Aurielle Adravendi

The Spirit had skirted Aerie’s territory along the coast, and by the time she arrived to the Fjord, night was falling. She picked her way down a narrow deer trail, ears swiveling as her own personal blue-white glow lit her way. Ardyn had mentioned finding a few interesting places here, and she’d wanted a long walk and exploration to mull over the strange occurrences of this winter. Even the cycles of the days and nights seemed odd, evening prolonging beyond it’s normal time, even more than the season warranted. She paused, gathering herself and dropping to the trail where it and the upper level abruptly parted ways, eyes shifting toward the rush of water that suggested there was a stream flowing down hill to the sea water at the bottom of the fjord. The moon had yet to rise, but she pushed on until she finally stood beside the water, gazing out as she took stock of her surroundings before turning and beginning to set up camp. For the night, she’d camp out here, maybe catch a few fish, even if hunting wasn’t one of her main skills. Perhaps it would help ease some of the concerns weighing on her to spend time listening to the ocean and the wind through the fjord. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Rose was underwater, teeth fastened around a barnacle stuck to a rock. She firmly planted her paws against the rock and bit down hard, removing the tasty morsel and swallowing it. She nosed around the sea bed for a few moments longer before she needed to come up for air. Popping her sleek black head out of the gentle waves, she shook salt water from her ears. At first, she paid no mind to the glowing wolf spirit on shore, but as she blinked the water from her weak grey eyes, she stared in shock. That had definably not been there when she started looking for food. The small she-wolf watched the bright white wolf beginning to set up a camp, and treaded water as she considered her options. She could try to slip away further down the beach, she could try to approach the spirt wolf, or she could bring an offering. Settling on that last option, the black sea wolf paddled her way to where she had seen some plump fish earlier. To her disappointment, said fish were gone but there were several clams, oysters and crabs to be had. She hoped the white wolf would enjoy this version of sea food and dove back down to pluck some of the creatures from the sea floor before surfacing to swim towards the spirit wolf's camp, going over a humble greeting in her head when she offered the food.

Aurielle Adravendi

A subtle splash of water, a fluttery flap of ears and further watery sprinkles brought her sapphire into sky blue gaze out to the fjord’s waters in time to spot the black head of a wolf, silvery grey eyes ringed with pale fur with white inner ears peering back at her. The moment was brief, and perhaps her glance had been subtle enough that the other hadn’t seen her eyes catch her as Aurielle continued, erecting the small hide tent. She’d had enough practice handling the small structure alone that she only wrestled with it for a moment before the tent stood steadily, flapping against the breeze now and then while the alphess turned to the matter of kindling a small fire, grateful for the coal-horn that allowed her to simply roll a live coal out onto the tinder she’d nested in a quickly-dug fire pit. She had enough small sticks in her pouches to fuel the blaze and keep it going while she sought out drift wood for longer-lasting fuel. When she returned and finished setting the fire she looked up as the slim, dark shape slid through the water toward her camp. She recognized the same wolf she’d spotted earlier, this time with a mouth full of what seemed – by the flickering firelight and her own persona glow – to be shellfish. She regarded the wolf not unkindly before greeting, “Good evening. You’re welcome to come sit by the fire if you like.” The moon crested the horizon, and her eyes flicked up to it briefly. Still full. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Rose padded out of the water, dipping her head low and crawling towards the spirit, her ears flat against her head and tail wagging. "Thank you for your kind words." She mumbled out through her mouthful she had almost forgotten about in her shyness of the spirit wolf. If a wolf could flush with embarrassment, the small black she wolf would be doing that now. Crawling into the edge of the fire, she laid down the clams and oysters and backed away, mumbling an apology for having spoke with her mouth full earlier. Casting her eyes reverently to the pebbles beneath her black paws, she finally spoke louder then a mumble. "I a-am honored to be in your p-presence." She stuttered out. "P-please, accept my o-offering. It is th-the best a mere mor-mortal l-like me can offer." She licked her lips and decided now would be a good time to shut up. She hoped this messenger of the moon goddess, as she believed Aurielle to be, was a benevolent spirit and wouldn't strike her dead for stammering.

"Speech"

Aurielle Adravendi

The smaller woman accepted her invitation, but the reverence brought back a memory of a small, winged fellow who had taken one look at her at her first festival and thought her to be a deity. The poor fellow had been mortified to learn she was just a wolf of blood and bone who happened to have a few unusual quirks in her appearance. She hadn’t even been glowing back then. Just shimmered in the colors of moonstones. It was almost always like this. Someone saw her and thought her a ghost, a spirit come to guide them, a deity, a harbinger of death, or a sign that they had died. Or a lamp-post. The last thought came with a ripple of exasperation. True, Azure had been much better behaved at the last festival she’d held, though they hadn’t actually crossed close enough for direct speech. So many saw the glowing, shimmering white fur; the long upper canines, the mane and tail. They didn't see a wolf who just wanted to have at least never developed a glowing coat or lavender marking over one eye. Or, hell, to have even just been born with a plain, normal length coat of hair. Gently, she held out a paw, ethereal and bright, as she admitted, “I’m sorry, miss. But I am as much a mortal as you are. I am Aurielle Adravendi, alpha of Valhalla.” For the time being, she refrained from stating the pack’s name for her rank. More confusion wouldn’t help the situation, and so she added, “It’s a pack northwest of here, though the first pack border you’d encounter going that way would be our neighbor, Aerie. That one’s led by a man named Eligos Abraxas.” She nodded to the fire, offering a smile as she invited, “Have you ever tried shellfish cooked on a fire? I’ve tried crab, and it was pretty good.” She hoped to smooth over any embarrassment or discomfort she might have caused the younger wolf by her admission of mortality. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Rose looked, up at her words, obvious relief filling her grey eyes. "My lady, i am honored to be in your presence! Mortal wolf or no, such fur and light, and being an alpha-!" She bowed low again before lurching up to a sitting position, eyes sparkling and curious, mouth opening into a happy panting grin, her tongue lolling as she grinned. "I have never really eaten cooked food m'lady. I do not have the gift of fire making. But i would be eager to try it out!" She hastened to add, deciding to not comment on the pack, but filing away the information for later, so she knew where not to explore next. She planned to stay away from packs, although she longed for one, she was tired of being chased. She glanced down at the pile of oysters and clams and wagged her tail again, dancing her front paws a little. "If i may be so bold to ask, may you teach me? I would love to learn!" She looked back up at her and awaited her response, still overjoyed to discover this new possible friend, at least for tonight.

"Speech"

Aurielle Adravendi

Relief, and then an oddly youthful excitement. It still came with a bow, but the flurry of words was better than tremulous fear and awe. A bemused smile flitted over the Spirit’s features as the younger wolf fairly chirped . At the request, she rolled one shoulder with a faint chuckle. “I’ve never cooked such shellfish, so it’ll be a learning curve for both of us. The water here should be salty enough to add some extra flavor.” She glanced up as Ayodele padded from the tree line, one arm full of lemur-sized firewood. The ringtailed lemur flashed a quick smile to the other wolf before setting the wood to the side of the fire, and Aurielle rose, digging through her supplies and removing a tortoise shell, large enough to cook with, but small enough for travel. “For boiling meats and herbs, you fill one of these with water and pull some of the coals out from the fire, but keep them beside it to maintain the heat, and put the container by the fire on the coal-bed.” Each step she explained patiently, demonstrating as she went. She added bits of herbs and spices from the pack that she thought would suit the oysters well enough, naming them as she went. Mint, rosemary, basil... Letting that steep she studied the shellfish themselves before bending and using one long canine - carefully - to pry a first one open, taking a moment to assess the tasty that settled on her tongue. Might be better to roast them on the coals, even. "You can aslo cook meats directly on the coals, but take care to watch to be sure you don't burn them." Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Rose's eyes shown brighter seeing her smile, and listened eagerly for Aurielle's response, getting to her paws with excitement hearing the spirt wolf agree and that she had brought her new friend something new. She nodded with agreement about the water being salty, suddenly remembering her fur and glancing down at it, making a mental note to clean the salt out soon. She really hated prickly fur once the salt crystalized in her pelt. The small she-wolf glanced up, startled, when she caught movement from the corner of her eye and the lemur appeared. Rose's ears shot to attention, and she closed her muzzle and cocked her head, tail stilling and curling up like a question, curiosity bugging her eyes out as it laid down it's armful of wood by the fire. She had never seen nor smelt such a creature before, and was uncertain what it's purpose was with the wolf. It appeared to be helping the white wolf and so therefore was most likely a friend as well. Her attention returned to said wolf as she moved to a bundle of supplies and began to sort through it. Carefully, Rose moved to her side as Aurielle withdrew a tortoise shell. She glanced over at the direction the lemur went once more before giving her full attention to the older wolf's words. Her tail resumed it's happy sweeping as she nodded to show her understanding of the instructions. Her jaws filled with saliva as Aurielle began adding the herbs. The delectable scent of them curled around her snout and she tried to imagine how they would taste with the oysters, crabs, and clams. When the pretty she-wolf began to open the shells, she quickly began helping her, still listening to her every word. Her ears flicked as she nodded. She didn't want to burn the food either. That would be a waste of food and very upsetting. "I'll watch them." She promised. She paused a moment. "Could one cook fish and seal in the same way?" She asked hesitantly, an ear flicking back again as she opened shells. "What about berries? Do herbs cooked alone taste good?" She was very curious about this whole cooking thing.

"Speech"

Aurielle Adravendi

The dark-coated woman was an eagerly curious sort, it seemed, and she took in the instructions reasonably well, though Aurielle noted her glance at Ayodele as the lemur bustled about. “That is Ayodele. She’s been my friend since I was a yearling.” At the question, the Spirit smiled with a nod. “Healers will often steep herbs for healing or disinfecting wounds. A strong Yarrow tea can help stop bleeding and clean a wound, for instance. But teas can be made for simple enjoyment, as well. Meat can be boiled in water into a thick stew, and potatoes, a tuber, are starchy and can thicken it nicely.” Her head cocked as she sniffed the scents coming from the shellfish, and the soft sizzle of juices, adding, “Fish is best when filleted, which can be a fiddly process with our paws, and deboned, then cooked on a flat, hot rock, or stuck on a stick and roasted over the fire. You can also smoke it by covering a fire when it’s burned to coal and adding wood chips to the coals so they smoke. The smell and flavor absorbed into the meat, whether it be fish or beef or venison… and it lends an interesting taste, as well as drying it.” Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Rose waved her tail as she listened, her head nearly spinning with the new knowledge. Teas, herb steeping, smoking meat, the delectable scents swirling around them right now, the lemur friend, herbal remedies...all of this could stand to improve the lives of creatures everywhere! She simply had to become good at cooking and then share it amongst other animals she met as she traveled. She felt very excited as she decided this. Life had a purpose again.
Coming out of her thoughts, she stood as tall as she could. "Teach me everything you know, please." She asked eagerly. "I want to learn it all." She panted happily, eyes sparkling and tail wagging gently, raised like a flag behind her, one front paw twitching. "Do you know how to write too, by any chance? Like, books?" She tilted her head hopefully. "I have seen books and they seem like useful things to have around, especially when one struggles with one's memory." She winced slightly. " But i don't know how to make one to keep things i learn in to remember." She hoped the white wolf had seen books at least, she knew some wolves skulked old places where there were strange things to be found. It's where she had found the books. She couldn't read what was noted in them, but she had found scratch marks where whatever had made them had counted things, and had given her the idea of having a book to keep her ideas and notes in. She just didn't know how to make them.

"Speech"