It'd been a little while since their last talk, and Charley found himself wondering if Ayla'd gone or if she'd learned anything new. It was worth a shot, so he loosed a howl for her and continued on to the borders for patrol. They were heavy now, easily detected and announcing their presence to all those around them. There was little left to do, finally settled, but still the King knew they had yet to really claim it. In time there would be a day that felt right to howl with the pack and fully, officially, settle here as the Royal Fire Court. He could feel it in his bones: It was close, so close he could taste it! Reaching the borders, he hiked up a leg and set a marker where he thought there wasn't enough scent.
A howl echoed through the air, Charley's. Wondering what her king wanted, she made her way quickly to the borders. She found him quickly, and the nymph trotted to his side silently, eyes inquiring as she greeted him with a chuff and a dip of her head. She was close, she believed, to getting her naturalist trade, and her knowledge was steadily increasing as she studied the surrounding lands. Sometimes, she went beyond the borders, but not very often, and had ye to go far.
She was quick to respond, which he was happy for, and fell in with him silently. As she did, an idea came to mind, but first he wanted to find out what she'd learned so far, if anything.
"How is the knowledge hunt going?"
Heading along the borders clockwise, as he had taking to doing since his accident, the King strode with no less confidence or pride than he had with two eyes. His head was high, evenn higher so with perked ears, and his tail strove to be just as high. This was his land, his wolves, and the patchy male dared someone to come to his borders and challenge them.
He continued to walk, patrolling the borders. Ayla had heard word of a trespasser, and wondered if that was some of the reason that the King was patrolling today. "It goes well...I'm learning"
The silver female usually came to mind when he patrolled, rising anger in him, but with the absence of her scent he didn't voice it. Border patrol was just a thing to pass time.
"Did anyone in the pack help?"
Ayla nodded. "Earlier, Heartha helped me find a mushroom, a really cool one I'de like to study. But I haven't been able to find her since then. I couldn't find Shalon, either, but I hope to soon. Maybe she'll be able to teach me something." she said, realising that she may be rambling, and was quiet again.
Heartha seemed to be pretty helpful, and he was glad Aspen had found her out by the Rise all that time ago. She was valuable, sweet, and someone who was no doubt worming her way into the Inner Circle.
"Shalon's been around, but it's Darsal I'm worried about. She hasn't been around in some time.... I think she's gone, and Skeet too."
They were losing people and gaining them, but all the King wanted was for people to come and join their family to stay. He held no ill will for those who were gone, or so he told himself.
"I'm glad you're progressing. Have you left the borders?"
He seemed pretty disappointed that some were leaving, but Ayla was not. If this was not the place for them, why would they? Charley should be glad that they didn't stay under false pretences. But she didn't say this, instead answering his question. "Not yet. But tomorrow, I plan to go to a swamp just a little ways outside the border. Lots of interesting specimens there that I'd like to study." she said.
Inwardly, the King agreed: they had no place here, but it still burned in his heart that they hadnt stayed. Charley nodded with her, a smile rising on his face.
"I'm glad you're putting effort into it. I've been thinking about it, and I might be interested in learning with you."
Another may have been flustered that the king had asked to learn with them, but not Ayla. She smiled too, saying, "I could tell you what I know, if you's like, sir" She would be glad to share her knowledge, even if the brunt of it was weather, and plants. She didn't know too much about the stars, or rocks...yet.
His smile widened into a charming grin, and the King nodded. Enthusiastic about learning something new, he kept his good ear cupped towards her as they continued on with patrol.
"Teach me!"
Ayla nodded, excited. "What would you like me to teach you? I know about the weather, and about plants." she said, and asked. She didn't want to go rambling on about something Charley had no interest in hearing.
Was there something in particular he wanted to learn about? Well, not really, since he knew very little about it in general. Thinking for a moment in silence, he finally suggested something.
"How about start by telling me what Naturalists do, overall?"
huh. an odd place to start, but it was fitting, and she did not mind. hesitantly, she begun. "Naruralists are those with a deep understanding of the earth; weather, stars, plants, rocks. They know so much, they can predict the worst of storms, identify and use a wide range of plants, know of different rocks, minerals and other such things. They are in tune with the world around them." She finished, hoping that it was a fitting description.
Charley knew it had to do with nature and reading signs, but that was about it. The details she gave him shed more light on the subject, and he nodded as he listened.
"I didn't know they handled so much. What part do you wish you follow?"
She thought a moment before answering, though her mind was pretty much made up. "I'de like to prove my skills in reading weather...I'm quite good at it. I'm interested in plants, too, their purpose and names and attributes. I think I'de like to focus on that." she said, thinking about the odd plants she had come across already.
"So you'll become a Caregiver and Medic, or just the growing them part?"
Charley would be thrilled to have more than one Medic in the pack, but they were talking about Naturalists; it was likely she meant the latter. Remembering her warning of the storm brought his head nodding.
"You are very good at the weather. You told of the storm before I could've guessed."
"I don't know, yet. I think I'de like to become a medic as well. But a naturalist first." She said, after a moment. She didn't quite know exactly what other trade she wanted, but medic was certainly a good choice. At his praise, she merely nodded, knowing full well; her strengths. "Thank you. That's why I want to specialize in them; prove my skills and make them better."
Her answer was expected, but he was glad to know she might learn healing too. Nodding, he wondered what he might go for.
"Perhaps you'll go for the Druid ranking?"
The Druid ranking. The ranking she had found confusing, at first. So many rankings for a pack that could sustain only, perhaps, a dozen or more wolves. But she had a good grasp on them now, and even though she wondered at their strangeness and unfamiliarity to her, she said nothing. Now, she nodded. Being best in the pack at her chosen trade was quite the accomplishment.
She didn't say anything, just nodded, and Charley worried that he's pressured or confused her.
"You don't have to, yknow."
Shooting her a sorry glance, he hoped this wasn't the case. It was a lot of work and dedication, acquiring a Specialty Rank.
Ayla shook her head. "No, I do want to. It'd be something to work towards. But Charley...could you, maybe, explain the ranks to me? There are so many, and I try to remember them all, but why do you have such an amount? Can't the Glade support only, say, a dozen wolves, at most?" she asked, her confusion with the ranks evident.
So it was the latter: she was confused. Whether it wad his fault or not, Charley didnt know,but he was happy to clear it up for her.
"At any given time, only 20 wolves are allowed to be a part of the Glade. That's the limit it can hold, no matter how many ranks there are. Any more and we'd never be able to feed ourselves. The ranks are so many to give freedom for change, for progression."
gonna split it up so Ayla gets more posts lol
Ayla nodded, following along. Her gaze was sharp as she digested this information, and though another question came to mind, she pushed it away and nodded at him to continue.
"The Specialized Ranks are basically the head of their trade: they teach those below them, act as role models for not just their trade but all the pack. They fall at the top of the Inner Circle tier, just under the four leaders."
Charley went on, and since he was unsure of what exactly needed clarifying, he KEPT going.
"The Druid rank correlates with the Naturalist trade, just as General does with Mercenary, the Sleuth to Scout, Bard to Chronicler, Healer for Caregiver, Scribe for Councelor, and Dapifer for Hunter."