TST RPs

Echobloom | DuskClan Crafter

It had been almost a moon since DuskClan had been founded. Echobloom had gotten her paws dirty from the start; building nests and using the surrounding foliage to reinforce camp walls. 

 Now that they seemed sufficiently fortified, however, they were itching to take a look at this new place they called home. After all  she hadn't the time to sightsee until now. Stretching their legs, they got up from their little crafting area and started looking around. Maybe someone would want to tag along.

--

Dappleleaf | DuskClan Healer

Dappleleaf had spent the last moon of her life doing pretty much anything that wasn’t her actual job. With no kits to teach or care for in her new Clan yet, after helping to set up the DuskClan nursery, she didn’t have much else to do, so she moved on to bigger projects. The medicine cats of her former Clan chose to return there after the events of DuskClan’s formation announcement, leaving the new Clan vulnerable without medicine cats of their own. Then, Dappleleaf couldn’t bring herself to leave the cats that she still considered Clanmates in such an unequipped state and now, she was sure that the cats of TideClan would rather attack her than let her return. So she found herself spending most of her time building up the medicine den with herbs and bedding and storage, or trying to hone her skills in other areas to keep her paws busy, such as hunting or crafting.  

At this very moment, she was sitting outside of the medicine den, her expressions shifting from bored as she waited for herbs to dry and making odd faces at the conflicting tastes of the dried ones that she was sorting. She tried to stop herself from thinking about how silly she probably looked right now; everyone looked a little weird sometimes and what else would she be doing right now? Telling myself a joke was the best answer she could come with as an answer to that question. 

“Hey, random pile of leaves sitting in front of me,” Dappleleaf drawled, hopefully not too loud to earn her weird looks from the cats milling around her, “why are flowers so good at problem-solving?”

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Echobloom | DuskClan Crafter

Unfortunately for Dappleleaf, her words weren't quiet enough to avoid the large and attentive ears of Echobloom. Fortunately for Dappleleaf, they hardly found the conversation weird or even slightly off-putting. Echobloom could only imagine the amount of stress Dappleleaf was under: no formal training, yet somehow expected to pick up medicinal training while their Clan remained a secret. It couldn't be easy. Maybe getting out of camp would cheer her up? 

She ambled over to the she-cat, trusty pack slung over her back, and tilted her head to one side. "Well, I'm no pile of leaves, but I'd wager it has something to do with the whole root thing. Can't outrun all their problems, so they got no choice but to face them."

--

Dappleleaf | DuskClan Healer

Dappleleaf found herself blushing when she heard someone actually respond to her joke, and looked up to see Echobloom standing there. She wasn’t usually the sensitive type but with the new Clan situation, she often found herself feeling like she had as a kit when she had first been brought to TideClan: confused, out of place, and--weirdly enough--like her paws were too big for the rest of her body. 

Her love for jokes was a great combatant for those feelings.  

She cracked a cheesy grin at the other cat as she sat up and revealed, “Because they know how to nip the problem in the bud!” She chortled, probably harder than such a simple pun called for, before she reigned herself in. 

“So, what can I do ya for? These herbs aren’t ready yet but I’ve got dry ones in the den, and a few pre-made poultices. Or have you come to tell me that I’m finally being let go?” There was an unphased lilt in her last question that made it clear that she was teasing about the subject. Mostly.

--

Echobloom | DuskClan Crafter

Echobloom snorted lightheartedly at Dappleleaf's joke, barely suppressing a chuckle. When Dappleleaf moved on to business, however, Echobloom tilted her head to one side. 

"Wha? Oh- thanks but no thanks, it's not herbs I was lookin' for, and I ain't got that kinda authority." they said, shaking their head. "I was actually lookin' for cats to come check out the new digs with. I spent so long makin' nests and buildin' walls, I ain't even had a chance to look around yet. You wanna come with?" 

Echobloom found themself more hopeful for a yes than they realized- as much as they wanted to look around, they didn't exactly find the idea of doing it alone appealing. Besides, Dappleleaf always seemed the cheery sort. She'd be good company.

--

Dappleleaf | DuskClan Healer

Dappleleaf immediately perked up at the invitation. More excited than she’d like to admit, the pale tortie started shuffling any herbs that weren’t actively drying in the sun into one pile for easy transfer into the medicine den–she could always re-sort them later–as she chirped, “Oh, yeah, yes, sure! Just give me a moment–” She paused to scoop up the herb pile. “– to put these inside.” 

She quickly dipped inside the medicine den, which was a simple but cozy work in progress with evidence of Dappleleaf’s comfort in the space seen via the time she’d put in carefully cleaning and adding decorations. She dropped the herbs off in a depression in the ground near the back of the den, a spot she’d previously designated for to-do projects, before making her way back to join Echobloom outside. Once she was back in the sunlight, she allowed herself a minute to properly stretch before the walk; she had been sitting way too long for her liking. 

Dappleleaf stood properly once more and said, “I need to remember to take breaks. Feel like I have boulders for fur and elders’ bones.” She snickered a bit at what she thought was a pretty clever comparison. "So, where to?"

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Echobloom | DuskClan Crafter

Echobloom quirked a smile at Dappleleaf's enthusiasm, watching the not-quite healer burst with energy. 

"No rush- I can help with- .....that- .............if you want. Well, nevermind, I guess," they started to offer, but before the words had so much as left their mouth, Dappleleaf was already trotting off to what Echobloom guessed was the herb den. She waited patiently as Dappleleaf disappeared, readjusting the little pack on her back in the meantime.  

"Perfect! I know just who to bother if I need to stretch my legs, then," they said with a purr, before pausing, brow furrowing in thought. Huh. Honestly, Echobloom hadn't thought they'd get this far. 

"Well.... the forest with the owls don't sound much appealin' to me, if we're bein' honest. But I overheard one of the cats talking about some cave with stars in its mouth. That sounds like an interesting place to check out- wouldn't you agree?"

--

Dappleleaf | DuskClan Healer

Dappleleaf’s ears perked at the sound of a starry-mouthed cave; that little ugly thing called curiosity that hadn’t been doing her any favors lately was immediately starting to rear its head. Still, Echobloom seemed like well-meaning and kind enough company, and their description of the cave conjured up images of sparkling stone that Dappleleaf was having a hard time ignoring… 

“Definitely,” the perm-queen agreed. “I haven’t gotten outside of camp much except for herb collecting, though. Where to?”

--

Echobloom | DuskClan Crafter

The moment Dappleleaf's ears perked up in interest, Echobloom was certain she had a travel buddy. Their assumption was confirmed when Dappleleaf verbalized that agreement, and a toothy grin spread across the tortie's face.  "Well, that depends on if'n ya trust Boulderpath's sense of direction," she said. "But he said it was away from the water, over by the northeast." they said, getting to their paws and beginning to lead the way. "

I tried askin' him more about it, but then Floralstar wanted to see him and well, I didn't want to wait too long. I need craftin' inspiration."

--

Dappleleaf | DuskClan Healer

Dappleleaf tilted her head as she thought. Boulderpath had a good soul but wasn’t known for being the most intelligent cat in either of the Clans he had been a part of. Taking his directions could be hit or miss but, considering there still so much of the new territory to explore, it might be fun to see where they led anyway. If anything, maybe Dappleleaf and her new companion could find some supplies to bring home; at best, they would find something interesting like the starry cave.  

“Couldn’t hurt to explore the area either way,” she said with a nonchalant shrug. “As long as we keep an eye out where we’re walking, nothing too hairy should happen, and I could really use that walk.”

--

Echobloom | DuskClan Crafter

Echobloom returned Dappleleaf's shrug with a toothy grin. "That's the spirit!" she said, checking to make sure the pack on her back was secure. 

"Can't imagine it being that 'hairy,' as you said, but if anything's amiss we can just bail. No point stickin' our nose where it don't belong." She waited until Dappleleaf got to her feet before trotting off, her large ears flopping slightly with each step. 

"And if we find any good herbs along the way, you can give 'em to me for safe keepin'. I don't mind!"

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Dappleleaf | DuskClan Healer

Dappleleaf quickly followed, glancing at Echobloom’s pack as she did. “Yeah, thanks. That is a neat bag you got there. Maybe I should get one or something like it; it might be helpful for the whole medicine cat thing. How did you get it? If you don’t mind me asking.”