Wylan trotted through the Col, sniffing at caves without entering, and trotting from the forest entrance to the far side. He waved a paw at the sentries, and turned back into the Col. heading this time towards the great big funny rock, and the fireplace beyond it. The fire was already crackling away, and he wiggled his wings, warming the underside of them, before turning back to the funny rock. He walked up to it, looking at the smooth stone, before tapping a paw against it curiously. Well, it certainly didn’t sound hollow! He sniffed it, and scented the faint tone of many wolves, as well as moss and what must be the scent of the stone itself. It looked important, but why was it here? "Speech"

It was weird, thing were finally starting to feel almost... Normal? Maybe Crux didn't actually know what that meant, maybe he meant regular. Like he was developing a routine, he had settled into his new space and was getting used to the daily tasks that space required of him. Now he just had to actually work up the courage to tell his father the path he wanted to chase to actually start offering that space for what he'd intended. But while he worked on that things still needed to be upkept, which meant replenishing the supplies that didn't exactly keep for long. Which mostly for right now, consisted of moss. Fresh moss had much more use to him than dry so it was something he had to keep on top of. Luckily there was a source just outside his front door.

Crux made his way out of the caves, he wasn't planning on leaving the pack lands today so Riya was off doing whatever it was she did when he wasn't around, so he was alone as he walked across the open space of the col towards the giant stone monolith. When he got close though he could see someone else was poking around at it. A little shape with, gods, wings. It was one of the things about his older brother he still found himself being shocked by, and though he hadn't failed to notice he had yet more nieces and nephews running around now he somehow had missed that apparently one of them had gotten that particular trait from their father. "Whatcha' up to?" Crux asked as he pulled up to the base of the monolith, watching the boy out of the corner of his eye as he began to carefully scrape some moss from the stone. This would probably be the last season he would be able to collect it while it was still relatively fresh, maybe he should come up with a way to store it more effectively?

"Speech"

Art by MarkLix

As Wylan poked around the strange rock, another wolf appeared. Heading straight up to the smooth surface, and scraping the funny green stuff hanging around bits of it off. He stared in astonishment. I’m, uhh…” He started to say, hoping closer, and pretty much sticking his nose where Crux was scraping. Sniffing at the funny green stuff. “Exploring.” He said the word clipped, and quick, as if his thoughts were already on the track of something else. “Whatcha doing? What is that stuff? If this big rock for growing it?” he asked, pretty pleased with that hypothesis. That must be why this funny rock was here. So it could grow that funny green stuff, and they could scrape it off. He was pretty sure he had seen something similar around his mothers herb stuff. So it must be part of healing, right? He liked healing! Maybe this wolf would let him be a part of whatever he was doing? "Speech"

Crux couldn't help but chuckle softly as the boy almost immediately shoved his nose into the space his paws had occupied only moments ago. The kid's explanation was pretty understandable, he remembered his own fascination with the obelisk when he'd been his nephew's age. He chuckled again as his nephew bombarded him with questions. Each in order then. "I'm gathering some of this up since it can be useful." He pulled his little pile of moss towards himself as he stepped back slightly to give the pup space to get a clearer look at the side of the stone he'd just scraped if he wanted. "It's called moss, it's a common plant with some unique properties. It grows on the sides of rocks and trees. I don't think the obelisk is meant for growing moss but it is useful in that regard." He made sure to pronounce the word obelisk carefully so the boy could hear it clearly. As for what the monument was actually for? Well he knew the pack laws were etched onto it's face, a symbol of Armada. But what had it been for before that? Considering it's size he assumed it had existed in this place long before the Armada had moved here at all. If he was correct then it's original purpose was as much a mystery to him now as it had been when he was a pup.

"Speech"

Art by MarkLix

“Can I help?” He asked once Crux explained he was gathering it for its unique properties. Before waiting for a reply, he stepped up, resting his forepaws against the obelisk. His tail wiggled behind him as his wings flared for a little extra balance. Almost knocking into his Uncle - not that he noticed - and he extended a claw and started prying it under some moss, glancing over at Crux as he did so to ensure he wasn’t doing anything he wasn’t supposed to be. He giggled at the funny, spongy feel of the stuff, almost getting distracted from what he was doing, but not quite. He did think that healing was Important Business and was always looking for a chance to learn more about it. "Speech"

Crux couldn't help himself, the kid's enthusiasm was just too much and he smiled even as he was forced to back peddle suddenly and awkwardly as his nephew tried to keep his balance. Crux supposed he hadn't exactly been steady on his paws at that age either... Good to know that at least even with his added challenges everyone had been on par with him at that point. He leaned over the boy's shoulder, trying to avoid getting hit by those wings of his. "Gently," he cautioned even though he really didn't need to, "just like that!" He couldn't help but feel impressed that the boy already seemed to have a knack for this at least. Still he had no doubt that with his energy and enthusiasm his nephew would strip the whole obelisk if he let him. Crux glanced down at his own pile and watched the boy for a few moments longer, waiting for the pile at the pup's paws to be of a size that Crux felt his nephew could still carry but wasn't just a few bundles.

"Okay, that's probably enough." He said, his tone still light he wasn't chastising the boy. "In order for the moss to grow we need to make sure we leave a decent amount behind, that way it grows back stronger and healthier." He gestured to a patch of untouched moss a little further up the stone face. "That way we don't run out of a useful resource." Crux wondered if the boy really grasped that concept yet, it was the same idea that said to make sure there were always some strong young animals left in a herd after a hunt, that way they didn't starve themselves out through their own shortsightedness. "Want to bring the moss back with me? I can tell you what it's used for." Maybe he'd get a little helper out of this whole thing, at least if the boy was half as inquisitive as he seemed... He hoped.

"Speech"

Art by MarkLix

Sticking his tongue out to help with concentration, he worked some of the moss off the obelisk. Working slowly and careful, paying extra attention to being gentle as his Uncle had requested. He was pleased with his growing bundle of moss, and wasn’t upset when Crx told him that was enough, He let himself plop back to the ground with a dull thud. “I think mumma’s said something similar before” He said, nodding his head sagely as if he had any idea what he was talking about. “Yes please!” he said excitedly, reaching down to grab his bundle. He was just happy his Uncle was sparing the time to let him help. He loved to be a part of everything! "Speech"