April Catch-all

[firealone]

Who: Firepaw and all his various friends (including an open prompt!)
What: Quests, training, feelings jams, etc etc etc
Where: All over the place!
When: April
Warnings: References to cat injury/death in the Exhaustion prompt

(This is a fake cut, there's prompts below!)

Comments

Mush to be Done (Firoza)

[firealone]

Firepaw doesn't know Firoza super well, but he does like her. She's been a very comforting presence since they first arrived, and especially helped to soothe the homesickness he felt early on. So he's very excited that she accepted his offer to go mushroom-hunting with him, mostly as an excuse to talk to her more. They've already set off into the woods and wandered around for a while before he speaks up.

"Ribombee mentioned roots, too, but I'm not sure how well I could dig them up..." He means it more in terms of his tiny cat paws, but he also probably doesn't have the energy for it. He's been visibly running on empty for a few weeks now.

[bladeofnymeia]

I could probably do that.

[Her own paws are pretty good for tearing things up - well, dirt, in this case. She's not too concerned about how they'll get to the various edible roots they're searching for.

But she is concerned for that visible exhaustion Firepaw is sporting.]

Have you been well, Firepaw?

[Let's start with a softball question first.]

[firealone]

Um... yeah, I'm fine.

[His fur prickles a bit, the same way it always does when folks ask him if he's okay. Most of the time he's not even sure how to answer it.

But he does feel bad about making everyone worried. He ends up sitting down, grooming a forepaw the same way one would pretend to tie their shoe.]

I think swimming less is helping, but... um... it's just hard to find time to sit down. It feels like something always needs to get done around here, which... I guess is a lot like it was back home. But more.

[At least he isn't feverish from the water on top of all his self-imposed duties, anymore.]

[bladeofnymeia]

Mm, 'tis clear that this is a town perpetually in need.

[She won't argue that point - it takes a village to maintain...a village. Making sure there are enough resources and that the metaphorical trains run on time don't happen out of nowhere.]

Which means it is all the better that the burden can be shared. [Not so subtly telling him "hey, sometimes it's okay to take time for yourself, there's a safety net of people doing things here".] No one person can do everything, or be expected to. Did you not work together with your fellows back home, when the need arose? In certain things, at least.

[firealone]

[He moves his head in a figure-eight, not really nodding yes or no.]

Well.. it was different, back home. We would patrol together, but we hunted alone, and most of my duties as an apprentice I did alone. We took breaks during meals, and to sleep, but we only really came together to celebrate an apprentice's first day, a warrior's last day, or a Gathering with the other Clans during the full moon. Usually... well, some of the older cats at least frowned on going out together for something that only needed one cat to finish.

[He pauses, mulling over his thoughts a bit more.]

It is nice, having someone else to talk to while I'm out gathering. I think I've been having trouble with silence since we got here.

[bladeofnymeia]

Hm, I think I can understand. You don't want to spread yourselves thin when one suffices.

[There's logic in it, too. Let the youngest learn on their own, at their own pace, from both success and failure. Have your core group ready and together in case of larger issues. Reduce the risk of injury if a job requires only one.]

It must be strange to hear others insist in cooperation like this...but there is validity to strength in numbers. Even if it's just for collecting mushrooms, and for talking. Working on problems with silence. [A pause.] If it helps you feel better, many people consider me a stoic at home. I'm more just...I don't always know what to say. Or it comes out wrong. So, I end up quite silent, myself.

[She's really gotten to be chattier in Bottlecap Bay, it's nice. She likes listening to her friends talk for ages, but it's also nice to get to put more than a nod or a side comment into the conversation.]

[firealone]

[He nods, taking her words in thoughtfully.]

I used to have a friend back home who was the same. Ravenpaw - I think I mentioned him to you before. He was always pretty quiet, but when he had something to say it was always very smart. I think he just... didn't have much confidence that anyone wanted to hear what he had to say.

[He misses Ravenpaw, and Graypaw. He has many friends here, and plenty to do, but nothing seems to fill the hole where his two best friends go.]

[bladeofnymeia]

[She gives a small smile.]

He saved his words for times where his wisdom was needed.

[She's not nearly as wise.]

I think it just takes experience, doing things in new ways. But it is important not to focus so hard on that and neglect oneself, too.

[Let's circle back to "you look fuggen exhausted bruh"]

[firealone]

[His ears slide back, and he dips his head apologetically.]

Yeah... I'm still learning the balance. It's... easier to focus on other folk. I have been hunting, which is mostly for me, but that takes energy too.

[And makes him worry, constantly, about how others see him.]

I guess after this I should take a nap, huh.

[bladeofnymeia]

[She smiles warmly.] No, I understand - I'm much the same way. But whenever I begin to push further than my limits, I can feel the concern and care of my friends from home in the back of my mind. Even though they aren't here. I've...given them a few too many very close scares.

[That smile turns very sheepish.]

When we finish up, we can go take a nap together. Would that be alright?

[firealone]

[That's a good way to think of it. He can just imagine Graypaw or Bluestar telling him that he looks like yesterday's freshkill, and to go lay down.

But his ears perk up at her offer.]

That sounds like a deal - maybe we can put a blanket over your quills, just in case.

[He'd cuddle with her anyway, but he can't add a lack of self-preservation onto his list of goofs today.]

[bladeofnymeia]

Oh! Yes, please. That's an excellent idea.

[Firepaw can tell he did a good suggestion because Firoza's face immediately brightens. She hadn't thought of that, but poisoning others on accident is always a Concern on her mind. So this is a big relief!]