She could feel the beginnings of a cold; a mild headache and a scratchy throat. As of yet her nose had not begun to run with mucus, but she'd give it another day for that symptom to appear. There was a low annoyed rumble in her chest as she sniffed along the damp soil beside the hot spring, tail lashing angrily behind her as she searched for the desired herb to make a concoction with. It was her first cold in a while, and her talents as a healer were average at best, but she had a vague idea of how to make one from her teachings way back in the day. Whether she remembered all the steps would be for her to find out after she found the damned plant.

Iðunn paused at a a small bush with white spiky-looking flowers, cautiously nibbling at the tip of one. A look of disgust appeared on her face at the bitter taste, but this was definitely the one she was looking for. She grabbed a bunch of it by the stems and ripped it from the rest of the plant before carrying it back to her small pile of other ingredients and supplies. Laying down with forepaws outstretched, she contemplated where to begin with her impromptu and likely amateur concoction.

Deciding a good start was to grind a bunch of the herbs into a fine powdery paste, she set to work using an adequately round rock clutched haphazardly between both front paws. She began to grind the Boneset as carefully as she could with the rock against the flat stone she was using as a makeshift bench. This would be a lot easier if she had her tools from back home, but she'd make do with what she had available here.

Healing 1/3

Since joining Valta, the young Klein boy has sought to improve his healing skills. His father had to leave in search of a cure of a mysterious illness and Strix had thought he made the right choice to stay behind. However, the intense sadness and sense of homesickness had crippled him and the boy had not done much for a couple seasons. Now that he is doing better and back on track, he is determined to become an excellent healer, just like his mother.

Resolve is in his steps as the Klein boy walks, mismatched eyes scanning the area around him. Strix does not smell the other wolf because of the heavy scent of sulfur and he startles slightly when he sees her form appear. Eyes squint to try and make out what she is working on and he angles his path to intercept her. Giving a small, woof of greeting as he nears, the boy of black and clouded grays eyes the makeshift bench she is working from.

Eyebrows raise as Strix spies boneset being crushed and says, “Hello ma’am. You okay? Need any help?” Gaze flicks up to catch her eye, silent asking if he can join her in her work.


"Strix Klein"

Her work was interrupted by a boy, politely curious, and she paused her grinding to look up at him. His coat was an interesting blend of black and greys, but she had far more pressing things to think about. She considered his words; usually she would have told him to leave her alone while she worked, but without her family to back her up she was on her own. And to be honest... she could use a little help. But only if he knew what he was doing.

"You know how to make a medicinal concoction for a cold?" Iðunn motioned with her muzzle to the Boneset that was now half-grinded. "I have... little experience. Could use some assistance." A mild look of annoyance appeared on her face for a few moments. She didn't wait for an answer before returning to her work, figuring if he knew how to help he'd take the initiative and get to work without her needing to tell him to do it.

"You know how Boneset works, yes?" She used the Swedish word for the herb, not knowing its name in the common tongue that most of the wolves here seemed to speak. But if he was a smart boy he could put the pieces together.

Healing 2/3

Strix looks to the older wolf, curiosity settling on his features as he waits for her to speak. Eyebrows shoot upward and a small smile pulls at the corners of his mouth and he says, “Yes. I know a few herbs that can help. You can steep them and make a tea.” Moving to sit across from her, the small boy settles in while saying, “My name is Strix Klein. My mother is a great healer and showed me a few remedies. Uh, don’t suppose you some juniper berries handy?”

His smile is somewhat awkward as he asks, hoping she has some so he can show her how to make the tea. Her next question catches him off guard and the Swedish word throws him for a moment. Head tilts to the side as he looks down at the herb she is crushing and says, “You mean this herb? Boneset? I have heard about it in passing but uh, no, not really.” Another shy grin appears as Strix waits to hear what the herb is good for.


"Strix Klein"

She hums softly to herself as the boy speaks. A tea, eh? It had been a long time since she made one of those, but the concept was not too complicated. She'd figure it out. Her icy blue gaze flicks up from her work as he continues on, giving a small shake of her head. As far as she knew Juniper berries weren't used to treat a cold, but if he had any advice she wouldn't say no. Couldn't afford to with her current situation. "Iðunn Trygg," she says briskly, and then after a slight pause, "no, are they used for a cold?"

Her brief language switch seems to confuse him, but the boy is smart and he gives her the English name of the herb. It sounds wrong to her. "Ah yes, Boneset." She sounds it out carefully, the consonants struggling to roll smoothly off her tongue. "Used for cold and fever symptoms, and it can ease muscle pains." Iðunn finally finishes grinding up the Boneset, but stops her work there. She had had no real plans for the exact concoction she wanted to make, figuring diluting the contents into a paste she could eat would be suitable enough. But perhaps Strix could help her out.

"Show me how to make a tea with the Boneset?" She couldn't see why this herb would not be able to be steeped to make a tea, but Strix had more knowledge than her in this instance.

Healing 3/3

The small Klein boy nods in greeting as the woman shares her name while offering her a warm smile. When Iðunn says she does not have the berries, Strix waves a paw through the air, brushing off the need for need for them while saying, “It is okay. They help to boost your immune system which is good for fighting colds. But you don’t need them, there are other things you can use.” Ears perk forward as she talks about the boneset and he lets out a small whistle of appreciation. It is nice to learn about herbs and what various plants uses are since, honestly, a lot of medicinal plants have so many.

Pink and mint gaze falls to the crushed herb as she asks him to show her how to make a tea with the boneset and he amicably agrees, saying, “I can do that. Ah, there are a few items we will need. A container to warm up water over a fire, a bowl or cup to pour the hot water into, and some unbroken leaves of the boneset.” Strix looks up in an attempt to catch her blue gaze and quickly adds, “We can improvise if needed. I can… just talk you through the steps if you want.” A slightly embarrassed shrug is offered to the woman as he realizes just how woefully unprepared he is… healing equipment-wise.


"Strix Klein"

An ear twitched at Strix's explanation of the particular use for Juniper berries to manage a cold, storing away the information in her mind. While not useful in that moment, given her lack of the berries, she would seek them out in the future. Perhaps she could add them into her diet during the colder months to help prevent colds in the first place.

The boy seemed very interested in what she had to say about the Boneset, and she was glad that at least one youngster had an appreciation for the art of healing. Though it wasn't the main part of her role as a priestess, it did encompass a facet of it. Plus, given her cousins' abilities to get injured she was needed to fix them up well enough.

Iðunn glanced at her supplies as the boy gave her some basic instructions on how to make the tea, before reaching over to grab the crudely made wooden bowl and set it down on the flat rock. "I only have one bowl, are two required?" Her gaze lifted to meet his. It had been intended to mix the ground herbs into with some of her other supplies, and she hadn't needed a second one so didn't think to bring it with her. Given her lack of something to carry items in she had needed to be stingy on supplies she brought with her.

"Perhaps talk me through it, and I can make it another time." She would have no qualms about trying to create a tea with one bowl, but if he insisted two were necessary she would continue with her initial plans and make the tea later when she either found or made another bowl.

Healing 1/3

The small Klein boy watches Iðunn, listening intently to what she has to say. Since his mother had left with his father to help his sire heal, the boy has been lacking in wolves to help train him in healing. Luckily, she is nice enough to explain things and a lopsided grin appears. Asking about how to make tea with the Boneset, Strix asks about supplies and finds that they both are lacking in the required material.

Luckily, she doesn’t mind him talking through it and he nods, saying, “Okay. First thing you want to do is gather several leaves. You will want to keep them whole for the tea.” A black paw lifts to point at the bowl that she has been crushing the Boneset leaves in and says, “You can use a bowl like to put the whole intact leaves in. If you have another bowl or something metal that can withstand heat, you will want to use it to put water in. So, you’ll have two bowls; one with the leaves and one with the water.”

Mint and pink gaze looks to Iðunn, searching her face to make sure she is following along and that he isn’t explaining things too quickly.


"Strix Klein"

The boy has no qualms about talking her through the process, and for that she is grateful, though she only allows a small sliver of a smile to grace her features. She is not a very expressive wolf on the best of days, but in this instance she could allow some sort of emotion to slip past her usual look of indifference. With the singular bowl settled between her forepaws, Iðunn waited patiently until Strix finished his explanation, or at least the first part of it as clearly he had more to say but appeared to be waiting for her to respond.

She still had some uncrushed Boneset, but Strix seemed adamant she needed two bowls to make the tea he spoke of. Ah well, she'd just put his instructions to memory and make it another time. Iðunn could definitely find another bowl, but perhaps she'd go searching through the territory further west where bits of scrap metal lay scattered about to find a suitable item that could work for the purposes of tea making.

"Two bowls: one with intact leaves, one with water. What next?" Iðunn could infer one of the next steps would involve making a fire and heating up the water, but she'd wait for him to explain it in whatever manner he preferred. In this case she was the student and not the teacher, so she'd make sure to not interrupt his flow.

Healing 2/3

The boy lays out the items Iðunn will need to make the tea and, when he pauses, she prompts him to g ono. With a small smile, Strix gives a nod and continues on, “You will need to make a fire. The bowl with the water will need to be heated up so be very careful how you get it close to the flames and how you remove it from the heat. You know, to protect your paws.” The pup lifts his black front paw and wiggles the toes as he shows her the dark pad.

A grin pulls at his lips as he lowers his paw back to the ground and finishes the lesson, “Once the water is boiling, remove it from the fire and pour over the intact leaves. Let the leaves steep in the water for at least five minutes before you try to drink it. But uh, don’t burn your tongue.” With a small nod to himself, Strix finishes the lesson and looks to Iðunn. Would she want to find out more about what he knows? Maybe there is more information that they can share with each other.


"Strix Klein"