Among The Lilacs and Lilies
The morning had started off just like any other; Serene had woken up to the first light of a new day, curled up in a shallow ground hog hole she had dug up to fit her mass. Unraveling from her tight ball, the sandy fae stretched out before starting her day. A light breakfast meant she would spend a great majority of her morning tracking down an unsuspecting hare, making sure to thank the heavens for her meal before dining in. Afterwords, she would continue her journey south in attempts to find a new place that she could one day call home again.
The sun had already reached it's peak when Serene began to feel the need to quench her thirst. Like much of her training had suggested, she followed the signs of life until she came across a small stream. There she quickly lapped up the water, only to have her gaze fall upon a most holy sight. Spread out in a vast, untamed garden, were a variety of flowers and herbs unlike any she had seen before. Of course, her mother had taught her the basics of healing as a young pup, and they had spent a great majority of their time hunting varies herbs. But she had never come across a treasure like this before. A healers pantry.
With a soft giggle from her lips, Serene gently leaped over the stream and into the vegetation; taking in the sights and smells with a warm smile on her face. After her recent troubles, it was a pleasant surprise to be met with such a heaven like this. Golden fur brushed against the various plants, letting their scent mingle with her own until she would capture the very scent of spring. Finally her eyes set on a bundle of Meadowsweet and her curiosity peaked. She had seen the herb once before, when her mother had brought it home after one of her hunts. The familiar white and yellow flowers spoke out against the others, as the memory came flooding back to the female. A sad smile entered her features as she realized how much she truly missed her mother. But she had to be in a better place now, right?
"Speech"
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The Easter Bunny hops on by!
On her way through, she drops an egg at the paws of Serene.
Lost in a past she desperately wanted to get back to, Serene was nearly oblivious to the other life forms around her. All she could see were the days of her pup-hood; the adventures and laughs rolling across her vision as her optics laid transfixed on the herb before her. Why did those days have to go by so quickly? What the creme fae wouldn't give to spend one more day in her mother's embrace. To feel safe and protected from any and all evil once more. Alas, the memories would fade away just like those fun filled days, and slowly her surroundings would come flooding back to her senses. It was then that she caught the echo of a bark somewhere in the distance. Tipped ears perked at the sound, trying to hone in on the direction it came from as her amber eyes surveyed the land before her.
It was then that the dark hairs stuck out against the garden, and the male suddenly came into view. Serene was astonished that she didn't hear him sooner, or even catch his scent down wind, but mostly that he seemed... friendly? Her vision took in the sway of his tail, and the nonthreatening posture as he approached, while her ears caught the sound of a friendly greeting. Focused on his approached, she almost missed the bag he carried along with him, and almost immediately her mind jumped to her mother's; the one she often used to gather stock herbs. After all this time, all those days in isolation from a cruel and corrupted world, could it be there are good wolves still? At the thought of it, a gentle smile graced her pale lips as her tail flickered every so softly behind her.
"Hello, you wouldn't happen to be out collecting herbs from this fruitful garden would you?" Her voice was soft as to not push the question, but intrigued all the same. She had never met someone who share her and her mother's gardening and healing habits before, and there was something almost calming to the idea of it. As if a little bit of a pass life could be found in this encounter.
"Speech"
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He seemed like a pure enough soul, not only by the approach he took or the tone of his voice, but he gave off this aura that calmed Serene indefinitely. The sunlight shimmered down on the field, warming the tan coat around her shoulders as she listened to him intently. So he was a healer after all! A warm smile slipped onto her lips after hearing this, overjoyed to be with someone who shared her love of herbs and nature. "A storage den you say? That's quite a big job for a lone wolf." She could remember when it was just her mother and her searching for herbs to fill their stockpile. It was no easy feat then and she doubted it would be an easy feat now, even with a strong male to aid.
"I grew up learning of herbs and spirits, so I suppose that does make me a healer of sorts doesn't it?" She pondered the thought, for she knew of some healing herbs for the mind and body, as well as some rituals to heal the spirit. Her eyes peered away from his, looking at the various plants about them when a smile slid on her lips. She was awfully lonely in this world without her mother by her side now, perhaps she could gain a friend from this encounter? The sandy fae turned back to the large male then, nodding her head towards the plant life. "Tell you what, I'll help you collect some herbs for your storage den, if you tell me a bit about yourself."
"Speech"
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Hearing that the male was going to try starting up a pack here in the south made her brows raise slightly. Could wolves do that? Just up and decide they were going to make a new pack? Perhaps Serene was a out of the loop on this sort of thing, but she always thought packs were just automatically a thing. I suppose everything does have a beginning though she thought to herself. "Oh? Where would you be looking to set up this pack of yours? I grew up here in the south, I might know the area." It would be interesting to know where this new pack would be, perhaps for future reference if fate would be so kind.
He agreed that Serene was indeed a healer, and she chuckled slightly at his statement. He was such a surprisingly pleasant stranger, she felt quite comfortable with him already. No sense of danger radiating off of him; only a friendly persona. When the male agreed to her terms of service, the sandy blonde turned back to her Meadowsweet she had been admiring earlier, and began to gently collect them for his bundles. "This is Meadowsweet, my mother gave it to me when I fell ill with a nasty bug when I was younger."
She hummed softly as she thought of a question to ask, before she turned to look over her shoulder with a soft smile on her lips. "As for my questions, why don't we start with your name? Mine is Serene." The fawn woman dipped her crown in greetings before turning back to her work, gently pulling up the herbs and sticking them together. She would then pick long, thick blades of grass and weave them together to make a stronger thread, which she would then use to tie the bundles together. This was quite fun to the blonde female, she hadn't had an interaction like this one... ever? What a wonderful day this was turning out to be after all.
"Speech"
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The moment he described his plans for his pack in the willow trees where she had grown up, Serene's motions froze. Home... memories of her homeland came flooding back, and she could feel the darkest memory coming fast. Hidden among those trees will be her home; the den where she grew up and the old willow tree that marks her mother's grave. There was no hiding the sudden sadness that overcame her, that wound would always be fresh. But the more she thought about it, the happier she got. Someone else was going to bring life back to those weeping willows, someone was going to use the safe haven for good. Finally, she shook off the shock and offered a small smile.
"The willows is a good choice, very safe and a perfect place for a den site. You're right about the Tall Grass, perfect for hunting, and a few herbs grow there too. There's also a Shrine just beyond the grass plane that is perfect for prayers and speaking to spirits." Her voice was soft and gentle, just above a whisper as she thought back to those areas where she once roamed. A soft sigh before she grabbed the few bundles she had collected and turned to place them in his bag. One by one, she picked the bundles up in her maw and carefully placed them down neatly in the bag. She listened to his story about his mother keeping Meadowsweet, and it warmed her heart a bit. Just like her mother.
Branch Wreckage she thought to herself with a slight hum. It had a sweet sound to it. "The pleasure is all mine, Branch." She nodded her head before she moved to find more herbs to fill his bag, heading further down into the meadow where the soil was more damp and was more likely to grow herbs. Her legs moved slowly, taking the care to sniff the plant life around her, looking for a herb she recognized. Few steps more, she would finally turn towards the male once more, a question ready on her lips. "Tell me something, Mr. Wreckage," she hummed with a smirk, "why are you so set on creating a pack? Are you looking for power or something more humble?"
"Speech"
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Branch followed her motions as she descended down further into the prairie, plucking out a few herbs here and there as he went. She had her sights on one in particular though, one she had spotted along their path. Tall strands tipped with white buds, laying in damp soil in some shade. She had found this plant once before in her life, during her mother's end, which she thought would save her. Boneset, was it's official name. She could recall her mother's praise when she had found this, saying it would help Esmeralda's pain. Before she approached the herb, his answer floated into the summer air and it caused her attention to shift elsewhere. It seemed there was something deeper to her answer, which is what she was hoping for. At least it wasn't for power.
"Well, I don't want to intrude, but if you are willing to share I would be most interested in hearing what you have to say." She admitted, gently digging at the roots of the herbs so she could extract them properly. She paused as a thought crossed her mind, before she turned with a small smirk on her pale lips. "If you do choose to tell me, you can ask me something too." Serene offered instead, truly wanting to know his purpose behind building this pack of his. She had no right to stop him, but if his intentions were not as pure as he claimed them to be, then she would know that returning to her homeland would not be an option.
If they were pure, Serene debated with herself if returning home would be her best option. After all, if someone was going to build a new civilization in the seed of her home, sharing the same beliefs as she, shouldn't she be there? It was still too soon to tell, and returning to the willows would be more complicated than that, but it was an option. A small light floating in the back of her mind. One she intended to keep aflame for the time being.
"Speech"
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There was a moment where she feared he wouldn't open up to her, but that was within his rights. She had to continue to remind herself that Branch was a stranger up until today, so perhaps diving into each other's pasts wasn't appropriate. Before she could retract her offer however, the dark male began to spin his tale. Knowing it would be a long one, Serene set down her bundles and turned to give him her full attention; watching the way his body language changed as the story advanced. It was strange, that he had grown up in such a different environment to herself, yet they both came out fairly similar.
The way his proposal was turned down by his elders, made her feel sorry for him. To believe in something so big an ambitious was dangerous but it was pure. His family should've had his back, but instead they told him no. Her ears folded down, and she offered an apologetic smile. Serene wouldn't know what that would feel like, but she knew it wouldn't have felt good. "That's very upsetting to hear, Branch. You're family should've supported you, not only because that's what family does, but because I think your dreams of a pack are valid." She searched for his gaze, trying to reassure him that she truly believed what she was saying. "I don't know much about pack life, or the politics that it might consist of, but I can't imagine they won't want to trade with you."
He then turned and asked his question in return, which she could've guessed was coming. She drew in a deep breath, and let out a long sigh, preparing her answer. "You picked up on that did you? Yes, I was born and raised in the Weeping Wood with my mother. We hunted in the Tall Grass, and made frequent visits to the Shrine for rituals." Her gaze dropped for a moment as she pawed at the beautiful flowers nearby, reminiscing in those days. "I buried my mother a few seasons back." Her voice was bare of emotion, saying it more as a fact than a sad memory. Finally she turned back to Branch, with a small smile on her lips. "I still think you should origin your pack there, those woods deserve to have life in them."
"Speech"
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Hearing that her words comforted him in some way made her feel a little better. A small smile on her lips, and a faint wag of her tail. She truly wanted him to move forward with his plans on building a pack, and although she didn't know what that would fully consist of, she knew he would need numbers. Perhaps she could spread the word on her journeys, let others know of Branch's ideals and where to find him. It was a pleasant idea, and she could imagine this future alpha would like it too. It was the least she could do to support his cause... for the time being anyway.
What he said next caused the fawn woman to skip a beat. Mothers grave? Her head shot up at his words, searching his gaze for sincerity. "Would you really? Would you look after her for me?" To know that her mother's grave could go undisturbed... to live out eternity in peace... that would mean the world to Serene. Feeling so heartfelt at the gesture, the sandy woman felt heat building up in her face as tears rimmed her eyes. Before they could fall, she looked away, rubbing her cheeks into her shoulders and turning towards the herbs once more, trying to distract herself.
"I tried my best to lay her to rest... I buried her under an old willow tree with all of the herbs in her stock beside her. I spoke a few words... but I haven't gone to the Shrine for her yet." How could she? She had never gone to the Shrine without her mother, but to go alone completely? It was too much for her. Quickly she finished up her last bundle of boneset and carefully placed it inside his bag along with the others. She then sat back on her haunches, not knowing what else to do. "Thank you, Branch Wreckage."
"Speech"
”Of course I would! I wouldn’t want anyone to disturb that place and would be off limits,” he said with a nod of his head.
He could even place some things there to honor the fallen women he knew vary little about. He would want the same curtesy of it was one of his own family members and it was a promise that he could and would intend to keep. She quickly turned away making his gaze soften, worried that he may of upset her in a way. She then spoke of where she buried her and he tried to shake his memory of the woods. There was a vary old willow there that he remembered seeing one that had touched the ground and the tree itself was vary thick. He listened to her explain on already knowing that he to would say a few words to the women’s grave, out of respect.
”The one with the thickest trunk right?” he asked wanting to be sure he was correct. ”The process of the shrine, is that to simply communicate with her or is that part of your family’s process to completely lay them to rest?”
He smiled as she thanked him, his tail wagging. He hoped it gave her peace of mind for settleing into the area of her mother’s grave.
”Your welcome Serene and if I am successful with my pack you are welcome to come through and visit as much as you like” he replied.
What would be the chances that Serene would bump into a kind stranger? Or one that was a healer? Or one that was planning to live in the same homeland as she? What would be the chances that all of this would be in one wolf? Branch Wreckage. It was almost unbelievable... almost as if someone else had arranged this meeting. The idea caused her to peer out over the bountiful prairie, lost in a hopeful thought. She returned when he declared her mother's grave would be off limit to his pack. It made her smile wide, knowing that he took this matter so seriously, even for a stranger.
When he asked about the description of her mother's grave, the fawn fae turned and stood promptly, her tail swaying happily behind her. "Yes, she said it was the grandmother willow, one of the first in the wood. It stands out against time." She noted, pleased beyond belief that he knew the tree she was talking about. When Branch moved to ask about the shrine rituals, the sandy woman thought back to the rituals she and her mother used to do, and how best to answer his question. "It's been used for both, and while I always hope to see my mother at the Shrine, for council or support, this time would be different." She looked at the moist ground below her, and scooped some of the grains into her paw.
"When someone close to you dies, and you bury them, you've created a sacred place. The Shrine, to my family, is like a gateway to all sacred places. You must take some of the soil from your sacred grown, and bring it to the Shrine, that way they are connected." She took a deep breath, playing with the dirt. "When you connect the two, it sort of sets that soul free, I guess is the best way to say it. It gives them free range to go visit other loved ones... and sometimes they don't come back." That was truly why she didn't want to visit the shrine, in fear her mother would truly leave her. But was trapping her any better? No, Serene knew what needed to be done.
She glanced back up to Branch with a curious gaze, wondering something about him. She offered a small smile, tilting her head to the side as she spoke. "Would you help me? With the ritual?" It was bold, to invite someone new into such a private ceremony, but Branch seemed trustworthy. He was pure at heart, that she could tell by his motives to build a pack, and he seemed to share much of the same talents and beliefs as she. If he was going to keep her mother's grave safe, he should be at least invited to the ceremony. That was the least she could do.
"Speech"
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Branch agreed, and it made the blonde woman smile brightly. Though she knew very little about this male, he was the closest thing she had to a friend at this point, and that was huge to her. Without her mother, she has no family to turn to, no one to be connected to. So friendship would be her new kinship. "Wonderful!" She exclaimed happily, tail swaying smoothly behind her. It was then the woman took a moment to sweep her gaze over the prairie, noticing the change in the shadows of the herbs as time moved forward without he permission.
Serene moved closer to the male, looking into his bag to check on the work they had done. It seemed to her, he had enough of both herbs to last him until next season, unless there was a crisis of course. She turned and smiled at him, "I think we did a pretty good job huh? Better quit before we pick the whole prairie dry." She would move away then, going to sit a few feet away as she let a small, satisfied sigh escape her lips. Her mind was on the shrine still, and before they would have to part ways once more, she wanted to make sure they had a set plan. "I was thinking I would come back home in a few days? I'll meet you in the willows before we head up to the shrine? Give you enough time to get all these herbs squared away."
"Speech"