"Oh, aye, I'd say it comes in handy a fair bit. I've been traveling on my own for a bit – I can usually remedy any minor pain or illness, depending on the local flora. I suppose I came upon it a bit by happenstance," Veho explained, sighing softly as he paused. His family was not something he often discussed with strangers. Tail swishing once, he glanced over his shoulder at the darkly colored wolf before continuing. "I became interested after my sister died while we were still puppies – she was very sick, as long as I can remember. There was nothing anyone could do for her. We lived with men, when I was small, on a reservation. It was a peaceful, if not a dull life. We were never hungry, and we were never cold. My other sister, Namid, was a favorite of the men's alpha – she was a bit spoilt, and taken from my watch. Neha, though, she was sick, so very sick. They had an old medicine woman amongst themselves that tried to treat her. All the same, our ancestors called her back to their sides, and she passed before we were grown. Once I was older, and able to devote energy to learning a craft, I thought I wished to help others, as I could not help my sibling. I do not wish to engage in war or harm against others, only to defend those who cannot defend themselves. A medicine man aids who he can, and asks nothing in return, and that is what I wished to be. I learned what my folks could teach me, and spend my travels researching other plants, when I'm not looking after a youngster." The silver wolf rolled his shoulder in a single shrug, finally ending his long-winded explanation. He hadn't meant to give Kajika the entire backstory, but there was no taking the words back now that he'd set them to the wind. The other loner could evaluate the story and take from it what he would – the grey wolf was at peace with the entire situation. It was one of the sole reasons he did not seek out a pack to join. He felt he could help more souls if he remained free, like a leaf on a breeze. Veho was no quidnunc, on the road to gather rumors and lies before passing them on in a web of hurt. He was a healer – he wished for harmony and peace. The ancestors would guide him to whomever needed his assistance the most, and he would do his best to give them whatever piece of him they could. It was then he noticed a small game trail out of the corner of his eye. So focused on his thoughts, he'd almost missed it! Drawing to a halt, he nodded towards the path before glancing back at his traveling companion once more. "It seems stable enough. Do you wish to attempt this path, or would you like to continue and look for a wider route?" he asked, ear twisting as he waited for Kajika's input. It did not seem terribly treacherous to him, but he did not oppose seeking a more stable pathway either. The traveler was in no great hurry, especially if there were no plains near Relic Lore. It was a shot in the dark, he knew, but there was never any harm in asking. He did so miss the freedom of tall grasses and long, rolling slopes – there were acres and acres to roam, to sprint as fast as his heart desired. Admittedly, the plant life was less diverse in such regions, but home would always be home, and every once in a while his heart grew sick for the grassy lands he was raised upon. The wolf sighed heavily, glancing back ahead towards the trail the mountain goats had likely carved out among the stone and gravel. He could not see more than a dozen yards downwards – it could become quite steep further ahead, and they would not know until they traveled further down the slope. "Are you in any great hurry, friend?" he asked, not privy to whatever waited for Kajika once he reached the lake he so eagerly sought. "If you do not need to be anywhere very soon, I might consider scouting further ahead. We just can't see further down this path, but if you wish to try this trek, I'll join you down the hill." |
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