Conference Call

Aurielle was deep in her own mind as she carefully set pieces of wood upon the fire, while Ayodele cheerfully flapped a stiffened piece of hide to create a breeze, encouraging the tongues of flame to catch on the fresh wood. Gradated blue eyes perused the wood stocks, and she supposed that she would need to enact one of her intended future customs. She hoped to see the walls of the cave lined with everything from small sticks of cedar kindling to chunks of oak she and the pack might be lucky enough to come across.

Ime, Paladin’s Mandrill, had said that oak was among the best woods for burning, as it lasted a long time. Where would they find oak? There was the matter, as well, of the other pack members. While the fire here in the cave was for all to enjoy when they wished, for Gwen, who was aging – if gracefully – it was a bit of a walk to thaw out.

The click of claws on stone echoed ahead of the pair as Gwen came in—it was almost like the thought of her secondary had summoned the woman. With her came Amos, and Aurielle had to suck in a breath at the inordinate amount of pleasure his appearance brought her. She recovered swiftly, a subtle sniff telling her that the oily perfume of the day – Vanilla, Paladin had said, with a stern look that said it was a hard to find thing in Boreas, so don’t waste it – covered her natural scent enough that it would be vanilla they smelled first instead of… well.

She smiled, turning to circle the fire, leaving the warmest spot for the older woman and settling as Gwenevere greeted her. For a moment the young Archangel’s eyes drifted to Amos, and a reflexive smile settled on her features before Gwen’s words registered. Left? Oh, yes, to patrol and perhaps to work on the wall.

Her eyes flicked back to Gwen and she nodded, but remained silent as her second mused aloud. Each she noted with interest, a slow nod silently announcing she was thinking over her fellow leader’s words, considering her responses and the courses of action to take. A glance flicked to Ayodele who had settled to plaiting braids into the long hairs of her tail. Aelloshir, stretched out like a big black pool of shadow near the fire was listening as well.

As Gwen completed her thoughts, Aurielle chuckled, a toothy smile on her features as she said, “I was going to make a pack custom out of wood gathering. In fact, I agree, I was considering starting that custom early.”

She mused silently before she settled her thoughts into place and began, an ear flicking absently as the lemur moved to play with her mane, “With hunting, I’ve been considering an annual hunt beyond the walls—maybe even bi-annual. We have so many resources available to assist in bearing meat, bones and hides home from expeditions. Ime and Kayode, Paladin’s companions, have already been rendering fat from the small kills we make and gathering marrow.”

Her eyes focused briefly on Gwen as she added, “All the lessons that can be held will be worth it. We’ve been lax in teaching, and I don’t recall a hunting lesson any time since my birth, though Da said Mask held one for Marina’s litter? Sounded like it failed abysmally.”

A smile flickered onto her features as she added, “As for Brandr’s rank, he’s led a pack hunt already, has ne not? Consider him promoted to Hunter. Initiative must be rewarded. On that note—Amos,” Her eyes turned to the grey toned male with a grin as she remarked, “You’ve been patrolling with Gwen, and actively working to spar—not only that, you won the last spar. Not only that, you saved my hide with that tiger. I think you’ve well earned a promotion as well.”

She let that rest a moment as she returned to the topics Gwen had lined up, nodding. “Why don’t we set up shifts with the children. Each will perform sentry duty with an adult. We’ll start them at thirty minutes to an hour and gradually lengthen the time as they get used to it. Eventually, they’ll be able to stand sentry alone or as a pair with each other.”

A breath to center her thoughts from wandering too far down that road as she focused on the next question regarding herbs.

“Paladin says a lot of bulb-based herbs are still able to be gathered until winter hardens the ground too much to dig them up. And the deserts will have good selections of plants that may be worth our while to send them on forays to retrieve. Failing that, we could trade with other packs for what we have less of that they might have more than they need. There’s always Auster, of course.”

A click of her tongue followed the trail of thoughts in her mind before she addressed the wood gathering, nodding.

“That would work, especially for larger chunks… I was wondering, how would you feel about setting up a fire in your den? That way you and your children will have a source of warmth without having to trek all the way here getting cold toes. Though I do hope you’ll visit anyway…” She flashed a grin at both wolves with a soft chuckle.

Her eyes shifted to Amos as she smiled, opening the questions to him as she asked, “What are your thoughts, Amos? Any suggestions or ideas?”

Word Count of post: 935
Current Word Count in Total: 1,831 (>.> ... Ahem.... Aurielle had a lot to think and say.)

Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think