#LutumLore

[mourningsbane]

Wait here just a second, Bearface says he's getting prey from the "outside," is he STEALING healthy prey from the other clans?

(I believe this is referring to this post!)

Bearface stretches slowly, settling further into his nest. "Clan cats and their silly ol' laws. 'Sides, I don't want Sweetkit gettin' sick." he drawls, "I've eaten worse, but she shouldn't hafta. I can handle a bit of crowfood."

His eyes flutter shut, and he lets out another loud yawn. "What the others don't know won't hurt 'em."

[mourningsbane]

Sorry for the billion notifications- I got really absorbed in your world building and was just going through and liking a bunch of stuff 😭

I find the story really interesting! Not sure if you’ve already talked about this, but I’m kind of curious about what Honey’s sickness would’ve looked like in the early stages. Could it have been mistaken for something else, or was it irregular in its symptoms?

Also as I was reading I noticed you mentioned a black substance was gathering around the clan borders where Honey’s kits happen to be buried- does this have to do with them awakening? And it is also linked to the black mourningsbane sap?

Thank you kindly! I'm glad you find this story interesting so far! And worry not, I certainly don't mind notifications. I've done it a few times myself with artists I like and whatnot. <3

Honeyspring's ailment was mistaken for several different things before the clan (aside from Tanglefern later on) eventually decided that her sickness was entirely foreign and mysterious.

At first, Tanglefern thought it was regular morning sickness. Honeyspring was an expecting queen, after all. When it didn't clear up, and the injury on Honeyspring's leg began oozing black pus, he assumed that they had an infection, and tried to apply more Clottingroot. When nothing seemed to help, he started thinking that maybe, she somehow contracted Blackcough.

Honeyspring's irregular symptoms sent Tanglefern on quite a spiral, one that only got worse when he further examined the supposed Clottingroot he had in stock.

As for your questions about the kits, yes and yes!

[mourningsbane]

I CANT MAKE IT MYSELF BUT SOMEONE MAKE FANART OF HONEYSPRING W/ THAT WEIRD "I FEEL FANTASTIC" AUDIO OH MY GOOOOOOOODDDDD

Didn't you hear? She feels fantastic!

[mourningsbane]

You mentioned a while ago that Honeyspring was the one who suggested Sweetkit’s name; does that mean the two of them interacted before Honeyspring’s death? I’d assume that Sweetkit was most likely too young to remember. I wonder how Honeyspring felt about her while she was alive…

"Sweet?" Bearface chuckles quietly, squinting at the kit rolling in his nest. "She tried nipping me on the paw today; she barely has teeth and still wouldn't let go."

"That just means she loves you," Honeyspring laughed, the pleasant sound quickly spiraling into a string of wet coughs. Clearing her throat, she continues, softer now, "And isn't that just the sweetest thing?"

Moon ???

[mourningsbane]

Here's a slightly more proper allegiance page for the cats of LutumClan! I don't have references for every character, but this is all the cats LutumClan currently has (that are alive, that is).

[mourningsbane]

I noticed that everyone exept Sweetkit is looking at the viewer. Whats Sweetie lookin at?

-🐤 (can i be chick anon?)

What are you looking at, Sweetkit?

[mourningsbane]

This is sort of silly but when I first started reading the comic I was so inherently freaked by Honeyspring on like a subconscious level that I was hesitant to open my own clangen game- like she'd be haunting it or something. Creepypasta vibes. I've gotten over it since then but I thought it was sort of funny (currently on moon 700 for my own clan tho!)

That's pretty neat! The idea of Honeysping being a low-key ClanGen creepypasta is humorous to me!

That reminds me that I think something's wrong with my ClanGen run. I tried to do a patrol, and my whole game flickered and crashed! Is this a part of the Halloween events?

[mourningsbane]

Oh man... Reading Sweetkit's naming comic strip just makes my mind run to different places. I wonder just how much Honeyspring's spirit remembers Sweetkit when they first interact with her - in fact, I wonder how much of Sweetkit's first meeting with Honeyspring was accidental and how much was Honeyspring *seeking* Sweetie out. Actually, if she thought Sweetkit was so lovely, then wouldn't it be just soooo sweet to have the kits play with her? Come on, Honeyspring, come out while mean Tanglefern and the rest aren't looking! After all, it seems little Palekit has just awakened and wants to play! And do not̴̗̺͑͐͠ ̸͇̱̐̽��f̸̩͇͂͗ơ̷̰r̸̛͙̦̄̋g̴͓͠i̴͎͉̒v̴̗̲̓̌͘ẹ̷̗̄ ̸̫̈́̔̔t̷̻͗h̵͙̆e̴̠̥̎͠m̷̨̲͇̽͘ ̴̗̼̣̉f̶̧̖̾̈́̅o̸̰͑ͅͅr̴̦͓͖̚͝ ̴̬̫̮̄́̈́w̶̼̌̇̈́h̸͚͛à̴̩̥̜͒t̶̯͕̍̓ ̶͚̺̀͌t̴͉̫̱͐̾͝h̸̛͓̅ḛ̷̄y̴̼̭̓ ̶̩̂͂̐d̶͕̠̠̋̽i̵͍̽͘ḓ̷̈̀

Cradle;

Honeyspring stares blankly ahead, into the great expanse of the field beyond, scraping their claws against the dirt, and slowly scrambling free. With great effort, and the noisy cracking of bones, she pushes herself from the dirt.

It does not hurt. Their nerves had frayed a long time ago, stuffed with poison, and their bones were soft as moss, riddled with rot. All that plagues her is the deep, uncomfortable gnaw of emptiness; empty where her kits would be, empty where her heart would be, empty, empty, empty.

For a moment, they look to the sky and see the evening sun, the only star that dared witness them. She does not feel the warmth on her face, or the cool breeze blowing through her fur, only the empty nothing. So, with limp legs, she stumbles into the field, towards the distant tree line, and thinks of home.

[mourningsbane]

I kind of imagine Honeyspring to sound like Bambi's mom when Honeyspring was alive. I always loved her voice because it was so soft and comforting

OP, I cannot thank you enough for bestowing upon me the most perfect voice claim! I never really thought about how pre-death Honeyspring would sound, but this is definitely a top contender <3

[mourningsbane]

If I could, I'd give you my still-beating heart.

Moon 1, Pt. 2.

Beginning. Go back?<< Proceed? >>

[mourningsbane]

Honeyspring darling we would LOVE to hear your secret! A secret for a secret - Starclan can’t h e a r y o u

Honeyspring stares blankly forwards, but smiles wider nonetheless, and mumbles into the dead air.

Pb nlwv kdyh qr idwkhu.

[mourningsbane]

This Willow Tree is quite worried over Palepaw!! He needs a fresh out of the dryer blanket

"He spends much of his time staring at the dirt, but he eats and drinks well enough, so all he needs now is rest," Tanglefern says softly, "I've done all I can, wrapped him up well and tight. He's just in shock, I suppose. Give him time, and I'm sure he'll open up again."

Four moons till █████████.

Beginning. Go back?<< Proceed? >>

[mourningsbane]

Hi LOVE your art and the comic so far! Had some questions about Bearface and Sweetkit if you've got the answers - where and how did Bearface find and/or adopt abandoned Sweetkit? And any Bearface backstory prior to officially joining the Clan (since he seems to have met/known Tanglefern prior to joining)?

Bearface had been hunting for prey when he originally found Sweetkit! He heard loud squeaking from a small burrow hidden under the roots of an old tree stump, and eagerly stuck a paw in, thinking it was a mouse. He grabbed it by its tail and yanked it out, only to realize it wasn't a mouse at all!

Bearface was going to offer the kit to the expecting couple, Honeyspring and Flaildrizzle, but Tanglefern vaguely warned him about Honeyspring's failing health and assumed a kit would be too stressful. So, he kept the kit to raise himself and considers it the best decision he's ever made (even if she's a menace).

[mourningsbane]

I couldn’t find any info on mourningsbane (is it a plant you created for the story?) buutttt I do know that lilies are poisonous to cats, which is just casually growing in the healer’s den… hmmm suspicious. As for why Tanglefern would (theoretically) do this? I have no clue! Bearface and Honeyspring were friends, but that’s about as much as I know! Maybe his biggest mistake was killing Honeyspring too early

Having a blast reading this and throughly enjoying the art with it, I can’t wait to see where this goes!!

Mourningsbane (and its partner, Clottingroot, was created for the story! Mourningsbane itself, though resembling lilies, is not a true lily. It's actually in the Veratrum genus and contains veratridine and 2-Deoxyjervine.

Clottingroot is a flowering plant that heavily mimics Mourningsbane to deter predation. It's called Clottingroot by the clans because its roots are gathered, crushed, and rubbed into moss to encourage blood clotting.

It's an easy mistake to make, isn't it?

[mourningsbane]

So, uhhh, how are you feeling about the prey thing Sweetkit? Looking a little off to you at all??

"I asked if I could go hunting with him soon, but he told me to wait until I was older!" Sweetkit huffed, pouting dramatically. Sweetkit takes a moment to stretch out before excitedly perking back up, "But Miss Molly is showing me how to be very sneaky, so I bet he'll let me go with him in no time. It will be really fun!" She exclaims, taking an eager bite out of her bird.

[mourningsbane]

hey rootstar whags up

Rootstar and her former apprentice, Caterpillarpelt, spend hours gently pulling out familiar silver hairs, smooth as honey, from rabbits and mice in the prey pile. There's no need to scare the rest of the clan with mere coincidences.