A Simple Herb Exchange Mark II

The wind whistled through the trees, carrying yellowed leaves from the branches to the ground. Spiderquill's teeth chattered despite the relatively mild weather. The once-crunchy, now wet leaves made disappointing squelching noises beneath his paws, water feeling like ice on his bare skin.

The little tom peeked out of the bushes, looking both ways before hesitantly creeping out into the pale evening light. He had finally found some free time, with the ever-helpful Thornpaw agreeing to take up more work so he could be here, so he had arranged a little meeting with Softbreeze to exchange herbs. It wasn't just that, of course. He was anxious to catch up with her, as most of the time he was late to their moonly meetings or she was too distraught to talk, so they never really had much conversation these days. He sat down, dropping the several herbs he'd been carrying, and alertly waited for his friend.

Softbreeze was more than capable of going to Fourtrees herself, although Downtuft seemed to think otherwise. With a mouthful of lungwort, she made her way gently down the slope, posture completely relaxed compared to that of her brother. Suddenly, the ginger tom's ears lifted up and his lips pressed into a snarl. "Softbreeze. Stay back." He hissed, earning a confused look from hi sister.

Softbreeze tipped her head. "Wha-?" She started, but Downtuft cut her off by dashing forward. She was confused. She didn't smell anything off. Just herbs and-- Spiderquill. Her eyes went wide as moons, and she yowled a warning, running forward, "Downtuft! No!"

But it was too late. With a leaping bound, the bold warrior landed atop the skinny tom, eyes blazing. "Who are you and what do you want with my sister!?" He hissed, claws unsheathed as he unknowingly pinned the RiverClan medicine cat down. He never did pay much attention to the cats from the other Clans.

Spiderquill barely had time to look around at the source of a loud rustling to his left before he was pinned down by a hissing Windclanner. The air in his lungs was knocked out of him with an unceremoniously wheeze, the weight on top of him preventing any oxygen from re-entering his lungs. In a panic, he thrashed around, but it was no use. He was small and spindly, and this other cat was clearly trained. Between his ragged wheezes, he managed to form a few words. "If you kill me then -wheeze- StarClan will have your -cough- hide." There was something familiar about this cat, but he hardly had time to ponder that as he slowly became light headed from adrenaline and oxygen deprivation.

To Spiderquill's relief, and his lungs, a savoir in the shape of Softbreeze came bowling around the corner, rocketing into her brother hard enough to knock him off. "You! Mousebrain!" She panted, trying to catch her breath. Worried, Softbreeze glanced at Spiderquill. "Spider! I'm so, so sorry about that Harebrain! He insisted on coming with me." Sending a glare over her shoulder at the sandy ginger idiot, she huffed and retrieved the precious lungwort she'd placed down before tackling Downtuft off of her friend.

Purring, she stepped closer and butted heads to her friend. "You're not hurt, are you? If Downtuft hurt you, I'll claws his ears off!" She asked, assuring her friend. Downtuft gulped from behind her. So this was the cat Softbreeze was coming to meet and give plants to. Oops.

Spiderquill thanked his lucky stars as a familiar molly flew past him and removed his attacker from his chest. Taking in great gulps of air, he got to his feet and skirted around the tom with his fur still on end and his ears flattened against his skull. He pressed his body into Softbreeze's and butted heads with her. "Y-yeah, I'm- I'm fine. Still kicking, anyway." Eyes on the stranger, he slowly reached out to grab the scattered herbs he'd brought.

"Um. I have some watermint, a-and some feverfew. For Leafbare, it's getting close now." He motioned hesitantly to the other cat- Donwtuft, Softbreeze had called him? "Sorry, um... Softy, who exactly is he? I- I don't think we've been introduced."