- this was a collab with lovely Bumbletear
- Ever and Kyaphus looked for the specific plant Valora had asked them to search for, Verinca. It was a common pastel purple flower that was used to treat a simple cough, and Valora had just used the last bit of it a week ago to take care of Neko's cough. Ever decided to let Kyaphus search for this particular flower while he kept watch. As Kyaphus intently searched for this plant, Ever spotted two other cats, one was a white cat with splotches of light blue on it and the other was a cat the color of fire with paws dipped in gold.
"Who are they?" Questioned Ever as he saw the two cats nearing.
Kyaphus's head shot up and looked in the direction of the two cats. "I don't know, they're still a bit to far-off to identify them, plus it's been ages since I've been in Fire Storm territory. For all I know they could be vicious rogues.”
"I doubt that." Grunted Ever.
Frost and Aster were on a pretty basic scouting patrol. Aster on the lookout for any prey, and Frost on guard for any threats. With Aster's head lowered, it was Frost who spotted the strangers first. Two unfamiliar Snow Cats, one was a silver-gray tabby, the other seemed to have more paler brown fur, with darker patches on their face, paws, and back. "Aster, head out of the snow." she warned, flicking her tail. "We've got two incoming."
Aster looked up, and saw the two. "They're coming from the Polar Ice Caps, and I think that one might be Valora's trainee," he said with a shrug "Though it has been a while, and the Commander only pointed them out to me from patrol so maybe not." Frost's chest rumbled with a low growl "It doesn't matter who they are now does it? They're about to cross the border!" Aster rolled his eyes "Frost, we're on good terms with the Polar Ice Caps, it's fine." Frost shook her head "Not on my watch." she grumbled, padding forward. Aster sighed, but followed.
"Who are you?" Frost demanded once they were in calling range of the other two felines. "And what do you want?"
Kyaphus watched them as they approached and wasn't the least bit surprised when the white one demanded they tell her who they are. Ever hissed and his back arched, he was ready to pounce at the unsuspecting felines. Kyaphus flicked his tail dismissively and Ever let his back drop down but not without another hiss.
"We come from the Polar Ice Caps. I am Kyaphus, the second-in-command of the pack. We are in search of an herb that Valora has asked us to search for." Kyaphus calmly explained. Kyaphus recognized one of the cats, it was Aster, a scout. "Now, I would like to ask, who are you?" Directed Kyaphus calmly to the white cat, "because I'm pretty sure we've met before, Aster, right?"
Ever hissed from the back of this throat and whispered into Kyaphus's ear quietly, "I don't think we should trust them. They ask who we are, but for all we know they're vicious rogues." Ever whispered the last part loud enough for the other cats to hear to make a point. Ever smirked at the white cat, "Oh, and by the way, you're not getting my name or rank or who I am."
"Oh yes you are you cougar-dung." Snapped Kyaphus. "This is Ever, he's a hunter for the Polar Ice Caps."
Frost kept her eyes narrowed as the striped one spoke, introducing himself as Kyaphus, the knight of Polar Ice Caps. He spoke in a calm tone, and spoke to Aster by name. Which meant he'd have to have met Aster before, since Scouts and the other ranks below it weren't sent to the meetings between packs, so the knight must have met the scout when the meeting was hosted by Fire Storm several moons ago, before the founding of Northern Fire.
As the black cat hissed his words, Frost's fur bristled. She glanced to Aster, who was giving her a look, and nodded, deciding it would be better to let him speak, before she jumped for the black cat and shredded his ears. Aster nodded back and turned to the two, Kyaphus and Ever. "Yup, I'm Scout Aster, a hunter as you say. This is Warrior Frost. How can we help you?”
Kyaphus grinned and Ever rolled his eyes. "Indeed, it is you. Greetings to you, Frost. Are you a new cat or have you just not attended a gathering before? Or I could have possibly not noticed you due to so many cats of so many packs attending for one night of meeting. We need help searching for a herb you may know of, it is a pastel purple flower, an herb used to cure the common cough, isn't it called Verinca if I am correct? We need some because Valora has run out since curing a kit's cough."
Aster nodded "Frost is pretty new, but that hasn't stopped her from climbing the ranks, she's won enough challenges to make it to warrior rank." he purred, and Frost rolled her eyes. "Yes, well unlike SOME cats around here I actually have a desire to climb to the top." Aster shook his head, but his smile remained. "You'll have to excuse her, she just failed her third Spy challenge in a row, which means she's stuck as a warrior, so she's pretty annoyed."
As Kyaphus described the plant they were searching for, Aster tilted his head "We're still searching for a shaman, so we don't have many herbs in camp, but I think I've seen the type of flower you're looking for. It's kind of spindly, right?"
"Interesting, I hope you're enjoying being in a pack. My condolences, but at least you're a pretty high rank." Kyaphus said with a kind grin. "Indeed, it is spindly. Have you seen any like it?" Ever snuffed around and came back with a little pastel purple flower. "Only one I could find here." He mumbled. Kyaphus flicked his tail before approving Ever and turning his attention back tot the other cats. Kyaphus chuckled, "We're going to need more then that, but it's a start.”
Frost tilted her head, then nodded to Kyaphus. "It's different, but better than being on my own." she turned to watch as Ever padded off following a scent, watching him with narrowed eyes to be sure he stayed on his side of the border, even if it technically wasn't their territory.
Aster nodded as Kyaphus confirmed the description "I have, Gatherers sometimes bring the blossoms back, we use the leaves in nests," he turned, studying the mountain behind him "It's been a few moons since I was a Gatherer, but if I'm remembering right there should be a patch just down the slope." he waved his tail "Come on, I'll take you to it."
Frost whipped her head around to snarl at Aster "We can't let them onto our territory!" she snapped "Who knows what they'll do?" Aster frowned, tilting his head "Uhm...gather flowers? They're our allies Frost, it's totally fine." he flicked his gold and green eyes toward Kyaphus "We can trust them." his tone was normal but his expression made it a question.
Kyaphus listened intently to Frost, "Sounds like you're having a good time, all and all, and you seem to have a pretty good partner." He ended with a wink as he directed his eyes towards Aster.
Kyaphus smiled politely at Aster, "Thank you for being so willing to help us. And I understand your commitment to your pack's safety, I admire that." Ever rolled his eyes once again, still having the flower in his mouth, so he was unable to make a sarcastic remark. "now shall we find these flowers? Once we get some we'll get our of your fur."
Aster snorted as Kyaphus called him Frost's partner, but didn't bother to correct him. They'd gone on so many patrols, he was actually starting to like the grouchy female. Frost frowned, but nodded slowly as the polar ice caps knight spoke. "Alright," she finally said. "But only to get you out of here." she took a few steps back to let the other two cross the border, then nodded to Aster "Let's go."
Aster nodded, and began to walk towards the flowers. "Will you want our help taking them back? It's a big patch, so you should be able to take what you need without too much lasting damage, heck, we could even try to take your pack a full plant, roots and all so you won't have to make this trip every time you run out."
Kyaphus smiled as Aster snorted, it was kind of fun to tease him. Ever followed but made sure to ignore that Frost was even there.
"I think a full plant would be the perfect idea. You really have a good mind, I don't see why you don't become a spy. I think you'd suit the rank quite well." Kyaphus sniffed the flower gently, its delightful honey-like scent filling his nose.
"They are peculiar flowers. Smell sweet but taste sour, look beautiful but their texture is weird. So," Kyaphs said turning to face Aster,"How does one pick a Verinca plant?”
Aster shrugged as Kyaphus finished "Maybe someday, for now I'm happy where I am." he nodded at the flower as the polar ice caps cat finished his description "Very true, that's why we try to avoid the flowers honestly, the leaves are nice once they're bundled together, but the flowers..." he shook his head.
Aster carefully used a paw to push aside some stems "Normally we scrape the leaves but leave the flowers intact, like you can see over on the edge of the patch. Since you want the flowers though, we'll need to bite it high on the plant, just under the bud, that way we leave a chance for it to regrow. As for bringing the entire plant, we'll need to dig it up, but we need to be careful to leave the roots intact, otherwise it won't grow properly back in your territory."
"Well, it's better to be happy with your rank rather then wish you had a different one." Agreed Kyaphus.
Kyaphus listened intently as Aster explained how to pick one as well as how the cats of Fire Storm. In the background Kyaphus heard Ever finally spit out the flower he had been carrying,
"that's vile." Kyaphus turned around and confronted him, "and that's why we don't carry them by the flower." Kyaphus whipped back around to Aster as he finished up the steps on how to replant a Verinca plant.
"Yeah, we're going to need all the roots that plant has if it's going to survive in our tough soil." Kyaphus bite high on the plant just under the bud and plucked a flower that was going to bud soon. "Like that?" Kyaphus questioned, unsure if he had done it right.
"Very true." Aster agreed, with a pointed glance at Frost. She rolled her eyes, but nodded. The gray snow cat had a point she supposed.
Aster snorted as Ever spat out the plant "It really is, this one time Smolder, the Commander's son, got it in his head to sneak a bunch of the plants into the prey-pile. Thankfully Frostbite and the Commander caught him before he could actually do it, but it was almost pretty bad."
Aster looked between the plant stalk and the bud in Kyaphus's mouth "Looks good, and since that's a bud it'll last longer for your healer."
Kyaphus grinned happily as Aster approved of his ways. "Sneaky kit. Sounds like something Ever might have done as a kit, am I right?" Kyapus said with a sly smile looking at Ever. Ever let a small smile show, "There was this one time, while Haven was still commander, that I put these plants that thrive in the mountains called Reekers, and they smell like the Forest of Shadows. Haven's bedding stank for day's before we could find new bedding. Haven, the other adult cats, and I would joke about it, until- until she passed." Stuttered Ever filled with sadness. Haven had been such an amazing commander and cat. "Anyway, why don't we get picking this plant?" Ever said quickly before positioning his mouth near the plant's roots, waiting for the other cats to join or correct him.
Aster purred as Kyaphus recounted his story, though lowered his head when the knight's tone turned sad. "Though we never met, Haven sounds like she was a fine Commander." he glanced at Ever "And that has decided that you and Smolder must be kept from each other at all costs." he added with a purr.
As Kyaphus began to dig up the plant, Aster positioned himself on the other side and began to help dig. Frost flicked her tail, and scanned the area, she might as well keep doing her job while they did their thing.
Ever joined alongside Kyaphus and Aster as they dug out the plant. After the plant's roots were finally unearthed, the plant was slowly and carefully pulled up out of the ground. It was unscathed and unharmed, from what Kyaphus could see. Kyaphus grinned at Aster and Ever's tail flicked ever so softly. "It's so thick. The flowers are very beautiful, though." Kyaphus commented. "By the way, Aster, thank you so much for being willing to help. After this, I hope to still see you around." Ever unexpectedly chimed in, "And thank you Frost, as well, for your help."
"Of course!" Aster replied, nodding his head to the tabby snow cat "If I refused, I'd be no better than a rouge." he grinned "That, and the Commander and Frostbite would have my hide."
Frost tilted her head, but shrugged. "Now that you've got the plant, I expect you'll want to get it back?" she asked, eyes narrowed slightly. "Will you need any help returning to your territory?”
Kyaphus chuckled lightly as Aster replied with such spunk as well as when he mentioned their commander and the second in command, Frostbite. His grin slowly faded as Frost ended her sentences and narrowed her eyes.
Ever stepped up. "Yes, thank you for your help, Aster and Frost. I hope to see you both again on less confusing terms."
Kyaphus smiled lightly at his companion, "We best be on our way. Thank you both for all your help."
The two cats picked up the plant and began to leave Fire Storm's territory, and they walked up and down a hill, now gone from sight.
Aster smiled, and nodded his head again "Of course, and same to you."
The two Fire Storm cats watched the Polar Ice Caps cats leave, and once they were gone from sight turned and padded back towards home.
