There had to be a better way to do this! Crux gripped the pestle part of his mortar and pestle set between his fangs and he glared down at the half mashed mess of Agrimony, the last he had that was still usable. To be honest this probably would be easier if he had a proper set instead of the stones he'd improvised into one. It honestly hadn't been a big priority until half his stash had had to be thrown out after the flood had ruined them and now he needed to try and preserve what little he could until winter let up and storing poultices was much easier than plants. Crux sighed and scooped what he had into one of the jars he had prepared, he could always put more work in later but he was finding his patience was low right now. With everything put away Crux made his way out into the open space of the col, he rolled his shoulders trying to work the pain from his hunched position out. "Speech" "Riya"

Art by Talia!

Wylan was still recovering from his tumble in the flood waters and near drowning. It had been terrifying, and probably should have taught him caution. One of his wings was in a splint, which was incredibly awkward, and not using it sucked. Despite the inconvenience, it was hard for the young pups spirits to stay low for long. In fact, the moment he caught sight of his Uncle, a grin formed on his muzzle. “Hi Uncle Crux, whatcha doing?” He asked, bouncing forward. Close enough to stick his nose into the makeshift mortar and pestle and take in a deep breath. Herbs fluttered upwards and stuck to his nose. "Speech"

Despite all the dark clouds that seemed to be swirling above Crux's head it seemed moments of levity weren't impossible. As his nephew came bounding in Crux couldn't help but smile and was about to answer the boy's question but the words were replaced with a laugh at the state of Wylan's muzzle. "I'm making poultices." He began to explain as he reached out to gently remove the herbs from his Nephews face and guide them back into the stone bowl. "The flood washed away some of our supplies so I'm doing this to try and make sure what we still have lasts longer, herbs can dry out and become less useful but as long as you store them correctly poultices can keep for longer." Not indefinitely, no he doubted anything could but longer which is what they needed right now. "You get your herbs, you can mix and match them if they have the same effects, but that should wait until you know them a bit better," Crux reached out to ruffle the fur on his nephew's head as he spoke, "You put them in something called a mortar." He gestured to the one at his paws. "Then you add just a little bit of water and you take a tool called a pestle and mash the herbs up into the water and each other until you get a herb pulp." As he listed the pestle he gestured at the one he'd just been struggling with. "These aren't actually a real mortar and pestle but the idea is very similar. It is a little difficult though." Crux admitted, especially when he had sabres that got in the way. "Did you want to try?" He had to admit he enjoyed teaching the boy, he was eager and what more could you ask for in a student? Might as well let the kid give it a shot, it'd be easy enough to prepare a mixture for him. "Speech" "Riya"

Art by Talia!

He sneezed as herbs went up his nose and tickled the inside of his nostrils. Sending the herbs (and snot) flying. Luckily, Crux was able to save the bowl, and some of the herbs that hadn’t gone up his nostrils. As Crux guided back the herbs he could, Wylan wiped his nose on a wing, and looked up at the older wolf with interest. “What's the difference between dry herbs and poultices?” He asked as his Uncle explained why they needed poultices. He leaned into Crux’s paw and giggled as the other wolf ruffled his fur. “So that's a Mortar.. Hey! Is my dad named after that?” he asked with a yelp of surprise and pleasure. Ha! That was his dads name. Mort. “Please, please, please!” He chanted, tucking in his wings and shuffling into a position between Crux’s paws. Standing directly in front of the other wolf, with his back pressed against their stomach as he reached out to grab the mortar. “It’s heavy!” He said in surprise. "Speech"

Learning how to juggle his nephew's questions was a feat in and of itself, and Crux wasn't sure he had quite mastered it yet. Still he was doing his best. "A dry herb isn't as strong as a fresh one and on average we use salves and other mixtures rather than just slapping a leaf on someone so keeping them fresh means your mixture will be stronger." And then a question about Crux's older brother and Crux couldn't help but laugh lightly. "I don't think so, I believe your father's name is Mortis and Mort is a nickname, like calling you Wyl." He wasn't particularly close with his older brother, admittedly he had a general wariness around his older siblings. Azure had poisoned a hell of a deep well but he had no qualms with Mortis or any of the older siblings he had that were still around. Gossamer had even helped him some time ago when he'd been treating her wounds. Heck, if his brother had raised a kid as sweet as Wylan Crux had to assume Mortis wasn't that bad. Wylan reached out to take hold of the mortar and commented on it's weight. "Sure is, it has to be thick enough to withstand the damage using a pestle can cause."Crux rose to his paws and quickly sorted through what he had that was, frankly, disposable. Just in case. About the only thing that fit that was dandelions. That would have to do. He brought a few back towards his nephew and began to strip the leaves, heads and roots. "Do you know what we use dandelions for?" He asked, unsure how much the boy's mother had taught him yet as he gently places the leaves and flower heads into his makeshift bowl and gently pushed it towards his nephew. Letting him try by getting a feel for the tools he was using. "Speech" "Riya"

Art by Talia!

Wylan nodded his head and listened as his Uncle spoke about the strength of dry herbs vs fresh. He supposed that made sense, and it was something he should listen to. It was important, and he really did want to learn about healing. It was just… so hard to stay focused on any one thing. “It would be funny if he was named after a Mortar” He added in, glancing up at Crux as he said it, grinning. He wondered if Crux teased his siblings like Wylan did. Or were too old for that now. Wylan didn’t think he’d ever be too old to tease his siblings. He held the mortar carefully between his paws as Crux grabbed some herbs for him to work with. He recognised the dandelions that his Uncle held up, and Wylan scrunched up his nose in thought. ”For… bruises?” He said, though it came out as more of a question. When the dandelions were put in the mortar, Wylan went to work with extreme excitement. Really showing the pestle in there, and going ‘crunch, crunch, crunch’ to the poor little flowers. "Speech"