so hungry my belly button's chewing my backbone

The good news was that Gavroche wasn’t a slave after all. Speaking with Valkyrie, presenting his offers, revising alongside Runa as they went had been far more nerve wracking that the young man expected. The calico male was grateful, however, so very grateful that the woman had even considered listening to him. He was fun-sized at best and the truth of the matter was that she didn’t have to accept his offer or even allow him any chance of leaving the basin freely. She could have just as easily chosen to force him into slavery instead… but that, in itself, made Gav respect her.

Not all wolves understood that just because you lived a different kind of life that you could be reasoned with. Valkyrie was doing as she been raised, following her beliefs, as any other wolf would. Truth be told, though Runa had been a slave, she didn’t look as though she had been treated too badly either. She did not have any untreated wounds or anything of the sort… whereas slaves in Lyenne, his homeland, risked injury, starvation, and even death. Not that Gavroche would call her a saint by any means… but he didn’t see her as a monster either. Her band was another group of wolves trying to survive. He may not have chosen to follow such beliefs or actions but that didn’t mean he didn’t understand; he could respect them.

He had a flicker of hope in his heart again. He and Runa would work together so they could both be free… he respected the wild woman for that too. She had the chance to be free then and there, to allow him to take her place… but instead she chose to show her own heart, to make sure they both had lives to live when all was said and done. He didn’t know how he was going to do it yet but he wanted to show his gratitude to her… a gift maybe? He had two seasons or so to figure it out at least.

The young man had set off, speaking to Valkyrie of the direction he planned to go and the estimated time he would be gone. It almost felt silly, like he was a child telling his parents of his plans, but Gav didn’t want to risk ruining the chance of freedom he and Runa could have. He needed to find herbs and whatnot if he was going to have things to work with, which he felt was a perfectly reasonable explanation for his heading away from the basin, and so long as he came back in the timeframe mentioned all would be fine… at least he hoped.

He had gone south at first, going as far as to reach the Avain Estuary before he started towards the shore. Around his neck, hanging awkwardly in front of his left wing, was a makeshift “bag” of strong grasses from the basin mixed with other various vegetation. It wasn’t likely that he would be able to use it for more than a couple trips at best but it was something at least. Within it there were already a few various plants;

Agrimony picked just outside of Valhalla territory where the plants bleed into the area on the outskirts of the Estuary. As well as a couple dandelions.

Alfalfa and white willow bark from the Estuary itself.

Burnet from the sycari strip to help aid with strength.

Yarrow picked from the basin itself on his way out, less he run into something while collecting and noting the locations to get a larger cache of supplies. He didn’t want to leave himself unable to treat any injuries he may sustain.

He also brought some horsetail from the estuary as well, preferring to be on the safe side, and a half eaten adolescent mallard he had managed to catch. Gavroche wasn’t much of a hunter, and truthfully had its wing not been damaged he wouldn’t have gotten ahold of the meal at all… but at least he had eaten and had the strength to keep going.

Gavroche wasn’t sure what drew him to try and investigate one of the islands. It was a pretty lengthy swim for a creature his size and by the time he made it he was winded. He had needed to empty the contents of his pack out to dry too… maybe that wasn’t such a good plan. The herbs were waterlogged but they could still, hopefully, be used. The mallard would probably taste salty as sin but at least it was food.

Once the herbs had at least dried out enough Gavroche repacked everything and set to exploring. The island was… bleak and barren… and the lizards that sometimes scurried about startled the winged male. It didn’t look like there was any other creatures saved for the scaley kind here… and Gavroche wasn’t too keen on figuring out just how large they could get.

He was planning on giving up and heading back to the mainland when he noticed something… odd.

What he was looking at was some hairless yet canine creature. He had never seen any hairless canine in his life and, for a moment, Gavroche started with a mix of uncertainty and fear. In Foi and Majofionism those who lost their fur were marked by Seethe herself when the divinity chose to mark them as the fallen, darker creatures that followed her. The believe that he looked upon such a creature now had Gavroche wondering if he should run… but something else told him to stay… to press on and get closer.

Gavroche moved slowly, quietly, taking note of the scent of blood in the air. He noticed too how the male trembled in place and appeared to breathe heavy. As he shifted, to seek to come around the side of the other male in a wide loop, he could see the main cause of his difficulties. He was starved and Gavroche wondered for a moment how he had even survived this long. His ears remained pinned, worry gnawing at his gut as his duties as a healer screamed at him to try and help. He could always find more of the same herbs and whatnot on the way back to the basin… He wouldn’t be able to explore further lands this trip out but that was fine. It was worth trying to help someone survive.

“Excuse me,” Gavroche’s voice was a gentle bark; he didn’t want to startle the other man. “I’m a healer. I have some stuff in my bag if you’d be willing to let me look at you. Stuff to help with your digestion and help with appetite… something to help keep your strength up too.” He had truthfully grabbed the herbs originally not just for his lessons but his own use. Even though the eruption had been a season ago his own appetite wasn’t quite where he wanted it to be… though he suspected that could very well have been more his loneliness and the deep sadness he had felt losing Melanthios and Houdini. Now though… he had a purpose… he had to fulfill his offer, his promise to the band and to Runa. For her… and for himself.

He took note of the bloodied forelegs and the recently slain lizard as well.

“I can treat the wounds and… well, it’s been in the salt water but I have part of a duck that you look like you could use more than I.” He was already taking the pack off, hoping that even if the stranger was hesitant to let him treat his hurts he’d at least take the food. In his current state Gav doubted the lizard would be enough to sustain him for long and while the duck wasn’t exactly large either both of them together might make a half decent sized meal.