Grizzly Hollow why not heal the world?

The cedarwood forest was slowly becoming familiar to the woman, after Amaryllis took within herself to begin familiarising herself with the lay of the land. It would not do to live in the forest and have no idea how to navigate it. Now, after finishing off her lunch that once was a rabbit, she was on the search for the leader that accepted her into this pack she now called home. He had made something akin to an offer, when they were standing on the borders and after she made mention of wanting to further her skills as a healer, that he would not balk at having an apprentice.  

Perhaps somewhat ironically, it was cool and misty again, like the day she had met Crystal.  It made Amaryllis wonder if this was the sort of weather that she was meant to meet all sorts of wolves in, since coming to this land. While there had been an introduction and they had meet, Merlin and herself had not spoken since the greyscale woman had joined.

Amaryllis did have some knowledge already of different plants and their healing properties but that was in her old home. There could be and most likely were different plants growing here then the ones she was used to. And it would be best to know what they were, so there was no mistaking a medicinal plant to a poisonous one. Not to mention there was a small part of her that burned to learn more, regardless.

Settling by a large sun spot, where she knew if it were any other season but winter, a large group of Lavender Hyssop would be swaying gently in the wind and letting its lovely smell float along, she let out a call to Merlin ( @Veho ). It was a questioning call, one that asked him to come to her, if he was not so busy, so they might talk.  

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?”

(This post was last modified: Feb 23, 2016, 11:26 PM by Veho.)

Amaryllis patriently waited for the leader to arrive. She knew he would not hurry, since it wasn't an urgent call.

However, when he arrived, she did get to her paws. "My Lord," Amaryllis bowed her head as he came up beside her. Her tail was lowered and her shoulders somewhat dipped, so as to defer to his leadership. "My apologies, I hope I did not worry you." Amaryllis quipped with a somewhat guilty tone to her voice, having noticed his stance relax ever so slightly, but it strengthened to answer his query. "I am settling in perfectly fine, yes. I have explored the pack lands and its borders, to familiarise myself. But I wish to know about the plants that grow with in it as well." Unknowingly, her tail began to sway a little in excitement, curling up over her back slightly. It was not out of attempted authority over him at all. This was something that interested her greatly. Before, while she had gatherd enough know how to keep others fairly healthy. But now.. "You mentioned at the borders, when accepting me, that you were a practiced healer. If it is no trouble, I would like to learn more about the herbs and other healing plants that grow in this area. I already have some knowledge, in both plants and injuries. Of course, there has been some plants and such that I recgonise. But there are others I do not know. I do not wish to be a fool and accidently posion someone, because my knowledge is lacking." With a pause to catch her breath and to allow it all to sink, Amaryllis hoped she wasn't not coming on too strongly or speaking too much.

"I know how to help those who have a cold or similar illness, aching stomachs and toothaches. Small cuts and bruises, things like that. But more serious illness, bigger injuries like broken bones or how to help those pregnant, I do not know. There was no teacher in my old pack, other then general knowledge." she added breifly, so he would know her level of skill. She sqaured her jaw and lifted her head. Not as an act of definace or authority over Merlin but as part of her confidence. "I am willing to learn however, if you are willing to teach me."

“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.”

Amaryllis nodded when he mentioned to her to call him Veho inside of pack borders. “Of course Veho.” She agreed, testing the name on her tongue for the first time. She would remember to keep his name within the borders of Grizzly Hollow, and not use it outside of it. Amaryllis nodded as he spoke of his experience with being a medic and such. “My old pack lost its healer shortly after I joined. He had made sure all knew the basics, in case he was too busy with something else or if it was something minor, like a cut or bruise. Unfortunately, he never took an apprentice so when he died, his knowledge was taken with him. I wished to learn more, after his death but feared that I would accidentally poison someone instead.” She tilted her head, flicking her lips.

"I know of Arnica, ergot, goldenrod, lavender hyssop, skunk bush, wild ginger and white fir." She began with listing off the herbs she knew before listing off their effects. "Arnica helps with bruises, sprains and cuts. Goldenrod and Ergot both help with migraines or headaches, while Goldenrod and white fur also covers toothaches, sore throats, joint pain, minor cuts and sores. There's Lavender Hyssop for congestion, Skunk bush is for colds and allergies. And wild ginger is good for upset stomach and abdominal pain. Oh and Sweet Grass and Yarrow for coughs, fevers and nausea." She paused to frown, as if remembering something else.

“The leaders did know quite a few things though. The rules of the pack apparently dictated that they know but they didn’t wish to teach anyone. They were a little...odd though.” She licked her lips, wondering if she she speak out about her old pack leaders or not. “They allowed me to be a sort of companion to their youngest son, a ill boy who barely made it to a yearling before he passed. I wanted to help him but I only knew how to make him feel better, not actually be better. His parents did not seem to care, either way.” Shaking her pelt out, to try and dislodge the uncomfortable feelings in her chest, she hoped Veho wouldn’t mind her nattering too much.

(This post was last modified: Feb 28, 2016, 04:30 AM by Amaryllis.)

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.”

(This post was last modified: Mar 02, 2016, 06:56 PM by Veho.)

A small smile graced Amaeyllis's lips when Veho reassured her it was not her fault, giving her a small nudge against her muzzle, which she returned with a grateful lick to his chin. He also mentioned with a soft sigh he had been in a similar situation with his sister when they were younger. "I'm sure you made her time happy, before she passed."

Amaryllis thought for a few moments, mulling over the question and considering which path she would rather prefer to train in. It had been something she had not really thought about it before but now, it seemed there were two possible options spread before her.

To be a herbalist and gain even more in depth knowledge about herbs and their properties or to become a medic and learn about all sorts of injures and illnesses and how to treat them properly? It was a tough descion to make, as both duties had their pros and cons to them. To be a herbalist appealed to her more then being a medic did but being a medic meant being more useful in treating of illnesses and injuries.

But then again, she thought, trying to reason with herself and make a descion. What use is treating them if there is no herbs to use? And you will know what plant treat which illness.

"And you would not mind training me in whichever one I chose? It would not hinder your leader duties as well?" Amaryllis was considering the amount of time and effort that would go into teaching her and still being able to uphold his leadership in a good enough manner. She would come to respect him even more, to be able to juggle being a leader to the Grizzly Hollow pack and take on an apprentice, of sorts anyway.

Not to mention breeding season was soon approaching. She knew it, the familiar burning itch beginning to linger more and more frequently beneath her skin and bones as it came closer. But she knew not to seek out a companion during that time. It would just cause trouble for the both of them and any pups that would be born of the problematic situation. When and only when she became a leader of her own stable pack would she consider bringing life of her own into the world. And her dream of having her own pack would have to wait till further in the future. There was a life here for her already, it was easy to see that and she wasn't about to throw of all away.

Finally, the words fell from her mouth as she made her descion and it was one she would stick with forever more.

"I wish to become an herbalist."

“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?”

(OOC: this is all Ama's doing >.>)

As Veho begun walking towards the medical cahche, to show her where it was, she fell ino step beside him. He spoke of how they were running low, because of the season and because early on, a porcupine had raided the cache.

"It is good luck that no one has fallen ill or to injury." it was good luck no one had gotten any injuries over winter or even caught a cold.

When Veho questioned if she knew anything about springtime illness, pregnancy and giving birth, Amaryllis went oddly quiet, the only noise being her jaws clicking shut. A flood of memories came back to her, making her shudder terribly.

'Thank you, for trying to help him. You made his only year of living woryh something.' A young, handsome wolf was smiling at her and she couldn't help but smile back shyly.

'What a failure! You couldn't even help my brother!' She whimpered, scrabbling away from cold eyes and raised fur.

'I found this for you.' It was Lavender Hyssop, her favourite plant. She bent down and breathed in its sweet scent.

'You're the reason he died!' Gnashing teeth snapped closed to her face and blood started soaking her fur. 'No!' She had wanted to scream, pure terror filling her heart. 'I tried my best! I tried to save him!' But her mouth wouldn't move the way she wanted to.

"I...I do actually." The words were so quiet and nearly whispered. "I...Last year, I had a litter. Their father, the brother to the boy I tried to help and who I thought I loved him, turned out to be...not what I thought he was. He grew to be very angry and I feared for not only my life but more importantly, my pups." She thought she would be strong enough to tell this story. Strong enough not to fear him anymore. She thought herself brave enough to tell even a part of it, after all this time and it would do good to get it out. She had over come quite a lot of her fesr. But fear still gripped her when it came to actully telling and found she couldn't force the words out, expect for "He's the reason why I have this scar."

(This post was last modified: Mar 04, 2016, 10:31 AM by Amaryllis.)

There is a deer that was killed by a lynx nearby. +10 Health