Wonders Await [Open!]

As the dawn-lit sky began to fade into a soothing blue, a young she-kit made her way out of the nursery. Many of her brothers and sisters were still asleep, and so was her mother, and most other kits around. She couldn't wait until it was late enough to head outside, though. It'd already be too noisy by then. With each step she took, her ears perked with the soft crunch of the snow, then suddenly— a much crunchier one. She coiled her paw back, peeking under the soft covers of the frosty ground. A leaf!

A brightly-colored orange one, too.

As she inspected it, she'd also gently paw at the leaf. It was such a beautiful color.. were all the leaves always orange like this? As the thought occurred into her head, the she-kit glanced up, a small, barren branch exposed to the cold. No orange leaves though, unfortunately. With her little 'prize' underneath her paws, Fawnkit looked across the camp, gazing and observing the activities going on in the early day.

She raised her head to see Fawnkit sneaking away from the nest. The kit opened her mouth to yell something, but stopped and considered. No need to wake everyone up, she thought as she softly stepped out the bundle, I can make sure she stays safe, just like mama!

Comfreykit quickly padded after her sister. She exited into the rising camp with a tiny yawn, blinking at the harsh light that was so different from the nursery. There Fawnkit had found a leaf, promptly playing with it. Comfreykit was intrigued by its color. She approached Fawnkit quietly, and in a soft voice spoke to her, "That's really pretty Fawnkit, what are you going to do with it?"

Dovefrost sat just outside the medicine den, green eyes watching the two young kits carefully. One of them had a leaf, it was more of an orange color, and it shocked the older tom. A leaf? In leaf-bare? It was certainly strange to see. Not exactly common, maybe it could have been a sign that leaf-bare was coming to a close, but considering the constant cold weather it didn't seem like it.

"What do you have there young one?" The medicine cat asked Fawnkit, hoping she would answer him. Hopefully he wasn't too scary to the kits, he was certainly rather large after all.

As the soft pitter-patters of paw steps came by, Fawnkit turned behind, almost expecting to see a crowd of her siblings following her over— but oh! "Oh! Comfreykit, hello." She offered her sister a smile. "Well, there's not too much to do with it.. but it is very pretty! And rare. I don't think I've been able to find any other leaves at this time, so I'm definitely keeping it." She'd then take her paw off of the leaf, smiling promptly at her sister as she joined her to observe. "You can join too, though."

Then, there was another cat. The.. the medicine cat, too! Approaching her and Comfreykit!

"What do you have there young one?"

Fawnkit suppressed the evident purr that had nearly slipped through her throat and quickly moved aside to show Dovefrost the leaf that she's found. "It's a leaf, Dovefrost! A pretty orange one." She mewed, quietly enjoying the attention that was currently on her. And though the pale-colored tom was large, Fawnkit soon convinced herself she'd grow to be just like that one day, too. After all, he was the medicine cat! What a grand responsibility that was... a very big one. "Dovefrost, are all leaves bright like this? I haven't seen much around, so I thought I'd ask."

Comfreykit returned the smile. "Thank you," she purred politely before examining the treasure further. It was oddly stunning- the leaf. The kitten hadn't seen many around, especially of this color. She hadn't seen a shade quite like it either. Maybe something similar with other cats' eyes, but nothing so vibrant.

Someone spoke near the two, an older voice. She craned her neck to see the white mass that had spoken to them, realizing it was a cat. A clanmate.. My clanmate! Comfreykit's tail waved back and forth as she listened to Fawnkit answer the big tom. Her sister addressed him as Dovefrost, a name she quickly recognized. "Oh!" the kit gasped, "You're the Medicine cat! What's it like healing everyone? And what's an herb? Tell me, tell me!"

Dovefrost studied the leaf for a moment before answering her question. "Sometimes leaves are like that, but it mostly happens during Leaf-fall. It will be a good many moons before you will see that. Next time you will see some of the leaves they will be a nice green color." He told the young kit.

Of course he was a little startled by the other kits numerous questions, but he didn't show it. "Healing everyone can be a little tough, especially knowing what herb is needed and what isn't. As for herbs, they are various leaves or plants that can be used in many manners to heal others. Like we eat poppy seeds for pain. So if you twist your paw, I will give you a poppy seed to help soothe the pain." He informed Comfreykit.

"You are actually named after a herb Comfreykit. Comfrey root is used to help heal broken bones and soothe wounds as well." There were more uses to the root, but he didn't want to bore them with all the details.

Fawnkit listened attentively, although she couldn't help but have her mind wander. There'll be even more leaves with different colors, too? ..Although he did also say it'd take a few good moons before so, the thought of seeing multiple other sights aside from just this one— and outside of camp, too, made her eyes light up with excitement. Though she was still young, she soon would be old enough to finally head outside to explore the forest, and she couldn't wait until then.

As Comfreykit's questions poured down to Dovefrost, she honestly was a bit curious, too. As the basic knowledge of a few herbs was then informed to both Comfreykit and her, she continued to listen, ears swiveled to hear more clearly. Somehow.. strangely, she wasn't bored, but the complete opposite. She was oddly invested in it. So Comfrey roots were herbs, too? Her sister's name?

For a moment, Fawnkit remained quiet, imagining all the types of herbs that could be out there. Were they all that magical? How do they work? Though not too many clear pictures of each one came to mind, she's had peeks of the medicine den before— not because she was feeling ill, but she was curious! So many different scents, uses, and looks... they were all so unique! "They all sound so interesting, Dovefrost! I'm not sure how you remember them all, that's very impressive." She smiled, genuinely mewing. "Being a medicine cat must be hard work.. there are so many things to take care of! Don't you think so too, Comfreykit?"

Her name was an herb? So cool! The kit locked on Dovefrost with wonder and curiosity. The few minutes she had known this cat he was already so interesting. The black kit wanted to know more about his job, more about herbs and all the amazing things they could do. It seemed Fawnkit was just as curious, saying just what Comfreykit was thinking.

"Yeah! So maybe you need assitance? Fawnkit and I could help you remember things. Though I can't promise to help when I become an apprentice, I'll be too busy training to defend Thunderclan!" she finished her sentence with a pounce at Dovefrost's big fluffy tail, making sure to keep in her tiny kitten claws.

Dovefrost moved his tail with a purr, allowing the younger kit to play with it to practice his future warrior training. "Well Fawnkit, if you want you can be my helper then." The white tom offered. "Since this one is going to be so busy with her warrior training." This was a small chuckle at the end of his words.

"While yes there is a lot to remember, it isn't too bad. There is something really neat about each and every herb that we use." He explained more so talking to Fawnkit who showed more interest in the medicine cat duties.

Littlekit didn't know what woke her, but it was early. Too early. Shuffling to the opening in the bramble bush, she tucked her paws under her in a messy loaf, watching the conversation with wide sleepy eyes.

When she felt a bit more awake, she padded up and chimed in, "Could Fawnkit's leaf be a new herb?" Her eyes lit up hopefully, and she leaped wobbling a bit, still sleepy, to her paws. 

"Let's go on a journey to hunt for a new kind, like the coneflower!" she mewed, thinking of the journey for the herb which was already a tale in the nursery. "Anyone wanna play?" 

She ducked down into a clumsy hunting crouch, pouncing at the first bit of colour that could be a leaf hidden in the snow, lifting her paws up to see if she caught anything.

Littlekit didn't understand how hunting prey was different from herb hunting, but when she lifted her paw there was a leaf! It was beautiful too, a skeleton of a leaf, silvery and delicate. She held it carefully between her tiny teeth and carried it proudly back to the group.

Littlekit: 10 HP / 23 SP (-7 SP)

The member 'isla' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 1

(OOC: Thank goodness this is just kit-play)

"Of course, Dovefrost! Don't get into too much trouble when you're an apprentice, Comfreykit. I'll be assisting Dovefrost in whatever he needs!" The she-kit trilled, unknowing of where her words would've led her into the future. For a moment, she only felt as if he was joking.. mostly, anyway. Would she ever be a good medicine cat apprentice? She wasn't sure. Though for now, she'd try to help the medicine cat however she can, like a good helper! Until she becomes an apprentice and get caught up in new duties, that is. She nodded at the continuation of Dovefrost's words.

"Could Fawnkit's leaf be a new herb?"

The voice of one of her sisters, Littlekit, caught her off guard, and she spun behind. "Ooh, that would be very nice! But I doubt it. I think Dovefrost would've said so if it was." Then, Littlekit continued with.. a.. what? A coneflower? Fawnkit blinked, attempting to trace back her memories to where she'd heard of that herb before.. and after a brief moment or so; she remembered! For a while, there were constant chatters of this so-called 'magical herb', though she hadn't paid enough attention to the other cats' words. It was only enough for her to know that it was 'magical', not how it looked, not worked.

The younger she-kit insisted to play, and Fawnkit purred, rising to her paws. "I'll join in. Comfreykit, come, too!" She'd give Comfreykit a gentle nudge, quickly making her way over to another pile of snow. Repeating what Littlekit had done, she'd crouch down— a not very skillful one, though it was just kit-play. Fawnkit pounced at the snow pile, and as gusts of snow scattered around, she looked down at her paws. Had she been mistaken? Shaking her head, Fawnkit searched for other skeletons of leaves, unsuccessful at her attempt just now.

Fawnkit: 10 HP / 23 SP (-7)

The member 'Arcana' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 10

Comfreykit purred as Fawnkit promised to help Dovefrost with his medicine cat duties. From what she thought of her sister, she was certain Fawnkit would make a great medicine cat apprentice. Nice, friendly, and a strong interest in herbs and their powers. Comfreykit would love to help her clanmates in such a way, but through fighting and patrolling! "I'll help you get herbs anytime Fawnkit," she promised, eager to support her sister.

Another voice joined the conversation. "Hi Littlekit!" she mewed happily, leaving Dovefrost's tail to welcome her other sister. Comfreykit could vaguely remember talk of the coneflower, but hadn't asked the queens further in favor of better tales. She was quickly distracted by Littlekit's play, and once again, she was more interested in Thunderclan than herbs.

Comfreykit gladly accepted Fawnkit's nudge to join. She spotted a small rock nearby, the size of her paw. What's under? she wondered, promptly flipping it over. A bug! Comfreykit squeaked, jumping back from the huge beetle as it disappeared into the nursery. Oh well.

She turned to see Littlekit carrying something even more interesting. "Nice catch Littlekit!" she purred, bumping her forehead against her small sister's shoulder, "You'll be such a great warrior!"