Helping Fennel

Explore Response:

"Hey, Smokestorm!"

Kestrelspeck groaned.

A light-furred blur rocketed through the foliage, weaving through the trees. Shadows dappled her gold pelt as she moved. Goldenblossom. "Hey, Smokestorm! We have an━ oof.” Her head clipped the side of the tree, sending the she-cat pitching towards the dirt. (-4% health for goldenblossom ━ no herbs or rest needed to send her out on patrol again!)

Goldenblossom shook her head, staggering to her paws. Mud marred her pale coat as a cloud of dust rose around her. “I’m fine, really! Uh… come with me. There’s a situation with some loner. They call them Fennel or something?”

Smokestorm’s brows furrowed. “Take me to them.”

━━━

“Okay, right about… here!”

Goldenblossom pointed a nose ahead, indicating a russet-furred cat. The rest of the patrol gathered around in a crescent, heads tilted. Olivebranch set a careful paw on a white flower with a dark gold center, eyes soft with a certain edge. Curious, yet uncertain. (+1 feverfew)

The loner strode up, offering a crooked grin.

“Hey, fellas!” Their tail swished as they dipped their head towards Smokestorm. “As I was explaining to the patrol, I’m looking for some help. A friend of mine has fallen ill and I need a herb to help her out.” Their smile faltered. “Do you think you could help me? I can offer something in exchange.”

★ Fennel requires your assistance! Their friend has fallen ill and they need one herb to help her. They promise something in return!

Does the patrol help them out or turn them down? ★

Explore Post:

Smokestorm was cautious, his fur slightly raised to prepared him for an ambush. Loners like these usually didn't come into clan territory alone.

"What symptoms is your friend showing?" Goldenblossom asked, her round ears perked. She had washed away her goofy attitude and replaced it with one of concern and professional Healer's willingness to help. The golden she-cat snorted and out came some sodden dirt. Perhaps her goofiness was still there.

Fennel explained that their friend seemed to be sneezing quite a lot. And their head was pounding all most nonstop. Goldenblossom nodded and instructed Olivebranch to leave the feverfew flower with Softpetal and go back to camp to get some sweet-sedge. This would help with the sneezing. The striped she-cat nodded, passed the slightly smushed flower over to Softpetal, and broke out into a run. The Gatherer picked up the herb in her mouth and seemed to protect it like it were her own kitten. The LagoonClan cats eased their crescent formation and found some comfortable spots to sit and wait.

Smokestorm licked Kestrelspeck behind the ears and went to check on Goldenblossom, who was bread loafing on an old, decaying, yet soft tree stump.

"How's that sniffer of yours? I saw you snort out some dirt."

"Oh, heh, it's fine. I might be shooting out brown for a couple days, but nothing too serious." The Healer's apprentice glanced at Fennel, who was sitting on a patch of moss. Smokestorm followed her gaze and glanced back at the she-cat.

"Y'know, Mapleheart would be proud of how you handled the situation. You went straight to helping them." He nodded to Fennel. Goldenblossom smiled and dipped her head.

"I suppose my next challenge would be you, though. How've your eyes been recently?" The grey tom sighed and shrugged. This wasn't too pressing of an issue to talk about right now. The she-cat gave him a look of understanding and let him pad back over to Kestrelspeck.

The calico gave a snort of disgust and refused to make eye contact with her partner. The tom rolled his eyes and cuffed her over the ear playfully. Kestrelspeck got up, turned the opposite direction of Smokestorm, and plopped down with a huff.

"Oh my stars, Kestrelspeck. I was merely asking how her nose was doing."

"You never ask how my nose is doing." He could hear the glare in her words.

"That's because I chose a smart partner who doesn't run into trees without a care in the world." This got a snicker out of the she-cat.

A rustle beckoned the cats from their seated positions. Olivebranch had returned with the herb. The Healer's Apprentice jumped from the stump, checked the herb, and gave it to Fennel. The cat nodded, thanked all of them, and started to head back into the foliage.

"Wait! One more herb. I hate to do this but...You might also need feverfew..." The cat waited for the groans of her clanmates, since they just got the herb, but none came.

"Alright. Just give it to them and let's be on our way. We might still be able to get some more supplies on our way back to camp." Smokestorm flicked his tail, summoning Softpetal and the feverfew. They made the transaction and the LagoonClan cats gathered up to trot back home.