The Valhallan pack had been nothing but open and inviting toward her. Helpful and friendly, Audra was looking forward to meeting more of them. Having made herself a friend in Cairo and Ardyn, she was sure the others would be just as nice. A few days had gone by since her arrival to Druid's Moor and it wouldn't be long until Cairo, himself, would be giving her defense sparring lesson. To think about it still made her nervous, but she wouldn't say no to a pack requirement. If she had hopes of staying past the winter, she would have to prove herself worthy. Having been quietly making herself at home in a den chosen by herself, with the help of Ardyn, was when Aurrielle had come around to mention that she should meet Paladin. Even possibly some others. Interested but nervous, she agreed but waited a moment before leaving. It hadn't been long enough since claiming this den room as hers. She was happy to fluff up her small bed and stay warm to find a stashing place for all of her herbs and plants. Even more so, she wanted to find possibly jars or baskets to place them in. Something to keep them organized or she hoped to find a string to hang dry some of them. Not wanting to make anyone wait on her, Audra looked around once more before deciding it was time. Making her way out from under the hill and into the plains, Audra sighed softly to herself. Golden grass the height of her shoulder brushed at her thin coat. A chilly breeze sent shivers down her spine and into her muscles. Winter had definitely spent no time settling in over Boreas. With her nose twitching, a myriad of scents washed over her. From the rich dirt under her paws to a herd of deer drinking at a nearby creek. Over the horizon, lingering beyond a line of trees, the sun stood hazily behind clouds that threatened more snow. With the crunch of a fresh blanket as her paws left tracks behind her, Audra shivered. Looking around, taking in the scenery, she hoped the snowfall would wait another day. Quickly crossing past the Meeting Rock and over toward the Wooded Hillock, her honey-brown eyes kept a watch for anyone who fit the description of the wolves Aurrielle had described. Eager to gain some healing experience, the small she-wolf couldn't help but smile to herself. Maybe they would have some insight into what winter could bring to them in ways of helping the pack. Could there be different herbs in the winter that she didn't know about? Or possibly the snow had more benefits other than making her teeth clack and skin tingle with the threat of hypothermia. word count: 462

Paladin 'Knight' Ancora

Paladin had taken his daughter – the term still gave him a mixture of warm fuzzies and butterflies in his chest – out to the stream, with his gathering pouches cinched to his back, though for gathering ice and snow rather than herbs today. As they padded along the path, they conversed, catching up and learning more about each other while Kayode and Ime trailed behind, less than thrilled about the cold weather. Neither Mandrill nor Lemur were meant for such weather, but they withstood it for Paladin, their friend. Legacy, Paladin found, had a love for travel and exploration that reminded him of Kaija and Arne, and she was dedicated to bettering herself in her healing skills. He was utterly giddy with paternal pride that she was so determined to do good in the world, and he had no doubt she would succeed. He just hoped to see her find herself there before he passed. Her mother’s Chapter would remain in the West of Boreas, to continue her training alongside his own lessons with her and the healers of the pack, and he looked forward to being the one to give her her first marks. He glanced aside at her black-marked features, and the dazzling eyes that looked so much like his mother’s. It was like his mother had come back in this girl in some way. The stream came up in sight, and he led her along the stream to a still, quiet spot that ran through the woods around the hillock. The winter chill had set in enough to freeze the water, and with the fresh layer of snow, he had plenty to work with for a lesson. A crunch of light paws caught his attention and he turned to spot a new face, but one Aurielle had told him about, so he called out with a smile, “Hello, Audra; care to join us for a lesson in cold use in healing methods?” He didn’t mind widening the lesson to two students, and a glance at his daughter told him that she was all for the change in plans, so he looked back to the woman, snowy tail tapping the ground gently. Audra was a small woman, much like his yearling daughter, but of a timber coat and honey-brown eyes. One of more naturalistic appearance. Wordcount: 387 | Total: 849/1500

Legacy Ancora

Her father was so much better than she’d dreamed. She’d been so nervous walking beside her mother to meet him, so terrified that he’d not want her, that he might not accept that she was his get. Her mother, though, had been so very right. Paladin had accepted her with a fierce pride and love that took her breath away, and filled a place in her heart that she’d not realized was empty. Everything clicked into place, and talking with her sire felt so natural. He didn’t mind that she had a love for wandering that might mean she’d be traveling abroad from Valhalla for days at a time here and there. He was steadfastly proud of her goals to become a great healer. And he wanted to be the one to give her her first Nomad marks. It hadn’t taken much thought for her to accept his offer. It was a moment no father should miss out on, and she knew her mother’s husband wouldn’t begrudge Paladin his chance to make up for the time he’d spent being a father without knowing about it. She liked that he was direct and well-spoken about their craft, and as they walked, she picked his brain on various methods of wound treatment until they reached the stream, following it into the woods to a calm, quiet spot in the water. It had frozen over during the night, and the layer of snow that had fallen hadn’t melted from this shady spot. What was the lesson to be, she wondered? Pawsteps turned both heads and Paladin called out first. Legacy smiled brightly at the timber-marked woman, sapphire and amethyst gaze twinkling with her usual friendly confidence as she greeted after Paladin spoke, “Hello, Audra, I’m Legacy, Paladin’s daughter. I’m new here, too.” Her black and silver tail waved, thickly fluffed with winter hair as she took a seat beside her sire, black-backed ears perked as she glanced between her father and the other small woman, hoping Audra would join in, and eager to see what her father had in mind. She had her suspicions, but she still wanted to hear the lesson from her father’s perspective. Perhaps he’d have his own take on using ice in healing. Word Count: 374 | Total: 1223 Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think

As she glanced around the hill, barren grass and trees blanketed in soft crystals of ice, two scents reached her nose. Her body froze for a moment as she turned her honey gaze in their direction. Two wolves, white in fur with black facial markings stood out in the near distance. Their friendly demeanor calmed her body for a moment as her tail wagged nervously. Aurrielle had indeed described Paladin as an older wolf that looked like snow with a semi-face mask marked in black. This was sure to be him. Smiling as he greeted her, Audra made her way down to the pair. "It's a p-pleasure meeting you both, Paladin an-and Legacy," her quiet hum of a voice was like a windchime tinkling on a summer day. With her tail wagging, she nodded in Paladin's direction. "H-how could I say no?" She mused happily, a chuckle in her voice. Looking over to Legacy, Audra's smile widened. "I-it's nice having someone n-new here with me," the small wolf said, hoping that maybe she and the younger vixen could be friends one day. Looking back over to Paladin, there was an eagerness in her eyes. Before coming to Valhalla, she had had to learn all of her healing methods through whispers, overhearing others' conversations, and through her own methods of trial and error. The satchel around her neck was always at least half full of a variety of herbs and plants, some fresh and some dried. Their uses ranged from nausea and anxiety medications to healing salves if she could find the rest of the ingredients. During the winter, it was much harder. The land was dry, typically covered in snow, and most plants were shriveled away from the cold. "I'd love to know how to use the cold to an advantage," Audra spoke a bit more confidently now as her eyes glanced between the two and their surroundings. word count: 318 | total: 1541/1500

Paladin 'Knight' Ancora

The young woman seemed to have a shy stammer, but Paladin, astute as ever, noted that as she gained confidence in the last moment, that stammer faded. He grinned faintly as both sets of eyes shifted to him and he turned to the frozen stream, nodding. “Very well, let’s get started, shall we.” He dragged a pawful of snow toward himself, rolling it with practiced ease from all the time he’d spent with the mortar and pestle stones as he began, “To begin with, cold can be used to bring down a high fever, whether applied on the face and nose, internally, or to the rectum in desperate situations.” He rolled the ball of snow to Legacy as he added, “Swollen, infected wounds can have snow applied and held to them to bring down the swelling as well.” Word Count: 141 | Total: 1682/1500

Legacy Ancora

Legacy grinned at the woman, tail tapping gently against the snow-frosted ground before her eyes shifted to her father as he began the lesson, black-backed ears perking intently. She found herself nodding as he spoke of the uses for snow and cold. They were the same as what she’d been taught with her mother. She glanced to Audra with a smile as she caught the ball of snow, before she caught a look from her father that suggested she should add her own ideas, as well. She pondered and grinned as she added, “Snow can also be used to freeze boiled maple sap – when it’s boiled down it turns into a sweet substance and if you mix it with herbs it can be used as a treat while also administering a medication, like a little valerian root to ease one into restful sleep.” Her head cocked as she added, rolling the snowball under her black-dipped toes, ”That works best in northern conditions, with a lot of cold. I’m not certain how well it’ll work here in the west. Mother said it doesn’t get nearly as cold here as in the north of Boreas.” She flicked her paw, sending the ball, now practically ice, to Audra with a playful smile as she asked, ”Any ideas?” Word Count: 214 | Total: 1896/1500 Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Her eyes moved slowly between the duo. Their similar appearance was a large indicator that they were related, but she could see in the way they moved and spoke that they were similar in that way as well. Normally, Audra would have felt a tinge of sadness thinking about families and the like, but it was important that she paid attention. Paladin spoke with intelligence and how he rolled the ball of snow around with ease made Audra's head tilt. Of course, he was at least three times her age, but he made it all look so easy. His uses and ideas were good, she smiled, tucking the information away in her own mind for later uses. In turn, she turned her gaze to Legacy, smiling in her direction. Tilting her head again, she knew she'd have to try boiling maple sap at one point. Shivering at the idea of being in the cold, cold of northern Boreas, Audra hoped she would never have to. Preferred the areas of the west and south, she preferred the warmer temperatures and boggy environments. Almost missing the snowball as Legacy rolled it to her, she gently placed her paw on top of it. It was hard as ice and gave her her idea. Focusing on the snowball as it rolled under her paw pads, she spoke. "W-well, when wolves are nauseous b-but hungry, or-or giving birth, you can turn s-snow into ice chips for them to eat," she looked up now, between the two in hopes that they agreed, "that way they're d-distracted and not c-causing more nausea and vomiting!" Her voice was chipper as she awkwardly rolled the ball back in Paladin's direction. word count: 281 | total: 2177/1500