we carry on

Her smile and comment about his grandmother brought a fond smile to the crimson Archangel’s face, and he nodded. “I wish I could have had more time with her; she was old when I was born, and I wasn’t even a yearling when she had to say Goodbye. She and my mother taught me just about all I know, with father and my cousins and uncle. From healing, to history, to manners, right on down to our family’s language; The Old Tongue. She was a wonderful teacher.” So was Kavdaya; the two were eerily similar, in a way. Both white, both healers of exceptionally brilliant skill and innovativeness.

He was oblivious to the butterflies in his new acquaintance as he bent near to peer at the plant, beaming at her nod of affirmation that she would like some. He bent, carefully nipping stems and leaves, the gentleness and delicacy at extreme odds with his larger than life size and masculinity, and continued until he had a nice pile that he could split with the little female if she decided to part ways at the end of their conversation.

“Kavdaya could tell you all about these plants; from the best time to pick them, to where to find them, and how to ensure gathering will still leave enough to keep the plant growing. I do recall that she said Autumn and Spring were the best times for Meadowsweet..” He craned his head around, grasping the bundle of herbs in their deer hide roll and pulling it carefully from under his necklace, spreading the hide to reveal his bounty.

He smiled down at Solveiga, expression cheerful. “Do you have anywhere to go?” He already knew she was a loner, by her scent; she carried none of the pack scents on her coat, but he felt it was a good way to break the ice and see if she was maybe seeking a home.