White Fir Notch your house of broken bones

For @Merys only. I'm going to post with Lucia next, then you're up! c:
Dated for June 19th. Clear skies and warm weather, afternoon.

For this one afternoon, the area immediately outside of the natal den was not in a state of jamboree. After a rather rambunctious early noon, the children had retired underground to nap and @Raela had gone to stretch her legs and make the most of the break given to her. Dutifully, Gent rested outside of the den's entrance, protecting the slumbering treasures within. They most likely would not be asleep for long; perhaps @Ryker would get a full rest, but it was likely that Aleris would rouse and join her tireless sister. Lucia had refused to be put down, and continued to bounce about without any sign of slowing.

Completely content with all aspects of his life at the moment, Gent could only appreciate the moment of serenity. The sky above was vividly blue, and the forest echoed only lighthearted sounds. Faintly, the springs could be heard in the distance, and occasionally a flock of geese would sound off as they flew overhead, the noise ricocheting off the mountainous terrain. It would be a lovely time to close his own eyes and lean back, but he was far more happy to watch the vivacious runt play.

A particularly piercing yip caused his ears to flick forward, and his muzzle lifted as he called out to her, "hey, c'mere."

(This post was last modified: Jun 20, 2016, 03:59 AM by Gent.)

Her siblings had gone to sleep and her mother had disappeared out of bounds, but Lucia was not about to pass up any of the time allowed for her to romp about outside of their bed. Even if that meant she was playing by herself (dad had flopped down a while ago, and being still was boring), the little girl did not mind a bit. Everything drew her attention; if it wasn't an insect leaping here to there, it was a particularly vibrant flower or smooth stone that caught under her paw. And the older she got, the more she learned about the world, the more her imagination grew.

Everything became another animal, the rabbits or marmots that were brought to her parents for them to eat, and she was a giant compared to them. With grandiose attacks and epic battlecries she would demolish them, and it was this grasshoppers turn right no--

Hey her father's voice broke through the pretend, immediately drawing her attention, teeny eyes standing straight up as her head turned to face him. C'mere.

The little girl squeaked out a bark, completely forgetting about her foe as she scurried over to Gent. A growl seeped out of her small jaws once there was but a foot between them, ducking her head low as though she were sneaking up on him before she pounced at his oversized paw.

"Grawwrawraw!" she gurgled, chewing his toes with her tiny teeth.

"Wow, you've got a real killer on your hands, there."

Merys dipped his head in respect for the fallen king, "I'm honoured to be privy to your final demise, my king," he laughed, shifting his eyes to the assassin at his feet. The small sooty female reminded him starkly of another sooty pup he had encountered recently. What was with their incessant attacking of the paws? What did they have against them? Did they not know that they could just as easily be used to squish and step on them? Obviously not.. that, or they did not fear death. Both were likely, considering their lacking mental stability as babes, Merys decided. 

He had come to find the alpha for hopeful advice. While he had done his best to ignore his wandering thoughts over the last few weeks, his most recent return to White Fir Notch had given him motivation to finally seek some answers. The nightshade branch that he had meant to leave behind and forget in the Glen he had found it in somehow had been brought back to the pack lands with him. Perhaps there really wasn't anything more to the message she had left him, maybe it really was a warning that if he searched any further that she would poison him. Oh my god, that's it, she's a witch, he had thought abruptly on his way over. That's why she had seemed so intoxicating and magical. Though as much as he wanted to, he knew he would never be able to believe that theory fully. 

He had relied on the zeitgeber of the sun to steer him at the right time to hopefully catch his king. While he thought he might try the healer's medicinal stash first, it had proved empty. While Gent was well-known for endlessly marking borders and scouting lands, Merys had decided to try the birthing den anyways, and it ended up being a fruitful trip. Perhaps the stand-in healer would be able to give him some more insight on what his hidden nightshade twig could have meant. Of course, the story would have to be twisted a bit. He would not come across as a love-sick puppy to his alpha. He was his hunter to-be, not a twitter-pated yearling. No, not Merys.

founding member | 2016

A toothy smile spread over his muzzle as his little girl came after him, feisty and brave despite her dwarfed size. Her tiny teeth were sharp enough to cause discomfort, but the father did not mind, letting her do as she pleased for the moment. Occasionally he would lift his paw a foot or less off the ground, or push her back with it, minute movements to keep her interest and make her think she was being challenged. It was inane for an adult, but he would do it all day.

His ears and eyes picked up when the approach of his pack mate was heard, a jest quick to follow Merys' appearance. Gent's expression turned wry as he joshed back, "you would just stand idly by? Good to know." Stretching his neck outward, he used his snout to give Lucia a light shove. The wiry girl was sent tumbling through the grass, landing at a middle point between her father and Merys. Perhaps other parents would coddle a true runt such as Lucia, but Gent saw no need to treat her any more gently than her siblings; the world would offer no such mercies as she grew.

"What can I do you for, Merys?" he asked, crossing his forelegs as his ears lifted higher. He knew enough of the quirky subordinate by now to know that the man wouldn't approach him without want for something. What that could be had the king rather curious.

The girl flopped around to fight the momentum her father had sent her on, trying to get her feet under her. A growl bounced around between her jaws, but not of frustration; it was playfully menacing, a promise of I'mma get you back that she intended to keep once she was finally able to get her paws back under her. When the world stopped spining, she was back up within a heartbeat, and the gurgling growl got a little louder as she stamped her paws against the dirt and grass.

She meant to charge her father, but despite her valiantly threatening sounds, he wasn't paying any attention to her. A frown developed upon her lips, and her tiny head swiveled to look over her shoulder at whatever the heck was so much more interesting. When her eyes met Merys' towering form, she herself forgot her previous intentions, suddenly enthralled with this new playmate.

A yip jumped out of her throat as she twisted around to face him. Her wormy tail thumped happily behind her as she spanked the ground with her tiny squishbeans small paws. It was the only warning given before she charged and attacked his ankle.

(This post was last modified: Jun 20, 2016, 11:56 PM by Lucia.)

Merys laughed softly at the alpha's comment. "You would expect me to throw myself in that line of fire!?" He asked incredulously, pointing his nose and gaze down towards the little cub. "Then that would just make two victims; there would be no hope for both of us," he explained, shaking his head as though sincerely saddened by the thought of it. He watched his young alpha give one last attempt at survival, giving the girl a playful shove. How quickly they fall, he thought amusedly, though the thought wasn't entirely appropriate. While he had doubted the alphas in this pack from the beginning, their young leadership a negative omen in Merys' eyes, Gent at least had proved himself a wolf that took the right things seriously at least. And he liked Raela, which was the only reason why she sat at the top; she had convinced Merys of that. 

The alpha addressed his presence quickly. This didn't surprise Merys, he did his best to keep to himself outside of finishing his duties around the pack lands. He was not one for seeking the company of others for enjoyment. He opened his maw to response when he realized that the vigilante had turned her direction towards him now. Always the ankles! "Oh god, what did I tell you!" He exclaimed in playful distress towards Gent. Merys fell to the forest floor as the pup latched onto him, his body collapsing slowly and dramatically. "This is how it ends Gent," he called out, as though lost in death. The tiny pup's teeth were like razors through his thin fur at his ankles. "Dear god woman," he exclaimed, curling his head back up to look at her dealt damage, "I think I like your brother's play style more," he said quietly, though he doubted his words would reach her play-mode ears. 

The playful note had been brought on by his good mood; that, and he needed to buy time to talk to the alpha. If he could distract himself while he asked for favours, that would be ideal. His neck craned back to face his alpha, his head laying flat on the forest floor. "I meant to ask you about some herbal .. inquiries," he explained, moving his paws and body idly to entertain the pup that had finished him off.

founding member | 2016

Merys went back to the quips, and his alpha did not at all mind. Whatever this mystery subject was that they were crawling to, it certainly didn't seem to provide any pressure of urgency. The shade trusted his subordinate to be forthcoming and direct by now, should the situation call for it. In this case, it must not of. Gent's gaze flicked to his daughter as the girl excitedly fed into the play pretend that Merys was creating, and his smile grew. This is how it ends Gent the other wolf moaned, and the cobalt beast raised his paw to his brow in quick salute to his fallen comrade; "Ciao."

At lats the topic of business then came to light, and immediately it had Gent curious. What did Merys need to know of utilizing florae? He didn't see the type to branch out in disciplines if not necessary. His jaws parted to answer, but a particularly heighty leap by his daughter captured his attention for a second more. Despite having 'killed' her first victim, Lucia didn't seem intent on slowing down at all, and the king chuckled before asking, "We'll have to set up a cairn; I don't think there'll be anything left of you to bury.

I should have the answers. Give it a try."

Much to Lucia's overwhelming joy, @Merys played along dramatically. She felled him swiftly with her needle-toothed bites and windmilling paws, her body wriggling uncontrollably with the excitement of her victory. The little girl circled around her victim to jump at him here and there, thumping him with her toes then jumping away, occasionally clamping briefly onto a tuft of his fur. Even the slightest motion that he made attracted her like a moth to flame.

Both of the adults were rumbling with words, and she parroted them distractedly as he wide denim eyes continually searched for any sign of life in her prey to attack. A paw twitch here and she was on it, gurgling out "chow!" A sweep of his tail over there and she was bouncing oh so threateningly after it while exclaiming "gen'!" She tried too, after each time it was uttered by a grown up, to pronounce 'brubber,' 'n'thin,' and 'try!,' the last of which was shouted proudly with her small chest puffed out.

I lost it at 'Ciao'. xD

Merys continued the game for the little princess, moving away from her attacks while still feigning pain and defeat here and there. He had done his part, and she was entertained. Now he could speak to the sockdolager White Fir Notch king without him being entirely distracted by entertaining his one daughter. He offered a soft chuckle in agreement with the king at his comment on his death. He liked the idea of Gent feigning care for his death; a cairn was more than he could ever hope for in this misfit pack of wolves that knew so little about each other. Or perhaps, just Merys knowing so little about them.. but it was not unlike him to project.

The princess' words went without acknowledgement. He had learned well enough to try and keep his mouth shut as best he could when it came to the little parrots that spring brought. Not only this little girl, but both her brother and the lone cub up north had similar tactics for learning the language. He mentally made a note not to swear too much right here. He wanted information, he was not in the mood for chastising from the new-father that also happened to be his alpha. "I was hoping you could tell me everything you know about nightshade? Uses, names, symbolism, etcetera," he said, pawing idly at the air as he spoke, hoping to keep the pup still entertained, sincerely flinching at the times when her tiny teeth made it through his fur. There was no point in beating around the bush with Gent, he would tell him or he would not. He wasn't entirely keen on explaining his reasoning behind wanting to know.

founding member | 2016

i am so sorry i take so long ;-; go ahead and skip lucia for this round, she's just gonna be bouncing around and trying to say words like a spaz. also i'm guessing atropa belladonna is what merys needs to know about, but it isn't native to north america. it has been introduced in parts of canada though, so we'll just say its present but rare in row, yes?

Nightshade? If Merys was just looking for physical, medicinal properties Gent might not have wondered after it so much. That he wanted a holistic answer, however, was a tad curious. Of course, he trusted the other man knew this. While his interest was invoked, whatever reason the hunter had to ask wasn't really any of his concern. He would contemplate asking his own questions as he gave some answers.

"Well..." Oh man, his nerd was about to show, "Nightshade's actually a pretty broad term. Solanaceae's the proper name, and it comes in a shit ton of different forms."

Somewhere at Merys' side, attempting to scale the mountain of a wolf, Lucia chirped out an attempt at saying shit, earning a small frown from her father. Of course that would be one of the words she picked, but if it stuck he would just have to teach her that it wasn't allowed. Without much concern, he went on.

"Put most basically, what they have in common is that they flower. Other than that, they can be vines, shrubs, epiphytes... but usually, when someone mentions a nightshade, they're thinking of the poisonous varieties. Which, there's plenty of those too, but around here the most prominent is solanum nigrum; black nightshade. Some believe that if used right, it'll be beneficial. Really, it'll just kill you more slowly. Ah... it's rare but there's also some atropa belladonna around. That one's pretty interesting."