Coldgaze and Nettleplume
The Ranked members of Riverclan discuss the happenings in the clans.
Riverclan Fields Territory
17
Frankly, the day was terrible. The wind had picked up, howling through the boughs of the Twinwillows and chasing apprentices and warriors from their duties into their warm nests. If he was being honest, Coldgaze had been inclined to join them - huddled in his den beneath the great tree.
But Nettleplume had other plans. And when the orange tom poked his nose in to ask the Deputy a favor, he didn't have the heart to say no. And everyday he spent with Nettleplume was a good day.
So... the day was pretty great.
"What herbs grow as the snow melts?" He kept to the side of his companion, being sure to avoid stepping on any plants that could even maybe be potentially useful, his tail curling up into a curious questionmark shape.
Characters:
Coldgaze: (he/him) Ruthless Riverclan Deputy
Lawn Gnome: (she/her) Motherly Semi-Feral Shecat
Redpaw: (he/him) Thoughtful Shadowclan Apprentice
Sootbounce: (he/him) Bubbly Shadowclan Warrior
Sturgeonpaw: (he/him) Altruistic Riverclan Apprentice
Sunstrike: (she/her) Anxious Thunderclan Queen
NPCs:
Quailcall: (she/her) Fierce Thunderclan Warrior
rise from the smoldering pyre of wormwood and weeds
↫ ⭒ ☽ ⭒ 〄 ⭒ ☾ ⭒ ↬
The medicine cat padded along the damp earth, his tail flicking idly as he listened to the howling wind weave through the Twinwillows. It was a biting sort of chill, the kind that cut deep if one stood still too long. But Nettleplume wasn't one to linger. Not when the thaw was bringing life back to RiverClan’s land.
His ears twitched at Coldgaze’s question, and he glanced at the deputy with an amused glint in his pale blue eyes. He’s actually trying. The thought pleased him more than he would admit.
"Several, if you know where to look." Nettleplume replied smoothly. He stepped around a half thawed patch of moss, nosing at the damp soil beneath it. "Coltsfoot, celandine, even some early chickweed if you're lucky. But what I'm after today are fresh shoots of tansy. Easier to find now before everything else overgrows it."
He straightened, flicking his tail against Coldgaze’s shoulder. "Think you can spot any before I do?" His tone was light, teasing, but there was a challenge there too. If Coldgaze was going to spend the day at his side, he might as well make himself useful.
FROM RIVERCLAN:
Cottonbright, ♀ Anxious Warrior
Nettleplume, ♂ Cynical Medicine Cat
Merrypaw, ♀ Steadfast Apprentice
Otterwhisker, ♀ Adventurous Elder
FROM THUNDERCLAN:
Brindlespice, ♀ Selfish Warrior
Bravesong, ♂ Gracious Elder
Leopardrose, ♀ Striving Warrior
Wildcry, ♀ Fierce Elder
Rimekit, ♀ Rowdy kit
FROM WINDCLAN:
Cloudflare, ♂ Suave Warrior
Barleyswipe, ⚧ Ornery Elder
Heatherkit, ♀ Sweet Kit
FROM SHADOWCLAN:
Palestar, ♀ Stern Leader
Honeyglow, ♂ Reserved Elder
Emberdust, ♀ Artless Warrior
Duskpaw, ♂ Opportunistic Apprentice
FROM WHITEHART & BEYOND:
Ahryndae, ♀ Princess of Camelot
Lelouch Von Noon, ♂ Marquess of Noon Cattery
Kosmo, ♂ Visionary Feral
Montgomery (Monty), ♂ Sentimental Semi-Feral
Tansy... he had seen the plant in full bloom before. A yellow flower, pungent in odor and taste (that he could recall). But the shoots would be different. Probably barely distinguishable from ordinary grasses for a warrior like him.
"You'll have to give me more than that." His medicine cat's glance have him little to work with. "If you give me a good description, I'll tell you a secret." Nettleplume wasn't one to give up an advantage easily, but perhaps some schemes would be an apt exchange.
He shook out his feet, trying to keep the nip out of them. His long fur kept the ambient cold at bay but did nothing for the freezing ground and the wind biting his nose and eyes.
Characters:
Coldgaze: (he/him) Ruthless Riverclan Deputy
Lawn Gnome: (she/her) Motherly Semi-Feral Shecat
Redpaw: (he/him) Thoughtful Shadowclan Apprentice
Sootbounce: (he/him) Bubbly Shadowclan Warrior
Sturgeonpaw: (he/him) Altruistic Riverclan Apprentice
Sunstrike: (she/her) Anxious Thunderclan Queen
NPCs:
Quailcall: (she/her) Fierce Thunderclan Warrior
rise from the smoldering pyre of wormwood and weeds
↫ ⭒ ☽ ⭒ 〄 ⭒ ☾ ⭒ ↬
Nettleplume hummed, drawing out the moment as if he were considering Coldgaze’s offer. A secret in exchange for a lesson? Now that was an interesting trade. He could appreciate a fair bargain.
"Tempting..." He mused, his whiskers twitching with amusement as he nosed around the moss for the shoots he was looking for without lifting his eyes. "Alright, listen closely then." He took a few steps forward, his sharp eyes scanning the undergrowth before stopping at a patch of new growth peeking from the thawing soil.
"Tansy shoots are thin, with a slightly serrated edge to their leaves. Not as soft as chickweed, not as glossy as celandine. When you crush them, they’ll have a faintly bitter smell - like the flowers, but weaker." He glanced at Coldgaze with a knowing smirk. "But a healthy cat wouldn’t want to eat them raw, unless you enjoy a stomachache."
He sat back on his ticked haunches, taking a brief reprieve near some high foliage from the most biting of the wind. "Now, what’s this secret of yours?" If Coldgaze was going to make him work for it, he expected something good in return.
FROM RIVERCLAN:
Cottonbright, ♀ Anxious Warrior
Nettleplume, ♂ Cynical Medicine Cat
Merrypaw, ♀ Steadfast Apprentice
Otterwhisker, ♀ Adventurous Elder
FROM THUNDERCLAN:
Brindlespice, ♀ Selfish Warrior
Bravesong, ♂ Gracious Elder
Leopardrose, ♀ Striving Warrior
Wildcry, ♀ Fierce Elder
Rimekit, ♀ Rowdy kit
FROM WINDCLAN:
Cloudflare, ♂ Suave Warrior
Barleyswipe, ⚧ Ornery Elder
Heatherkit, ♀ Sweet Kit
FROM SHADOWCLAN:
Palestar, ♀ Stern Leader
Honeyglow, ♂ Reserved Elder
Emberdust, ♀ Artless Warrior
Duskpaw, ♂ Opportunistic Apprentice
FROM WHITEHART & BEYOND:
Ahryndae, ♀ Princess of Camelot
Lelouch Von Noon, ♂ Marquess of Noon Cattery
Kosmo, ♂ Visionary Feral
Montgomery (Monty), ♂ Sentimental Semi-Feral
