Flowers in Muddy Shade

[Badwolf]

[Shadeclaw]
Warrior|14 moons|Thunderclan

· · ─────── ·· ─────── · ·

It was a wonderful day for a picnic. Shadeclaw dips his head in greeting and gratefulness to the other cat. He'd been stuck in camp for too long because of the lockdown, and his limbs were tired and itching to go outside for a while. Now, finally, he could run in the open air and look at the flowers, while being aware and careful of predators, of course.

Shadeclaw looks around, finding a good spot to sit, where they can see different colored roses and daffodils and bask in the sun. He sniffs, taking in the different scents.

"Thank you for coming with me." He meows softly.

#2024BadwolfBingo (Picnic)

@Rani /Muddy

[Rani]

Mudhound
Thunderclan Hornet | They/them | 40 Moons
Bilingual T3 | Flock Together T3 | Rapid Recovery | Killer Aptitude T3

The tripod really wanted this lockdown to end soon. It was set for a good reason, the woods were dangerous with the sheer number of predators swarming right now and too many clanmates had been stupid to let things continue. So Bumble-sis had restricted goings to the cats she could trust to not walk into the jaws of a beast (which somehow included her silly thick sibling) and patrols sent out with a purpose and a number of cats who could actually fight back against threats.

But it really wasnt good for the spirits of the clan. Not at all.

To combat this Mudhound had been keeping an eye out for cats who needed a break, and today it was Shadeclaw.
"No problem dude! I kinda wanted to do something out today and its not smart for even me to be out alone right now. So if you wanna nap nap buuuuuuut if you have a special someone or just a loved one you wanna do something special for come join me!

Im gonna try and make flower crowns!"

Now Mudhound technically didnt know the skill themself, only had seen flower crown before when Springlight had made them and god if that made the tripod sad. She was gone now, so in part this was a skill to be learnt in her name now. And a gift to be given to the sad cats (most importantly Redhawk) in the camp to lighten their mood.


"Im gonna pick flowers for them first, got any preferences? I waaaaaaaaant hmmm. Heal-all for Wolfpaw, sunset rose for Redhawk, daisy's for Sprucejumper, wolf's bane for Wolfhive, and bee balm for Bumble-sis! The rest just various flowers for anyone I can snag to stick a flower crown on~

What'd you pick for who?"


@Badwolf

[Badwolf]

[Shadeclaw]
Warrior|14 moons|Thunderclan

· · ─────── ·· ─────── · ·

Hm... Shadeclaw walks into the middle of the field, searching for suitable flowers. It's a flower day! At one point he smells the sweet scent of tulips, lavender, and lilies. And then he also spots a bunch of small, white flowers that looked like they would look perfect on Alpinepaw. "I think I'll use these." He meows, using his teeth to gently snip off one of each. "How do I make these flower wreaths?"

Shadeclaw asks curiously. No matter how much he tried, he couldn't envision how these flowers would all stick together to become a round wreath.

#2024BadwolfBingo (Flower day)

Tags: @Rani /Mudhound

[Rani]

Mudhound
Thunderclan Hornet | They/them | 40 Moons

Bilingual T3 | Flock Together T3 | Rapid Recovery | Killer Aptitude T3

Flopping down beside the collected pile of flowers Mudhound grinned at Shadeclaw and his selection, noting the good choices. They didnt know for who the choices were for, though if he'd voiced Alpinepaws name the tripod wouldve happily asked if she was feeling better after her coyote incident, given how scared they'd been leaving her relatively unhurt but unconscious form in the medicine cats den a week ago.


But for now they explained the flower crown thing, fiddling with their collected blooms and explaining sheepishly that "Well.... Ok so I dont know entirely. Ive seen several flower crowns and inspected them but Ive never made one myself. So this is gonna be a bit trial and error and learning together but I got our start!

From what I can tell its kinda like den construction! Like yanno how we weave sticks and grass and branches together for that? We do that with the flower stems! Make a loop with one and threeeeaaaad the other in and make a loop with its stem and just kinda.... Do that weaving things together and I think it'll work.

Maybe."

Mudhound shrugged, not at all worried about mangling a few flowers in the process as they started to work on their first crown for Sprucejumper, finagling the daisys around tongue bleping out of their mouth in concentration. So far they'd shredded 3 flowers and weaved none but they were getting ever closer to a successful loop.


@Badwolf

[Badwolf]

[Shadeclaw]
Warrior|14 moons|Thunderclan

· · ─────── ·· ─────── · ·

The wreaths are not easy to make, but Shadeclaw is always willing to experiment and learn a new skill. Copying what Mudhound is doing, he carefully threads the stems together. Although Shadeclaw looks blunt, stiff and strong, he's a very sensitive and careful cat. He only breaks one lily stem before he furrows his brows and suceeds on his second attempt.

It's far from a wreath yet, it's only three flowers clumsily woven together into a line, but it's better than nothing. The one he is making right now is going to be for his apprentice Burningpaw. Shadeclaw's finding his rhythm as he continues working, looping the stems together to make them hard to seperate. The wreath isn't completed yet, but it has some semblence of shape to it. He glances over at Mudhound to see how the hornet is faring.

#2024BadwolfBingo (Learn a new skill)

Tags: @Rani /Mudhound

[Rani]

Mudhound
Thunderclan Hornet | They/them | 40 Moons
Bilingual T3 | Flock Together T3 | Rapid Recovery | Killer Aptitude T3

In all honestly Mudhound was doing worse then Shadeclaw despite technically know what they were doing more. They were a giant cat after all, with big paws to match and even beyond that the tripod was just generally clumbsy so there was a growing number of tattered petals on the hornets pelt and just generally around.


Eventually they made it though, completely one (sloppy) flower crown and looping it over their tail before moving on the the next one. It went smoother at least.


"Sooooooo got any apprentices at the moment? Or looking to get one otherwise, youre a young warrior so theres no rush but I know some cats like to just straight into teaching but some wanna enjoy adulthood and maybe date before taking more responsibilities."


@Badwolf

[Badwolf]

[Shadeclaw]
Warrior|14 moons|Thunderclan

· · ─────── ·· ─────── · ·

Shadeclaw smiles shyly. "I was just assigned my first apprentice, their name is Burningpaw. This wreath is for him."

It hadn't been long since they had been assigned to each other so they hadn't yet done any activities, but he was still very much looking forward to teaching his apprentice all he knew. Which may not be much, but well, he would just have to do his best.

Shadeclaw's not normally talkative, but Mudhound's chosen a good topic- Shadeclaw cannot wait to talk about Burningpaw. "I'm going to take him on a tour of the territory tomorrow, if Bumblestar allows it. I hope it's okay." It was lockdown, after all. If not, Shadeclaw supposes they could also do simple chores or battle training within the camp.

"Do you have an apprentice, Mudhound?"

As he speaks, he's already completed his first wreath. Shadeclaw sets it aside. He doesn't comment when he sees Mudhound's more clumsy attempts, only sharing some of his flowers with him- he had many.

Tags: @Rani /Mudhound

[Rani]

Mudhound
Thunderclan Hornet | They/them | 40 Moons
Bilingual T3 | Flock Together T3 | Rapid Recovery | Killer Aptitude T3

Finishing another wreath and moving on to the next (and finding that stem thickness really mattered and that a midpoint between thin/bendy and thick/strong) was best, Mudhound smiled at Shadeclaws enthusiasm. They werent sure if the other clans were like this but thunderclans focus and care for young cats was was really nice.


"Well I can grant you permission to go out as a hornet! We're pretty much done with the predators so as long as you keep your nose in the air just in case feel free and send anyone who tries to get you in trouble for going out to me.


I hope you two enjoy your outing, you sound like your doing great with Burningpaw so far."
Honestly with the lockdown due to be lifted soon (it had to be right? Cats were going crazy and they'd been going crazy ridding the territory of threats) it was best to just get back to normal as soon as possible. As much as border markings were important the clan just existing on the territory kinda warded of threats of encroaching animals, so a lack of those cats out and about was a risk on its own.


That was a thought maxing out Mudhounds mental ability though so they didnt linger on it.
"I currently have one apprentice but Ive had a good few that I dont have anymore hehe. Silverpaw is currently under my care after his leg got crippled, Bumble-sis gives me all the tripod or tripod- adjacent due to me knowing how to help them.


I used to have Wolfpaw and am still kinda training him but he's doing a great job as medicine cat so its on and off. Sprucejumper is a warrior now and is doing great and Im so proud of him! Finally Leafpaw and Sunpaw went missing awhile back and Lotuspaw got taken by a hawk so I couldnt complete their training but loved them a lot.


Guess Ive had a few apprentices in my time then! Wow I didnt even realize."
The time had come and gone by quickly really and ever name still had its special place in Mudhound heart. Even if their failures outnumbered their successes.



@Badwolf

[Badwolf]

[Shadeclaw]
Warrior|14 moons|Thunderclan

· · ─────── ·· ─────── · ·

"That's a lot." Shadeclaw meows, his voice filled with much more respect now. Not that he wasn't respectful before, but now he's realized more of what Mudhound has done for Thunderclan. He was an experienced warrior, old as his father, and this fact really sunk in. So Mudhound was also making wreaths for his apprentices. This fact makes Shadeclaw faintly smile. His expression looks shy, which is an odd look on him, but it suits him at the same time.

"Thank you very much for giving me permission." He meows, hands continuing on his second wreath. This one is made with lavender. "I think I'll take Burningpaw out tomorrow."

He felt comfortable talking with this cat. He made him feel safe and not nervous at all, "I have... a question." Shadeclaw pauses, he hopes this isn't rude. "Why do you call our leader Bumblesis?"

Tags: @Rani Mudhound

[Rani]

Mudhound
Thunderclan Hornet | They/them | 40 Moons
Bilingual T3 | Flock Together T3 | Rapid Recovery | Killer Aptitude T3

It really was a lotta apprentices wasnt it? And only one warrior, maybe they werent much of a mentor to all of them. Mudhounds tail thumped once against the ground, less joy but more of an expression of some overwhelming emotion in them. "Apprentices are important. Plus training is one of the things Im really good at, so I try and help the clan with it especially, specifically with the tripod apprentices who need the extra help." Because there was a shocking amount of them in the clan for some reason.


They were happy to shift topic after that though, nodding at the thanks before cocking their head at the question. "Honestly I keep forgetting everyone doesnt know, I kinda thought they did given how we interact. Bumblestar is my littermate and 'little' sister because shes so tiny hehe! Same age though, shes just the runt if the fiercest.



Its well before your time but I look like our mother Dogspirit a lot, the older cats comment on it a ton. She died to Lionstar when he invaded our camp and while my grandma took me and some siblings away from thunderclan after that Bumble-sis stayed. We reunited over a year ago when I caught wind she was still alive and came home."
It was more complex then that actually but Mudhound didnt wanna go over the full story.


"What about you? Any family in the clan?"


@Badwolf