Meet the Merchant(Open)

[Asha]

The cool nights air swirled lavishly around the walls of the canyon bring with it the scent of heat and. Trees seemed to sway in and out of view as the moon yawned wide and full over head. The soothing song of crickets seemed to play a sonata for the creatures that dared to stalk its floor.

One such creature of onyx blackness and snowy light with the gaze of an emerald tiger stalked along heading back for his home. He held a mouth full of herbs for his collection he had visited some twoleg gardens this night, and acquired quite a few new herbs for his collection so currently he was feeling rather good about himself. The only thing that seemed to be able to give the black ghost away was the glowing vial of liquid held close to throat on a black leather thong. It seemed the black ghost was rather used to the glow as it did not effect his ability to see in the dark and never truly had.

Snow tipped toes dipped deeply into a stream as he began his trek up over the shallow banks. Nothing seemed as if it could stop this large black ghost.

[Feather]

Another cough wracked its way through the frail body of MistClan's medicine cat. She lay there for a few moments after her fit breathing deeply through her nose. It was getting worse, harder to hide from her clanmates. What would they think? What would they think when they learned that their medicine cat is ill, and has been ill since kithood? Would they send her to the elders den despite her young age? Or would they let her continue on with her life as it was but forever look at her differently. There was no true way to know but one thing was for sure, no one would treat her the same again.

Fernheart shuddered at the thought. She despised being treated like a kit, some frail thing that couldn't stand up on its own. When she had been sick as a kit it had been torture enough. No other kit would play with her in fear that they would hurt her or provoke her illness. Fernheart had been so relieved when the sickness had passed, slowly she was treated like normal, like she wasn't sick. This was one of the reasons that Fernheart worked so hard to hide her sickness for all these moons. To be treated like she was inadequate and frail would drive her to StarClan.

Fernheart stood, shaking out her frail bones and aching joints. Tonight was a good night to go. Fernheart was feeling better than she had in several sun-rises and felt that she could finally make the journey. She had heard about this...herb dealer of sorts. A cat who collected herbs that she had no access to because of clan borders or them being simply too far away. Surely he would have something that would help her. The cat must have something strong enough to hide her illness from the clan. She knew that a cure was hopeless and didn't let her self even ponder the fact. Instead she hoped for painkillers or something to lessen the symptoms she suffered daily.

Fernheart looked warily out of her den. She realized that sneaking out of camp wasn't the best idea, being the sole medicine cat of MistClan she was missed the moment she was gone and so the clan would look for her if she was gone too long.

She stepped out of her den and the moonlight washed over her ginger fur. She quickly went up to the warrior on guard and vaguely explained to him that she would be gone for a while and for the clan not to worry. She hopped that she could find this tom-cat quickly and be home in time for sun-high.

Fernheart nearly ran out of camp before the warrior could ask more questions. No one could learn of her sickness, not after hiding it so well all these moons.

She made good time, quickly walking towards the rouge canyons that the cat was said to be. Fernheart wasn't sure what she'd do if he wasn't there... she didn't know if she could hide her illness much longer without stronger herbs. It scared her to admit it but she feared that her illness was getting worse. Someone would find out one day and she hoped that she would be much older by then.

Fernheart stood before the canyons and stared into the darkness. The moonlight was washing down giving some light to the area but it wasn't enough to encourage her. It was another coughing fit and a few sneezes that finally convinced her that this was the right thing to do.

She padded out onto the rock and began to wander aimlessly, hoping to stumble across the cat she had only ever heard rumors about.

[Asha]

The onyx colored tom stopped and looked to a small tree at his right side, his emerald optics curious as he kept hearing the rustling of other paws in the under brush, though these mit falls seemed much more frantic than his own. Someone else was out in the valley this night, but who could it be at this hour perhaps only an investigation would reveal the owner of the sounds. As the onyx behemoth stood there he got the idea of using a tree as a perch to find the owner of the frantic foot falls. As the idea struck him he made his was up the side of the nearest tree his claws digging deep into soft bark of the young tree. His emerald optic s trained on one of the lower branches as he climbed, the thick muscles under his coat extending and contracting as he climbed. When he reached the branch he chose his body stretched his front claws digging deep into bark as he made his way out to the end of the branch. His claws kept him from tumbling off the branch but his rather well adapted balance kept him from falling as he sat on the end of the branch. As he looked away from the branch and down to the ground he spotted another feline. So she was who was making such a racket in his beautiful home. What was a visitor doing in his area at this time of night, and a she-cat at that. The thoughts racing through his head put a grin on his sleek and charming face, perhaps he could kidnap her for his little market, but first he wanted to find out why she was there and what she needed.

As the smile crept along his face it turned from evil and sadistic to sweet and alluring, as he turned around with the great grace of most felines and made his way down the tree once more. As the gentle light of the moon washed over the she-cats ginger colored fur, the alluring smile spread wider. Such a lovely pelt she wore perhaps things would turn out well for the tom-cat this night. His large mits silently pulled him into view out of the bushes, his large onyx form casting a gentle shadow over where the she-cat would catch it as he began speaking. "Hello doll, what can I get for you this beautiful night miss?" The onyx leviathan asked stopping a few feet from the ginger colored she-cat, his emerald eyes wandered over the she-cats form. He gathered from just looking at the thin unwell frame of the ginger she-cat, she was sick and needed his herbs. But what price was she willing to pay for his help? He would find out what exactly it was she needed then ask that question. Perhaps she was hiding something grave she needed his special herbs with. He would soon find out. "What have you come here for she-cat? I have many things that will help with what it is that ails you missy." The onyx leviathans words were coated with a deep slime of toxins that hinted there would be a great price for greater cures. The snowy mask that rested over his face hinted that he could not be trusted, at least until a deal had been struck.

[Feather]

Fernheart barely had time to brace herself before another cat appeared before her. She tensed, waiting to see if the cat would attack. It was when the tom made no sudden movements that she allowed her self to relax-only slightly of course-and take in the appearance of the tom. He was well muscled, and his fur sleek. There was a look to him that shouted rouge to Fernheart and she knew that this was the tom she was looking for. Her suspicions were confirmed when the tom spoke to her in a eerily silky voice.

"Hello doll, what can I get for you this beautiful night miss?" Her eyes narrowed quickly at the term of endearment. She was about to open her jaw to speak but he beat her to it.

"What have you come here for she-cat? I have many things that will help with what it is that ails you missy."

Fernheart watched as his eyes carefully observed her. There was an obvious air of intelligence coming from him and she knew to be weary of what he said-anything could have a double meaning coming from a cat smart enough to think his words through.

Fernheart twitched her tail, careful to stand tall and appear stronger than she was. She knew that if he sold the things he wa rumored to sell that she wouldn't be able to fool him into thinking that she wasn't sick.

"I'm looking for..." Fernheart paused. What was she looking for? A cure-that was impossible. She wanted help, but she knew that this would come at a price.

Fernheart cleared her throat and started again. "I'm looking for herbs..." She began vaguely. "Strong ones." She let her forest-green eyes fall into his emerald green ones. She opened her jaw to speak again but her body had other ideas. She let out a wretched cough that left her breathless for a second. Then another came and soon enough she was nearly having a fit.

Once it was over the ginger she-cat shook her head and prayed to StarClan that she didn't have another fit while in his intimidating presence.