The Beauty of this Season

[☼ Sunstorm]

[atrb=border,0,true][cs=7][bg=EE76EB] 'Yeah, cliff diving never is when it's unintentional.' He chuckled, and suddenly something within me gave way. It was unusual for me to be reserved, and I hadn't really known myself to be that way today until that strange barrier broke down. I hoped that Dagonet was prepared for words, because I was about to give him some, and quite an amount, too. I responded to his chuckle with one of my own, a smile creeping its way onto my face as I drew in a deep breath to sigh. "No, I'm sure it's not. Ever tried it when it was intentional? Must be something of a rush, though I'd never had enough courage to do it myself." I noticed that he had glanced away, his eyes looking intently to the undergrowth beside of us. I glanced absently there as well, though I didn't care much for it. It was when I spoke again that he was distracted from his surveillance. 'Whatever our cause is, eh?' He smirked, an ear of his twitching as he returned those watchful eyes to me. My response mimicked his expression, my mouth now curling into a wry and slightly rueful smirk, for I wasn't certain of our cause. "Yeah, whatever it is. It's unfortunate, but I'm not entirely sure of what our purpose is. Perhaps it is a little foolish of me, I'll admit." I curled my tail tighter to my hind legs as I sat there, talking just to be...well, talking. Maybe I just liked hearing my own voice, and I didn't see a problem with that. "But it is important, regardless of that. I do not enjoy being uncertain." That was when I asked him why he personally was here. I was the Medic, he knew that already, and now it was my turn to know what he was. 'My part in this grand scheme is to kill people. That's all that particularly matters at the moment. I'm a soldier if you simply must attach a word to me.' He smiled a bit mockingly, and this time I didn't quite match his expression this go-round. I knew that I shouldn't be quite so shocked; after all, I just had to think back to meeting Dragunov to realize the violence that obviously occurred. It wasn't that I had not thought about it, nor that I had not accepted the fact of it. It was more of I was not yet used to being exposed to the fact that killing would happen in such abudant amounts. I was positive that I wasn't the most violent creature out there; never had I killed, so I knew not what it was like. That fact, though, did not make me any less devoted to this cause. Again, whatever it may be. "A soldier, eh?" My browline quirked again, in more of a flirtatious way this time, and that was due to the fact that I was simply a flirty creature. "Nice. I'd suppose that that's the norm for here, since we seem to be a military based pack..." I had at least gotten thatimpression. "Maybe I'm just the odd-ball around here, being one of the few who isn't a fighter." It wasn't that I was passive, because I had gotten into more than a few brawls with certain females, but it was true that I had turned my interests into a more passive field of work. "You weren't on your way to somewhere important, were you?" I didn't sound sorry in the least for holding him up, and this amused me a little, though there was no wry smirk on my face to show it. "I'd assume you just might be busy, doing whatever it was Dragunov wished you to do. Normally I'd be busy myself, but..." I glanced upward. "It appears that this day has distracted me." ooc:// Hopefully I've been successful in getting her to talk his ears off....Heehee. x3

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[Thirteenth]

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[atrb=background,http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x30/Silehnce/Valley%20Howls/stormbackground-1.jpg] A soldier, eh? Nice. I'd suppose that that's the norm for here, since we seem to be a military based pack...Maybe I'm just the odd-ball around here, being one of the few who isn't a fighter. I didn’t really have any time to comment before she switched subjects, jabbering a mile a minute, trying her damnedest to talk until my ears overheated with the effort of keeping up and melted off, You weren't on your way to somewhere important, were you? I'd assume you just might be busy, doing whatever it was Dragunov wished you to do. Normally I'd be busy myself, but...It appears that this day has distracted me I recognized an opportunity to get away from this talkative female, who quite obviously was not the slightest bit remorseful about having halted my progression, but bit my tongue before coming up with any sort of obscure reason to excuse myself. If she was the chief medical officer, I needed to familiarize myself with her; and it wouldn’t hurt to be on good terms. After all, she would be the one tasked with caring for my soldiers in the future. “No, just familiarizing myself with the lay of the land,” I shook my head with the answer before going on, “and looking to meet a few of the other members. Dragunov has not yet seen fit to task me with anything specific.” I rose to my feet, drawing easily to my full height and shaking myself powerfully. Dust and small specks of debris dislodged from my pelt, puffing into the air before beginning to settle to the ground. A short yawn parted my jaws and I shook my head lightly before glancing towards Jocassee, “So where’s the nearest stream anyway,” I asked, deciding that if I was going to be social I might as well do something while at it; and there wasn’t much better to do aside from searching out a body of water to clean the mark on my chest. At least going about it this way prevented me from having to go out of my way to search for one alone.

[☼ Sunstorm]

[atrb=border,0,true][cs=7][bg=EE76EB] 'No, just familiarizing myself with the lay of the land.' That sounded pretty much like what I'd been doing myself. I was looking for the best places for herbs, and where the rare ones grew, if there were any. So far I liked the Pool of Wisdom the best, the place I had already met Masquerade, and that may be because there was a great source of water there. I wondered if the plants in the area benefited from the pool, or if the water that soaked into the ground underneath it had nothing to do with it. 'And looking to meet a few of the other members. Dragunov has not yet seen fit to task me with anything specific.' I nodded, my next words directed at the first part. "Yeah, I've been doing pretty much the same thing. So far I've met Drago--obviously--Aice, Masquerade, and now you." Aice had been with Dragunov on that beach when I'd come to ask for a position. We'd regarded one another, though that had been it when it came to our meeting. "Oh, wait. And the guy that did this mark." I used my nose to indicate to the triskel on my chest, the very same one Dagonet wore. "But I don't think I caught his name. So that makes five." I shrugged my silver shoulders. As I'd been talking, Dagonet had lifted himself up to his full height--which was a mighty high one, if I may say--and shook his pelt, getting rid of whatever durt particles that had accumulated there. I wondered if he intended on going about his way, to continue his surveying of the land. I lifted my haunches as well, and his next words reassured me that he was leaving, but not alone. 'So where's the nearest stream anyway.' My ears twitched a little as I thought it over, trying to recall where I had been before I'd come here. "Over yonder, I think." I used my muzzle again to indicate the direction, my dialect working its way into my words. I didn't think much of it, though when I met other with, say, a Russian background, it made me recall how funny I might sound myself. "Yesterday I found a wonderful patch of a favorite herb of mine. I didn't think it'd grow here; maybe I can find it again and pick some of it up." The Red Buckeye had various uses, from helping swelling, sprains, or infected wounds along with aiding in childbirth. I was unsure if there were any females currently pregnant, though it was handy to have the nuts and bark of the tree just in case. "Want me to show you? I think I can remember the way." I'd been in this area the past few days, just vaguely wandering about and making a note of distinctive landmarks. If this was going to be my home, then I may as well as get to know it. I wouldn't want to be lost in a time of crisis.

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[Thirteenth]

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[atrb=background,http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x30/Silehnce/Valley%20Howls/stormbackground-1.jpg] Yeah, I've been doing pretty much the same thing. So far I've met Drago--obviously--Aice, Masquerade, and now you. Oh, wait. And the guy that did this mark. But I don't think I caught his name. So that makes five. “You mean the sour old blacksmith?,” I chuckled as I remembered my first encounter with the cantankerous old bastard I believed she was referring to, “That’d be Bukowski.” My first meeting with the old wolf hadn’t been to have the mark inscribed on my chest; Dragunov had done the honors himself. Rather, I had met him the previous night while relaxing near the outskirts. He was a character, in his own way; and a wolf of strange talents. One of the rare few that roused a rare sort of curiosity in me. Bukowski also knew how to brew a certain concoction from the over ripened fruits that could be found in the forest. It was a bitter drink at times, often downright awful; but the results were pleasing enough. The chance to lie back with a pleasant buzz and talk with an old soldier was a pleasant change of pace and a nostalgic event. Once on my feet I asked her to direct me to the nearest stream and stood, shifting easily, while she nodded towards it, Over yonder, I think. Yesterday I found a wonderful patch of a favorite herb of mine. I didn't think it'd grow here; maybe I can find it again and pick some of it up. Want me to show you? I think I can remember the way. I nodded once when she finished speaking, “It would save a lot of time,” I gave her an amiable smile, “I'll help you gather anything you need while we're there.” As I spoke I began to amble in the direction that she had indicated earlier, waiting for her to join me before picking up the pace. If nothing else, it was something to do; and to be honest, I didn’t have shit else to do with myself that day. At any rate, it would speed up the process of learning the territory, and I couldn‘t do much with my position until I knew the land as well as the back of my paw.

[☼ Sunstorm]

[atrb=border,0,true][cs=7][bg=EE76EB] 'You mean the sour old blacksmith?' "Ah, yeah, that guy!" I kind of exclaimed this as I remembered his title. Yes, he had been very sour indeed, but his work was fantastic, I must admit that much. I'd never known a wolf to work with fire like he did, and I'd never seen a mark as intricate as the one every Order wolf wore. But hey, there was a first for everything, yes? 'That’d be Bukowski.' "Bukowski," I repeated, committing the name to memory. I had a good memory anyway, but I just wanted to be sure it didn't slip away. "I'll have to remember that. I'm pretty good at remembering names and faces anyway; I have to be, eh?" That didn't quite need an answer, being a rhetorical question and all. I was getting into a better mood by the moment; chatting did that to me, in general. When I indicated the direction of the stream and offered to show him the way, I was pleased that he took me up on the offer. He gave me a nod as well as a smile, letting me know that my mission to steer him in a more sociable direction--even if only for a day--was working. My pleased attitude about this showed very clearly on my face, the emotion centering in my eyes. 'It would save a lot of time. I'll help you gather anything you need while we're there.' Oh, good! Another mouth to carry things would be absolutly wonderful, and my expression perked up that much more with these words. "Oh, if you wouldn't mind, that'd be wonderful!" He had started to walk in the direction I'd indicated, and I moved my silver legs so that I was walking by his side, altering with my pace to match his. I didn't have the longest legs, so I couldn't walk with a very long stride, but I generally moved at a fast pace anyway. He was much larger than I was, so he'd probably have a longer stride, but I'd do my very best to keep up. Not that we were in any hurry. "It was my father who showed me the uses of the plant; he is far more knowledgable in Cherokee medicines than I am, but that's because he actually lived in a tribe. But I just use the bark as well as the nuts of the tree for wounds and such." I enjoyed this, the whole 'talking about nothing in particular' thing. I hadn't done it in quite a while, and only now did I realize how much I actually missed it. I drew in a deep breath, basking in the feeling. I was hoping that I was leading him in the right direction; of course I had a good sense of direction anyway, but there was always that nagging fear of embarrassment. I was confident in myself, but no one could completely vanquish that doubt. "Once I get myself situated with a better den and I find proper tools and all that, I'll be able to transport herbs to and from places easily. It's just a matter of getting my bearings on this new place." I meant ideal tools as sharp rocks, broad leaves--I need a palm tree for that--and things like that as far as tools went. If I had a palm leaf, I could just carry herbs in that. It would just take time for me to get settled in, and once I did that, things would be just perfect. ooc:// I kind of feel like I was rambling in this post. Not sure if that's because of my mood or because of Josie's developing personality. Hm. Hope the rambling is just something I see. xD

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[Thirteenth]

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[atrb=background,http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x30/Silehnce/Valley%20Howls/stormbackground-1.jpg] I twisted my ear towards the sound of her voice as we walked, listening to what she had to say. The conversation was mostly one sided as I had never been one to talk without reason; and since I knew absolutely nothing about Cherokee anything, I had no reason to speak. Jocassee did not seem to mind my lack of input, though, and the words kept flowing as she trotted along beside me, leading the way to the stream. Once I get myself situated with a better den and I find proper tools and all that, I'll be able to transport herbs to and from places easily. It's just a matter of getting my bearings on this new place. I nodded slowly as we progressed through the forest, thinking over what I had learned about the territory so far, “There are a lot of soapstone scattered around the cliffs in the outskirts. It wouldn’t be difficult to carve shallow bowls out of some of the slabs, if you need a good method of storage. If you don't have one already, at any rate,” I knew that this was how many of the healers in the army had kept their materials; in fact I’d gotten myself into a spot of trouble as a youngster and had the pleasure of toiling to help carve them out in sweltering heat under the supervision of one of the sourest old crones I’d ever encountered in my life. The work itself had been bearable (at least compared to some of the punishments my rebellious antics had earned me), but when it was over and done with I had always gone out of my way to avoid the cantankerous bitch. “And you might be able to convince Bukowski to give you a basket or two for a few loads of fermenting fruits,” I went on to advise her. With winter fast approaching, the cranky old blacksmith would likely be thrilled to build a stock of ingredients for the wickedly strong concoction he brewed so skillfully. That’s exactly what I would have been doing, if I had the equipment necessary to make it myself. With both war and winter coming, it would have made for a valuable asset in my book. Nothing lifted spirits better than a pint at the end of a miserably cold and bloody day. The vile tasting substance had gotten me through many a campaign. ooc: Wow, he strung together more than two sentances. I's so proud of him XDDD

[☼ Sunstorm]

[atrb=border,0,true][cs=7][bg=EE76EB] 'There are a lot of soapstone scattered around the cliffs in the outskirts. It wouldn’t be difficult to carve shallow bowls out of some of the slabs, if you need a good method of storage. If you don't have one already, at any rate.' I hadn't expected this sort of response out of him; it wasn't the quality of it that so much startled me. It was more of the quantity of it. Ah, I knew there was something sociable deep down in there! I was bringing it out, even if it had taken this long to do it. My mottled tail twitched in delight as I realized this. "Ah, soapstone!" I said, my eyes bright with this new knowledge as well as the previous realization. "That's quite lovely tool, and even more lovely to know! With our ranks growing, I'm going to need these resources." I hadn't personally met many others, but I'd scented their track across various parts of the territories. There were many here. Before I slipped into a brief period of thinking, I added in a quick, and grateful, "Thank you." I wondered how exactly I'd shape the mottled rock to my will. I'd done it before, though I'd had help of another. In just a moment, Dagonet would suggest something so very helpful, though we had yet to get there. I was thinking of my availibility of resources before my thoughts slowly shifted toward something else. I was finding new herbs and things to carry the herbs, but what about wolves to actually apply the medicines? It was only me at the moment. I hoped that new Medics would come in before the war started, or someone just willing to learn the ways of a Healer. I'm self-absorbed and cocky, but I'm not stupid. I can't do this entire operation alone. 'And you might be able to convince Bukowski to give you a basket or two for a few loads of fermenting fruits.' It took me a moment to realize what he was talking about. I wasn't too experienced when it came to the products of the fermenting fruits, though I had been vaguely exposed to it. I'd even tried a bit of it once, and found how wild it made me feel. I never knew how the rum was made, however, but I could use logic to think of an answer. For one thing, I hadn't been immune to the scent Bukowski carried, and I'd managed to connect the dots in this moment. "Fermenting fruits? You mean that's the thing that makes that strange brew?" That may make you do funny things...Perhaps it hadn't been the best thing for me to get into that stuff, though it had added to my wild reputation while in my birth pack. I'd calmed down since then, though every now and then I had a wild streak. I just hadn't revealed it yet. "I had no idea he had such wide talents. Of course, any wolf who can brand a mark such as this one must be talented. Hm." When I saw the old, grizzled wolf again, I'd have to look at him with a new light. "I'll remember that. A basket would be quite handy, and I'm sure I could find something around here, as far as the fruits go." I gave a cursory glance around the thick forest, as if I'd magically find something instantly. No, it would take some time, but I was sure of my capabilities, and after a little while I would. Just not today. Oh, and back to the task at hand. "Oh, and by the way, what we're looking for is a small tree. It's nicely leaved and it has these red flower kind of things on it, though they don't quite look like your typical flower. The seeds are poisonous--which, by the way, might be of some interest to you--but the nuts and bark are what I need." I wasn't quite sure if the seeds were deadly, because I'd never used them before. I'd never killed. I did know of other berries, though, that were deadly, and that were painful. I only know because Attakulla had told me to avoid them, but I'd kept the memory in my mind just in case they could be useful. And I knew that they could be useful to the Order, for whatever reason they would need. I'd pledged my loyalty to the cause, and I was eager to show it. After all, not much else was going on. And telling Dagonet these little things was my way of showing that I was eager to do something, as well as forming a bond that may be useful in the future. Knowing your comrades was essential.

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[Thirteenth]

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[atrb=background,http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x30/Silehnce/Valley%20Howls/stormbackground-1.jpg] Jocassee sounded pleased to hear about the soapstones, even more so when I mentioned the baskets. I was far from the medical expert that she was, but I did know enough to have a basic concept of what sort of tools she would need to make her job easier. Seeing as she would be in charge of keeping my soldiers fit and healthy in the future, it was in my best interests to help ensure she had what she needed. I didn’t really have anything else to do right at the moment anyway. “Just be prompt about it when you approach him,” I warned as he made our way through the trees along a narrow game trail, “I’m quiet natured, Bukowski, on the other hand, is anti-social. So you’ll want to get to the point and keep it brief,” I didn’t tell her where to find him. Bukowski had made it clear that I wasn’t to tell anyone else the location of his forge. Aside from the fact that he was a hermit and liked to keep to himself, there was an unbelievable assortment of tools and weaponry hidden in his homestead. Items that some of The Order’s enemies would very likely have killed for. I had traveled a good sized chunk of the world, and seen all kinds of strange things; but even so, I was amazed by the extent of the grizzled old blacksmith’s work; and I understood perfectly why Bukowski didn’t want anyone around but those sent by the head honchos. Oh, and by the way, what we're looking for is a small tree. It's nicely leaved and it has these red flower kind of things on it, though they don't quite look like your typical flower. The seeds are poisonous--which, by the way, might be of some interest to you--but the nuts and bark are what I need, Jocassee interrupted my train of thought to describe the plant she was looking for. The description was an unfamiliar one; but that did not surprise me considering that she specialized in Cherokee medicines, which I knew nothing about having lived most of my life moving between central Europe and the Middle East. “I’ll keep that in mind,” I nodded, pinning my ears forward as I became aware of the sound of flowing water somewhere ahead. I did take some interest in the fact that the seeds were poisonous, though such backhanded methods were not generally my style; but I did recognized that the concept of honor only went so far. Honor was a shifting term that varied from one individual to the next; and chivalry was a black-humored joke. No one with half an ounce of intelligence could witness the horrors of war and still believe that those silly words had any place among the bloodshed and hatred. They were terms that simply perpetuated naïve, stupid idealisms, like the idea that it was just and fitting to die for one’s homeland, or that war enabled the gods to ultimately divine who was right. War had nothing to do with deciding who was right; only who was left, and therefore the ends would always justify the means.

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[☼ Sunstorm]

[atrb=border,0,true][cs=7][bg=EE76EB] 'Just be prompt about it when you approach him.' "Oh?" My dark ears twitched at this as I wondered what his warning implied. 'I’m quiet natured, Bukowski, on the other hand, is anti-social. So you’ll want to get to the point and keep it brief.' Hm. His words only made since; we hadn't talked that much when I'd visited to get this mark seared on my skin. It had been a very brief greeting; whether or not we'd exchanged names, I wasn't sure. And then I'd been coping with the pain and treatment of my wound after that, effectively ending any furhter social interaction. Hm. I suppose I'd have to alter myself into a woman of a few words for the visit, though it would be a bit difficult to shy away from my chatty nature. "Thank you for telling me. I'll make sure to keep that in mind." And I meant that, because I wanted to be on good terms with most of the members here. I'd yet to find a creature I did not like, which was a good sign, even if my inner-bitch was displeased. I knew instintively, though, that Bukowski was one you wanted on your good side. I couldn't quite detect the reason, but I knew it for sure. Then I described the small tree to him, all the while keeping my eyes peeled for it. No, nothing in sight as of yet. But this area seemed familiar to me on a subconscious level, so I went with my gut feeling and continued on in this direction. Sure enough, I could hear the bubbling of water ahead. 'I’ll keep that in mind.' He said this while nodding, and then added nothing more. Ah, such a quiet one. Regardless, I was enjoying having a companion to talk to, even if he was relatively quiet. "Okie-dokie, then. Oh, look, speak of the devil!" My tail lifted; only in excitement, not dominance; and I sped forward to the tree, touching my nose to the bark. Inhaling, I cherished the scent that reminded me so much of home. It was a wonder that it even grew here. "This is it. This baby right here helps various sorts of injury. From minor sprains to infections, and even aid in childbirth." I glanced briefly up at him. "Do you know of any due females due around here?" He was just as new as I was, but maybe he'd had the chance of finding things out. I'd been limited in exposure to birthing she-wolves, so I was anxious about any such occurrence, but I also knew that nature had a wonderful way of taking care of itself. This meant I wasn't necassary in the process, though I could make things easier if I had the know-how.

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[Thirteenth]

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[atrb=background,http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x30/Silehnce/Valley%20Howls/stormbackground-1.jpg] Okie-dokie, then. Oh, look, speak of the devil, I glanced towards Jocassee just in time to see her lift her tail and take off through the forest. She came to a halt just short of a tree that looked very similar to the one she had recently described, pressing her nose to the bark and seeming to inhale the scent happily before speaking again, This is it. This baby right here helps various sorts of injury. From minor sprains to infections, and even aid in childbirth. Do you know of any due females due around here? By then I had drawn towards her again, and was looking up at the tree, imprinting into my mind both the image of the plant and the uses that she named off. Healers were not always available, so any soldier with half a brain kept in mind anything they learned about the art. “I’ve heard Dragunov’s woman is about ready to spawn,” I answered, perhaps a bit crudely, especially when considering I was referring to our Field Marshal; but I didn’t make a habit out of honey coating my speech. If Dragunov had been standing there with us I wouldn’t have rephrased the thought; hell, I’d referred to my older brother’s female the same way before each of her several litters. I didn’t mean anything by it; and words were such stupid things to be offended over. “So what’s it called?” I asked, nodding my head towards the tree as I stood back, waiting for her to tell me what parts of it she currently needed, and how they were supposed to removed if it mattered at all. Some plants had to be handled carefully, else they would either die or grow barren. I had learned this in the same way I had learned the method of carving soapstone bowls; I’d gotten myself in trouble and wound up working my tail off during the little bit of free time we were allowed. At least that time the healers I wound up stuck with were of a tolerable nature…