Umbra Copse Don't Care If Critics Ever Jump In Line

@Florence! <3

Vera had convinced her larger companion to accompany her in a search for some herbs that he could use, which had lead them to a foreboding forest to the south of Oak Tree Bend territory. The tall, seemingly never-ending trees cast eerie shadows on the forest floor, and was shrouded in thick fog, making it almost impenetrable and hard to explore. But that did not stop the diminutive ivory she-wolf and, after much persuasion that she wouldn’t run off and get lost or hurt herself, Florence from entering the still depths of the forest.

True to her word, Vera stayed close to him, merely inches from his side. The thicket of tall trees was unnerving, but her desire to discover everything overcame that feeling, however, that did not mean she would stray very far from her larger companion’s presence. Within minutes of entering the forest she spotted the familiar herb ergot growing on some tall rye stalks. Darting forwards, tail tapping her hocks excitedly, she nosed it before glancing back at Florence, ears pricked and a wide grin on her face. “I didn’t think we’d find any ergot in here, but we should take it with us anyway so we don’t forget where it is.” It was a very useful herb, being able to treat migraine headaches and control bleeding, though when ingested it gave off the experience of burning sensations in limbs.

When the herb was collected – Florence was carrying it while she carefully examined their foggy surroundings for any other medicinal herbs – they continued to make their way through the forest, stopping here and there when she thought she saw something, but most times it was just a waving stalk in the slight breeze. Vera paused, frowning when she saw a shrub with thorny branches with fan-shaped green leaves, white flowers with greenish centers that grew in bunches on the ends of each branch and dark purple fruits. “Fero,” she said softly, using a favourite moniker of hers, “what is this?” Padding closer to the strange bush that was growing alongside thick hedges where there was less tree growth, she stared at it curiously before glancing back at her larger companion, sure that he knew the name of the shrub.

372 Words

Though he had some grievances for traversing into the forest south of the territory (it looked far too forbidding for his liking, no matter what Vera claimed.) Florence found himself being persuaded by his smaller companion to journey into it to find some herbs. Of course, this was after Vera had been made to promise not to wander too far from his side. He didn’t mind when she would almost spot something only to be proven wrong. The small she-wolf didn’t have the same plant knowledge that he did, being a better scout then a healer.

And like always, Vera found a plant she had no knowledge of and asked Florence what it was.

”That is Black Hawthorn,” Florence answered her question easily enough after a single glance in its direction and placing the ergot in his mouth on the ground. . ”A useful plant, for its leaves, flowers and berries may improve your blood flow, combat any chest pains you may have, and it also lowers blood pressure. I am not surprised to see it here, for it particularly likes it wherever forest growth is stunted.” Stepping closer to the bush, he lowered his head to study it closer. ”It would be beneficial to take some of this back with us.”

Lifting his head to scour the land for a good left that could help them carry the ergot alongside some of the black hawthorn, a scowl formed quickly on his face upon spotting another bush nearby. It was tall with slender stalks and heart shaped leaves whose edges were flared out in sharp angles. hanging from its stalks were clusters of dull black and purple berries. A deadly plant, one he should have spotted sooner in case his Nix Delibo had spotted it and in her haste and hunger, might have eaten a berry or two. ”Do you see that plant right there, the one with the spiky leaves and black and purple berries my Nix Delibo?” He spoke in a serious tone, his amber eyes staring down at her before flickering back to the bush. ”That is Black Nightshade. It is very dangerous, even more so than Ergot. Do not eat it, no matter how tempting it is or how hungry you are. It can poison you, if ones eats the unripe berries but it is still possible with the ripe ones as well. But you will only know hours afterwards, when you already begin to feel sick. Fevers, vomiting, abdominal pains and diarrhea are some of the symptoms and it kills often enough, if not treated properly. Your breathing begins to fail, so does your heart. It is a painful and miserable way to go, Semel ad curo meus ardere and not only for you. There is no way to cure it, unless you manage to vomit it all up and even then, one cannot be sure. Do you understand me?” He wasn’t going to lose her because she hadn’t been properly taught the ways to spot deadly plants. He caught her caramel eyes with his and stared at her, to make sure she understood.

@Florence

Black Hawthorn. Got it.

Putting the name and physical features to memory, Vera listened with rapt attention as her larger companion explained what the herb could do. She was always fascinated by his knowledge of healing and strived to learn all he could teach her, even though she wanted to be a scout. That didn’t mean she couldn’t also know some ways of treating ailments and wounds… right?

She was lost in thought about herbs, healing, scouting, roles and other things when Florence spoke in a fully serious tone, immediately snapping her out of her daze. She knew that when he used that tone he wasn’t joking around, and that she should listen closely. Her head turned to look at the plant he mentioned. It had tall, slender stalks and diamond/heart-shaped leaves with toothed edges, as well as small white, six-petaled flowers with bright yellow stamen. Dark black and purple berries were hanging from the end of the flowers, looking seemingly innocent and delicious, but when Florence explained what would happen if one ate them she knew better and shivered. It sounded like a horrible way to die, and for once in a long time, her mood darkened as she imagined something like that happening to her larger companion. Backing up into his furry body, she curled herself around his front legs, reminding herself that he was healthy and alive. “Yes, I do, Meus militis in nitidus armatus,” she murmured softly, her voice serious as she spoke. It had been a long time since she had been so serious, but when the time called for it she could be.

Shaking her head to get rid of her sudden low mood, the diminutive ivory she-wolf padded over to the black hawthorn shrub, nosing it gently, careful to not prick her nose on the thorny branches. It didn’t smell like anything but dampness and soil, as well as the usual leafy/bark scent all plants had. The shrub was pretty for an herb, with its white flowers and fan-shaped leaves, though the thorns made it less approachable for wildlife to nibble at it. “How much of it do we need?” Vera asked curiously as she began to find another leaf to wrap the herb in so they could carry it with them on their search.

She stayed away from the black nightshade.

389 Words

Feeling Vera curl around his front legs and she understood what he was telling her, Florence’s face softened and he bent his muzzle down to nuzzle the top of her head briefly before she had padded over to the black hawthorn plant to collect some of its leaves, flowers and berries. It had been easily noticed by him that her mood had darkened after she had heard his explanation, and he understood why. It had never been spoken out loud but he knew she feared for his life, just like he feared for her own life. The two had grown very close over the past months, so very close that he at least couldn’t imagine life without her again. His soul felt split in half, too stretched like butter over dried toast, whenever the two of them spent too far for too long.

There had been the odd times where he considered things that made him simply shudder at them. What would happen to the pair if they were ever separated for whatever reason? What if Vera became hurt on one of her scouting missions, enough that she couldn't care for herself and there was no one around to help her at all?

It was suffice to say that with every scouting mission that took her from his side, his heart felt sick at the. thought she would never return to him. He tried to instill in some knowledge of healing and uses of herbs to his small friend, in case she ever needed it.

The small woman finished collecting hawthorn and was expectantly looking at him. The hawthorn was nearly put into a leaf, carefully folded up in a neat bag. "We should see if there's any other herbs around here. There are often other herbs that gather near Black Hawthorn, because they like similar areas."

A soft rumbling purr had escaped from her maw at Florence’s gentle caress with his muzzle against the top of her head. It made her feel alive to be near him or in his furry embrace. She could fully relax around him and be herself. When others were around they always gave them strange looks, not that she minded, no, their opinions meant nothing to her, but it made her feel as if every move she made was being analyzed. And so now whenever there was another wolf around she became quiet and reserved, seemingly shy, but when provoked her fury came bursting through with sharp words and threats. Most times her larger companion had to stop her from attacking them.

After wrapping the leaves, flowers and berries from the black hawthorn shrub in a folded leaf bundle Vera stared expectantly at Florence. She nodded at his wise words before picking up the bundle of the black hawthorn herbs and nudging his front left leg gently before slowly walking off, caramel brown eyes scanning the forest floor for other useful herbs. It was hard though, as every tree and bush were a facsimile of the next, and made it seem like she was walking in circles.

After a few silent minutes the diminutive ivory she-wolf paused next to a cluster of green plants with long stems and yellow-green flowers sprouting out from those stems. It wasn’t much, but she knew that the roots could cure insomnia, indigestion, lung ailments and help the healing of bones when eaten. The flowers were also said to quicken the healing of bruises and cuts, but as for the blackish-blue berry, she wasn’t so sure of. Maybe it was also poisonous like black nightshade? She wouldn’t take the chance.

“I found some… Solomon’s Seal?” Vera said hesitantly as she put the bundle of black hawthorn at her paws and glanced over her shoulder at Florence, unsure if she had gotten the name right. She was sure it was the correct name, but never took the chance that she could be wrong with herbs. It could mean that she used the wrong thing and ended up wasting her larger companion’s resources or making the wolf in need sick. There was no room for errors in the art of healing.

383 Words

(This post was last modified: Jul 21, 2014, 01:55 PM by Vera.)

He couldn’t stop the chuckle coming from deep in his chest when a delighted purr erupted from Vera, many not realising the small creature could be quite affectionate when she wanted to be and also like to have affection lavished on her, even if it was only from Florence. The two generally quiet when with others, no words escaping them unless needed and even then, Vera talked for them unless it was a question or something directed straight at Florence. It wasn’t because of shyness, like what afflicted Vera on most occasions but purely because he was reserved and liked to keep to his own thoughts.

Brought from his thoughts as Vera asked him of a herb, Florence nodded as she spotted the plant before attempting to name it, looking over her shoulder at him to confirm if she was right or wrong in correctly naming it. ”That is Solomon’s Seal. Do you remember what its uses are?” The question was simple, because he remembered teaching Vera this plant not that long ago. Not to mention this would help her remember names and their uses better than him simply telling her everything, because if he had her name them and explain them back to him, then they would stick in her brain a lot more. It was how he learned anyway, his eyes unfocusing slightly as memories surfaced of his teacher and a far away look soon crossed his face.

Was she alright? Had any of her children that she spoke so highly of all the time visited her?

Lost in his thoughts, he wouldn’t notice Vera if and when she begun naming the plants uses nor the concerned look she would give him. Never had he really told her of his past before her, of what had happened to him. It never came up in normal conversation and Florence wasn’t willing to part with it just yet.

The diminutive ivory she-wolf grinned, tail tapping her hocks as she told Florence the uses of Solomon’s Seal as practice for her knowing it off by heart. She remembered her larger companion teaching her about the herb not long ago, though during that time she may have forgotten things here and there. “The roots, when ingested, can cure insomnia, indigestion and lung sicknesses, as well as help the healing of fractured or broken bones. The flowers can also quicken the healing of bruises and cuts when applied to the wound in a chewed poultice. I’m not sure about the berries though… are they poisonous?”

Caramel brown eyes eagerly turned to orange eyes as she waited for him to correct her mistake or praise her for remembering everything she was supposed to, but her gaze quickly became concerned when she saw the dazed appearance on his face and a faraway look in his eyes. Had he accidently swallowed some of the ergot? No, that only made it feel as if ones’ limbs were on fire, not induce shock. Slowly moving forwards until she was mere inches from him, Vera glanced up at her larger companion. “Florence…?” She said softly, her eyes wide with fear and concern. He had never done something like this before in the time that they had been together, and she was worried. “Fero? … are you okay?”

Darting forwards she curled herself around his forelimbs, trying to get a reaction out of him that wasn’t just standing there with an unfocused look in his eyes. He was truly scaring her. “Answer me!” She cried out, bumping her head against his shoulder roughly, hoping that he would react to something physical if her voice wasn’t working.

288 Words

It was the nudge to the shoulder that brought him from his daze, Vera’s loud voice filtering past his ears, demanding to be answered. Taking a shuddering breath, Florence tried to push away the memories of the woman who had started this, though he could never truly blame her.

But the memories clung on harder for a few moments, memories of a grey wolf teaching him beneath the stars, showing him how to heal wounds and all sorts of illness. Of the old healer picking him up whenever he fell, tsking whenever he sniffled and licking him clean.

”I...’M fine Vera,” He managed to croak out hoarsely, looking down at the small woman whose carmel eyes were filled with worry and slight fright. ”I just...It is nothing of importance.” It was a bold face lie and both could tell. But how could he tell Vera of the woman who took him in after his parents abandoned him, all because he were sick and didn’t think or care enough to try and help him as a pup? How could he tell her she had hidden her pain, the pain from the lose of her mate and children to raise him as her own and teach him the ways of her true calling? The woman had become his mother, his thread to keep living and look forward to the future of helping others and holding his head high. Even if he hadn’t been hers by blood, she treated him better than his actual parents did.

How could he tell Vera that he had broken his mother’s heart again when he left, forcing memories of how he was found and why? Her real children had left her under not so good circumstances and though he told him she understood, that everyone needed to explore, Florence had seen the hurt clear in her eyes. She had healed him, and he had healed her as much as he could but it hadn’t been enough. And he had selfishly torn it all down with his leaving.

”But I want to see the world and all that it has to offer!” He remembered telling her, on a warm, slow afternoon underneath the tree where pups were often taught. But he wasn’t a pup, he was nearly full grown, a towering giant. ”You always told me to follow my dreams so I want to go out and see what the world is like.” His mother had laughed and told him she needed no convincing of keeping him here. He could go whenever he wanted, as soon as he was old enough in a month or two. Even with their happiness, he had seen the sadness.

But he was selfish. He had left her alone, under that tree not a month later, thinking that he might journey back one day to see her before years’ end.

He never did and now, he thought himself too far gone to go back.

I'm so emotional right now ;_; -grabs tissue-

Her rough nudge worked, sending relief flooding through her veins, though the concern was still very much there. He looked down at her and croaked out in a hoarse voice that he was fine – clearly a lie – and that she didn’t have to worry about his sudden lapse in mental welfare – which she would not do. Normally she would have responded to his bold lies with snarky remarks or a demand for the truth, but her mind was still trying to comprehend what had happened, and so she buried her face in his chest, just glad that he was well enough to speak to her.

“Are you sure?” She whispered, her words slightly muffled by his furry coat, relief and worry clearly evident in her voice. He had never done anything like that before, ever, and it scared her. She had no idea what was causing it, or if it would happen again; how was she supposed to fix her Florence when he wouldn’t tell her what the problem was? She wanted to ask so desperately she would have begged him to tell her what was wrong with him, but the way he spoke made her hesitate. Did she really want to know?

“You know you can trust me with anything Florence… I won’t hold anything against you if it’s something horrible you’ve done, or if there’s someone else in your life that you haven’t left behind. I trust you to know what is best for you and I.” Vera drew back from her embrace, gazing up into his eyes, all traces of joking or playfulness behind. She was speaking from her very heart, her inner core, and she meant all of it. He was everything to her, and she’d do anything for him, as would he for her. “Tell me what’s wrong…” she begged softly, eyes shining with tears that threatened to slip down her cheeks. She wanted to help him get through whatever was bothering him.

328 Words

Florence licked his lips, his tongue running over his sharp teeth. What to tell her? He trusted her with his life, and she trusted hers with his. They were the one in the same, two sides of the same coin. They couldn’t live without each other and if there was no way for him to talk to her about this, then when could he? How could he even begin to work it into words? But as he looked down at her, shining tears in her eyes as she begged him to tell her what was wrong with him and to tell him what was wrong.

”It is not...There never has been anyone else in my life, or something horrible like you think,” Florence managed to push out, his heart clenching. ”It is...” What could he say? What words would make sense of any of this? ”I was sick as a cub, nothing serious or so I was told. But for whatever reason, my...my parents,” At this, he paused and took a gulp of air, the words never really having passed his tongue before. He only had a mother, as far as he was concerned, a mother who loved him and had cared for him. ”They thought it couldn’t be cured. M-my father took me away from my mother, after she begged him to take me away, thinking that whatever it was I had would spread to my siblings and she couldn’t bear to see her children die, not after a long labour.” He remembered the day clearly. He had only been a few months old, just old enough to understand something bad was happening and it was in connection to his constant sniffles. He remembered his mother’s words to his father, spoken over his head as it was thought he was asleep at the time.

”Take him far away, so my other children do not catch whatever it is he has!” She had barked at her mate, fear lacing her voice. This was her first litter, what if the illness he had was deadly? I don’t care where, just take him away! The labour was hard enough as it was!” It was only when he was older that he understood the words his birth mother spoke. But her order was taken by his father, sharp teeth gently picking him up by the scruff and carrying him away from the warmth of his siblings and mother. He squirmed in the grip, whimpering from the cold but they went ignored. His father walked and walked, not stopping until they were somewhere the pup had no memory of.

”I’m so sorry son,” His father whispered, after placing him down and nuzzling him softly with fear striking in his voice. ”But it’s for the best.” With those words, he was gone, back into the forest to never be seen again.

For almost an hour, he lay whimpering in the cold, crying for his mother, for his father or even his siblings to come and keep him warm! But none of them came. Instead, the scent of something sweet and warm came up to him, making him stop whimpering as a warm voice rumbled above him worryingly and scooping him up, close to their chest and whispering lovely things to him, though all he cared for was the warmth he was receiving. This was to be his new mother, the one who would raise him and keep him healthy. The one, who if she hadn’t lost her own family, wouldn’t have been wandering in the middle of the night, looking for some way to ease her pain. And not in the way of living life any more either.

He told all of this to Vera, his voice cracking and breaking in between words or even in the middle of a word.