the tom asses her condition, but still kept wary. It was just instincts, but at the same time it was always good to be safe. 'No, I'm still pretty alert and didn't fall unconscious' she replied with a flick of her kinked tail before continuing. She rotated her front paw smoothly before opening her eyes wide like instructed, though she pulled a quick face while doing so and flicked the rouge a grin. 'I can see fine, except for where the blood is. I'm a little dizzy but it's kinda expected of someone who just knocked their head' she laughed.

'Also surely I don't have a concussion, it wasn't that big of a fall, was it?' she queried, turning her head to investigate the stones she had fallen onto despite the fact that Kosmo had not helped stop the bleeding with the moss yet. It seemed that while Aspenberry was overall okay, the initial hit knocked her out of whack just a little, and she was having trouble following one thing at a time. Hence why she never left to wash herself, and why she just moved away from Kosmo after letting him know it was okay to treat her. 

Aspenberry wasn't stupid, and could sense something was a little wrong with her, and how she spoke, but couldn't pinpoint what. Her speech was clear yet she just seemed.. off. 'Do I sound, like, normal to you?' she asked, 'I feel fine but something seems a little off. I don't know what. Honestly its probably just the shock, something that will wear off after a while? ' 

Survival demands caution, but greatness requires daring
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 Kosmo's odd-eyed stare assessed her condition as she spoke and did as she was told, alongside wrestling her own conflicting emotions. When she visibly winced, eyes spasming as she blinked back pain, he couldn't help but shake his head - hopelessly bemused.

"Unconciousness complicates things when it comes to recovering from something like that. You'd think a Windclan warrior like yourself would be more surefooted." A small smile tickled his whiskers, prodding with a light tease before he picked up the mossball again, noticing a drop of blood hit the ground from her wound. It would be best to clean and dress it, so he approached her boldly without threat of a swipe from the she-cat. And he had taken many a swipes before.

With precise accuracy coupled with a sure amount of gingerness, the tomcat dabbed the mossball against the wound. First mopping up the dribbling near her eye and then upwards towards her brow where she was struck. Kosmo was especially close to her, his large shadow casting hers in a darker light, but nevertheless he tended to her as he would any other creature in need.

The dirty moss ball was discarded and his tongue pushed the debris from his maw as he peered closer to inspect it. Without another word he turned from her, using the small length of his shortened tail to stand straight, before motioning her. "There's a faucet that drips cold water by the barn. You can rinse your wound there. Come." He indicated with his head, angled towards the old building in the distance.

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
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Aspenberry's pale eyes followed Kosmo as he moved, keeping herself alert, yet also doing so out of curiosity. How did he know so much? While her wound did sting, it was nothing she wasn't used too, but when the moss was dabbed onto the wound she couldn't help but clench her teeth. 

At the mention of her clan, Aspenberry couldn't help but be surprised. So he did know of his fierce neighboring felines.  

'Oh, so you are familiar with WindClan? How are you sure that I hail from there? Well, I probably smell like them, but still, I'm surprised you would recognise such a thing' She has almost forgotten about his small tease before she added in briskly, 'I am very surefooted, but it was a pile of stones, who wouldn't trip over them while running at that speed!' she snorted, refusing to have assumptions made of her. 

As the unfamiliar rouge approached her to clean her wound, she couldn't help but notice how close she was. It was bold for a stranger to do such, but she didn't mind. Was it just her fall that made her think like this, or was it something else? She felt his warm breath graze her cheek with a light brush of his whiskers and she stiffened just a little. She wasn't used to being this close to another. He pressed the moss above her eye, soaking up the mess her wound had made. 'I never caught your name, would you delight me in sharing such information?' she said quietly, with a little lilt in her tone, hoping to spook the tom with such a sudden question along with the silent intensity of their closeness. All he was doing was treating her, but what harm was there in having a little fun?

Once he was done, he took a step back and Aspenberry let out a silent exhale of relief, and nodded as he suggested she go to the faucet to wash off, ready to follow him.  

Anyone who knew her well would know that Aspenberry's behaviour was little off. If it weren't for her injury being a head one, she may have been more resistant against the rouge. There would be more questions and curiosity and suspicion. It was a warrior nature to do so after all. She would likely be a little more awkward too, but if she is feeling like this, she may as well just enjoy it, right?

Survival demands caution, but greatness requires daring
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Oh, the clans did think themselves above the eyes of scrutiny, weren't they? This one hadn't even caught on that he was the short tailed rogue that gave them the knowledge of Badgerstar's abduction, but perhaps her injury graced him her lapse in judgement. He merely had offered her a sly little smirk at his knowledge; the clans were a long budded interest of his since, well, perhaps since his training when he was young.

Thunderclan. Riverclan. Riverclan. Shadowclan...Starclan. Clans of cats and their ancestral dead so mysteriously tied to these lands, brimming with powers bequeathed to their speaker disciples and leaders and lives that could be given to preserve others. He wondered if his clanner ancestors would be among their ranks, or in his death, he would follow them to a starry afterlife, or like the clans they represented, shunned outsiders.

If she believed inquiring about his name would be enough to shake him from his steady countenance, she'd be mistaken, as he seemed to simply ponder her question as they walked in the direction of the faucet. A cat brow lifted in her direction as he deliberately slowed his pace, making sure she kept up. "My name? I'm still uncertain about that one - I seem to have so many. You mean what another cat would call me? Or a clan cat...?" Pursing his kitty lips together with an unmistakable pout of consideration, he looked over at her.

"How about Halftail? It's fitting for someone like me - and familiar to a clan cat. Not a very suitable medicine cat name, though..." His mid tenor trailed off to a secretive whisper, keeping that to himself for now. The faucet could be heard before seen, and Kosmo pushed through the foliage and close to the dilapidated barn. Cold water dribbled from the curved tube, and he invited her closer.

"I'll need you to keep that head wound under that drip until this shadow reaches the side of the barn." Approximately thirty minutes or so. "The water will clean the wound as well as reduce any swelling that may occur from your fall. Then we can move onto treatments - but my herbs are stashed a bit aways. I don't mind chatting a bit while we wait."

He sighed as his head craned up to glimpse the moving clouds, noting the position of the sun's light and seemed to simply be enjoying the day. Trotting over towards a felled stump, the large tom leaped onto the wood and entered a loaf-like state. Giving her a curious, telling head tilt, he softly bade some information from her, wondering if she would return the favor. "And your name would be...?"

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
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She rolled her eyes at the tom's little smirk. It wasn't that hard to answer, was it? Or maybe he was just stupid. She couldn't help but smile a little, her curiosity only growing larger? Who was he? He obviously knew of the clans, so did he have any history with them? Was he helping her just so she would owe him a favour, an advantage he could use against her clan?

The rush of thoughts made her feel a little dizzy for a split second and she almost lost her footing, but she swiftly regained herself, giving the rouge a quick glare, telling him I am fine, along with do not mention that or you will be greeted by some not so nice words. She was regaining a little bit of composure back, and was slowly realising how embarrassing the situation was for her. She had her clan reputation to uphold yet here she was getting help from a stranger after fundamentally just, tripping over. 

She snorted as he offered a pitiful excuse of a name. 'Your real name, feather-brain. What your parents called you, or what you go by from your friends. Halftail is pretty lame in my opinion, you literallt could have picked anything else and it would be better, though your tail is your only outstanding quality. There isn't much else to you, a little plain, so I guess it works.' she said, returning his sly grin from earlier. 

Really, to Aspenberry the strange rouge was anything put plain. He seemed like a mish mash of many cats, something the speckled warrior struggled to comprehend. It was unfamiliar as most forest cats she was used to came from a long line of ferals with similar builds and patterns. She honestly found him quite interesting to look at, especially at the eyes. His odd-eyes, which while it was something had seen before, kept drawing her back. But, she wasn't a suck up, and wasn't yet ready to be handing out compliments to a stranger. Plus, she enjoyed teasing others from time to time. 

Once she reached the barn, Aspenberry felt a little more on edge. She liked to stay away from twoleg structures, and especially after Badgerstar's disappearance, it made her all the more uncomfortable. 'Is there really nowhere else to wash?' she asked, though she gently pushed her head under the dripping water with a wince. The cold water washed over her head uncomfortably and she grit her teeth. 'I'm not exactly a fan of water' she explained, before pausing for a second 'Why so long? That shadow is ages away and I don't want my clan to get mad if I'm gone for too long. But I'm no medicine cat so I guess I can't really question you..' she sighed. 

It was know the rouges turn to ask her a question, and she narrowed her pale eyes a little as he asked for her name. She couldn't exactly refuse, as she had just asked the same thing, so she answered. 'I'm Aspenberry, not much to it but I think it's a nice name'

Survival demands caution, but greatness requires daring
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 Kosmo was thoroughly amused and chuckled at her assessment of his made-up name. Yes, it was certainly uninspired, unassuming - everything he desired it to be. Forgetful, even. It was certainly a name a borish clan cat would assume of him, and plainness was everything it had strived for. It was just so very telling as she called him out, and he couldn't help but chuckle at her antics. She must have bumped her head quite hard on those rocks, after all.

"No, no, I like Feather-brain. You might not realize how intelligent some birds are, so I'll just take that as a compliment." He said simply, choosing to ignore her pointed question. For now at least. Once he treated and assessed her condition maybe she could coax it out of him, but her insult wasn't as unflattering as it seemed.

"Nope, just the faucet." He assured her with a wide sweep of his tail, padding up beside her as her forehead hit the dribble. As she voiced her complaints, he shook his head, sighing softly under his breath. Clan this, clan that. "You'll be fine. Better than fine once everything here is all said and done." Now the only thing to do was leave to fetch some herbs to make a poultice for her wound and send her on her way.

"Aspenberry..." He mused lightly on the revelation, wanting her to notice just how long he seemed to linger on it as if disecting what it could mean, if anything. She had so lightly dismissed his own offering before, but pointedly addressing hers seemed prudent - and fun. " 'Aspen' - trees with striking grey-white bark, and 'berry' - the spots, I wonder? Or how they taste - are you sweet, or are you more tart?" He leaned in to peer at her expression, wanting to see her wound good and rinsed and in the process of cleaning.

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
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Aspenberry gave him a bemused stare, 'If you think a brain full of feathers is a compliment.. well, you are just proving my point. But, you do you I guess' she said with a snort. She was getting slightly frustrated as he smoothly breezed past her questions, as though she had never spoken in the first place. 'Why so secretive? Are you hiding something? Or maybe you just have a shameful past?' she said with an almost sneer, though she did not fully intend for it to be rude.

The rouge was clearly finding her complaints something of minor importance, and she felt her fur bristle a little, 'Hey, I'm sure that if you had to have your head stuck under a faucet for this long you wouldn't exactly be happy, so don't go shaking your head and muttering about me'

After her initial spike of frustration she eventually calmed down, the water surprisingly helping no matter how much she disliked it. As she mentioned her name, Aspenberry watched as he repeated her name, and the way he lingered at the end, 'Yes, Aspen for my pelt colour and as for if I am sweet-' she had noticed he had leaned in to examine her wound, so she leaned in as well, 'Why don't you try find out?' she whispered, making sure her breath ruffled his cheek fur ever so lightly. Maybe Aspenberry hadn't regained her composure after all...

As for the spotted she-cat's wound, the water had cleared away most of the blood and it could now be seen clearly. It wasn't too large or deep, meaning it should heal up nicely, likely not leaving a scar. That didn't mean it didn't hurt though. Aspenberry swiftly moved her head away from the rouge and back under the water, giving her whiskers a twitch which sent a few droplets flying through the air and onto her associate.

Part of Aspenberry was eager to get home, after all, someone could be looking for her and she didn't want to come home smelling of this weird rouge, but other than their leaders sudden disappearance, Aspenberry's life had been pretty mundane. What harm was there in waiting for a little longer?

Survival demands caution, but greatness requires daring
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 Kosmo was quick to chime in. "And what if I am hiding something? Non-clanners can't be trusted, right?" He mewed matter of factly, and while he was closer to the she-cat more than he was entirely comfortable, he relied on his sharp instincts to tell whether or not she hoped to claw his ears off. He'd prefer her jibes any day.

"I don't usually give my name on the first rendezvous, but if you are keen to find out, make sure you run into me again sometime." His voice was like a feather's soft and nondescript in response to the warm wind of her voice against his cheek. It wasn't so much of an invitation more of a dare. After all, what tomcat worth his salt wouldn't mind a she-cat nosing the ground for his scent?

"I'm sure you taste fine, but what do I know? - I'm not a biter." He reasoned more to himself than her, but at this point he had pulled away. Well, that wasn't entirely true... he enjoyed nipping napes, but those were always non-lethal (in battle) and consensual (outside of).

He marched his large frame in front of her, glancing at her with his odd eyes from slightly different angles of the fountain. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have an herb I'd like to fetch for your head wound. It's probably not necessary for you to heal properly, maybe that cut will just leave a scar- and certainly I'm not doing it to leave abruptly - BUT when i return I hope I see you again... If not, I forgive you, just make sure when you return to your camp to be seen by your medicine cat, find someplace dim, and get some rest."

That intensity softened a bit, allowing his shortened tail to flop down to the height of his flanks. Maybe he was allowing a moment to remember her - head down and squinting into the dripping wetness of the faucet before he exhaled. Slowly, almost painfully as if he relented himself to trust whatever she decided, he turned from her and began to trot away towards the farm house.

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
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Aspenberry's pale eyes narrowed, 'I never said those outside the clans aren't to be trusted, but it's better of to be cautious then not, right? You don't exactly seem entirely comfortable right now, so maybe I'm the one that shouldn't be trusted' she said sharply. While Aspenberry could tell that nothing about the current situation was hostile, she was now pretty much thinking as though she usually would, and wanted to brush anything she might have said in the past moments and properly assert herself.

Aspenberry was more tense, her ears and eyes were alert, but she didn't seem scared. She shrugged off his explanation about his refusal to share his name, but it made Aspenberry all the more curious. She would either have to weasel it out soon, or track him down another day when she has time. Who knows, maybe he knows something about Badgerstar?

As the rouge mentioned he was now going to leave to get some herbs, Aspenberry knew it was her chance to leave. It was what she wanted, to go home and get back into the familiarity of clan territory, but part of her felt bad for leaving. The rouge had done nothing but help her, and if he went out of his way to get herbs, only to return to an empty faucet, Aspenberry knew the guilt would eat at her. She wasn't a cruel cat, and was deeply conscious of those around her, especially at how they felt and ghosting someone wasn't exactly something she enjoyed doing.

She saw how his gaze lingered for a split second before he turned around and she held that gaze, and then it struck Aspenberry. Why not try some bargaining? 'If I stay here, you must tell me about yourself, at least your name or something alike' she offered. She wouldn't leave without getting something from him, especially if he could have valuable information.

Survival demands caution, but greatness requires daring
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His paws stilled briefly as she spoke. He remained back towards her, contemplating while she coudlnt' see the emotions conflicting on his face. If he humored her he could at least treat her injury, and it wasn't like he was honor bound to obey her every whim either. Still, running into her - or rather, her running into him, nearly stumbling head into foot, had proven to be entertaining. Maybe even enlightening. "Sure."

Kosmo disappeared without a word more, leaving her to decide on her own. While he had paused to consider her offer he left her to dig through his stash of dried herbs he'd collected around the farm. He would have only been gone for ten minutes or so, approximately the rest of the time he has instructed she keep her head wound under the cooling drip.

In his maw hung a wrapped grape leaf that didn't look very heavy, but he approached the clearing nonetheless, his large cinnamon tinted frame pushing through the foliage carefully as he toted his herbs. The shadow had reached the side of the barn by now, and Kosmo placed the herbs down carefully by his darkened paws. "Have you thought of what questions you want to ask?" He assumed she would want to still know his name, but before he could answer anything he had scooped a few goldenrod petals into his maw and began to chew them diligently.

Perhaps a bit more loud than required as his maws slapped together repeatedly to chew and stared at her pointedly, tail giving a thump.  

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
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She was surprised at the rouge's casual response to her offer, expecting a refusal. I guess that means I'm staying put then. She gave him a quick, sly grin before he left, tail now tapping the ground with satisfaction. Finally, she had gotten something from him other than a straight up refusal. Still, she didn't expect much when he came back. 

Still sitting under the dripping faucet, Aspenberry was now very damp, the fur that was only slightly wet was spiked up, making her feel like, in her opinion, a sodden rat. She was tempted to move and groom herself while the rouge was gone; and she did of course. Quickly stepping out from underneath she gave herself a quick shake before lifting up a paw and drawing it over her face. She did this for about a minute, until she felt more comfortable in her own fur before stepping back underneath the faucet. Was it unnecessary? Yes. Did it make her feel less stupid? Also yes. She knew leaving the water for such a small amount of time would not affect her wound, but still hoped that when the rouge came back he wouldn't have noticed, as she wasn't exactly looking forward to being 'told off' for doing so. 

When he returned she eyed the herbs both curiously and cautiously, and rolled her eyes as he chewed the herbs just a little louder than necessary. 'Your name, of course; and how about just who exactly you are? You know of the clans, yet I do not know you. Have you clashed with our groups in the past, perhaps?' she questioned. 'Do you live with others? Or maybe you are just a travelling loner, and, why are you helping me, are you just kind or do you think I now owe you a favour?' She said, a little sharply at the end, indicating that she did not, in fact owe him anything, although Aspenberry did think it was only fair for her to at least give him a rabbit or something. Not today, but if she ever stumbled across him again, it felt like the right thing to do. Unless it turned out he had ill-intent all along, though Aspenberry thought that was highly unlikely. 

Survival demands caution, but greatness requires daring
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Kosmo took his time, indulging in the taste of the goldenrod flowers between his lips. Most cats didn't seem keen on herbal flavors, but he practically required them for a good night's sleep. He blinked at her calmly, logging every heavy word that streamed from her maw like a fountain of bubbling syllables. So many questions - and she must had a lot of time to dwell on them while Kosmo had barely given it much thought. Still, perhaps he should reward her for making good on her word and remaining where he could treat her.

With only the occasional popping of the forming poultice, the large tomcat padded closer to her sodden frame. He was wordless as he didn't want to mistakenly drop the herbs in his mouth nor disgust her with any unprofessional dribble. His shadow stretched far and he shook his head, cinnamon tinted frame leveling the crushed herbs over his tongue before he waited - patiently - for her forehead to be presented to him. Once given, he swiped the flowers over the wound to help the wound heal cleanly. With one step done, he licked his lips, drawing back with a slight timber of his voice. A chuckle.

"I'd be a poor medicine cat indeed if I expected anything in return for my help. Your medicine cats don't extort you, do they? They are merely doing a duty that suits them, and helping others suits me just fine."

Next was making a poultice of the raspberry leaves, and while he didn't have any fresh fruit, the leaves would prevent infection from setting in. "The name is Kosmo." He exhaled slowly, an ear twitching with thought as he stared at the small pile of raspberry leaves. Those odd eyes flashed up suddenly towards her. "You should keep it to yourself - you probably wouldn't want your clan to wonder why you're on a first name basis with a rogue." His urge was gentle, although the intensity of his stare hadn't left her even as he lapped up a couple leaves to begin the process all over again.  

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
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Aspenberry could smell the herbs now, though she didn't grimace at its scent. It was a familiar smell, bringing her mind back to her home, specifically the medicine den where she really should be getting help. She watched as he chewed, not jealous of the toms action, for she was not a fan of the bitter taste of herbs. As he approached her with the poultice, she slightly lowered her head, although not super necessary. She was more doing it out of genuine politeness. Aspenberry was not a small cat, but compared to Kosmo, there was a clear difference between the two.

'No, they don't, but it's hard not to question things when living life out here. I feel like you know that just as well as I do' she answered him, just a little quieter than usual.

As he placed the poultice on her wound, she hissed, not at Kosmo, but at the stinging pain it induced. She would rather not show pain, but she felt it, and it was hard to just ignore it. Finally he told her his name. Kosmo. Interesting, but not unexpected. 'Kosmo...' she repeated, with a little pause, just as he had done with her name. It seemed as though he wasn't exactly keen on sharing his name, but it was done and the knowledge was now hers. 

Under his intense stare, she couldn't help but feel just a little guilty. She had just used his own kindness against him, but she had no ill-intentions. 'I don't exactly understand why it is deemed such a bad thing to make friends outside of one's clan, but don't worry. I won't utter a word' she said, adding a little reassurance into her tone

'So, Kosmo, how does someone such as you acquire such extensive herb knowledge? It isn't usually a common trait in those outside the clans from what I have grasped'

Survival demands caution, but greatness requires daring
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 Perhaps he planned poorly in revealing the prevalence of his name - not that she'd know him or anything, but a name was an important thing to have knowledge over. It wasn't as fun if the mystery was unveiled, and he couldn't rely on titles of half-tails at least with this Windclan she-cat.

As the bitterness swept though every fiber of his being, Kosmo was more or less numb to the flavor, although the scent was very telling. His entire body smelled of little else; all greenery and medicinal. He should find some lavender to roll in and some poppy to chew before long - but first - to apply the raspberry leaves. Chewed to a tangy pulp, he approached the she-cat again to carefully spread the mixture atop the first mixture. "A layer of raspberry leaves to stave off infection." He added softly before slapping his tongue on the roof of his mouth to slowly erase the taste from his mouth.

He glanced at her once over, wondering if she still was anxious to return to her home. "I don't think it's a bad idea at all." He spoke plainly, the edges of his maw twisting in a little smirk. Having allies in certain places could be a valuable commodity, and perhaps he had just made one. The larger tom paced back and forth, quickly deciding to elevate himself atop the rough wooden fence that spanned various parts of the farm. While some parts were crestfallen and dilapidated much like the farmhouse, some parts remained erect. Kosmo leaped from the ground and perched there, spinning a half circle before he lowered his belly against the grain, one paw curled under his chest while the other swung from the picket.

"You're right - it's not common." He teased, his delicate cinnamon pelt puffing out in an exaggerated moment. Surely she didn't think him common, not after all this. "Medicine cattery is a well guarded secret - and then some - among the clans. Medicinal knowledge alone is a skill that requires moons of training and practical execution, let alone... other skills. You're very curious, I can tell. You have many questions."

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
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She nodded as he explained the use of the raspberry leaves, allowing him to place them on her wound. As he agreed with her statement on out-of-clan allies, she raised her gaze to look back at him. She wasn't exactly surprised, perhaps he even knew some of her clanmates.

She watched as he leapt up onto the wooden two-leg structure, one that seemed like it once had a role of either keeping things in, or keeping them out. It was run down and broken, but Kosmo had been able to pinpoint a sturdy area, and had made himself comfortable on top. She couldn't help but smile, just a little at his now casual but teasing attitude.

And yes, she did in fact have many questions, and the list kept growing but now that she had been treated, it was time for her to return home. 'You're right, I do have many questions, but I must get going so I will limit myself to one - Where exactly did you obtain the knowledge, as just by observing I can see that your skills are awfully similar to those of a clan medicine cat' she said, making sure to keep eye contact with the odd-eyed rouge. 

Survival demands caution, but greatness requires daring
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Kosmo had more or less exhausted himself with this exchange. He still wasn't entirely used to socializing, especially with clan cats, but it nevertheless excited him - if anxieties didn't flutter against his chest. He thought he did a good job at concealing anything except the casual, confidence that oozed from his tongue as he now groomed himself. A bit on his shoulder, smoothing over the fur there as he waited to see if she would run along home. The treatment was complete, now she just needed some rest and she would be right as rain.

With one final languid lap, he half shook himself out, exhaling through his nostrils as he took in her scent shortly after. She was persistent, wasn't she? His chest rumbled with an internal chuckle, a humph of a laugh as he peered down at her with his odd-eyed gaze. "I had a very good mentor, but they are no longer with us. Like many I've known." While his voice was airy and nonchalant there was a heaviness to it. Distant sorrow, perhaps, or at least as distant as he wanted her to believe. Their memories were still fresh.

Smiling, he waved her off with his stumpy tail. "You have a good eye, Aspenberry... Shame you aren't a medicine cat yourself." Better her than that unsettling dilute point she-cat anyway. It was a compliment he didn't give lightly; she asked all the right questions - but he was just being just as persistently coy while giving her the barest of satisfaction. "Take it easy." 

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
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Aspenberry couldn't help but feel slightly irritated at his coy response. Seemed as though he was back to giving her nothing. She had noted that there was a slight change in tone, one that seemed to contain a little sorrow. Seemed as though this mentor was someone Kosmo really cared about, and Aspenberry knew not to push. There were just some things a cat might not want to talk about, and Aspenberry respected that.

It was time for her to go now, and Kosmo knew that too. With his last little comment, Aspenberry couldn't help but let her gaze soften a little. It was a nice compliment, one she appreciated.

'You as well, and thank you for the help. I really appreciate it'. She stood up and made a quick leap up to join Kosmo on the two-leg barrier. 'I must get going, but who knows, maybe fate will let our paths cross again? After all, I wouldn't call this encounter fruitless. Goodbye feather-brain' she mewed, gracefully jumping down, letting her tail brush underneath Kosmo's chin as she did so. Without another look back, she spotted she-cat headed off into the direction of her territory, leaving the odd-eyed rouge at his post.