I had meant to spend more time on this but with how much time I spent on the snow leopard this is what I got within the timeline.
The prompt can be seen here @cabalen/forest-folk-worldbuilding-challenge-prompt-4-writing-maps-and-symbols
The core of making maps, writing, and making symbols is being able to create a mark so I that's what I thought about when doodling.
i started with the upper bird who blinged out with a monocole and is painting with a brush. The brush is made from a stick and hair shed by a squirrel. Or maybe from their fur brush. (Sable is squirrel hair and is amazing for painting.)
The second drawn was the crow holding the pencil with some squiggles that eventually built up to something. What only they know. I had the crow holding a pencil because crows use tools and are very clever, however I think it'd be tricky for them to to write standard letters. The
The third one was a chipmunk(I know it's not super clear that's what it is) doing paw painting. The paint for both artists would be made from a mix of natural stuff like berries, flowers and even roots.
The last idea I had for a creature specific way of making symbols is a wood pecker marks in a tree to communicate things in a way that mimics braille or how old telegrams worked. With different patterns meaning different things.
The last thing is the rock which is covered in pain making a map. I'm picturing it in a central area so the creatures living the area can read the map which would note things like good places to find berries or dig for roots, or where a good spot to gather water is. That kinda thing.
