(Pre Finch Thread) Starling was starting to get back into the groove of things. Even if it was oddly and annoyingly wet around here, it didn't wash away all the life like winter did. There were still new blossoms, plants returning from their winter's sleep. He felt good, not great, not happy, but he felt good. It was wonderful to hunt again, wonderful to stock his store again. Luckily, his store had been far enough from the rapids to flood, and while it was damp and his furs were wet, it was nothing a little sun couldn't help. So he had set them out to dry while he returned to the new territory to find something to put into his little burrow. He nearly skipped as he did so, far too excited to see what this season would bring and if the wetter climate might bring something new along. Maybe a plant that grew mostly by the water? He could almost giggle he was excited, but instead he just moved quickly, nose to the earth and searching for something exciting. "Talk"" | "Italian"

So, Bass had introduced her, and several others, in the meeting. Not only that, but ranks had changed as well - not that Vali had been around much before the change in ranks, so she had not a problem with it. It was simply interesting, though she hoped soon to be able to know the rest of the pack. She had seen a few of Bass' children, namely, those he looked at when he announced that Finch was missing. She'd volunteered for it, but she was uncertain as to what the girl looked like, which made her feel a bit odd; regardless, she hoped the girl was found.

It would take only a moment and she'd be aware of another pack member, something that made the white woman perk up considerably. "Hello?" she called out.

Deep blue eyes widened a fraction as the greeting was called out, and for a moment he just wanted to sigh, but he didn't. He reminded himself that he liked people, and he didn't want to get stuck in the mood he had been in before. Starling really was like a flower. When the sun was out, and it was warm, he could flourish. He could feel good about himself, but when winter came he just...tanked. He needed to figure that out. But besides all that, he turned to the woman and smiled shyly. She was new, but he recognized her from the meeting, albeit not...a lot. She had been introduced, yes. He hummed softly and tilted his head to her.  "H-Hello..." He said in his soft, stuttering voice, wondering who this woman was and what she wanted. Did she just want to socialize? Well, great, but she better not be expecting to stand still while doing it. Starling was jittery and he wanted to explore his beloved flora. ""Talk"" | "Italian"

This one was... young. And shy. She chuckled softly to herself. She didn't really remember seeing this one at the meeting; she certainly didn't know his name. "I'm Vali Lasair," she introduced, her head dipping in greeting. "And you are?" she would question, before stepping towards him. She was Abaven; he was Abaven - there was nothing to fear here, unless it was the awful sopping ground that threatened to eat her paws all the time. As she neared, she noted the white markings underneath his eyes and the nose-stripe; he was definitely a Destruction. On one of Bass' children? She knew the Destruction family was huge, but she also knew that Bass' first litter had recently turned two and that this boy looked about that age.

Starling binked, fidgetting on his paws slightly. He wanted to move, wanted to hunt, wanted to find things, but she seemed keen on socializing. Introducing herself politely with a name he quickly put into his memory bank with a gentle smile, before asking his name. It was true they hadn't met before and Starling had never dared to think that because he was the alpha's son, meant he was special and well known. But he was still surprised that she didn't know his name, mainly cause it was rare that he met strangers in Abaven. ""M-my name i-is Starling."" He said softly, smiling at her. ""I-i was j-just..l-looking for h-herbs. Would y-you like to j-join me?"" He asked softly, his nose tilting down slightly as he said it. He really hoped she either wanted too, or figured out that he was busy and would let him go on his way. Either way, his flowers were calling his name. ""Talk"" | "Italian"

"Starling. A pleasure." She smiled at the name - the name of a bird. Finch, the lost girl, also had the name of a bird. Something of a theme, yes? Hadn't Bass said his mate's name was Wren? Another bird there, and a definite connection. Pleased in her correctness with Starling's relations, her tail wagged softly behind her. It increased in it's beat when he asked her interest in herb hunting, and she visibly perked up. "Yes, I would! I know a bit of herbs myself, though I'm primarily a fighter. I'm always looking to learn more, and perhaps build a stock of my own so I'm ready to help whenever needed." She'd never be a primary healer; she was much like a first-aid type of healer, but that was alright with her.

Starling would smile warmly as she said his name, his eyes seeming to almost sparkle before he glanced down at the grass beneath his paws, shifting awkwardly again. He could feel the spring sun on his back, feel the grass beneath his toes (albeit a tad more squishy and soggy than normal) but he had to stay...hopefully just a little longer. He blinked when she perked, and he tilted his head slightly. He wouldn't have to wonder for long as she explained, saying she was sort of a healer himself. A small smile touched his lips before it spread happily. Even if she was primarily a fighter, it would be wonderful to have someone else to talk about healing stuff with! He'd step back slightly, as a sign that they could start moving now. "A-as a fighter, a s-solid understanding of b-battle w-wound b-binders and re-remedies would be a f-fantastic a-addition. I k-keep te-telling e-everyone th-they sh-should kn-know the b-basics, b-but not e-everyone l-likes healing." He said with a small laugh. "H-have you h-had m-many lessons?" He asked almost hesistantly. He wouldn't be opposed to...teaching her a few things. It helped him remember better by teaching others. ""Talk"" | "Italian"

Her saying she was a healer seemed to please the boy greatly, and she'd chuckle to herself. She'd find herself nodding along with his words, a slight respect growing in her eyes. Bass had raised his children well. That itself brought a bit of sadness; she wished she was there for that, but... nothing could be done for that. "I agree completely. And even if one does not like the art of healing, it's still useful information to know, and one should always want more information if it is beneficial." He'd go on to ask her a question, and she shook her head. "No, I'm mostly self-taught, with a few lessons. I was on my own for a long while, since before you were born." Had it really been that long? Two years... it had. Oh, so much she had missed.

Starling would nod quickly at her words, still fidgetting as he wanted to go. He really wanted to move, wanted to search. But eh, at least he was making a good healing friend, even if she wasn't primarily a healer. He would grin as she agreed with him, head tilting slightly to the left. Yes! That's exactly why. "M-my father h-has no patience for l-learning h-healing, n-no m-matter how I t-try. I-i'll probably have t-to follow h-him a-around t-to ma-make s-sure h-he doesn't g-get hurt." He said with a soft laugh, stepping back again in hopes that they could start moving. "I-if you w-want...I-i'm p-pretty a-advanced i-in my h-healing, i-if y-you have a-anyt-thing y-you w-want to k-know, or p-perfect..." He said softly, smiling to her. ""Talk"" | "Italian"

He'd move back again, and she'd resist snorting. Alright, alright, she got the hint. She was okay with standing and chatting, but he wanted to move. She laughed at his description of Bass; yes, that was exactly so true. But then again, when she was younger she had no interest either. While hers expanded out - mostly out of necessity, and her dislike of it diminishing around it the longer she dealt with it - it seemed his... did not. "That sounds like Bass," she murmured. "And yeah, you probably will." She flashed a grin at him, adding, "If he's anything like he was a couple of years ago, you could follow him around and he'll still find some way to hurt himself." She never doubted it, and oh, she'd tease him about it in a heartbeat. She smiled at his offer, nodding. "I'm always open to learning more, Starling. And if you're that advanced, your father must be proud of you for being such a quick learner." She definitely would be, if he were hers.

He smiled brightly at her as they began to move, and he practically skipped in his first few steps. He needed to move, it was weird. If he wasn't searching he felt so stagnant. His entire life was looking for herbs and figuring out how to use them to benefit others. When she spoke of his father, he couldn't help but feel a little curious, tilting his head towards her. "Y-you certainly s-seem to kn-know him w-well." He said softly. He had never heard of her, and until really recently he hadn't even seen her. Was she another aunt? Or maybe just a friend Bass never got around to mentioning. Either way, he smiled softly and looked down at the earthen floor, his eyes quickly looking for something he could pick. "D-dad i-isn't as cl-clumsy as y-you say he is, a-at least n-not as long as I h-have known him." He said with a faint laugh, looking at her. "But s-sometimes h-he does sp-spar so h-he does g-get hurt..." He hummed softly, looking back around again. "B-but then agian, i-it's kind o-of a warriors job t-too get hurt, isn't it?" He said softly before he suddenly paused, looking at her with large blue eyes. Proud? "O-oh, well, I g-guess" He said softly, awkwardly. "I-it's not th-that I'm a quick l-learner.." Which he was. "I-it's that...th-the first t-time I saw sp-spring I f-fell in l-love with th-the p-plants th-that came o-out of n-nothing...a-and it was all n-natural from there." He said softly. And it was true. Starling never really "learned", he just floated through new knowledge like it had always been meant for him. ""Talk"" | "Italian"

He'd make an observation, about her knowing Bass, and she chuckled softly. "Yes, I do," she answered, in a tone just as quiet as his. "I knew him when I was younger, much younger. Well before you were born. It was before he was even an alpha! But shortly after he became an alpha - I followed him to Abaven - I left, in search of my family. It's been... so long since..." she trailed off, her voice holding a tinge of sorrow and regret. She grinned softly at his own comment about Bass being clumsy, and she nodded with him. "He's really not clumsy," she agreed. "But I do like to poke fun at him." She paused, before winking at Star, a grin on her face. "I'm usually the clumsy one, though I blame it all on him." Then she spoke of him fighting, and she'd nod at that too. "That's more what I meant. He loves to fight, to train, but on top of that it's his duty, his calling to be a warrior.... just as yours is to be a healer, I bet. My calling is of both worlds." The woman paused, listening to the rest of what Starling ahd to say, and frowning at it. "Well, no, not really. Our job isn't to get hurt, it's to prevent the ones we love, cherish and care about from getting hurt. Just as it's the healer's duty to tend of those they love. We protect them." That was fully her belief; warriors protected, and healers tended. She shook her head and laughed at his awkward almost-protest. "Don't be silly, Starling. You guess? No. He is proud of you, even if he doesn't understand it. A lot of warriors don't, just as a lot of healers don't understand warriors. Plus, that sounds like a quick learner to me. You have a passion, Starling, and your passion for healing and herbs is as strong as your father's passion for fighting. Don't underestimate or undervalue yourself." She would advise the boy softly, her voice quiet, steady.