Walk With Me

He wondered if Charlie knew Crux knew when he was doing that, slowing his normal pace for him. Crux decided he'd not bring it up right now. He honestly was too tired to be bitter about it right now. Crux knew it wasn't his responsibility to be the one running himself ragged over looking after everyone, technically that was Halo's job but the woman had her young pups to worry over and Crux's was feeling like, aside from Keahi and Ruga, his family had taken the brunt of the flood... Not that his nieces and nephews weren't family but... Stratum was... Not well, Andy had taken sick, their father was as overworked as he was and- Well... She wasn't family, not technically but Crux couldn't help feeling responsible for what had happened to Triss... If he'd been more decisive... If he hadn't panicked for as long as he had, if he'd made her turn around the moment he'd seen her... Maybe she'd be able to speak right now!

So maybe he was putting an undue amount of strain on himself, it was probably some kind of penance, guilt thing but he honestly didn't have the time or the energy to really unpack that right now. He'd take whatever excuse he could to have a moment away from it all. Even if it was only as far as the woods. They'd need to replenish their stores quickly, winter was already proving to be harsh and Crux wasn't sure how many other packs would be offering them emergency supplies, and the one pack that had couldn't simply keep Armada's stocks full and overflowing. They'd run out eventually. Unfortunately he wasn't optimistic about many of the plants that would have been much more abundant in the warmer seasons. But oak bark at least he knew could be easily found.

Charlie asked him what he could help look for and Crux sighed. "Dandelions," he started hoping that at least would be easy, "If you can find ones with their heads still intact even better." Unlikely, it was winter and most would have shed their seeds in fall already. "There's uh... a flower, three white petals and one pink. Lady's Slipper, good for a sedative. They'll need to have minimal frost damage." Honestly he would have preferred Yarrow but he didn't have the time to go and get some right now.

"I'm going to gather up some oak bark." Easier for him to do that so he could make sure he preserved the parts of the bark he needed. "Let me know if you find either." He gave his brother a tired smile, his lips barely twitching more from exhaustion than insincerity. He silently hoped that Riya would have more luck, more able to travel to warmer parts of Boreas which was where she was right now.

"Speech"