Oleander got excited about showing Absinth the uses of Yarrow, he felt like he wanted to show her everything he could do! He left her in the market for a moment as he went to his hut and grabbed one of the dried stalks that he liked to keep for example. It was a tidy specimen that displayed all its feathery leafy features and the bundle of white flowers well.

He bounced back to the market and bid her to a quieter alcove of the large space.

"So this is Yarrow! Achillea millefolium. It can grow all over Auster and Boreas. There are very few plants that have this type of leaf so you can know it even when it hasn't flowered yet!" He was wagging his tail, it was almost like he was getting the chance to show his mom what he had learned since his mom had left just as he was finally recovering from his childhood sickness.
"Speech"

Absinth watched Oleander's excited departure with a bemused smile, her tail flicking lazily behind her. When he returned, his enthusiasm was infectious, and she followed him to the quieter alcove, intrigued by his eagerness. It was so unfamiliar to her, to have young wolves like Wylan or Ollie so… comfortable with her. It was foreign.

She studied the dried stalk he presented, her eyes tracing over its feathery leaves and delicate white flowers. “Quite a specimen,” She remarked, her tone warm with appreciation.

Listening to his enthusiastic explanation, Absinth found herself impressed. His knowledge was thorough, his passion unmistakable. “I see,” She said, nodding slowly. “So even without its flowers, this distinctive leaf can identify it. That’s very useful.”

Her eyes softened as she noticed his tail wagging, wondering what nice upbringing the boy must have had compared to her own flickering in her mind. “It seems to me you’ve found your passion, Oleander. I applaud you,” The monochromatic woman said, her voice carrying a rare note of encouragement. “Tell me,” She added, a playful glint returning to her eyes, “How might it be used in ways that are less...common knowledge?”

She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Impress me further, and I might just teach you a secret or two of my own.”

wormwood

Beaming under the praise again, his viridian eyes glowed with joy. His slight frame practically vibrated to continue to show her everything he knew.

"I do enjoy medicine. And finding the differences between similar plants. Sometimes the concoctions are so strong they can clear someone's airway within minutes of taking the concentrated tincture. Oh, but that's peppermint, Yarrow here can stop a wound from bleeding profusely. You can chew it up and apply it as a paste in emergencies, and keep a wound from bleeding out."

Her encouragement was like a warm drink on a stormy day. She leaned closer with her playful glint in her eyes and he couldn't help but catch his breath with expectation. He didn't know what these feelings were but they were making his ears buzz. "Less common? Well..." He looked down at the plant, what else could she teach him? Probably everything under the sun.

"Well, its less common uses are for things like internal bleeding, diarrhea, and helping ease symptoms of a girl's heat." He said looking down at the herb, he brought it up to the light, and let the light of the flames of a torch in the market play through the feathery appendages as he spoke. He looked back at Absinth. Was that sufficient? He wasn't quite sure what a girl's heat was about, only that it made them uncomfortable around their birthday and he had herbs to help them with it.

"Speech!"

Code © Skelle/Witchdogtor DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

Absinth sat quietly, listening to Ollie speak of his passion, a soft smirk playing on her lips. His excitement was infectious, captivating even. It was pleasant, and he was a cute boy. He reminded her a bit of Karaka, but the thought itself made her teeth grit within her inky maw. No good dwelling on the past, though. His voice was bubbling with energy, practically bouncing as he shared his knowledge with her. She hardly knew anything of plants or healing, only the family of plants that had given her name. Perhaps he would find interest in that.

She nodded, her eyes sparkling with appreciation, a grin on her face as her tail thudded against the ground behind her. His knowledge and dedication were impressive, especially for someone so young. But.. When she thought about it, she had been as young if not younger when she arrived to these lands herself, alone and having already endured great difficulties. So, he was not a child, but his innocence reminded her of the vast differences between them.

When he continued, her eyes followed his movements, taking in the way he held the plant up to the light. ‘Less common? Well…’ He looked down at the plant, clearly searching for the right words. Absinth leaned in closer, her expression inquisitive as he began to explain. Emeralds peeking up at the larger boy as she waited for him to finish speaking. Oh, haha. A girl's heat. She was tickled by the way he’d said it, so naive. “It seems to me that Yarrow is very useful! It’s good to know that you’ve learned the various ways it can aid in healing. I can only understand if I think of it as a weapon, and how a knife can do many, many things to my quarry.” She hummed, rocking back on her haunches with a wink.

She glanced at the herb he held again, a slightly dramatic tone to her roughish voice now. “But I suppose I am just a brute in that regard.” She continued, her voice whistfully thoughtful and drawn out.

wormwood

She was as attentive listening to him a he had been for her! She captivated him with her bright emerald eyes as she commented on the plant with him and praised his knowledge. Ollie wisked his tail back and forth and tucked his chin in somewhat bashfully. He hadn't yet told her about the peppery taste it could add to meals, of how it s flowers could anywhere from white to red... but when she started talking about her knowledge of knives he got excited! He'd never fuoght with a knife!

His brows furrowed then, acutely in the negative, he did not agree with her brutish sentiment.

"I hardly see that as brutish. No! You're..." A bloom of pink made its way up to the skin behind his pale white fur. Several words sprang into his mind suddenly but none of them were appropriate for the conversation or company, "... Insightful and resourceful!" He finished with aplomb. Trying not to tie his legs into knots as he shifted his pose to pull an arm back. He was not used to this feeling in his face, hot and uncomfortable. Making his toes itch for movement.

"Maybe you can show me a few of your moves with those knives!" He suggested, holding the yarrow close to his chest. Before they sparred he would put it away at his market stall.


"Speech"

A subtle blush crept onto Ollie's cheeks, his bashfulness plain on his features as he struggled to find the right words to express himself. Absinth couldn't help but chuckle at his flustered demeanor, finding his awkwardness entertaining. She didn’t remember a time when she’d been nervous as a kid, it had always been eat or be eaten, no time for stumbling over words, you understand.

He vehemently disagreed with her description of herself as brutish, and to this she purred thankfully. “Oh, You sure know how to make a girl feel good about herself.” The monochromatic fae smiled, delight dancing in the gleam of her eyes. It was fun to poke at the boy’s innocence.

When Ollie expressed his excitement at the prospect of learning about knives, Absinth couldn't suppress her smirk, her tail flicking playfully behind her. His tentative suggestion that she teach him some knife moves had Absinth's smile widening into a mischievous grin. “I'd be delighted to show you a few tricks,” The idea of sharing her skills with him appealed to her adventurous spirit, and she nodded easily in agreement. “You don’t mind a few scrapes and bumps, do you, Ollie?” She replied, her voice tinged with temptation.

wormwood

This growing energy within him was stoked vehemently as he started to understand what he might be feeling as she smiled and responded. His deep green orbs bounced about the room as he wondered internally at the implications of his reactions. Was this what his parents had experienced when they started to grow together?

She would teach him some tricks with a knife! He literally bounced in excitement!

"Of course I don't! What's a spar without a scratch or two?" He replied joyously. He quickly padded to his station in the market and placed his yarrow specimen under the counter, then quickly returned to her.

"Let's go outside for this!" He invited her out of the market, nearly taking her toward the Col but redirected himself to leading her out of the market on the public side.




"Speech"

Absinth chuckled softly as he literally bounced in excitement at the prospect of learning knife tricks from her. ‘Of course I don't! What's a spar without a scratch or two?’ Ollie replied joyously, and the monochromatic woman was quick to smirk at his eagerness. She waited patiently as he quickly padded away to his station in the market and stowed away his yarrow, his return marked by an invitation to follow him out of the marketplace.

“Lead the way, Ollie,” She said with a playful glint in her eyes, her voice it’s usual roguish rumble as she continued. “I’m looking forward to seeing what you can do.” As they stepped outside, Absinth felt a sense of anticipation herself. Teaching him would be fun, and she was curious to see how he would handle the challenge. It wasn’t every day she took an interest in teaching a younger wolf, after all.

As they walked, she kept a close eye on him, noting his excitement and determination. He was a charming boy, but sheltered. She could remedy some of that just by proximity, but she debated whether or not her words would reach him as Wylan hadn't fully grasped them either. Better to adjust her words to his understanding, than try to force it. “Remember,” She began, “It’s not just about the moves. It’s about understanding the balance, the flow. Fighting is like a dance.” She mused, eyes glittering with a teasing, yet encouraging light — she herself was eager to see how he would rise to the occasion.

wormwood

He curtly nodded his head as he led her to an open space outside the market. The winter chill was perhaps a little biting but the day was rather clear. Their breaths would be easily seen in the air.

He was excited to learn something new, and learning how to handle someone who carried knives would also help him in the future. Especially if he should face her again during a raid. Granted he knew she wouldn't show him all of her moves.

Here they were, a nice flat space to face off and spar or see what she could show him.
The flow, a dance. Less about moves and more about balance. The white wolf already had a knack for movement.

"Let's see what you got!" He started, an eager gleam glinting in his eyes as he faced her. A half wild look that was all his own, separate from his brothers. A look that had already seen the face of death more than once.

"Speech"

Absinth grinned, a playful and almost predatory glint in her eyes as she appraised the eager young man before her. The cold air sharpened her senses, making the moment feel even more electric. She could see the determination and excitement in his eyes, the same look she had seen in her own reflection many years ago.

“Well, aren’t you the eager one?” She teased, stepping closer until she was just a breath away from him. Her voice dropped to a low, sultry murmur, “I like a man who knows what he wants.”

With a swift, fluid motion, she drew her knife, the blade catching the light as she spun it in her paw. She threw it to him then. “But remember, Ollie,” She continued, her tone turning serious, “This isn’t just about showing off. It’s about survival. It’s about understanding your opponent, reading their moves before they make them.”

She circled him slowly, her movements graceful and predatory, eyes never leaving his. “Let’s see if you can keep up,” She challenged, grasping her other knife and twirling it in her mouth with her tongue. “And maybe, if you impress me enough, I’ll show you a few of my secrets.”

Absinth could see the mix of anticipation and focus in his eyes, and she felt a thrill of excitement herself. Teaching him was going to be fun, and maybe, just maybe, she would learn something from him as well.

With a sudden, fluid movement, she lunged, testing his reflexes with a feint to the left before pivoting to the right. “Show me what you’ve got, Ollie,” She taunted, her voice a playful rumble. “And try not to fall for my tricks too easily. I don't play nice.” A word of advice, the only compassion he would get from her now.

She lunged for him, a grin on her face, knife in her jaws, eyes alight with danger and thrill as she sought his shoulder with intent to harm.


Absinth vs Oleander for Maim (Scar)
Round 1/?
Age: Over 1
Size: Large
Build: Balanced
Offensive Battle Accessory: Knife bracers
Defensive Battle Accessory: leather armor
Companion 1: Raven, Female - Battle
Companion 2: Raven, Male - Battle
Skills: Master Fighter & Master Intellectual
Specialty: Juggernaut


wormwood

An electric thrill ran through the youth as she drew closer, commenting how she liked her men. Is that so? His eyes narrowed as he watched her closely, his muscles tensed and ready to move. The flash of the knife was all he had as a warning and he sidestepped it, moving aside as fluidly as she had thrown the blade. Her words were a distraction in the dance, a part of the game of course. He would move with her, always facing her, his limbs though gangly never had the stumbling teenager stride to them. They were always precisely where he wanted them.

He was watching her closely, his viridian eyes never leaving her form, measuring her movements and guessing her next move. They walked in a circle facing off. He wondered how she could hold the knife and twirl it so without it cutting her, she must have practiced the move for years.

She feinted left but she didn't know her eyes and movements had already betrayed her plans to him, he could see the calculations as she half-stepped to the left and pivoted. He darted to the left anticipating the movement to the right. He rumbled an assent with a smirk to her comment about how she didn't play nice. He figured that much as soon as she had thrown the knife at him.
This was going to be fun.

She lunged, and he dove beneath her, his slender body snaked beneath her leap, intending to trip her while he hooked a paw to grab her leg. His movements lightening fast. He had seen her gather her muscles to leap and reacted instantly.

As soon as he was clear, he pivoted and lunged himself at her face, intending to use his paws to knock the knife away from her mouth with a paw and grasp her neck with his maw.

Oleander vs Absinth for Dominance/defend against maim
Round 1/2
Age: over 1 year
Size: Large
Build: Light
Offensive Battle Accessory: Steel claw caps
Defensive Battle Accessory: Polar bear skull helm and cape
Companion 1: White Raven, female - flying
Companion 2: Leucistic Raccoon, male - battle
Skills: Expert Fighter & Expert Healer
Specialty: none

"Speech"

As Ollie sidestepped her initial feint, she felt a surge of appreciation for his reflexes. He was quicker than she anticipated, a worthy candidate for her particular style of teaching.

She adjusted her stance subtly, muscles coiling in readiness. When Ollie dove beneath her, aiming to trip her, she shifted her weight smoothly, rolling with the motion. Her body twisted mid-air, attempting a serpentine maneuver that would allow her to avoid the worst of his hook.

She would land lightly on her feet, spinning to face him again, her movements almost feline. But in the process her knife was knocked from her mouth, and she was forced to change tactics. Her body flowed around his attack after a brief recovery, twisting with a dancer's grace. She aimed a quick, controlled strike towards his exposed flank, testing his defenses without committing fully to the attack.

She was a predator playing with her prey, but there was no underestimation here — only respect for his abilities.


Absinth vs Oleander for Maim (Scar)
Round 2/2
Age: Over 1
Size: Large
Build: Balanced
Offensive Battle Accessory: Knife bracers
Defensive Battle Accessory: leather armor
Companion 1: Raven, Female - Battle
Companion 2: Raven, Male - Battle
Skills: Master Fighter & Master Intellectual
Specialty: Juggernaut

wormwood

She spun herself midair! What a move! He was awed for just a half moment before he dove in for his attack at her neck but she moved with such grace around him that his jaws clicked on thin air. He spun and noticed that he was successful with his disarming attack, the knife was no longer in her mouth. Where was it? It must have fallen in the snow, but he didn't take his eyes off her if he could, spinning to keep her in view.

He leaped back, hoping to avoid her flank attack, and lunged out to grab her leg and flip her over onto her back. Then he planned to pin her there.

Oleander vs Absinth for Dominance/defend against maim
Round 2/2
Age: over 1 year
Size: Large
Build: Light
Offensive Battle Accessory: Steel claw caps
Defensive Battle Accessory: Polar bear skull helm and cape
Companion 1: White Raven, female - flying
Companion 2: Leucistic Raccoon, male - battle
Skills: Expert Fighter & Expert Healer
Specialty: none

"Speech"

And the winner is...

ABSINTH

OLEANDER must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Absinth's maim is successful. Totals: OLEANDER: Attack Roll: 56 Defense Roll: 90 Agility Roll: 24 Perception Roll: 72 Total: 242 Attack[56] + 20% Bonus[11.20]: 67.20 Defense[90] + 35% Bonus[31.50]: 121.50 Agility[24] + 5% Bonus[1.20]: 25.20 Perception[72] + 10% Bonus[7.20]: 79.20 Total[293.10] + 20% Bonus[58.62]: 351.72 ABSINTH: Attack Roll: 95 Defense Roll: 53 Agility Roll: 13 Perception Roll: 87 Total: 248 Attack[95] + 55% Bonus[52.25]: 147.25 Defense[53] + 15% Bonus[7.95]: 60.95 Agility[13] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 13.00 Perception[87] + 25% Bonus[21.75]: 108.75 Total[329.95] + 25% Bonus[82.49]: 412.44

Absinth felt the rush of air as Ollie's jaws snapped shut, narrowly missing her neck. She spun with the grace of a dancer, her eyes catching the glint of her fallen knife in the snow. Her movements were a blur, deceptive and fluid, never giving away her true intentions.

As Ollie leaped back to avoid her strike and lunged for her leg, she let him get close, baiting him with a calculated risk. The moment he committed to his attack, she twisted her body, a serpentine maneuver that allowed her to evade his grasp. In the chaos, she managed to grasp the knife, feeling its familiar weight in her jaw.

Ollie lunged again, aiming to flip her onto her back and pin her down. Maybe he noticed the knife, but it was far too late by now. Absinth moved swiftly, her muscles coiling like a snake before the strike. As his momentum carried him forward, she sidestepped, bringing the knife up in a precise, controlled arc. The blade sliced across his chest, leaving a thin, non-fatal cut just over his heart. It was a mark of their encounter, a scar to remember her by. One that earned a wicked grin from the fae’s inky lips, still clasped around the knife.

She landed lightly on her feet, her breathing steady, eyes locked onto his. The dance had ended, and she stood victorious, her body still poised for any final moves he might attempt.

wormwood

He leaped forward to pin her down but instead, she sidestepped and he felt a new sensation blaze subtly over his chest. He landed with a thud, suddenly feeling weak and his arms crumpled into the snow. He made to get up but slowly a choking pain had him cough as he struggled against the ground.

He harshly laughed at this strange weakness, a sensation he was used to, and took a steady breath. Slowly the pain grew more and more intense over his chest as the snow started to darken and grow red.

He flinched as he looked down and finally saw the bloom of blood growing through his fur. He gave in then with a loud and heartfelt laugh! It was not maniacal, it was a boy's triumphant sound. He gave the sky his choking hissing laugh for just a moment. He glanced at Absinth, panting, "Ha, ya got me! That's what-what that was!" He was breathless.

Now that he knew what it was he found he found he could shakily get to his feet. Stricken by a sudden flinching motion of his limbs, and slight dizziness. He was shaking his head and wincing as he moved.

He got free of the snow bank, thoroughly defeated he slumped into a hunched sit before her, his head low.
"I didn't even...see-see you grab it back up! Good fight!" He exclaimed, still a delightful teasing smile over his maw. He was still the runt of the litter, stricken by weakness when he was over-exerted. Though he had thought he had been over these struggles by now.

He drew in a sharp breath, a small sound escaped him as he gathered the strength to walk back to the Market. He wanted to keep his head high and display his new fresh scar.

"Speech"