More Room to Bloom [closed]

Summer couldn't have predicted what happened the last time she'd been in this territory, but this time she was much more prepared to travel through the edges of ThunderClan's lush, dense forest. She didn't intend to hunt, of course - she'd learned quite quickly how strongly that was frowned upon by the Clan cats - but she did hope to stroll and maybe find any paths ThunderClan might use to get around more easily. Summer could've skirted the upwalker settlement to avoid crossing through and trespassing, but so far all her encounters had just been so memorable. It was too enticing to pass up the chance to meet someone new, even if they might leave her with a few stinging scratches. The ginger-cream loner moved a little more slowly and more attentively through the brush as the sun loomed overhead, shining down on her sleek coat. Birds sang. I know why these Clan cats like it here so much, she thought warmly.

Daisybloom had woken up that morning, very peaceful and happy. It was a beautiful day, and the medicine cat apprentice wanted to do something. She decided to she would go on a small walk, and collect some herbs. Who knew would happen in these coming days? She should always be prepared. She padded out of camp, heading to a spot where she saw many clumps of herbs. Soon she scented something. Someone not from the clans. She tensed. Although she had battle training, she didn’t what to fight. It went against her morals, she couldn’t do it even as a warrior. Her blue eyes landed on the she-cat, too far away to tell who she was or what she was doing. Daisybloom curiously drew nearer. ”Hello?” she asked nervously. Her tabby fur was raised. She was scared. She didn’t want to get attacked, and maybe the she-cat was from the Righteous Few! She wasn’t near enough to see if she was living or not. Maybe Daisybloom would be killed because of her heritage, or attacked. The medicine cat apprentice tried to calm her thoughts. She often spiraled off into different scenarios when she was nervous. It was a bad habit, one she was trying to eliminate. Mossbloom was always there to calm her down, but not now. Her mentor was such an amazing cat, and she really wished that the she-cat was here with her. But she wasn’t, it was just the medicine cat apprentice here, alone. So she waited nervously. She had heard tales of rouges and loners, and that’s what she assumed this cat was. Some were more friendly than others, and she hoped that this particular one was the friendlier type.

The birds went quiet suddenly as the unfamiliar meow of a cat rang out between the trees. The voice was a bit wavering and uneasy, but it wasn't threatening; Summer turned to try to locate the source, her ginger ears angling back and forth intently as she turned. A rich brown-furred tabby was moving through the underbrush towards her from quite a distance away, eyes squinted as if trying to identify her. "Hello!" Summer called back cheerily, her bright ginger plume of a tail raising up as a signal of peace. She couldn't scent the other she-cat from so far; the wind was at her back. The newcomer would know more about Summer than she did about the newcomer. Hopefully that would be alright. "I hope I haven't frightened you, darling; I'm just on a stroll, I don't mean to intrude on anyone," she explained, and though it wasn't entirely true, it conveyed Summer's peaceful intentions.

Daisybloom let out a sigh of relief. She wouldn’t be battling today, which was nice. She padded closer, wanting to have a conversation. Everything had settled into a routine, one that she had gotten used to fairly quickly. However, a bit of something new now and then was a nice addition. Maybe she could learn some more about life outside the clans. The tabby’s large tail followed her as she glided through the forest with ease. Thunderclanners has a way of walking through the forest, graceful and quiet. Of course, they themselves never really knew it, but other could. It was one of the perks of living and hunting in the forest. When she reached the stranger, she smiled. ”My name is Daisybloom.” she introduced herself quietly.

Summer could hear the audible sigh of relief come from the forest cat once she'd offered her explanation, and the drifter knew she wouldn't be getting into an altercation today - not yet, anyways. The tabby moved gracefully through the foliage towards her, and Summer moved forward a short ways to greet her, impressed by how gracefully she moved. The distance between them was closed quickly and they stopped a few tail-lengths apart. Summer kept a pleasant, airy smile on her face, returning the forest cat's gaze. "Well, hello, there, Daisybloom, it's a pleasure to meet you. My name's Summer," she greeted pleasantly, tail waving. "Are you a Clan cat, dear?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.

Daisybloom nodded, smiling. ”Yes! I’m from Thunderclan.” she mewed, although she wasn't sure if Summer knew of her clan. She wondered if she had met any clan cats, or gotten into battles with them. They could be pretty intimidating, and not very forgiving to those who trespassed. ”Where do you live?” she knew there were a few areas, from her herb hunts with Mossbloom, but she wasn’t sure if Summer was a resident of one of the these places.

The tabby answered affirmatively, and Summer lifted her head again with a pleased smile on her face, nodding in acknowledgement. She was happy to know she was in ThunderClan, just as she'd suspected. She was curious how far inside the border she must be, but perhaps she'd find out later if Daisybloom insisted upon escorting her out of the territory. Daisybloom then asked where Summer lived, and his whiskers twitched with amusement and she answered brightly, "Why, I don't live anywhere, darling! Or - I suppose I live everywhere. I'm a drifter! I live to travel, roam, be free!" Her tail waved in happiness. "I'm new to this forest, as a matter of fact. I've been here for less than a turn of the moon! Have you always lived here, Daisybloom?" She smiled, happy to get to know the she-cat if allowed.

Daisybloom nodded. It would be interesting to travel around, but also could be daunting. Not having a certain, safe den to return to every night. Still, she supposed Sumer enjoyed the thrill of it. ”Yes. I was born here.” She smiled. ”I’m really glad you aren’t attacking me. I don’t like fighting, and I really am not supposed to.” she explained. The medicine cat role was a peaceful one, which was nice. Fighting had haunted her since she had been apprenticed, although she luckily had never had to battle a cat before.

Summer nodded her pale slender head in acknowledgement of Daisybloom's answer, noting that it seemed many of the Clan cats had come from the forest - or near it as kits. She was surprised by the next thing that the ThunderClan cat spoke. "Well, no reasonable cat should like to fight. It's much easier to chat," Summer answered, yet as she spoke she tilted her head. "But - not supposed to fight, darling? Are you not a warrior?" she asked curiously. Summer straightened her head and blinked, scenting the she-cat. She smelled a lot more fragrant; more floral and leafy, perhaps. She blushed and added sheepishly, "I'm new to the Clans, of course, but every cat has insisted to me that they're meant to challenge me for trespassing."

Daisybloom giggled softly. ”I was a warrior, but now I’m a Medicine cat apprentice. Me and my mentor, Mossbloom, heal the cats.” she explained to the loner. Her blue eyes were cheerful and bright. Maybe she could teach Summer some of the healing techniques that she used. It would definitely be helpful to her! ”No, don’t worry. I barely know anything about lives outside of the clans, or even Thunderclan, for that matter.” she reassured.

Summer blinked at Daisybloom's explanation, particularly the newness - or perhaps familiarity? - of the terms "warrior" and "medicine cat apprentice". She considered some of her previous encounters and thought to the RiverClan cat, Silverpaw, and with Daisybloom's next words the earlier explanation had come to mind. "Oh, my! A healer?" Summer confirmed with a purr. "How interesting." Come to think of it, yes, that sounded familiar. Medicine cats - cats who healed other cats with herbs. It was news to her that medicine cats not only healed but also didn't fight, but it was good information to have! She smiled and replied breezily, "Oh, all the lives outside the Clans are so different. I've met all kinds of cats, darling, but I've only met one or two who knew anything worth a whisker about herbs."

Daisybloom nodded. She felt more at ease with Summer, like an old friend. Probably because he’s wasn’t intense, like some of the warriors she knew. ”There aren’t many of us. No more than two in each clan.” she explained, eyes shining. The tabby smiled. ”Still, don’t you get lonely?” she couldn’t imagine it without her friends and family back in Thunderclan. Roaming alone, by herself.

Summer hummed and nodded gently in acknowledgement of Daisybloom's comment, tucking the information away in her mind. She wondered, then, if each Clan had a medicine cat as well as a medicine cat apprentice - one learning from the other. The ThunderClan she-cat asked Summer if she got lonely, and she chuckled and purred lightly, "How can I be lonely when I'm free to make conversation with lovely cats such as yourself, Daisybloom?" Summer glanced around the forest clearing, back to the tree with the owl hole in it, and she asked suddenly, "Is that occupied, darling?"

Daisybloom blushed a litt,e before shaking her head a bit. Summer was nice, and they could be sorta friends, but she couldn’t have a mate. She wouldn’t be able to follow up on this crush, it was better if it was diminished now. ”No, I don’t think so..but the warriors might try rip up your pretty pelt.” she mewed, and then looked down. She was being such an idiot! She need to pull herself ftigether. She couldn’t have a crush on every kind loner she met! She shouldn’t be having these feelings at all!

The drifter's comment was received well, at least from Summer's perspective; she could see the flicker of pleasure in Daisybloom's eyes, content to be complimented. The ThunderClan cat was happy to answer the question posed, and Summer was relieved to learn there likely wasn't some large predatory bird resting in the darkness of the trunk. She was surprised and amused to realize that Daisybloom had assumed she'd been asking if it were a place she could possibly rest, and her whiskers twitched with amusement, ears flicking in a silent acknowledgement of the mumbled compliment. "Oh! Oh, no, Daisybloom," Summer corrected with an airy chuckle, "I have learned how important territory and borders are to you Clan cats. I've only come across a pawful of you, but I'll do my best to respect the borders once I know where they are. I wouldn't dream of intruding in such a way, darling." She smiled warmly at her new friend.