Things had settled down in the time since Wacipi’s departure.  The news had been sudden, but not entirely unwelcome.  Having befriended @Oula before her rise to leadership, he found working with the pale woman to come easily.  Perhaps it helped that pack life had also seemed to slow down in the interim, but spring was only just around the bend.  The alpha had no doubt that things would change soon; he would savor the relative peace in the meantime.

Sunning himself when the call went up, the wolf took a few moments to collect himself before standing.  Shaking out his thick pelt, Veho set off at a steady trot in the general direction of the sound.  He did not hurry as it was not urgent, and arrived a few minutes later, finding one of his new packmates settled in the snow as she waited.

“Lily,” he greeted the woman, bobbing his head as he pulled up beside her.  His thick plume waved high above his back as he gave her a quick once-over.  Everything appeared in order, and his frame relaxed, ever so slightly.  At least it didn’t seem to be an injury or illness.  “I trust you are settling in alright?  What can I do for you this day?”

“Please, call me Veho when we are inside pack lands,” the man rumbled, having no need to be addressed by his title. Her acknowledgement of his dominance was plenty enough. His tail lowered by degrees, waving slowly behind him as he settled down. Before long, Lily was rambling onwards. Ears pricked forward as he trained his eyes on her expressions, his own eyes bright as the excitement practically radiated off of her. To have such a happy student would be a blessing, he thought, and what a time to start! Winter was slowly losing its icy grip, and they would be able to forage for the earliest flora popping up through the last hints of frost.

Tail swishing across the snow, the alpha bobbed his head. “I would be delighted to teach you what I know,” he hummed. “I was trained by my birth pack’s medicine man before it was disbanded, and have continued my own exploration in the time since. Previously, I served as Grizzly Hollow’s medic before becoming alpha. As you might imagine, those duties are…time consuming. The pack would benefit from a dedicated healer, if that is what you seek to be.”

All these newcomers already seeking out roles! It pleased him greatly -- @Yvly was doing an excellent job recruiting wolves to their borders. He really did need to praise the scout for her efforts. “I would like to know what you’ve been taught, if you’d be so kind? In some detail. I wish not to insult your knowledge on what you’ve already learned.”

Before he could ask the other wolf to explain what she knew of the herbs her former instructor had introduced her to, Amaryllis had already started down the list.  The male’s ears perked forward as he settled himself comfortably; patience was one of his stronger suits.  He allowed her to finish the entire story, from her knowledge to how she’d gained it.  At the end, he leaned forward to nudge her muzzle, a certain gentleness in his eyes.

“You did what you could,” Veho reassured her.  “You were young, and untrained.  When I was a pup, one of my sisters, Neha, became very, very ill.  There was nothing I could do.  Truthfully, I do not think there was anything that could be done at all – but I still blamed myself for her death then, and for many months after.”

The man gave a soft sigh, shaking his head as he thought of the sickly pup.  She did not make it to her first year, but he could not be too sorry.  At least her suffering was not extended. “But I digress.  Before we begin, I would like to know your ultimate goal: do you seek to be a medic, or an herbalist?  I can train either – but I would prefer to tailor your education to your preference.”

“I would not offer if I did not think I could handle your education on top of my duties,” Veho replied with a smile. Grizzly Hollow had to come first, he knew. That was his role as alpha. But with that came the individuals that made up the whole, and would the entire pack not benefit if one of their numbers became a trained healer? It would certainly take some of the weight off his own shoulders. “And I would not mind in the least. I would be most happy to.”

They fell back into silence for a few moments as Lily rolled both options around in her mind. Truthfully, if she wasn’t read to pick yet, he wouldn’t have pressed the matter. Ears flipped forward as she delivered her answer and he hummed thoughtful. “As you wish.” The other healers he’d trained had all wished to go the opposite route – the change would be…refreshing. Perhaps he would learn something along the way, as well.

“In that case, allow me to show you the medical cache. Currently we are running low on supplies – the plight of winter – and we were raided by a porcupine right before the snows fell. It made it very…difficult to gather any replacements, I’m afraid. Happily, the pack seems to have been rather healthy the past few months – but as soon as spring comes, it will be on the both of us to replenish our stores.” He hummed softly as he let that sink in, moving to escort the female towards the medical cache…which also tended to function as his own, personal den. It was with great reluctance that he realized he may actually have to move out, once Lily was properly trained. A pause. “Do you know anything about springtime sicknesses? About pregnancy or giving birth?”