[iliri]

• Springpaw •
long-furred, oriental-shaped, gray-and-orange calico molly with blue eyes; torn right ear
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Springpaw could’ve swore that she felt her lips grow sore from the wide, cheeky grin that grew among her maw from Coldamber’s answer. The fact that she will be able to see her temporary starry mentor do more of the shifting thing that she did with the land. It was a very cool experience to see for herself and with the fact that she might even be able to do it with her sounded even more amazing. With a cheeky smile, the calico began to softly prod at the purple stardust below her white paws, trying to make a shape come together with the soft, dreamy ground below, only for it to quickly shift back to the position that it originally was. Bummer. Other than that, with Coldamber’s information about that, she focused herself once more up towards the nebelung and gave her yet another, large, cheeky grin. “Well, I have high hopes that I’ll be able to learn how to do it. It looks cool and I hope that I’ll be just as good as you are. Besides, maybe you’ll be able to teach me, right?” her words were probably corny, but they were true. In her eyes, she hasn’t really seen anyone else do the things that Coldamber did. Hell, she never even truly saw a StarClan cat before, so it was truly a shocking experience for her to learn something as valuable as this.

However, Springpaw’s interest from the other matter wilted as Coldamber began to answer her question about how almost all plants didn’t die during the cold times in the winter. It was undoubtedly strange for plants to survive such conditions, but Coldamber seemed to flawlessly know the answer to such a difficult question. Springpaw was almost tempted to ask how in the world did she know about such things, yet, she held herself back. Coldamber had been alive a long time ago and Springpaw herself was just only a mere young feline. But, nonetheless, it was best if she ignored that and further listened in to what her starry teacher had to say about the plants having an ability to continue growing even if they were beneath the cold snow. Squinting her eyes, Springpaw angled her ears up towards Coldamber’s direction as she began to go into further detail about how plants could grow within the ground. So it was true that plants could die if they didn’t have a roof system, but they’ll only truly die if the weather was extremely harsh in temperature. Geez, Springpaw would absolutely despise being a plant if she were to live as one. She could risk being dead in the winter just from the freezing snow!

However, the more confusing thing about this was that plants and cats were somehow similar in a way, making the young feline raise an inquisitive brow. A bubble of questions rose up in her throat, only to die down when Coldamber began to explain, and thoroughly show Springpaw what she meant by her wording. Springpaw looked down at the little seedling that began to show signs that it was beginning to sprout. Oceanic hues were quickly engulfed with interest as Springpaw watched as the little flower bud began to grow and flourish from the tiny seed, alongside listening to Coldamber’s explanation on the topic. Some of the things that her starry teacher mentioned sounded familiar to how a kitten would grow, and Springpaw could’ve swore that she felt a gasp escape her jaws as the flower began to grow and flourish from the seed, growing up to be a beautiful, velvety red rose. “Woah…” She spoke, bewilderment lacing her voice as she gently touched the petals with a forepaw. It felt just as real as a real, regular rose did. Springpaw had to mentally hold herself back from bounding up due to the immense feeling of childish glee from when she gently stroked the edges of the red petals. Small bits of stardust fell from the flower from Springpaw touching it, but the calico didn’t seem to pay much attention towards it, far invested in the little rose.

Coldamber’s voice broke through her thoughts and the calico looked back up at the molly, listening more to what she had to say. So like a cat, plants curl up into a ball to try to keep themselves warm in the winter. It sounded like a strange, yet cool explanation to give. However, against Coldamber’s explanation, the calico was quick to notice with her keen eyes the exhaustion that laced the starry molly’s eyes. Did she accidentally do too much of that little shifting trick that caused her to grow tired? Oh dear. She could feel the words of concern rising up within her throat, but they didn’t exactly budge out yet as Coldamber continued her explanation, which made the calico far more invested with what she was spewing. Well, at least some plants will still stick around even if their roots were well adjusted to the ground, and since they were lower to the ground, it’ll be easier to make sure that they don’t die due to frostbite or something worse than that. It was rather obvious that all plants were bound to die, but it was still a weird occurrence to the young calico that most plants could even manage to surpass the freezing temperatures of winter itself. It was still a complex thing to truly comprehend, but Springpaw got the most of what her temporary teacher stated.

It was indeed quite difficult to exactly understand all of the information that Coldamber had given to her, but it was also in a way that Springpaw was able to understand it in a consistent manner. It probably didn’t make much sense, but Springpaw took mental note that most of the information that her teacher gave her was in some form of being understandable. However, Springpaw’s ears quickly perked up from the little task that Coldamber gave her, a cheeky grin quickly growing among Springpaw’s lips and gradually making her face grow more sore than ever. That’ll have to be something that she’ll have to remind herself when she wakes up from this dream. “Of course! I’ll keep a close eye on plants and during the leaf-fall, I’ll take note of how they begin to wither unlike the warm weathers of newleaf and green-leaf!” a raspy purr escaped Springpaw’s maw, her wide grin not faltering after she spoke. Maybe she’ll be able to show Coldamber what she found in the future? That’ll sound like an interesting idea! However, Springpaw’s focus quickly shifted towards Coldamber’s next set of words, her wide grin faltering just a little as a swirl of understanding began to emerge into Springpaw’s expression.

An intense, hot rush of emotion rushed through Springpaw as Coldamber told her to keep her curiosity alive. Springpaw had only heard that phrase many moons ago, when she was only merely recently apprenticed. Her old mentor, Rabbitchatter, was always so fond of her curiosity. She had been curious about the simplest of things, either if it were big or small. Springpaw always thought that her ongoing curiosity was a flaw about herself. That all it did was lead herself to asking unnecessary questions and receiving strange looks from other cats. It was a rather common factor that she faced, unfortunately. So from the fact that Coldamber was telling her to keep being curious and asking questions… made a small flicker of ease and bewilderment to swell deep within her chest. “I’ll… keep that in mind, Coldamber. I’ll make sure to keep your words in mind whenever I get the chance to learn something new… Like now, obviously.`` she spoke, her lips curling into a bigger smile than ever as her oceanic hues locked with Coldamber’s starry eyes. Was that too bland? Hopefully it wasn’t. Whichever the case was, Springpaw felt more than glad to have Coldamber’s current advice echo through her brain as they spoke.

Now, with all of that information passed down onto her, Springpaw could’ve sworn that she felt her brain silently ticking away as it tried to comprehend the information her temporary teacher had laid down on her. Sure, learning about what a different herb looked like and what different usage it had was hard enough, but this was definitely something that was making her head spin itself in constant circles. However, during the midsts of her thinking, Coldamber’s voice broke through once again with her thoughts as Springpaw’s eyes shifted up towards the nebelung to listen to her again, cocking her head sideways as Coldamber looked in her direction. A series of shocked blinks followed suit as the molly began to express the fact that she took note of Springpaw’s expression while she explained the usage of borage and that it was required to be eaten. As Coldamber began to explain the usages of honey, Springpaw’s expression began to convert back to its normal state as she continued to listen. Well, at least she knew what honey could be used for now within the medicine den. There was a good bit of it, and Springpaw hadn’t been really sure how in the world it was espoused to be used. She honestly only thought that it was only merely used to help with sore throats, but she supposed that Coldamber’s words would be best for her to properly understand the usage of the sweet nectar. Heck, even the fact that it even helps with picky patients and cats who couldn't properly swallow was a feat that Springpaw would give herself a silent pat on the back for. Although, that wasn’t something that she could properly do, anyways.

However, her eyes were quick to trail towards the growing tree that Coldamber was quick to summon, her mouth growing agape as the tree began to shift and fasten itself together to properly form the shape of a tall tree with leaves that were a vibrant jade-green and came in different variants of shapes. It was merely a majestic sight, and it almost looked indefinitely real as well. However, Coldamber’s fading body wasn’t something that Springpaw hadn’t taken notice of, the apprentice quickly looking in the corporeal feline’s direction as concern grew over Springpaw’s expression. At least Coldamber wasn’t going to leave her just yet, but that was the least of her worries. The fact that she was flickering in and out and leaving occasional starry specks was enough to make her concerned. Just as Springpaw was about to make a comment about it, the former medicine cat beat her to it, letting out a laugh as well. The words that had succumbed in her throat were almost as quick to die as soon as they had arrived. Well, at least Coldamber was alright, and that this was just only a mere difficult process for her to handle. Especially with something as complex as forming a tree within the dreamlands. “Oh… well, you had me worried for a split second. I thought you were going to fade away or become the tree for a moment.” she gave a short smile to show that she was only merely kidding, but it would indeed be weird if Coldamber actually did turn into the tree that she just formed. How in the world would Springpaw even be able to speak to her properly then?

Other than that, the oriental-shaped calico silently watched as Coldamber’s corporeal form slowly began to stabilize itself once more. It was… a rather weird feleing to be watching something as spiritual as that. Did it hurt when she did something like that? Did it feel weird? Whichever it was, Springpaw’s curosity was buzzing over it. “Does… it hurt when your body gets like that? Does it give off a tingling feeling? If it’s a weird question I’m sorry, but I’m curious about it.” Springpaw questioned, looking at Coldamber after her spiritual form was fully stabilized in its place. Did her questions feel weird to ask? Hopefully not. Whichever it was, Springpaw looked back up towards the tree after Coldamber began speaking again, ears angling themselves in the direction of the starry feline. So bees create honey and store them in… hives? Well, one thing she knew for certain is that whenever anybody gets stung by a bee, they hurt. A lot. Sometimes it even causes that whole spot to become infected if it’s severe enough. The thought only made an unsettling shiver run up Springpaw’s spine, but she continued to listen to Coldamber anyways, trying to mentally distract herself from the burdening thought of being stung by a raging swarm of bees.

The calico intently listened to the faint sound of buzzing coming from above the tree, angling her ears up towards the hive as her oceanic blue eyes stared right up at the little insects working themselves away. Coldamber can even make living animals too with her ability? That’s something that Springpaw will have to ask her about later. Other than that, she continued to listen to what Coldamber stated, looking back at her as her temporary teacher continued to speak. So a buzzing hive was something that she was going to have to take note of in case she and anyone else were going to go out and gather some honeycombs, and she’ll make sure to bring someone along with her so that the job will be much easier. She wouldn’t really be in the mood to get stung by a bunch of raging bees. Well, that second thought was quick to pass by when Coldamber mentioned something about rolling her body in thick, clay-like mud and that it’ll keep her from getting stung. That’ll be another thing for her to keep in mind, then. Springpaw felt herself almost mentally cringing at the fact that she’ll have to climb up a tree and hit the hive with a stick. Won’t that just irritate the bees even more? Well, obviously it will be, she would be destroying their own home that they took their own time and effort with building restlessly. Oh well, that’ll be something that she’ll have to figure out for herself in the future when she has to eventually collect some honey.

Her eyes were quick to notice how the hive was quick to begin shaking, falling down right onto the starry ground with a splat and oozing of dark, golden honey. It glimmered like how water in a flowing stream would when the moon hit directly on its surface. It was pretty, but it also looked very, very sticky. When Coldamber plucked the hexagonal shape of the comb from out of the broken hive and laid it in front of her paws, Springpaw leaned down close enough so she could further inspect the honey. It didn’t carry any sort of smell on it, which was strange. Springpaw was almost expecting it to have some sort of scent so that she could at least have some kind of notice of what it smelt like. Frowning in her disappointment, Springpaw leaned back up and sat herself down on her haunches, glancing back towards Coldamber as she continued to speak. Run into a body of water and wait for the bees to go away? Well, that sounded much easier said than done. Springpaw would be certain that she would probably receive some stings from a few angry bees if she were to ever try that. It didn’t sound very fun. Coldamber’s other option was already a definite no. Springpaw would definitely never want to just ‘go about her day’ while being chased by a swarm of raging bees. Who would want to risk that?

Well, other than the current information that Springpaw received, she felt a bit relieved that Coldamber was willing to give all this information to her even if it were tiring to do so. It surely seemed like it was, but… Springpaw still had some other questions. “Coldamber… what type of illnesses should I keep an eye out for? Like, I know that greencough is one of them. But what about other ones? Are there ones more dangerous than greencough?” Springpaw wanted to be prepared for the worst scenario if anything were to happen. If greencough were to spread all around camp, then Springpaw wanted to be prepared to know what she should do in case anything as bad as that were to happen to her clan.

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@Abyssopelagic