Oleander had been in a right bad mood. He didn't like being out of his depth and he didn't like when his efforts to soothe and comfort were rebuffed. (Oh really?) What the hell was he supposed to do with a sassy mouthed slave that expected him to fuck her and slap her around? Fuck! Oh is that how it's used as a curse word? FUCK.

He had practically stomped out of the treehouse and felt the need to run, fight a polar bear, or something to punch. He had been raised not to punch others when he was frustrated or angry. And he had been a rather frustrated angry and delirious little boy most of his childhood. So he took a run to cool off that day.

The experienced healer had come and gone and his skills and knowledge had thoroughly been expanded since.

It was time to plan out the clinic and his own space. He walked into the northern warren and started walking through it, taking a tally of what dens were empty, and mapping them out. One of the scouts might be better at this than he was. Or Igita, she was always doing something smart like this. It seemed like most of the dens adjacent to Bas's stairs and Iggy's den were largely passageways and empty. They could probably widen a few of these and rebuild a wall over here for stability or something. Don't want the whole mountain crashing down.

He stepped back out and called for Basilisk, in a non-urgent tone.


"Speech"

Basilisk wasn't too far from the Col when Ollie's call rang out. He'd been waiting to hear from the other wolf since the more experienced healer had left. He put down his tools and looked at Iggy. “I don't want you in the dark while I'm not here” he told her, ushering her out of the corridor behind her room. They could finish the job later.

He left Iggy with a kiss and trotted the short distance to the cave Ollie was standing outside. He recognised this space, it was where Crux had begun to build his clinic before… well. Ollie must have looked over the space and come to the same conclusions Crux had. “Ollie. Good. Looking at setting up in the Col?”

It wasn't long for the Warlord to answer him by appearing from Iggy's den and trotting over. He tried not to narrow his eyes at Bas but he couldn't help the twist in his nose for a half second. He'll assume they're scheming something, or helping insulate her den since he heard she had been overly cold in it.

He agreed with a subtle sigh, "Yeah. Bittersweet though. I haven't told Wyl. I'm thinking here. Have a few places to put more than one patient, some storage over here, and my den in the back here?" He said walking through the space, pointing with his nose at different spaces. The opening was narrow enough that a guard could be posted to keep an eye on any runaway patients. Namely Vesper. He had no doubt that as she gained her mobility back she'd be up and thinking she could waltz her way out of here.


"Speech!"

Code © Skelle/Witchdogtor DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

Ah. He didn't want to be around when Wylan found out. Basilisk wasn't a fan of strong emotions, and emotions rolled off Wylan like waves. He followed Ollie through the space, and nodded his head. Seeing what Ollie was pointing out. “Crux was using this for a clinic, and I believe there are some tables made for this space in the storage room, too.” He explained. Ollie could use them, get new items, or modify them to his liking. It didn't bother Bas, so long as his healer had the space he needed to work.


“So, how did your talk with the healer go?” He asked casually, as if the answer didn't matter a great deal to the Warlord

Oh? Crux was going to use this space? Well then... More bittersweetness. He wasn't going to be the type to abandon his patients and home, he'll focus on the fact that Crux had good taste in spaces. Will they need any more private rooms? Should they shore up any of the walls? Oleander continued walking the space trying to imagine how it could all work when his thoughts were interrupted.

He knew this type of conversation was going to be brought up sooner or later, and the speed at which it came gave the youth Bas's tell despite how casually he put it. Oleander walked the room in a circle one more time before sitting down. Might as well start the space off right with an important medical conversation.

"She was highly knowledgable." He started as he came to sit before Bas. "Even without giving her details it was still a little difficult to keep your identity out of the question but she promised a healer's vow to keep patients confidential. She said that many complications can arise from any pregnancy, it's always a gamble and there's no way to prepare for every complication. If we keep that in mind and keep a careful eye on the mother during a pregnancy we should be able to catch any serious complications early." He said, hopefully, to start light, "There are some preparations we can make for the birth, and she did agree with some of my worries." He continued carefully, waiting to see if he had any questions or reactions before he went on.

"Speech"

“Good, I'm glad you found her time valuable” putting out the word for a teacher had worked out well, and he would remember that. His healer went out to explain the semi-hopeful news. There were dangers, but there would always be no matter what mate he picked. Childbirth was a somewhat strange, alien concept to the male. As it perhaps was to most men. “Me and Ignita are thinking of announcing our relationship next season, so a pregnancy might be expected some time after that. If there are any preparation you can make before then, do so to be on the safe side. I'd also like you to sit down with Ignita and discuss all potential risks with her so she can make an informed decision.” He went on. Freeing her from his power had drastically changed the dynamic between them.


He got back to his paws, and slowly turned his body, looking through the space again. “We will need a lot of material to turn this place into a clinic. tell me what you need, and we can put in a few hours together each day.”

Ah, he assumed he was done.
"There's... something else. You should know before you make your own decision. It is possible for a large pup to be conceived and the mother unable to deliver it. If the pup makes it out partially then it can be aided, but sometimes they don't make it that far. The... procedure to help that kind of pup can be serious and extremely dangerous. You'll have to talk to her about what her wishes would be if it came to that kind of situation." He was unsure if Bas understood. He licked his lips nervously and looked away, "If the pup can't be delivered or pulled out, a healer would need to cut into her womb and remove the pup and the mother stitched back up. The mother has been known to survive it, but every pregnancy after can increase her chances of not making it." He glanced back at the Warlord cautiously. "That would be the worst-case scenario, Sir." He didn't typically add a social moniker, but with such a dire conversation he hoped to convey how he respected the Warlord and wasn't trying to dissuade him or pass judgment.

"Speech"

Bas’ lip peeled slightly back, showing a hint of sharp teeth. “Iggy. You save Iggy.” He growled, quite happy to interrupt the healer and make sure everyone was very clear on that outcome. “A litter of pups without a mother to raise them, or milk, and when they don't know life is hard. Iggy is young, and has a lot of life ahead of her. The outcome should be clear.” Logic, he would apply logic instead of the wild emotions that suddenly lashed against him at the thought.


He forced his hackles back down and let out a slow breath. “If such a thing happened, it would be the only litter. So there would be no higher risk of a second. I'm grateful to you for getting all the information, and delivering it even when the news is not always good. I'll still have you sit down with Iggy and have her hear it from you so you can explain it in detail.” he didn't like to hear she would be at risk, but he knew it had been likely. He needed a distraction, but he forced himself to sit there and hear anything else the healer had to say before he could throw himself into the work of setting up the clinic.

He had a feeling Bas wouldn't like that. Ollie didn't flinch, he just nodded. "I hope you understand that no matter what happens, I will do my best to save her if she needs saving." And if she dies he couldn't be blamed. There, that was out of the way. He had been dreading that conversation and felt a lot lighter. He huffed a sigh and shook his fur out. Taking a few steps back into the space again.

"Wish mine was as nice as yours." He commented shaking his head about Vesper. Though she wasn't technically his yet. And he had no idea of Ignita's new status.

"We'll set up three beds for now, a low table here, along the back walls we'll store some of the most needed medicines on shelves, and inside the room, I'll keep my stores of tinctures." He said, waving with his nose and tail about certain placements.

"Here," He placed a paw before him, "We'll have a table, and another along that wall. Whatchu think?" He motioned. He was starting to envision it!

"Speech"

Bas was still caught on the thought of losing Ignita and looked at Ollie, his expression blank as the wolf compared… what? “Your… birthing complications?” He asked, before letting Ollie distract him with the layout of the den. He was a little grateful for the breathing room to let the new information settle. 


“We could grab the tables Crux had and see if they fit your requirements. Let's grab a cart and load up.” He suggested, “we can grab a mix of things and set up a corner to stack it in and slowly set up?” was his next idea. Better than doing load after load.

Ollie stopped short for a moment and tilted his head, "Birthing complications? No! No, Slaves!" He corrected before following Bas's suggestion of getting a cart. Where did they store the carts? He followed Basilisk's movements and helped gather things from the storeroom. "I didn't know we put them here." He muttered half to himself, half to the Warlord. He wasn't typically part of the hauling crew and he made Ignita put the cart away that one time getting the polar bear pelts.

Ollie continued from a little earlier as they gathered the materials. Might as well report on his slave project. Completely oblivious to the idea that Bas would have liked some time to process the difficult news of birthing complications.

"Vesper, the slave I found getting eaten by a bear. Has been feeling a lot better lately. Completely has me tied up in knots trying to figure her out!" He mentioned, shaking his head, "She's a run away for sure, thought the bear was some kind of penance for her crime, and she was not trained for... useful things. She taught me the word fuck and what it means. Threw me for a loop. Apparently, that was all her previous owners... Used her for." He said, again, shaking his head, flabbergasted that someone could be used like that.

"Speech"

Basilisk barks a soft laugh when Ollie cleared that up. “Ah. How is your little slave doing?” He asked, wondering if she was being a difficult patient. She wasn’t up for slave jobs until she healed, so she was likely costing Ollie time instead of saving it. “I released Iggy.” he said casually, leading the way to grab the cart and hitch it to Orso. They made their way to the storeroom from there, and started to look around before Ollie picked up the conversation again.

Ah. One of those sorts of slaves, he nodded his head, pulling a table out of a corner for Ollie to inspect and considered his words carefully. Remembering how young his knowledgeable Healer was. “Our Grandfather, Sirius, was raised as a slave in an Empire that was built on the backbone of its slaves. There were all sorts of slaves in that Empire. Gladiators, assassins, builders, maids, sex slaves. The idea of winning your freedom was unheard of. But that Empire fell, and the last Princess of that time was saved by our Grandfather and eventually gave him his freedom. That inspired a new way of thinking, which the Armada has continued. That slaves can work for their freedom, and earn it. That eventually the time and effort they put into the Armada is something they can enjoy too. But… that’s not usual.”

"Speech"

Ollie paused to perk his ears at the news, oh? Released her! Good! Well done Iggy! Earned her place among them just like he told Vesper they could!

"Congrats to Iggy then!" He praised with a smile!
He looked over the table Bas was presenting but paused his observations as he looked up at Basilisk for a short history lesson.

"Ohh... That makes a lot more sense now. She keeps expecting me to smack her or asks if I'm going to treat her the way her old masters did, but I've never seen you hit Iggy or any other slave. And treating her like... her old masters is not something we do here. She's got a smartmouth for sure though, free with her opinions." He said, and nodded at the table, letting Bas put it in the cart. He grabbed a few furs for patient beds and loaded them up. "She wondered if I was a virgin but the way she said it... got my back all riled up for some reason. I don't know what a virgin is." He said frankly.

"Speech"

Ollie went on to explain some of the issues he was having with Vesper, and he couldn’t help a soft snort as he mentioned her attitude. Strong willed slaves were never easy to work with, and he was surprised she wasn’t a little more… broken. “You’ll manage, you're resourceful.” He said, which might have come across more encouraging if he hadn’t sounded amused.

Bas grunted as he moved the table, pausing his lifting and leaning on it when Ollie spoke again. Well, shit. It reminded him of just how young the wolf he was relying on for reproductive health was. Everyone had to start somewhere… but he wished Ollie knew a little more before putting Ignita’s health in his paws.

“Ah… that’s… your dad should have talked to you.” he said after a moment. Had Mortis really dropped the ball here? “A Virgin is someone who hasn’t had sex yet.

"Speech"

Oleander gave Bas a sour look, he had hoped for a little more advice around how to handle the girl than just supportive to find his own way.

He shook his head and went on, helping with the tables and moving things around in the cart. When Ba paused to answer him Oleander looked down and shifted his weight. He assuredly needed to tell Bas about his dad too.

He revealed what a virgin was and Ollie's ears pinned themselves back and his mouth twitched. He huffed through his nose, letting the steam rise around him in the cold like he was a white dragon. Was it truly that important that he hadn't done it yet? Did other yearlings already know what all that was about? He missed a lot in his lessons as a kid. Fever dreams mostly colored his childhood memories, and those had not been fun.

"Speaking of Dad... He's... He wasn't doing so well. Ya know when you told me to tell you when a patient's health affects the pack, I should tell you? He was struggling to eat and didn't want to get up much. I felt like that was something important to say, to you..." He shuffled his paws. Then grabbed another load of supplies. That was probably good enough.

"Speech!"

Code © Skelle/Witchdogtor DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

He grinned at Oleander's dour expression. “Just think how much learning you're doing. It'll be good practice for dealing with unruly patients. Finding your own way to deal with this is important. He said, reaching over to tap a paw under the other wolf chin and grin at him. Basilisk was learning all about authority on the go. Sometimes there was the little voice of a kid screaming inside of him that he wanted the adults. He was getting better at shoving that voice in a corner and burying it with dirt.


Basilisk grabbed another few things to toss in the cart. They would need to build up some stock in oleander clinic. Dried food, coats, and the like. He may need quick access to them. His thoughts were on that, and his mouth spoke before his brain connected. “Well, his wife did run off with some of his kids and I doubt she's coming back.” He shook his head, he wouldn't have stood there and mopped. He would have done something about it-- oh shit. Fuck. That was Oleanders mother. He'd already given his opinion, truthful and raw. “Uhhh… look. I know between that, and you being sick you've missed a lot. If you ever need any talks… I'm shit at them and my bedside manner would drive you to insanity, but I'm here all the same.”

Oleander scrunched his face as Bas tapped his chin.
"Maybe so, unruly patients come with the job I guess." He sighed before he went on about his father.

He was about to place a coat in the cart when his blood ran cold. He stood frozen staring at the contents of the cart as Bas forgot who Ollie's mother was. It was beginning to be a familiar feeling. A sharp validation to an inner knowing he ignored until every instance that proves that feeling right slapped him in the face.

"I know." he said with a solemn finality, before Bas realized what he had said and started to back pedal.
"I know she's not coming back." If Bas could see the boys eyes, they were vacant and staring.
"None of them are." He knew the moment she said her plan aloud. He knew who she would be taking before they did, he knew. The grave had a lot to show him before he faught death and won. He could still be wrong. He hoped he was. He didn't want to be right. But he hadn't been able to shake the feeling that he would always know.

"I'm saying my Dad might be next if we don't do something. He's not himself, and this grief might kill him." He turned to Bas. His stare still partially vacant as he tried to claw himself back to the present.

It was the first time he had ever opened up about that realm. He mostly hoped that if he didn't talk about it, it would remain just his imagination.

"Speech"

Basilisk sighed softly at the quiet acceptance in Oleander. Basilisk loved Halo, and she he never would have thought her the sort to leave… but it had never made sense to him. That taking her kids away from the Armada would help them with their issues with the flood. She’d left a lot of holes in her absence, left other wolves that needed her too. She’d left the pack without a lead healer, and he was frustrated with her about that. Oleander has some of her in her, but he was his own wolf too. His blood may well be why Basilisk trusted him so fast, and so easily. Pushed him to go for that role. But Halo’s choice… No, he didn’t think she was coming back.

“I’ll have a chat with him, he’s just going through a lot right now. But he’s still your dad, and a better dad than most. He’ll fix himself for the sake of his kids.” Basilisk said. That sounded reasonable, right? Mortis was one of the rare few, a far cry from Bas’s own dad. Or Hazel. Even the first Warlord had struggled to put his kids first.


"Speech"

Ollie wasn't convinced, but he felt like it was the first time he had been able to actually look at the issue of his mother and siblings leaving. He hadn't been able to open up about it to Wylan because someone needed to be strong for the family. And so far Ollie had taken up that mantle, almost as a way to pay his family back for keeping him safe while he battled for his life as an infant and child. But at least he's told Bas now, and he can let that rock go now as a task he had been meaning to do.

"Thanks." He replied and gave his pelt a hard shake before gathering a few more supplies. And looking it over.

"Well... anyway... back to the girl. Vesper. And unruly patients. And slaves. Did Iggy ever piss ya off enough to smack her? Because damn does this girl makes me want to punch something." He wasn't the type to typically expel his frustrations on others but heck this girl was pushing him just by breathing it seemed.

"Speech"