From the safe confines of Hallows territory, Ioan had spied the blooming God's Garden. Ever since winter had gone to sleep and Spring was allowed to push fresh bulbs and new shoots above the defrosted surface, Ioan itched to explore it. With his reading and healing lessons going well, something in him told him that he needed a challenge. If he could gather an herb by himself, he could show his parents how good of a pup he was! Except, he wasn't allowed to go alone. Which was fine, but it meant he had to bade his time. Wait for the right moment to bombard his father, begging to be taken out to explore the neighboring territory. To Ioan's surprise, Artorias relented. He could join the Lord of Cinder on a patrol of the God's Garden and look about for plants while there. He couldn't contain his excitement. Full body puppy wiggles around as he jumped and yipped loudly. It would be the first time Ioan was excited about venturing outside. Bramble's friend, Quill, had just been attacked by a bear in their own grove so the idea of being alone in such dangerous conditions was truly terrifying. As soon as they reached the God's Garden border, Ioan looked up to Artorias with a wide smile, tail wagging ferociously. With a nod and another reminder that Ioan gratefully agreed to to keep close, he was off. Bounding through the dewy grasses toward a cluster of white flowers reaching toward the heavens. The rich, woody smell of Queen's Anne Lace told him he was indeed in the right spot. Stopping before the large plant to inspect first, ensuring it wasn't indeed Hemlock, Ioan began enjoying his herb collecting adventure. Ioan Carpathius

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Even with the arrival of spring in Auster, it was hard not to approach everything with a sense of wariness. Something- or many things- were not quite right these days. Even the bright spring sun wasn't quite as they remembered it being, its light unable to fully penetrate the blood-red hue that stained the sky. As they headed north, determined to help bring home answers, they found their gaze stuck for a long time on the horizon, noting the way it contrasted so sharply with the landscape below, painted various shades of green as the world welcomed spring's return. They slowed when the scent of strangers reached their nose. Herajika wasn't far off from where they stood, scavenging for some mice near the stone foundations, having caught sight of one of the tiny things slipping beneath a piece of upended stone. Just up ahead, Seiko spotted a small wolf, bounding through the flowers. The child's guardian wasn't far off either. As reclusive as the Tojo-Kai wolf was, they couldn't help but wonder what- if anything- these strangers knew. Keeping a respectful distance, Seiko let out a bark of greeting. They didn't want this older wolf thinking they were a threat to this child. That wouldn't be a good look for them nor their family. Moving cautiously through the luscious vegetation, slowing to idly sniff at a cluster of unrecognizable wildflowers, Seiko noticed the child picking through some plants. "Good morning," Seiko greeted the boy, feeling about as awkward as they felt. Talking to strangers was not their greatest strength, but sometimes it had to be done. "Are you some sort of... herbalist?" Conversational, like they were talking to a full grown adult rather than a child. Seiko definitely didn't know how to talk to children.

Indeed, this was Queen Anne's Lace! Or, as he had read in a tome, wild carrot. Their root vegetable was smaller, denser, woodier than their farmed counterpart. It would be a good plant to start with to bring back to the infirmary. If he recalled, Auntie Gwyn and the tome she helped him read had stated it had antiseptic and antibiotic aspects to it. Never could have too much of that available! Carefully, Ioan pulls down on the stem, bringing in closer to him. He looks, inspecting for disease, admiring the little white blooms. Yes, this would be perfect. He snips the cluster just beneath the widening of the stem when a sharp bark sounds in his direction. With plant in his mouth, Ioan looks up toward the noise. A stranger calling to him? His eyes go wide as his gazes land on the older wolf, but more around his sister, Ember's, age. He glances over his shoulder to his father, Artorias, who is looking at Seiko, a look of recognition on his face before he nods approval. Yes, he can reciprocate friendship with this wolf. A timid smile as he looks back to the wolf that approaches. Unlike Seiko, Ioan doesn't quite understand the dire situation the world is in. All he knows is the red sun and sky and starless nights. This is normal to him, but as he looks at Seiko, the pup wonders if the environment is what makes them... slightly uncomfortable looking. Did they too not often speak to others? "Morning," Ioan nods in greeting, that timid smile never faltering. "I s-suppose you could say th-that I am," the stutter of his words as he fights to find the correct ones to say is obvious, but doesn't hold him back. "Our Lead Ph-Physician," he stumbles the most over the complicated word, "is t-teaching me about plants. Th-this is Queen Anne's Lace," Ioan holds out the piece he has clipped toward Seiko to look at if they wish. "Are you also a-an herbalist?" He questions, head canting softly with curiosity filled eyes. Ioan Carpathius

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Seiko got a good look at the boy before he noticed them, admittedly impressed at how studious he seemed to be; he inspected the plant carefully, with all the attention of a fully trained healer. That said more about Seiko than anything though. They knew little of herbs and plants, almost entirely focused on honing their fighting skills. Maybe learning a little bit wouldn't be such a bad thing though- imagining being outsmarted by a child this age didn't exactly settle well with them. Tojo-Kai had healers of their own though, so it wasn't imperative... the perfectionist in them started to take over their thoughts though, before the child spoke. Their eerily dark eyes fixate intensely on the young child, clearly scrutinizing, though their posture is far from aggressive. They hold themselves stiffly, as if ready to spring away at a moment's notice, though they try hard to not seem a threat. "Plants," Seiko repeatedly quietly. Eyes narrowed as they focused on the one Ioan was harvesting, offering Seiko some to peek at. They took a few steps forward, inspecting it from a respectable distance. "I am not," they answered simply. "This one- what's it used for?" Seiko was genuinely curious, but knew being politely conversational could go a long way. They had no doubt this child's guardian nearby was listening too, keeping an eye on the boy. "Ah- forgive me for my lack of manners. My name is Hattori Seiko," they added after a beat.

Ioan, too, is scrutinizing the wolf before him. Not in a harsh way, but curious, observing, intellectually. Noticing how their markings meld and pair well together. Patches of dark hues that glide seamlessly over fur as if the patchwork appearance was typical of their homeland. The wolves around the Hallows were not of similar appearance so Ioan takes note. Tucks away that he should ask at some point about the coloration of them. For now, he'll focus on his gathering. Once Seiko is done looking at the piece he held out for observation, Ioan tucks it into the borrowed satchel that hangs from his neck. Gwyn had fashioned him one small enough to fit since he was still so young, but he had promised to bring it back full. Unsurprisingly, the one sprig of Queen Anne's Lace practically filled the whole thing. "I-I've been told it is used to p-prevent pups or c-can be used to p-pack wounds, an-antissseptic? Yes, antiseptic a-and maybe anti-b-biotics," his brows furrow, thinking real hard about the lessons he's had so far. Yes, a firm nod from Ioan to assure Seiko that he was right in what he was saying. "Mm, manners are r-relative. I-I've h-heard that some families don't c-care to share names." The boy shrugs, stepping back from the plant, leaving plenty left to continue growing, his eyes turning upward to Seiko. He smiles, almost as if he was silently trying to say I don't find you rude. "I am Ioan Car-Carpathius. I l-live in that castle," Ioan turns to point a paw at Hearthstone before looking back at Seiko. "D-do you live around here?" Ioan Carpathius

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Seiko squinted, their dark gaze scrutinizing the odd flower as best as they could as Ioan resumes gathering them. The plant itself was pretty distinct, but that was easy enough to say right now in the absence of anything else... the Tojo-Kai wolf wasn't quite so certain they'd be able to spot it in the wild, let alone distinguish it from similar flowers. They pursed their lips, studying the tiny white flowers and how they branched out from the plant's stem in such large numbers. The boy explained it was used for preventing pups, to pack wounds, and as an antiseptic. It seemed a useful enough plant to at least attempt to remember it, and they quietly filed away the knowledge they'd gained in the back of their mind, just in case. There was no such thing as too much information, after all. "You know a lot for a boy so young," Seiko observed thoughtfully. It was said matter-of-factly; they sounded neither impressed nor confused by the fact. That wasn't terribly surprising, though- Seiko had attended one of their bonfires just outside the castle and The Hallows was clearly a formidable pack, for a myriad of reasons. They'd felt strange when they'd been there, watching idly from the sidelines, trying to absorb as much information as they could about the outside world. "I live on the southern coast. My family inhabits the bamboo forest and the bay," Seiko explained. Though their pack was intensely reclusive, it wasn't a secret that they preferred to stay hidden among the bamboo stalks, tucked into their safe little cove against the sea. "Do you like living in the castle? It seems..." their voice trailed off. They couldn't imagine sleeping behind cold stone walls, but then again, imagining a life very different from theirs was tricky to begin with. "Strange," they finished finally.

It is not the first time he has heard that statement. From the moment he had been cognizant of the world around him, could speak and understand, Ioan began to question. Most days, he spent them with Gwyn. Either in her library, learning to read, or down in the infirmary learning the ways of healing. Not that he understood or knew everything, but he paid attention. Even if they weren't allowed to leave Hallows lands unescorted, it was important to know of other packs, other families. Any lesson his father or mother was willing to teach, Ioan tried to be there for it.

"I w-wish to never be c-caught off guard," he admits quietly, his gaze turning from Seiko toward the plant that he had just been gathering. There was vulnerability in that admittance. Unlike most of the Hallows, most of his siblings, he was small. Weak. At least his intelligence would give him a leg up in the world. He would be useful. One thing he could do to be more useful was herb gathering. A menial grunt task that he didn’t mind doing. And now that he had enough Queen Anne’s Lace, he noticed some Marigolds growing nearby too. Walking a few paces, but still within earshot, he carefully plucks one from the ground and sets it to the side.

Blocking negative thoughts from his mind, Ioan focuses on what Seiko says. The southern coast of Auster. Bamboo forest and a bay. His brow furrows, trying to remember the map he had seen up on the library's wall. Shapes and distance were still something he was learning so forming the picture in his brain was difficult, but he nodded anyway. "So not too far of a j-journey?" Concern suddenly in his eyes as he turns to look back at Seiko. If they needed anything, he would be sure that his father provided it.

"Sstrange?" His brows are furrowing again, concern dissipating as his head cants. It was all he knew. Those stone walls and large windows and thick rugs. Luxury compared to most. He supposed that there was an instinctual part of himself that preferred being outside. That sometimes being inside did feel stuffy and tight, but the castle was rather large so he had not felt it press in too often. "I enjoy our c-collection of books, and w-we have a well sstocked eating area," Ioan smiles, tail wagging, facial expression smoothing over as he realizes that yes, he does like living in the castle. "Do you l-like living in the ba-bamboo?"

Ioan

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Seiko wondered if Asahi knew of this plant. They filed the information they had away, ready to retrieve when they saw their sister again, just in case it proved useful. Now that they thought of it, they weren't really sure just how skilled their sister was... they were always so caught up in their own training they rarely thought to see how their many siblings were faring in their own, unless it came to sparring with them. All of their litter was so self-sufficient though; they all had to be, given how huge their family was. "Smart," they replied, giving a nod of understanding to Ioan's words. They felt similarly- being caught off-guard was just about the worst thing they could imagine happening, only their own training was focused on fighting rather than healing. It made sense to focus on one's strengths, especially if they happened to fall short in other areas. Seiko could see why the lanky boy before them might focus on his brain rather than his brawn- or lack thereof. They gave a slow shake of their head. "Not too far at all," they admitted. They'd only gone to Boreas once, but traveling the continent of Auster felt far more manageable somehow. Maybe because it was all they'd ever known. The boy briefly described the castle, brimming with books and well-stocked with food. It sounded so different from the reclusive bamboo forest, in a way that intrigued Seiko but didn't make them feel envious. They quite liked life in Tojo-Kai. "The bamboo forest is... nice. Private, quiet," they confessed. Likely not as well-stocked as the castle Ioan lived in, but judging by the size of the bonfire festival The Hallows had held, that was no surprise. "I attended the bonfire your pack held last year. I saw the castle from a distance." Had this boy even been born then? Seiko wasn't sure.

The Marigolds were beautiful compared to the Queen Anne’s Lace. Their soft, delicate golden-orange petals felt silky between his tongue and the roof of his mouth. He could see why others were attracted to the pretty flower. Plus, he thought they might match his eyes! Well, at least from what he had noticed when looking in mirrors that some of the rooms in the castle had. Plucking a few stems with well bloomed buds atop, he placed those beside the Queen Anne’s Lace before looking back to Seiko. “I c-can seee why you w-would like that,” Ioan replies in a thoughtful tone. His head tilts curiously when they mention the bonfire. “Th-that is not something m-my parents have mentioned yet,” he replies tone neutral and not hurt like some wolves might be. Simply, he chalked it up to the fact that he had only been born within the Autumn season so anything within the Summer season would be unknown to him. “How m-many seasons are there? Do you know how th-they work?” Ioan is a fiend for information. He knows he could easily find out about seasons and everything about them, but having someone teach him gave him a sort of gratification? As if he was not only helping himself, but them too. Ioan Carpathius

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Seiko's mind was far too logical to really focus on things like aesthetics; instead they focused on the uses of the the plants as Ioan explained them, nothing how they looked in terms they might remember. "And those?" They asked, gesturing vaguely toward the marigolds that the boy had started to collect. The boy hadn't heard about the bonfire? Seiko didn't quite know what to make of that. For them, the event had been a formative one- it was the first time they'd really left home and encountered so many wolves outside their own pack, their own family, but it made sense if The Hallows hosted events like that regularly enough. "Ah," they noted simply. It made sense that there was so much yet for this boy to learn. "There's four different seasons. Though I'm told they work a bit different on the continent to the north," Seiko explained. Their own experience in Boreas had been relatively limited, but they knew the seasons weren't quite the same there. "It's currently spring here. Spring follows the coldest season- it's when you'll see plant life start to return, and see new life brought forth. Summer follows spring, and tends to be the warmest season. Autumn comes next; it's when the world gets wet and cold again, and then finally winter, when you might see snow," they explained patiently.