Lessons with rhythm where a familiar occurrence now, normally they happened a few times a week and it was something the girl greatly looked forward to. She loved every moment with her aunt, and healing was quickly becoming a passion for her. There was one problem however, because rhythm was in a different pack they had not yet found a cause for shaye to practice her lessons on a real person, thus far the girls knowledge was theory only. In light of this shaye has asked her mother if she could stay a few days with rhythm to try send test fate and hope someone goes and hurts themselves during her stay. She hadn't attempts led her aunty yet but could only imagine rhythm would love to have her over for attempts led her few days. It would be a working sleep over and she was dying to tell rhythm about it. As further proof to shaye growing up she was now allowed to go to imperium without her dad escorting her. So with a skip to her step she would make her way over to rhythms territory and stop at the borders and howl for her auntie, she was literally bouncing in step as she excitedly waited "speech"

set before Sol fight

Thus far all she'd really been able to teach Shaye in their lessons was what the plants were and what their uses could be. Most plants had more than one use, and keeping track of it all could be difficult but Shaye seemed to be keeping up rather well. Though she knew that she wouldn't be able to keep her in theory alone for long. Soon enough she was going to graduate to a real patient, hopefully she'll have been taught enough by that point. Her thoughts seemed to summon her niece to Imperium, as Rhythm wandered back to her den after seeing Valentine the sound of Shaye's eager voice came to her from the border. Usually by the time she met Shaye and Shai at the border Shai was halfway back to Abaven, but even as she came up to the lonely girl she could tell that she'd made the trip on her own. Rhythm was a different wolf from the one that had met Shaye at the border not so long ago. There was an obvious skip in her step as she rounded the last knoll to her niece's form, her dual toned tail wagged behind her like a brilliant flag. In no time she would be before the young girl, though by now she had to look up to her. "Shaye you're so tall. How did I not notice how much I shrunk?" She'd giggle amusedly as she pushed into the white marked she wolf's chest. " Speech"

The wait for her aunt was a short one, and it would be with delight that she saw rhythm bound towards her. The brown colored woman did seem so much smaller then back when she had first started coming to imperium, but shaye's visits where so frequent it would hardly be noticed until the other pointed it out first. She giggled softly at the thought of rhythm shrinking. "maybe you went swimming too long and shrank?" She offered with amusement. Rhythm would push her nose into shaye's fur and she happily rubbed her head up against the other wolf. In all honesty, she was happiest when she was with her aunt. She felt like rhythm understood her the best, she had always spoke to her adult to adult even well capable of having some good time with silly, fun pup activities. "Rhythm I asked mum if it's could stay a few days and see if we could get to use my healing for real and she said if it was okay with you" shaye wiggled her butt and looked up at rhy with big wide puppy eyes, blue gaze to blue gaze to blue gaze as she hoped for the best "speech"

She loved her visits from her niece, having her come and see her so often was one very big reason she was so happy. She might have been separated from them by distance but the love she felt now, especially after they'd all offered forgiveness for transgressions received. Bass gave her permission to enter Abaven again and she could be with the pups she'd helped birth once more. Shaye wouldn't hesitate to giggle at her words, commenting herself that she was sure Rhythm had spent too much time in the water. Rhythm loved Shaye like she was her own daughter, their relationship was one of Rhythm's most precious possessions. She could be completely honest with the young girl as well as completely silly. Their hug wouldn't last so long as Shaye explained her visit this time. She wanted to stay much longer than her usual day trip, this was going to be a series of days where they worked on her healing knowledge. "Of course my love!" She couldn't deny such a request to her sweet (not so little) niece. "I've been wanting a sleep over for a while." She'd mention as she stepped back from Shaye. "What do you want to do first?" ""

Rhythm easily accepted the request, and thus shaye would stay in imperium territory for a few days. She beamed up at her aunt "we've never had a sleep over have we?" She asked, furrow in her brow she tried to remember if she and rhy had ever shared a den for the night. Their journey from shai's land was so far away she couldn't remember that rhythm had indeed accompanied them there, and the two of them had slept cuddled together. Really, it seemed like rhy had been a part of imperium for ever now, it had been so long since it had been otherwise "maybe we can stay up all night send play games? " She asked, giggling happily "but what should we do today? We have no time limit for once! " She moved forward properly onto imperium territory, through still keeping close to her aunt. She hadn't really met any other wolves of this land, not that she had any interest in spending time with anyone but rhythm. It would be interesting to met them however if she was going to heal them. "speech"

Shaye wouldn't stop her obvious pleasure as Rhythm replied, her own words making known a rather sad fact. They had never enjoyed a sleepover together. At least not here in Imperium, Rhythm would shake her head in agreement. "I think you're right." Though even through Shaye's obvious deep thinking Rhythm was pretty sure they'd never had an official sleep over, that would make their next few days extra special. Her neiece offered up a suggestion for their activities in the night, but the question still remained what were they going to do right now? Shaye didn't hesitate as she slipped over the border and closer to Rhythm's side. "I don't know, I don't have anything special planned except our regular trivia lessons." She'd lean back onto her haunches, it would probably be better to decide what they wanted to do before she started going anywhere. "I have some almost fresh wounds you could look at." By now she had cleaned her spar wounds thoroughly and she was on the mend, but it was always good practice to look at a wound. Did Shaye even know about the spars she'd participated in recently? ""

Rhythm would admit to having no idea, but that wouldn't faze the girl. She set to thinking and deciding what the two could do together, no matter how long the game might take - for once there was no time limit, no restrictions. She was a year old now and there was not a thing in the world she couldn't do, especially with her favorite wolf in the world beside her. Before she could come up with an idea rhythm would speak again and shaye jumped up and wiggled her butt as she shuffled into position to admire the wound. She whistled through her teeth as she took in the healing wound. Rhythm naturally had done a good job cleaning and seeing to it and it likely wouldn't leave much of a scar, but still. "Impressive, auntie, what did you do, pick a fight with a tree?" She teased her, sticking her pink tongue out at the woman before getting serious. "Did someone do that to you? Cause if they did I'll give them a piece of my mind" she warned, throwing up a fierce pose, waving a clawed paw on the air and hissing (If you've seen aristocats, you'll know how she looks xD ) "speech"

Shaye got excited as she mentioned her battle wounds and the girl would first guess that a tree had done it. Rhythm couldn't help the amused smile that played on her features at Shaye's puppy like actions. They were infectious and even Rhy's tail flopped happily beside her. "You're close, it wasn't a tree." Though she turned dead serious as she said this, the words coming from Shaye were big. She even brought out the pose to go with it, she tried to look fierce but all Rhythm could see was the little puppy. "That's what happens when you spar with someone. You gotta accept the possible outcome every time you train. It's exhilarating." She couldn't help but to add how she felt about fighting. The adrenaline rush was incredible, and the feeling of winning was more than she could describe. She wondered why she'd never been as serious about fighting before. That was always Motif and Bass. "You needn't be worried about my safety though, and you'll find the wounds are healing nicely." The last thing she wanted was for Shaye to worry about her anymore. Life was pretty much perfect right now. ""

Rhythm seemed amused by the girls antics, and Shaye would stop play acting and full her form back to stand at her full height, which, shockingly, was decently taller then her aunt. She might not reach her fathers full height, but she certainly held the ability to fluff herself up and hold herself taller then her Aunt. That she could be bigger then the wolf she looked up to shocked her. In all honesty, she slouched and play acted and all so often she hadn't clicked how tall she was to her Aunt. She was a good 10” taller then her, and it was starting to show. She looked down at Rhythm, for the moment utterly lost in her amazement as her eyes widened in the realization of her own size. When Rhythm spoke, the girl blinked and shook herself from her daze to pay attention. Rhythm would explain about spars and training and Shaye giggled. “but your a teacher, you make it sound like your learning” Shaye pointed out, finding the idea that Rhythm needed to learn anything amusing. After all, her fantastic Aunt was already wise and all knowing, through then she also didn't associate Rhythm with fighting, through now that it was mentioned she could. She would bet Rhythm kicked everyone else's butts. Shaye giggled again at the idea of Rhythm doing epic kicks and flips beating other wolves up. When Rhythm spoke of not needing to worry and the wounds healing nicely Shaye would nod, clear her throat and look at the wound properly, letting herself slip back into that 'adult' feeling of calm and seriousness. “You would have cleaned the wound with Trillium and I cant tell if you bound it with horsetail, where any of the wounds bad enough for that? I'm not  sure if you would have bothered with Lamb's ear or White willow bark for the smaller cuts. And looks like there's a little bit of bruising, did you apply Dandelion?” Shaye pouted as she thought seriously, and tilted her head as she looked at her Aunt to see if she would correct the girl in her assessment or point out anything she might have forgotten. "speech"

Shaye seemed very much dissapointed in the fact that Rhythm sounded like she too was still learning, this was the first time Rhy got a real inkling into how Shaye felt about her deep down. Did she really think that in her aunt's three years of living she knew everything? No, Rhythm still made some pretty serious mistakes and that was very much apparent in the recent banning she'd just overcome. She was flattered of course, but it simply was not true. "You never stop learning, Shaye. There's always something else out there to fill your head with." Their attentions wouldn't linger there though, as Rhythm showed off ehr injuries and her apprentice took a closer look. She really had been studying up on her herbs, she would prescribe everything Rhythm had done herself. "That sounds about perfect," she'd beam at the taller pup, "There's no doubt in my mind you're ready for a real patient." finishing with a nod she hoped Shaye might get some practice soon. ""

Rhythm would have some sage advice that Shaye took seriously, not that she really needed to here it really, at least where herself was concerned. She felt like she was constantly learning, like everything she learned was tiny in regards to what was out there and to what her Aunt could teach her. She knew she knew so little, but she also didn't fuss about it, taking it one day at a time and finding lessons a fun game she played with her Aunt. Rhythm had made learning fun for Shaye, and that was perhaps one of the greatest gifts the woman had given her niece. In regards to Shaye's assessment on the injury, Rhythm would give her a metaphorical thumbs up as she agreed with all the young wolf said. Shaye jumped on the spot, her tail working double time behind her as she lapped up the praise given. That was another reason learning was fun for Shaye – she lived for her Aunt's approval, and fought to gain it in their shared love of healing. She giggled through at Rhy's last words. “Maybe you should spar someone and kick their butt so I can heal them?” she pointed out only half joking. She kind of wanted to see her Aunt fight, she could probably learn a thing or two from that and she wanted to see her favorite wolf excel at even this skill, so different to the healing one she knew Rhy for. “but anyway, until someone goes and gets themselves hurt we should do something. Can we collect herbs Auntie? I've been practicing what they all look like so I bet I can pick out anything you ask for” she stated, puffing her chest out proudly. "speech"

She didn't know if it was just easy to impress Shaye or if she really deserved to be such an important role model for the girl. Rhythm never thought herself anything special, she'd always lived in her sibling's shadows. Now though, she had a loving niece who thought the world of her and Rhy could not deny what a wondrous gift that really was. She couldn't help but offer a nudge of affection to her excited niece, she really was proud of the young girl. She'd spout an idea that really wasn't half bad, she'd been meaning to spar with Kyarst as well. She'd defeated Lysis could she overcome her close friend? "Maybe I'll take you to meet Kyarst sometime in the next couple of days. I'm sure he'd like to meet you, and we've been planning a spar." She'd make sure to note as Shaye went on, wanting to show off her gathering skill. "Of course! We can look for plants best harvested during this season." Every part of the year offered something different, now that Shaye was old enough to realize how different the seasons were she could identify plants by their season as well. ""

Rhythm would give her a loving nudge and she would beam up at her Auntie, there was nothing but love and pride in Shaye's eyes and blue eyes met the duo tones shade of blue and purple that adorned her Auntie's orbs. Her Auntie would offer an introduction to one of her friends, and Shaye gasped in surprise, she hadn't met any of Rhythm's friends in Imperium! Weirdly enough she hadn't really considered Rhythm having any, not because Rhy was shy or anything, just because in Shaye's head Rhy was hers, and it sort of didn't leave much room for the idea of friends. All the same, the idea of meeting anyone important to her beautiful eye was exciting, and she was eager to meet this Kyarst and judge if he deserved her Aunt's friendship. “I would love that Auntie! And when you kick his butt, i'll heal him” she finished the idea, having no doubt in her mind that Rhythm would do just that – win the spar with ease. Rhythm would mention looking for this seasons plants and she furrowed her brow and made a face. “Okay.. I'm not sure what ones are winter plants. They would have to be sturdy right? To survive in the cold?” she could guess that much at least, and was already eager to learn something new from her Auntie. "speech"

She could never get enough of the joy that Shaye brought into her life, all through the spat with Bass and Motif she had been a constant and a bright light in her time of trouble. She had other wolves to go to, like Valen and Kyarst but they just weren't the same as Shaye. There was a beautiful innocence to the girl that could not be replicated by the two males in her life. It seemed that Shaye still didn't doubt her abilities. Her most recent spars she ahd emerged the victor, Kyarst had much more training under his belt and she had more than a little doubt that she would be the victor. All she wanted was to walk away with all of her important parts. Imperium wolves did not hold back. (as was apparent in Kyarst's most recent injury she had healed.) "Sounds like a good idea." She'd offer, they couldn't have anyone walking around untreated and exposing themselves to possible infection. "Some plants last, like the evergreens and some mosses and lichen. Mostly though it'll be the dormant things like roots or bark." Now she would stand, trying to think of where they might go to collect their herbs. Anywhere really would suffice, even if they didn't find anything useful there was always something to learn. ""

Rhythm easily agreed to her idea of healing her aunties unfortunate spar partner and just like that it seemed shaye's joking suggestion would become reality. The young girl would easily admit she was nervous about healing her first patient but rhythm would be there beside her and no doubt she wouldn't let her apprentice fail too miserably and excitement would be her dominant reaction. With their spar and ml meet and great planned and ready to put in motion it would be easy to switch over to more immediate concerns. Shaye sat on her rump and gave rhythm her full attention as the other woman started them on a lesson. It was easy to slip into the familiar role of student when she loved her teacher so unconditionally. "Evergreens, moss, lichen, roots, bark" she muttered under her breath and nodded. What her aunt said made sense, that was good, if meant shaye was keeping up. "Can we start with roots and bark? I think I can identify those ones that are useful the easiest" shaye admitted, we'll that and moss. She was trying to remember what fell under Evergreens and what lichen was... If she couldn't think what they where by the time they got to them she would have to ask rhy for help. "speech"

She really was quite excited about her future spar with Kyarst, though at the same time she was nervous. What would Shaye think of her when she was defeated by the more experienced warrior. Though Shaye hadn't lost her confidence in her aunt even when she was banished from Abaven, surely Shaye's love wouldn't be effected by a simple spar. Her confidence however, that was what she worried about. When would Shaye realize that her aunt was very much not the superhero she thoughts she was. For now though, she wouldn't disturb the illusion and would focus on their little healing lesson. Shaye didn't hesitate giving Rhy her complete focus, she was always attentive and really got into her lessons. Rhythm loved her student unconditionally, she might have only been her niece but Rhythm loved her like she was her own daughter. Shaye easily took the information and repeated it back to her teacher, finding she also had some questions. "Whatever you'd like to do," the chocolate woman agreed, "Lead the way." ""

Rhythm was agreeable and Shaye would nod her head once and start off. In Imperium territory, The Orchid was the most place to find what she sought and she easily made her way in that direction, as she did so she turned to Rhythm and asked the question that came to mind. “Why does Imperium have three lands Auntie? Abaven only has two” she wondered if there was a special reason for that or if that was just how it happened to fall. Shaye would stop in the Orchid and look about herself for a moment, before making her way to a sad patch of dormant flowers. She would identify them as Valerian and set to digging out their roots. When she had a few sturdy pieces she carefully tucked them under a tree where she could return for them later. White Willow trees where gorgeous in winter but not as easy to find as Valerian, lucky for Shaye they where a more permanent structure and finding them once was finding them for life. She made her way to their source and jumped up to place two paws onto the tree, finding an older piece of bark that had already started to peel away she worked it with her teeth to pull of a strip. That had been an easy enough thing to find, really only identifying Valerian in winter was the only change – this was after all her first winter learning herbs with Rhythm. She trotted back to where she had placed her Valerian root and places the bark strip beside it. Now she had to identify Moss from Lichen and work out which plants where Evergreen. She first found a bolder over grown with Lichen and triumphantly harvested a sample. Moss she remembered grew in damper places and soon she was triumphantly collecting a clump of that also. “Which of our flowers are Evergreen Mu--- ah” the girl blushed and busied herself putting down her samples. “Auntie” she finished. "speech"

Shaye didn't hesitate as she decided to head towards the old orchard, it was the most vegetated area followed closely by the range. It really would be the best place to start. Rhythm would follow after her, finding again how much bigger her niece was than her by the pace she set. The chocolate Destruction didn't have any problem keeping up, even with the added question. "The extra land was taken from another pack." She'd tell her, their paws making quick work of the distance between them and the fruit tree forest. She couldn't say much more before Shaye was off, determined to prove herself as she sought out every ingredient the forest could offer. Rhythm would settle down onto the cold ground, pulling her tail around her hips she would wait for Shaye to finish. There was one plant the she wolf wouldn't be able to identify, as her paws brought her back towards Rhythm there was a questioned ended with a fatal stumble. Shaye had tried to call her mother. The same feelings she'd had in Bass's den the day of their children's birth. The odd longing she'd felt, and the incredible confusion that followed. She'd take in a breath, determined not to let Shaye see the hiccup in her composure. "Don't let your mother hear you mess that up," Rhythm couldn't help but smile before answering the question, "They are the trees and bushes that have needles instead of leaves. Though most of them don't flower in the winter." ""

Rhythm had kept up with Shaye easily as she made a zig zagged approach across the territory to the Orchid, but would remain in one place as Shaye traversed in search of all the things she needed. Being away from Rhythm reminded Shaye that somehow, every time Shaye's eyes weren't on Rhythm she expected her Aunt to be bigger then her, and every time she saw her Aunt's petite frame it surprised her. How could her idle be a whole 10” smaller then her? No matter how long she lived with that she couldn't image it ever not surprising her. It wasn't until she had finished collection all she could and stood before Rhythm that she would question her about the last required category and stumble terribly over her words. Rhythm was like a mum to her, she was loving and sweet, she cared for Shaye, taught her and respected her enough to treat her like an adult. She had thought it in her head a few times without much real inspection of the idea, but perhaps that was how it had started to slip out. She wasn't sure how Rhythm would take that, she wasn't even sure the other ever wanted kids and the idea of Shaye thinking of Rhy like a second mother.. would that scare her precious Aunt away? Yet the only thing her Aunt said was to point out not to mess that up in front of Motif. Shaye's lips twitched in amusement, she already well knew her mothers pride and quick temper and her relationship with Rhythm was only just starting to patch up, no doubt Motif would lose her cool if Shaye did just that. All the same, the thought was an amusing one, and with difficulty Shaye pushed aside that little thought of wanting Rhythm to be her mother – she did still love Motif after all. Moving back to business, Rhythm would answer Shaye's question and the girl still had to think on it. “Can you show me please Rhy?” she asked politely. "speech"

The way Shaye's lips twitched in amusement told Rhythm she knows very well that she shouldn't even think about messing that up in front of Motif. What Rhythm didn't realize was the cause of the slip up, she loved Shaye yes but she could never imagine taking the girl away from her mother. Though she loved her massively she knew that she belonged with Shai and Motif. She'd have to continue being the awesome aunt that she came and visited. They would quickly move on though, back to their little lesson as Shaye asked for her help. "Of course, darling. We'll have to get out of this forest though, there really are not any here." She'd nudge the girl's shoulder affectionately, ready to lead her closer to the Range. There were a few of the long needled plants there. -exit rhy- ""