With a small cart full of supplies hitched behind Ila, the mini caribou, Iolaire was off with children in tow to teach them... things. There was a little hourglass within every being. When that sand ran out, so did your life. Iolaire's was getting fairly low. She'd led a very full, rewarding existence, but the trials and turmoil that she'd faced had made that sand run just a little faster. So...the old woman was doing what she could to make a lasting impression on the wolves around her; her family.

Today, Iolaire was taking a few of the younger wolves out on a little trek. The day was full and bright but the stones seemed to make things a little darker nonetheless. Ambiance, if you asked Io. They were going to be catching dreams, after all.

"Sit right down, pull up a fur." Wiggly fingers motioned to the others to get situated. She'd brought a stack of smooth, oiled furs so that they could more easily see their supplies. After the furs were lid out, the wiry old woman began laying out stacks of supplies. She produced saplings that she had already formed into a circular shape. There were beads and feathers and strips of fine leather. She'd spun alpaca fleece into fine threading and there was a large roll of hefty twine.

"Today, we're going to learn to catch dreams," a little cackle was released as Io sat down on her own fur. They should have expected her to be a little eccentric by now and Iolaire didn't disappoint.

"Iolaire"

Dusk followed her old aunt out to the circle of stones. Yes, she wants to know what the woman was doing, but she also wanted to keep Iolaire and Nelu safe. After having been attacked and grievously injured, Dusk didn't want to let anyone take chances.

Catching... dreams? The antlered girl tilted her head slightly and looked at the supplies laid out. It seemed that everyone was to start with one of the empty wreaths, so she took one and gave one to Nelu as well. Dusk shot Nel a reassuring grin and then turned her attention back to Iolaire, curious as to what they were actually doing.

"Dusk"

After a friendly spar and introduction Nelu felt it prudent to invite Kina to the Runestones where the little group from the Hallows had set up camp. The horned girl explained that she was very interested in crafting and he imagined Iolaire would have something interested to show them. Nelu escorted Kina and her guardian back to the camp to see Iolaire was already pulling items out for making something. He heard her say something about catching dreams? His brow furrowed. "But, aren't dreams imaginary visions and sensations created by your brain? How would one catch that with something physical?" In his focus on her words he complete forgot to introduce the others.

Kina bounded along after the older yearling, eager to see what his group was crafting. She was surprised Áskell had let her go but the old man seemed to be in a good mood today. They arrived to see an older woman and a black-pelted girl and a lot of different crafting supplies. She stared in surprise as the older woman stated they were going to catch dreams. "Really?" Oh she'd love to try catching one of her dreams. Nelu seemed skeptical though. She reached up a paw and swatted him.

"Don't be a spoil sport! It sounds fun. My name is Hattori, Kina." She bowed in customary greeting. "Nelu invited me. I hope it is alright if I join you."

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"Fine, fine! Sit, sit!" Iolaire motioned Kina to pull up a fur and handed the girl a sapling wreath. Only then did she look towards Nelu. "Not everything is black and white, darling." Yes, she knew that Nelu was very analytical, with crisp, clear expectations of things. This wasn't that type of lesson, however.

"Imagine," the old woman began, "being able to ward off bad dreams by making a net to catch them. If you catch the dream, it can't come back again, right?" Wiggly fingers motioned to the wreath before each child. "Like a spider we'll weave a net to catch the bad dreams. In the center there's an opening so that good dreams can get through." As she explained, Iolaire pulled out an already complete dreamcatcher and motioned to the intricate weave with the center opening. "The decorations that you add are pretty things that entice the bad dreams into the net."

"It's important to make a dreamcatcher yourself. It needs to be special to you." The black, white and ash woman shook her head. "It doesn't matter how it looks, only that it came from your paws. You put the time and effort in, so the dreamcatcher will work hard for you in turn." It was all fantastical, but Io imagined the kids might have fun with it.

"Iolaire"

Dusk snickered softly and looked to Kina. "I'm Dusk, you know Nelu and this is our aunt Iolaire." Since no one else was going to remember introductions. The antlered fae listened as her aunt went on about catching bad dreams. She wasn't sure if she believed in that sort of thing, but it seemed fun enough to craft along with the rest.

Taking up the wreath, Dusk looked at the various bits and baubles before cutting off a long strip of the thick twine. Remembering what a spiders web looked like, she began tying it to the wreath, moving back and forth and winding the length around to create layers. Every once in a while she'd insert a bead or something else. Hmm... maybe this would be kind of cool.

"Dusk"

Spoil sport? How was he being a spoil sport? He was simply stating a fact. He raised a brow at Kina then realized his mistake in failing to properly introduce her. He took a seat and the lesson began but his brow was furrowed nearly the whole time as she explained that they'd be building traps to catch the bad dreams. He examined the wreath skeptically. "But… Aunt Iolaire. I don't understand. The dreams are in your head. How does something outside your head catch the dreams? Nevermind the intangibility of thought. I think-" He yelped as Kina nudged him sharply with her tiny horns.

"You don't have to understand it. Just make one. It's an expression of creativity."

He stared at her for a moment, considering the statement. "I see…" He stared back at the wreath before picking up a thin strip of sinew and beginning to wind it carefully around the wreath, catching the strands at various intersections.

The dark-pelted girl introduced herself as Dusk and the older woman as Iolaire. Kina sat next to Nelu and listened as Iolaire explained that they'd be making dream catchers to catch bad dreams while still letting the good ones through. She looked at all the trinkets and shiny's, wanting to scoop them up with her paws. She considered what she wanted to do with hers as she listened to Nelu speak. She gave him an exasperated look. Was he always like this?

"You don't have to understand it. Just make one. It's an expression of creativity."

She reached for some strands of sinew, weaving a small piece of bone onto one before looping it around the wreath. There were some shells as well she was keen to use and scooted them closer to herself as she worked out how best to add them.


Speech

Nelu still didn't understand despite the insistence of both Iolaire and Kina to just do it and not worry. The old wolf chuckled and shook her head before rising and inspecting each dreamcatcher. She pointed out structural issues so that the rounds wouldn't warp and she helped tie knots here and there since she had nimble little toes.

"You've all done a lovely job," she assured them. "Hang these above where you sleep and your bad dreams will drift up like smoke and be caught within the net." Iolaire ruffled Nelu's fur affectionately. "I hope you at least had fun and enjoyed the lore behind it."

"Io"

Dusk worked hard at her creation, adding bones and beads, rocks and feathers. She even went so far as to hang bones from leather strands at the bottom, thinking that the weight might better hold the catcher in place. Not that she believed in the myth, but... you know. Better safe than sorry?

When the last knot was tied, the dark lady sat back to inspect her work. She was quite proud of what she'd made. The black feathers and beads... it looked very Dusk. All aside from the black and red feather dripping with white beads. Thoughts of Sitri flooded her mind and heat filled Dusk's cheeks.

"Dusk Carpathius"

Nelu was methodical in his weaving, making sure to cross the strands at certain intervals to create an even pattern that wrapped all the way down to the middle where he left a small hole per Iolarie's instructions. He'd been so focused on weaving the sinew he'd forgotten to adorn the strands with anything. He felt he couldn't leave it entirely unadorned so he took some extra sinew and looped a few cowie shells onto it before tying the little shell star to the top of the top of the dream catcher.

He held it out on his paw toward Iolaire. "Is this correct, Aunt Iolaire?" Even if he didn't really believe it was going to do anything other than be a pretty decoration he wanted to be sure he was doing his best.

Kina carefully held a bone bead in her jaws as she used her claws to thread the sinew through. Once it was pushed through she then did a little braid before wrapping the sinew around the wreath frame. So far, so good. She was getting a sense of what she was doing. The outside edges were a bit rough but as she worked it came to her more naturally and the strands were pulled tighter. Once she was satisfied she took a moment to look at everyone else's work. Kina stood up to address her elder. "Thank you, Lady Iolaire, for the lesson. I really enjoyed it!" She bowed again in respect. She wondered what Áskell would think of this project as well as the lore behind it.


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