Long ago, back when she was just a young wolf living with the old herbalist in her cottage, Iolaire had been taught to make vessels from clay. She hadn't done so in a long time, but now that she had put down roots and created a permanent home, she believed that it was time to take up the task again. Always one to want to share her time with others, the tiny wolf thought first of Rhythm, the kindly old woman that she had met numerous times now. The hot spring was her favorite place, after all. Io was pretty fond of it herself. She had asked the snow leopard to escort Rhythm here if the woman accepted her invitation. While she waited, Iolaire cleared off a wide patch of ground. She pulled the grass away, turned the earth with a knife that she'd brought, and constructed a large fire. She burned this fire down to the hottest of coals, then added Osage orange wood to the mix. The wood was very dense and would burn hot and smoldering for a long time. The turned earth beneath the fire was filled with heat. This was exactly what the woman wanted. Pleased with her heat source, the dark woman then began digging into the moist earth near the springs and began to collect the rich clay hidden there. She placed the clay upon a large flat of bark and sat it in the shade with a wet deerskin over top to keep it moist and ready for use. Now, she simply had to wait to see whether or not Rhythm accepted her invitation. "Speech"

It wasn’t very often that her presence was specifically requested, but when the snow leopard appeared to her she felt a warmth grow under her fur. Iolaire. She’d met with the woman a couple of times now and she couldn’t deny she enjoyed the dainty healer’s presence. Rhythm was invited out to the hot springs and she didn’t hesitate to go forth.

A sweet smile played on her silver marked lips as she slowly made her way out to the springs. She was slow going, and by the time she appeared Io had fully prepared the area for their craft. Rhythm smelled the fire quite a ways out and as she appeared made a bee line for the warmth. Winter was the hardest season for the ancient she wolf, her arthritis made her movements stiff and painful. The cold intensified the feeling so having the warmth of the fire gave her relief.

”Io, it’s a pleasure.” She said warmly as her unseeing gaze tried to find Iolaire’s form. She was warmed and honored that the Armada woman thought to invite her here. ”I have a suspicion that this is a little more than a social call?” She asked softly as she made herself comfortable next to the fire.

Rhythm had perfect timing. The fire was low and was ready for the purpose that she had in mind. Enki, who had been escorting the elderly wolf, settled down nearby and began cleaning himself. Cold affecting the older woman had slipped her mind, but now that she could see the somewhat stiff movements, realization dawned on her. Dammit... At least she hadn't had to travel terribly far. An easy smile on the fae's face, Rhythm greeted her and settled down by the fire. "Good to see you again. Last time you mentioned how much you enjoy this place, so I figured I'd invite you to spend some time with me here." Though they'd only met twice, Iolaire had a healthy respect and admiration for the Abaven wolf. She had considered her first when trying to decide who she'd like to make pottery with. "I'm going to make clay pottery today if you'd like to join me. Or I can simply explain the process as I go along and you can just relax." Iolaire didn't mind either way. She was content to have the woman's company. Moving to the pile of clay, the dark dame added a bit of sand to the mix and began kneading it to mix it in well. She'd placed herself close to one of the springs so that she could dip her paw in to add moisture to her clay. She did so a few times as she worked. The clay was almost ready. "Speech"

Iolaire warmed Rhythm’s heart as she mentioned that she remembered how much the old she wolf enjoyed this place. The chocolate woman chuckled amusedly as she settled comfortably enough next to the warmth of the coals. Though she wondered if she could get the snow leopard to lay at her back.. At least they weren’t in full winter yet. ”That’s so kind of you to think of me.” Rhythm offered warmly before Iolaire continued to tell her th plans she had for everything. She could sit back and relax, or she could get some work done before it hurt too bad during the winter. Rhythm tried to push the thought away that there would possibly be a time when she wouldn’t even be able to manipulate clay any longer.

”I’d love to join along, I’m curious about your methods.” Rhythm hadn’t been practiced at the craft for very long, but she was a fast learner. At least Poem was impressed with her work. She chuckled inwardly as her attention turned to Io.

Rhythm agreed to do the task alongside her and Iolaire grinned. "I'm glad. You've made pottery before?" It was more of a statement than a question. Taking up one of the chunks of clay that she prepared, she placed it between the older wolf's paws. "I figure it would be easiest to just start with bowls until I see how this clay reacts to my methods. Of course you can make whatever you'd like."

Moving back to her place, Iolaire began to work the clay into a vessel. She smoothed it with her pads, dipping them in water to hold up any cracks that might appear. "So I've dug up the clay from the springs. I added a bit of sand that I brought with me and mixed that through. Once we're satisfied with our bowls, I'll place them near to the fire so that they can cure." The woman gave a little chuckle. "I brought lunch as well so we can eat while we wait for them to dry. Once they do, we place them in the fire." There was a very long process where she had to slowly move the heat closer and closer to the clay, but she left that bit out. "We can leave them here tonight and I'll collect them tomorrow. I can have Enki deliver your bowls to you. How does that sound?"

The healer questioned her softly as she placed a perfect lump of clay in her paws. Its texture was strange compared to what she used, but the young Aureus had mentioned adding straw to his mixtures occasionally. What had Io done differently to this batch? ”Yes, I sculpt with feel rather than sight. I’m not sure how pretty they turn out but they serve their function well.” She was proud of her ability to make the walls an even thickness throughout with a consistent rim.

Io was quick to answer her unasked question, she’d added sand to the mixture. Rhythm took mental notes as she shaped the clay skillfully beneath her toes. ”What a well thought method.” She was old, there wasn’t much that surprised her anymore. Learning new things was a pleasant change of pace. ”I wont turn down a free lunch.” Rhythm chuckled good naturedly as her bowl began to take shape. ”Your cat is quite useful isn’t he? What a wonderful companion.” Feather helped her immensely in the day to day, what if she had a big cat to do for her?

The pair of ladies worked together contentedly. There was little need for endless conversation while they worked, but they spoke here and there. Rhythm brought up Enki and Iolaire chuckled. "He's a pleasure, that's for sure. Roan and I found him trapped beneath a boulder with a fractured paw. He decided to pay us back by staying with us." From his place, the leopard raised his head and spoke one word. "Grateful."

"And I'm grateful to have you," Iolaire affirmed with a nod and a smile.

With one bowl formed, she placed it near enough to the fire so that it could dry before moving on to the next. She attempted to make them all a similar shape. As Rhythm finished her own, the small fae did the same, moving the blind woman's bowls closer to the fire and giving her another chunk. In no time, they were done with the molding bit. Iolaire had scratched a little signature onto the bottom of each of her own bowls so that they could tell them apart.

Rinsing her paws off in the spring, Iolaire began to lay out their lunch. There was some dried, seasoned meat, a few bite sized chunks of raw meat if Rhythm preferred, and some dried fruit in the forms of figs, apples and pears. "Once the clay dries a bit more, I'll place all of the bowls into the fire, moving them slowly closer and closer to the core where it's hottest. Then we just leave them and I'll come back tomorrow once the fire has died out." She would see how many of them broke.

Her bowl was near finished as they talked about the leopard who was saved from certain death. Rhythm turned her attention to the cat and offered him a smile despite not quite looking where he was seated. Iolaire took her finished bowl, ”Have you told me about Roan?” She asked as the woman returned her attentions to the fire and began to explain the next process. ”Your man?” Iolaire would have to forgive her memory if she had spoken about him before.

Rhythm perked her silver marked ears as Io offered up lunch and explained what she was doing with the fire and the slow process of firing their pieces. ”Im tempted to meet you here, but I don’t think I can manage another trip so soon after this one.” She tried to chuckle lightly, but her arthritis was no joke. ’You should meet my granddaughter, Poem. She’s been working hard to become a decent potter. She tells me her pots aren’t as pretty as mine.” She tried to change the subject to mostly keep her mind off how sore she was.

As Rhythm spoke to him, Enki began to purr. Iolaire could feel the deep reverberations from where she sat, and he was closer to the old wolf than he was to her. He had sprawled out to eat a bit of the meat that she'd brought for him. As Rhythm asked after Roan, Iolaire chuckled. "I must not have mentioned him." Placing the last of the bowls, she came close and began setting out the meat and fruit. "The first time that you found me, I was sad. I had broken it off with a woman that I loved deeply because we both knew that I couldn't give her what she needed." She couldn't give the woman the children that she needed to continue her line. "Roan is a man that I found in a cave. His sister had been killed by a bear and he had been injured. I nursed him back to health, saving him essentially. He saved me in return."

Popping a chunk of meat into her maw, Iolaire chewed. "Mmm, Definitely don't come back tomorrow. I'll send Enki to you if he's willing. If not, I'll deliver the dishes myself." The leopard seemed to be offended by the idea of his refusal and he snorted. Rhythm spoke of her granddaughter Poem and how she wanted to improve her pottery skills. "I'd be glad to teach her what I know. She could meet me here some time and we could repeat this process once I know how to clay fares."

Though she imagined the woman was trying to hide it, she could see the tightening in Rhythms features as she moved. "Would you like some willow bark for the pain? I could make you a salve and send it with Enki tomorrow." She didn't like that the elderly wolf was in pain and she partially blamed herself for it.

The feeling of Enki purring at her side eased the old woman and her arthritis, and she smiled at Io as she took the opportunity to talk about her other half. Brown ears perked as she took up another bit of clay and began to morph another piece. This time she worked on something a bit more complicated. She’d heard of a teapot, though she’d never seen or used one. She used the description she had in her mind and started to work on the heavy body of the main chaimber.

Io’s sadness the first time they met came to light, Rhythm could understand where she was coming from, and she remembered how far away Valentine was. Not just physically, but in every other way as well since her return. She no longer called him her mate, and had she not been at the end of her life with many sorrows behind her she might have let the sorrow more fully encompass her. He had once been her soulmate.

She swallowed softly as she found joy for Iolaire. ”I’m very happy for you, congratulations.” Rhythm offered with a smile and no hint of the melancholy inside. Rhythm continued to work the bulbous shape of her pot as Io offered up a bit of pain management. Maybe if she was home already she would deny it but, ”I do have the trip home to worry about… I should take up your offer.” She relented as she finished the main body of her piece.

Io eyed the strange sort of pot that Rhythm was crafting. It made sense in her mind, but she'd never seen such a thing before. Very clever. She might have to take that and make her own. She was constantly pouring teas and tonics. With her fancy paws, it was easier for her than most, but if it could be easier, she wouldn't complain.

The old woman congratulated her and Io smiled. "Thank you very much." Love had been a long time coming for the little fae and she was very thankful to have stumbled upon Roan. Once the thanks were given, Rhythm considered some pain reliever for the trip back. If she was considering it, Iolaire decided that she needed it. Sifting through her pack, she came out with some powdered willow bark. Io always carried a small skin of water just in case and she mixed the two together in a little dish that she kept as well. Reaching out, she gently took the old woman's paws away from her pottery. "Drink this. It's a powder of willow bark, turmeric, ginger and feverfew mixed into water. Doesn't taste very good, but it'll get the job done."

The light was shifting and, now that their pots were made and placed within the fire, Iolaire decided that it was time to get the woman back to her pack. The days were already getting shorter. Io didn't like it. "Thank you for spending time with me today, Rhythm. Perhaps I'll see you tomorrow. Enki will escort you back." The leopard gave a rumble of agreement and rose from his place before sliding his side along the older wolf's just to let her know where he was.

Carefully Rhythm started to form the spout, handle, and lid to her teapot. She was careful with her pieces, and with great care began to attach everything to the main body. There was a high chance that it would end up broken after being fired. She hoped that all of her work wouldn’t go to waste, but at this point in her life she was used to disappointments. She could always make another one if it did crack. The only way she’d really be able to use it would be after it was turned into stone wear instead of just dried clay.

Iolaire offered up the willow bark mixture, she was so sweet and considerate. Rhythm’s heart was warmed, more than the liquid warmed her Io’s kindness brought warmth to her bones. ”No I don’t think it will taste good, but it’s a brilliant mixture.” She took up the mixture and lapped it up, grimacing at the taste but downing the medicine anyway. Hopefully the anti inflammatories would last her for the journey home.

Rhythm finished the offering and gently nudged her completed tea pot towards Iolaire so she might see to its firing. The day was coming to a close, and the snow leopard would happily escort her home. ”Thank you, Io. It’s been lovely visiting you.” She grinned at the she wolf as Enki sidled up beside her and she leaned into him lightly. ”Hopefully I’ll see you soon.” She gave her another smile and followed the leopard back to Abaven.