Post by swallowpaw on Jul 17, 2020 10:18:45 GMT -6
One of the few herbs that stuck out in Swallowpaw's mind was the elusive catmint; from overhearing stories of the dreaded whitecough and greencough, she had realized just how important the herb was. Panic had settled in her stomach the night before at the prospect of not being prepared for them. In her mind, it wasn't an "if" but a "when." Unable to sleep, she had stayed up the wee hours going through their storage, seeing which ones were almost gone. In the end, they were stock full of the required herbs, but Swallowpaw couldn't help but rile herself into a worrying frenzy of "what ifs." Although she curled up back in her nest, sleep still evaded her as her mind conjured up awful possibilities of what could happen if they weren't prepared.
That morning, despite the fact that she somewhat swayed on her paws, she set off to find more catmint, her whole mind zeroed in on not having enough of it. Exhausted though determined, Swallowpaw padded out of the camp, forgoing eating anything in her anxiety to get this job done so she could relax. Truth be told, she wasn't quite sure as to where she was headed. The ground beneath her changed from the rough dirt to the cool marshes, but she wasn't paying enough attention to recognize where she was walking. She could dimly hear the birds chirping to one another and feel the warmth from the sun on her pelt. In her fatigue, however, most everything felt muted and distant, as though she was not wholly on this plane of existence. Every few minutes, she would stop and taste the air, trying to find that sharp smell of catmint. No, not here, was her inevitable thought.
After what seemed to be days of her walking - though in reality it was perhaps about an hour -, the quiet hint of mint made her perk up. She swiveled her head to the east, her eyes dilating in excitement; yes, she had found it! Now energized, Swallowpaw darted towards the smell, stumbling over her paws in her delirium. The smell spiked in the back of her throat, as she scampered towards it. She had ended up at rows and rows of twoleg dens, though her exhausted mind could just focus on one thing at a time. Surrounding the dens were high stone walls and gates and Swallowpaw swayed a bit as she tipped her head back to look up at them.
Swallowpaw was confident that there was a small patch of it behind one of the walls. Taking a deep breath, she crouched down, before leaping. Her claws sought purchase in one of the craggy openings between the stones and she pulled herself up. For a moment, she struggled, almost sliding back to the ground, but she pushed herself up to reach the top. She allowed herself a brief break, as she panted to catch her breath. Ivy grew on the opposite side of the stone barrier, facing the yard and the leaves felt warm and crackly underneath her paws. As she scanned the yard, she looked across all the plants, trying to find the plant she was looking for. Her attention zeroed in on one growing in the back and she let out a triumphant mreow, as she slid her way down the side of the wall. When she reached the ground, she yanked off an ivy leaf and carried it over towards the catmint. Chanterellegaze would be so proud of her when she brought this back!
Purring to herself, Swallowpaw set to work.
That morning, despite the fact that she somewhat swayed on her paws, she set off to find more catmint, her whole mind zeroed in on not having enough of it. Exhausted though determined, Swallowpaw padded out of the camp, forgoing eating anything in her anxiety to get this job done so she could relax. Truth be told, she wasn't quite sure as to where she was headed. The ground beneath her changed from the rough dirt to the cool marshes, but she wasn't paying enough attention to recognize where she was walking. She could dimly hear the birds chirping to one another and feel the warmth from the sun on her pelt. In her fatigue, however, most everything felt muted and distant, as though she was not wholly on this plane of existence. Every few minutes, she would stop and taste the air, trying to find that sharp smell of catmint. No, not here, was her inevitable thought.
After what seemed to be days of her walking - though in reality it was perhaps about an hour -, the quiet hint of mint made her perk up. She swiveled her head to the east, her eyes dilating in excitement; yes, she had found it! Now energized, Swallowpaw darted towards the smell, stumbling over her paws in her delirium. The smell spiked in the back of her throat, as she scampered towards it. She had ended up at rows and rows of twoleg dens, though her exhausted mind could just focus on one thing at a time. Surrounding the dens were high stone walls and gates and Swallowpaw swayed a bit as she tipped her head back to look up at them.
Swallowpaw was confident that there was a small patch of it behind one of the walls. Taking a deep breath, she crouched down, before leaping. Her claws sought purchase in one of the craggy openings between the stones and she pulled herself up. For a moment, she struggled, almost sliding back to the ground, but she pushed herself up to reach the top. She allowed herself a brief break, as she panted to catch her breath. Ivy grew on the opposite side of the stone barrier, facing the yard and the leaves felt warm and crackly underneath her paws. As she scanned the yard, she looked across all the plants, trying to find the plant she was looking for. Her attention zeroed in on one growing in the back and she let out a triumphant mreow, as she slid her way down the side of the wall. When she reached the ground, she yanked off an ivy leaf and carried it over towards the catmint. Chanterellegaze would be so proud of her when she brought this back!
Purring to herself, Swallowpaw set to work.
❝ inari ❞ | local thief has no idea she's thieving
