THUNK. THUNK. THUNK. The dull sound reverberated through the plains. What made such a sound? Old lady Iolaire, of course. Old though she may be, there never seemed to be an end to the woman's work. If she didn't keep herself busy, she would likely just shrivel up and die. She'd been dead once and didn't plan on being dead again until she was damn good and ready, so work, she did. Oh right, what was the thunk sound? Iolaire had snatched up a rattlesnake by its silly little rattle and, without missing a beat, flicked it through the air like a whip, cracking its head against one of the many rocks beside the stream. She did this several times for good measure, making sure that the serpents brain was as rattled as its tail. (Or that it was dead.) The woman had a little clay pot sitting beside her with a thin piece of deer bladder stretched over it. With practiced ease the fae slid her dexterous digits up to grasp the snake at the base of its skull. It was obvious that she was a seasoned pro. Speech

In the outskirts of the plains, where the rhythmic whisper of the wind played among the tall grasses, Aurelia moved with purpose. Her keen eyes, the color of storm-touched sapphires, surveyed the landscape as she gracefully navigated through the terrain. They hadn't been occupying Serpent Plains for very long ... but she already wasn't impressed. However, the faint sound of a commotion did catch her attention, drawing her towards an old, weathered figure near a stream. Iolaire, with the air of someone well-versed in the ways of survival, seemed to be engaged in a rather unorthodox activity. Aurelia observed from a distance, her curiosity piqued by the unconventional scene before her. With a quiet and careful approach, she studied the veteran fae, silently contemplating the purpose behind her actions.

Aurelia's expression remained neutral, betraying little of her thoughts as she watched the woman's skilled handling of the rattlesnake. The intricate dance between predator and prey unfolded before her, leaving an impression of both respect and wariness. Even still, the allure was there. And Aurelia couldn't help but notice the practiced precision this woman carried herself with. Aurelia hadn't even noticed the little clay pot. Once she had reached a more conversational distance, Aurelia cleared her throat to announce her presence. "If you don't mind me asking, what on earth are you doing?" She inquired lightly. There was a tone of amusement, but she did intending on satisfying a genuine curiosity.

"Aurelia Veratti"

The tranquil symphony of nature enveloped Mariah as she emerged into the open plain. Her silver eyes widened with both fascination and a touch of surprise as she caught sight of Iolaire, gracefully manipulating a menacing rattlesnake by the glistening stream. The fluid, almost choreographed movements held her rapt attention, and she couldn't help but wonder at the meaning behind such an unexpected display. From her vantage point, she noticed another younger fae- only just older than herself- coming to interact with the snake charmer.

Deciding her own intrigue was too great, she also began to approach cautiously, keeping a respectful distance to not disrupt the delicate balance between the older lady and the serpent. The unfamiliar face of Aurelia, with her storm-touched sapphire eyes, caught Mariah's attention briefly, but her focus quickly returned to Iolaire and the peculiar display. "I must admit, I've never seen anyone handle a snake quite like that," Mariah remarked, her tone carrying a genuine curiosity.  She gestured subtly toward the clay pot, silently questioning the purpose behind collecting the snakes in such a manner.

"Mariah Mendacium"

Caedes, the massive canvass of scars that he was, had come across the scene whilst on the hunt. Or maybe search, considering his quarry was the delicate frame of Mariah. Parting has been such sweet sorrow, and whatnot. The trail led him, fresh and aromatic, to a strange sight. It seemed to be an impromptu meeting of wolves, one of which seemed to be the focus. He might have paid it no mind, until his eyes fell on his frail beauty. The brute observed the unfolding scene with keen interest now, wondering with a quirk of his brow just what had caught her peculiar fancy. His verdant gaze flashed, reflecting interest in the manner the old woman handled the serpent. The other stranger, a woman of azure markings went mostly unacknowledged by him meanwhile.

He noted the piece of organ stretched over what appeared to be a collection item, for the venom. He had heard of.. poison collectors, those who made their weapons toxic, within the Saxe — but he had never seen it first hand due to his apprenticeship under his grandmother. She hadn’t been the type of woman to use such things, as far as he knew. A splatter of red upon a rock, the snake's crimson lifeblood dribbled from its nares - most likely the manner of immobilizing it that he had not seen himself. The rustle of his approach was the only sound that gave away his presence, before his deep voice cut through the air. “You’ve a long history with poison — learned quite the few tricks haven’t you? How many bites did it take to perfect your craft?” With graceful movements he padded closer, his gaze fixated on Mariah as he took an attentive stance at her side, a grin playing on his lips before returning his focus to the old woman.

"speaking"

As she fiddled with the reptile, it seemed as though she'd acquired an audience. Three young wolves huddled around, looks of amusement on their faces though she didn't really look at any of them. Much too busy for visual inspections. Just cursory glances as she slid her nimble paws up to firmly grasp the back of the incapacitated snakes head.

Questions and observations floated her way and a throaty, growly little hmmm of amusement pulled from the old woman. "Never seen a venom collector at work, eh?" When the man questioned her, Iolaire scoffed aloud and lifted one foreleg towards him, showing a bare spot on the otherwise obsidian fur. "Once." That wasn't to say that she didn't ingest both venom and poisons regularly to develop a tolerance.

Still handling the snake right behind the head, Iolaire squeezed the reptiles cheeks, forcing its mouth open. Fangs slid forward with one digit pushing down on the top of the head and soon Io had those fangs pressed through the bladder. She manipulated the snake's cheeks, milking the glands within it's head. The stone crock would have little more than a few drops in it, but this place was loaded with snakes. She simply had to make sure that she continued collecting the same type.

Once the snake was sufficiently milked of its venom, Iolaire tossed it unceremoniously into the stream and the water took the slinky beast away. "Interested, are you?" she asked the trio, giving the crock a little wiggle between her paws.

"Iolaire"

The scene before her unfolded with a mesmerizing blend of skill and efficiency, each movement of Iolaire's practiced hands a testament to her expertise. The old fae's response piqued Aurelia's interest further, the concept of venom collection a new and intriguing one. She observed with a mix of curiosity and respect as Iolaire deftly extracted the venom from the rattlesnake, a process that seemed almost ritualistic in its precision.

"I must admit, I've never witnessed such a practice," Aurelia remarked, her tone genuine as she stepped closer to get a better look at the process. The clay pot held only a few drops of venom, but it was enough to capture her attention. The idea of weaponizing such a potent substance was both fascinating and slightly unnerving. She glanced at Mariah and Caedes, noting their interest as well, before returning her gaze to Iolaire. "What do you use the venom for?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity- though she had a fairly good idea. The thought of using such a dangerous substance in combat or for hunting was both intriguing and intimidating. She couldn't help but wonder about the extent of Iolaire's knowledge and the purpose behind her craft.

"Aurelia Veratti"

Mariah's heart skipped a beat as she caught sight of Caedes among the small group, a flush of heat rising to her face at the memory of their recent encounter. She struggled to maintain her composure, her gaze darting away from him as she focused on Iolaire and the intriguing display before her. The temptation to steal a glance at Caedes was strong, but she resisted, determined to remain focused on the fae's explanation.

Mariah admitted, her voice slightly shaky as she addressed Iolaire. "Is it a difficult craft to master?" she asked, her silver eyes avoiding Caedes' gaze. She tried to push aside the distracting thoughts of their afternoon together, focusing instead on the fascinating process unfolding before her. Afterall, she didn’t fancy herself getting bit on top of all the other ailments she dealt with on a daily basis. That was the very last thing she needed.

"Mariah Mendacium"

The venom collector seemed unperturbed by the growing audience, her focus unwavering as she deftly manipulated the reptile. Her response to Caedes' inquiry carried the weight of experience, a simple gesture revealing a past encounter with the deadly toxins she now expertly harvested. The obsidian-furred woman's throaty chuckle echoed through the clearing with a hint of amusement. He heard the other girl speaking, asking a question about the venom’s uses. To that he laughed inwardly, because even the deadliest herbs had their use in medicinal purposes. Snake venom was no different.

Caedes, ever the keen observer, was drawn to the snake – the way its limp body was manipulated to the old woman's liking... “Masterful.” His verdant gaze flickered with intrigue as he watched her practiced paws, dexterous it seemed, coaxing venom from the serpent's fangs. The sight of the snake's lifeblood trickling away, its venom going into the pottery for later use stirred something within him, a primal fascination mingled with a hint of admiration for the art and precision. As well as his own hidden delight. He heard that rapturous voice beside him speak to the old woman, questioning the craft and its difficulty. He waited for her query to be answered before his voice, deep and resonant, cut through the air, a question laced with curiosity and veiled amusement leaving his maw. “Beyond interested. But it does seem a waste to kill the snake. Was it uncooperative?” The dire brute grinned, his eyes flicking to Mariah for a moment, daring, pleading for her to spare him a glance…

"speaking"

Questions came from all angles as Iolaire swished the venom about in the little crock. A gold and green eye shifted to look at the blue marked fae. "What does one usually do with poison?" A soft little snort ghosted through the woman's blue nares and she shook her head. "The point is to kill or to sicken." She then looked to the darker colored girl. "Collecting is the most difficult part. Cultivating the poisons and using them are quite easy, if you have the correct moral compass for it." It wasn't easy for some to kill another wolf but that had never been a problem for Iolaire. She'd learned poisons from a very early age. Finally the man spoke and Iolaire wrinkled her nose, white teeth flashing momentarily. "Uncooperative? Do you want to catch the next one?" Did he want her to ask the snake nicely instead of bashing its head in? What a dolt. With a shake of her head, Iolaire placed the small crock within a slightly larger crock and sealed the lid. She slid this into her bag, nodded her head to the trio and began to make her way into the long grass. She had things to do and she was too old for pleasantries and the feelings of others. "Speech"

Aurelia watched as Iolaire efficiently collected the venom, her movements practiced and precise. The old fae's explanation of the process and its purpose gave Aurelia a new perspective on the use of poisons. While she didn't share Iolaire's ease with the idea of using such substances, she couldn't deny the effectiveness of such tools in certain situations.

"I suppose that makes sense," Aurelia replied, her voice thoughtful as she processed Iolaire's words. She glanced at the others, noting their reactions before returning her gaze to the retreating figure of Iolaire. The old fae's demeanor spoke of a lifetime of experience and a certain level of detachment from the world around her. It was a stark contrast to Aurelia's own feelings of uncertainty and the weight of her past experiences. She couldn't help but admire Iolaire's skill, even if she didn't fully understand her methods. As she watched Iolaire disappear into the tall grass, Aurelia couldn't shake the feeling that there was much more to the old fae than met the eye.

"Aurelia Veratti"

Mariah's heart fluttered with a mix of excitement and trepidation as she eagerly listened to Iolaire's wise words about poison and its potent abilities. The mere thought of wielding such dangerous substances was both thrilling and unnerving, but the old fae's deep knowledge and captivating storytelling drew her in like a moth to a flame. As she absorbed the ancient wisdom, Mariah couldn't help but feel a sense of curiosity and apprehension swirling inside of her, like a storm brewing within her mind.

As Iolaire readied herself to depart, Mariah's determination surged within her. She couldn't let this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slip away. With a brief, heated glance at Caedes that left her cheeks flushed with the memory of their earlier encounter, she turned her attention back to Iolaire, resolute in her decision to chase after the elusive old woman through the sea of tall grasses swaying in the gentle breeze. The blades tickled her bare legs as she pushed forward, her eyes never straying from Iolaire's figure disappearing into the horizon.

"Mariah Mendacium"

Caedes watched with rapt attention as the old woman maneuvered the pot of venom, his mind shifting away from the snake's body which was by now carried away on the current. Instead he thought of ways to extend the lifespan of the snake instead, to keep siphoning it's liquid death for longer; weighing the pros and cons of keeping it alive versus the current one-time usage. He grinned at the woman, his eyes flashing in amusement as he met her gaze, the reply he received denoting she must have thought he was having some sort of sentimentality for the snake. Of course, that was an idiotic notion.

She was obviously an experienced healer, knowledgeable in her craft. Her explanation to the blue marked woman was quick and concise, the purpose of the venom, the difficulty of collection. He would wager she had quite the history with it. He watched as she gathered her things, shifting his attention to the dissolving gathering.

The brute held Mariah's gaze as she finally delivered unto him a small fix of her attention, and he would have risen to follow after her had it not been for the purpose behind her hauntingly silver eyes. She had rushed to pursue the old woman, and he left her to it. As much as he desired to chase, interfering in her dealings was not something he was going to do. So, he would linger, mulling over the possibilities, wondering if taming one of the little beasts was worth the trouble. Wondering if he could track his little witch down later as well.

"speaking"