i went walking in the garden
Edelweiss heard there were serpents in this location. While she had no need of them, the weather would make them hibernate anyway. She strolled cautiously all the same. The smell of predators was in the air along with prey; a wolf or two had passed through here. The scent was faint, but still available to be inhaled by her. She twitched her ebony nose and continued on alone. As barely more than a pup, she had the sense not to start trouble with larger and older wolves. If the smell faded soon, she'd breathe a sigh of relief. If another wolf came along, she would... Do what? Socialise, perhaps? Trade gossip? She had none to share, and doubted her ability to hold a conversation for long. The only one who seemed to not care about social graces was Ghoul. Edelweiss was aware he lived in the east. Mayhap she should visit him? So lost in thoughts of the ivory lad, she failed to keep her wits. Her ankle fell into a hole and she gasped, falling forward. Thankfully, it was a twist - not a sprain or break. Still, the girl sat there and cursed. She kept her paw elevated. |
Ever since the Habari girl settled in Abaven she had felt... out of place. First thing she had done after setting up the den was to explore the outside lands. This was not too far from Abaven lands and she heard there could be some interesting plants here. Though with winter in full swing she could be thankful there wouldn't be snakes around. What the regal woman hadn't expected was to watch a stranger step into a hole and hurt their paw. Voodoo's ears twitched she thought for a moment. Then the young healer stepped forward from the scent it seemed this girl was a loner let alone she looked like she was only a yearling. Voodoo herself had only just turned two but she was now fully filled out. It took her a moment to realize she was a lot taller than other wolves - though not a giant like Silas or some others.
"I can take a look at that if you want." Voodoo called as she stopped a few feet away. She became aware that her Habari scent(Ghoul's pack scent) was still on her. Though mingled with Abaven. Self consciously she wondered what a wolf would think if she was carrying two pack scents around. Not that she planned on staying in Abaven forever. She reminded herself it was just for her training. "My name is Voodoo Klein I am a healer." student or not she wore that with pride. Even if she had been forced to give up being both a fighter and healer. She should only concentrate on one for now.
She had become aware of the woman's scent, glancing up and expecting Ghoul but finding her instead. Some bitter and negative feelings crossed her mind, though they were fleeting. She became aware she had been disappointed for a split second. Why though? Ghoul was her only friend. She should not have other thoughts about him. Not now. "Edelweiss" she gave, her voice strained somewhat from the beating pain "you... may." With permission granted, she turned her body the best she could. The swollen ankle already swelled to a respectable and annoying throb. She would hold it out, aware this was not Ghoul but from the same pack potentially. Though there was another scent, a pack's, on the woman... Something she had not considered, due to her inexperienced knowledge of Boreas. Here, now, she waited for Voodoo to do her work. If she was indeed a healer, Edelweiss expected her to diagnose the issue. 1/3 - met new wolf (voodoo) |
Voodoo was happy that the wolf did not argue. One young as her though she could catch the disappointment in the young wolf's eyes after noticing perhaps she was not the wolf she wanted to see? Voodoo could understand that she wasn't the least bit embarassed. Carefully she sat herself in front of Edelweiss. Giving the ankle a good sniff and a gentle press of the paw. It seemed to be swollen and hot but as far as she could tell no breaks or tears. Looking around the plains she frowned slightly then turning she found a patch of snow and dug into them. Beneath revealing a few comfrey roots that had not yet been frozen.
Voodoo returned from her few feet of adventure and began to chew the roots. "It just seems a bit bruised. This will help with the swelling and pain." At least she hoped it would.
"Earlier.... who were you hoping to see?" Voodoo ventured as she slathered the pultice on the young girls leg. She wished she could hope to see someone like that one day. Voodoo was lonely, though not all the time. Sometimes she enjoyed the silence but she had spent so much time by herself that she was tired of it. The promise that she made to herself to become useful to Habari still stood. Even Abaven's scent could wash that away.
"What do I do with them?" Voodoo deposited the herbs like Edelweiss knew what to do. She had never had much skill with healing arts, even though she respected nature. She stared openly at the comfrey roots, wondering if she had to chew them or if Voodoo had to chew them and then apply them directly to her ankle. Either way, she waited for the young healer's semi-lesson. The subject of hoping to see someone brought a flicker of emotion to her eyes. Briefly. "My friend" Because, that's what they were, yes? "he lives around here." Edelweiss had always seen Ghoul show up in the East. He showed up randomly but was somehow certain of his presence. Like he had followed her but also not. She'd know if he followed her. She was good at that. "In one of the packs" she added for clarification "he seems to show up... randomly. When I think he will. I... assumed it would be him, except he does not know healing." For which she was carefully grateful to Voodoo's presence. 2/3 - met new wolf (voodoo) |
Voodoo smiled her mouth still a bit sticky from chewing the roots. "Nothing just let that sink into your muscle. I do recommend that you keep off that paw at least for a couple hours though to let the swelling go down." Voodoo finished rubbing the poultice around the ankle gingerly. Pulling back as she sat on her haunches ears pricked curiously to the yearlings answer. So it must have been someone from Habari, that would be the only explanation considering Voodoo was certain they had never met. She nodded her head, "Well I'm sorry I am not him but, must have been fate I showed up when you hurt yourself." she chuckled light heartedly. "I'm a member of Habari, although temporarily I'm training as a healer in Abaven as they have more skilled wolves there at their school." at least that's what she had been told. She just hoped she actually got something out of it.
"If you give me his name I can let him know you were looking for him?" Voodoo suggested with a soft tip of her head. She didn't want to intrude if the girl didn't want her to. She knew how hard it was to open up to a stranger. Though for herself Voodoo seemed nice when she had underlying reasons for things. Then again she wouldn't dream of attacking someone without reason.... though did she have a reason during the endless night? Voodoo shook the memory away nobody had mourned for that wolf he was obviously had been alone.
She eyed the chewed roots, feeling her stomach flip at placing them in her own mouth. Thank goodness Voodoo had done the chewing. She didn't much care for the taste of dirt. "It was good fortune, yes..." Edelweiss agreed with the woman quietly, not used to saying much. It wasn't that she didn't open herself up, but her short words could cause others to assume things. Like she was temperamental or easily irked. She, like anyone, could be. But it wasn't true for her core personality. "his name is Ghoul." But Voodoo explained she was part of Habari, but also Abaven. A pack she hadn't really heard of that was an educational community of sorts. Her brow furrowed as she attempted to understand. "How does one become two?" she uttered, frowning "you are part of both packs?" Edelweiss corrected herself by asking "how does that work?" She had been trained and growing in a secluded community. Just herself and her adopted family. To her understanding, a wolf could not have two titles. Nor two packs. There was always the loyalty problem. If one invaded the other, which side... would Voodoo fight on? 3/3 - met new wolf (voodoo) |
Voodoo's eyes lit up, Ghoul! Though she had never spoken to him she only had seen her cousin in passing as he was after all one of Recluse's many children. For a moment she felt a tinge of jealousy she loved her mother very much but she couldn't help but to think what her life would be like if Recluse had been her mother. Immediately she threw the thought away she wouldn't choose any other mother Deathbelle had made her strong and she had strong blood in her veins. Recluse after all was still her relative. "Ghouls my cousin." Voodoo exclaimed happily as she pulled back from the wound inspecting the ankle one more time with a sniff. "He's normally around Habari pack lands I'll let him know he will probably be happy to hear you waiting for him." she was making a lot of assumptions but she just certainly hoped it was true.
Voodoo suddenly became embarrassed. She didn't want to seem like a wolf who couldn't choose a pack. Ultimately she felt no connection to Abaven other than something that was going to give her a skill to better herself. In return she stayed made a den, grew her herbs. "Well I uh.... I'm not in TWO packs I guess. I officially am under Abaven." she almost muttered the last words. "In exchange for supplies like herbs and food I'm allowing Abaven to teach me to heal. My heart and loyalty belongs to Habari my birth pack." she hoped that cleared it up a little. She was a temporary abaven wolf.
"W-Waiting?" Was she waiting for Ghoul? Or was it expecting him to show up? They hadn't made plans at all, except that time he asked her to go to a spring festival. But then, Edelweiss had been too oblivious. She shot back that they didn't have to wait to go, that there were surely other festivals to go to first. How... embarrassing. Was she just thinking about that now? Why did he even ask her? And why was she thinking about it now? "Thank you" she tried to sound curt, even if she was grateful that Voodoo would tell her cousin. I'm not waiting for him she inwardly said to herself. Voodoo would continue to say she wasn't in two packs, but she was more or less renting her skills and self to Abaven in exchange for training. "does Habari not have a healer to learn from?" The girl sounded obviously confused, frowning "I have heard packs keep their secrets close, and their practices..." She trailed off briefly. "Would it not be easier to remain in the pack you are loyal to? I... forgive me, I am quite befuddled." About all this talk of school and such. 3/3 - met new wolf (voodoo) |
Perhaps it had been a bit too bold of her to say that Ghoul was waiting. Voodoo had no clue what went through his head, she'd only seen him around the pack and knew he had grown to be a very formidable force. Meanwhile Voodoo felt like a nobody swept under a rug. Elde's thank you was met with a nod, Voodoo didn't care too much about tone of voice. In fact most times she found herself ignoring it. She tensed though as the yearling spoke. She didn't want to reveal Habari's secrets but she really didn't think she had anything to fear. It still.... stung though.
Voodoo shook her head, "My mother was our only healer and she's sought another path recently." She didn't dislike her mother she LOVED her. Simply Voodoo just missed the days right now when she was young and she could hang out with her mother and brother. She didn't expect the pain in her heart to be so sudden. She had never really meant to care, perhaps it was this season - after all she had just turned two this winter. "So I didn't have a choice. I don't understand it either but if Abaven is offering services why pass that up? They have many teachers from what I've seen and all very knowledgable. I can learn what I want shape it to be my own and return to Habari a better healer." It DID sound odd. Voodoo just wanted to be the best and she couldn't do that with no teacher to teach her.
It still was strange to her, but she didn't press. It was not her place as a vagabond. Any questions would be her own curiosity, but she knew that Voodoo would be hesitant to tell her. "I see" at the mention of Voodoo's mother, Edelweiss could detect a slight underlining emotion from the woman "I doubt Abaven wishes to get nothing from this" she trailed off briefly, frowning "is... there a tribute to be paid for services?" Perhaps she could enlist in Abaven's 'school' eventually. It could be beneficial to her knowledge, having only been taught by her adopted family or her own willpower. "I am not a healer but..." it was not easy to admit shortcomings to a near-stranger "my hunting skills could use work." She added with a shrug, trying to play it off despite the brooding insides. Her skills in charisma could also use work, but she resisted saying this because she was utterly embarrassed of this. |
Voodoo was glad not to be questioned further, she was going through too much emotionally. Leaving her birth pack had been a bit decision and even now she wasn't even sure it had been a good idea. She wanted to curl up in her den near the volcano in the Redbud. Edel seemed to quickly change the subject to Abaven Voodoo shifted much more comfortably as she thought for a moment. From what she heard Abaven was eager to teach those who were willing to learn. She wagged her tail suddenly. "I could take you if you'd like." she offered to the yearling. Besides who would turn down a wolf at Edel's age? She was no more than a pup and Voodoo knew that because she herself had only turned two this season. She felt far from an adult in her life.
"Theory the alpha doesn't seem to WANT anything in return. From what I've heard the pack is open to all Vagabonds and pack wolves alike. It's a place of learning and neutral territory as long as you have a will to learn I'm sure they would all be happy to have you. Then if you decide you can take your own path you can! Or stay and become a teacher." she shuddered at the thought. She didn't see Abaven as a permanent resident for her and she was only just adjusting to being there in the first place.
Voodoo jumped at the chance to take her. Perhaps the young woman felt comfortable with Edelweiss, and she wanted someone she knew in Abaven. That was a wild guess. There was no harm in going to the border, but. "I would like that" But! "though... if it's farther away than here, I don't know how to contact Ghoul other than going to Habari's border." She flushed a bit, turning her pale cheeks somewhat pink. Abaven had accepted Habari's member, so there could be no problem... No, she shouldn't let her life be dictated by what-ifs. She should take this chance, and Voodoo said she could leave if she wanted. She bowed her head somewhat, deep in thought. "If I can leave when I want; if the alpha promises..." she began "I will meet Abaven's leader and ask. I-If you want to leave now, we can. I've no problem" Edelweiss lifted her paw, showing the swelling had gone down "if they ask nothing in return, I could see myself staying for a bit..." She had nothing to give them. |