and the second was swiftcurrent creek.
larger and with the suggestion of pups, the pack stood in control of access to the mountains. germanicus had fished for his offering: a medium bass.
and now he called again for someone to greet him, a traveller allied with riverclan.
Riverclan. Reverie thought of Crowfeather and found herself answering the call without a second thought. It was not him, of course, but maybe whoever it was would take a message back to him. To travel so far from the Creek still felt like tempting fate, at this point. She didn't know if Tybault was still looking for her.
So she would settle for this. Her eyes were bright and her demeanor was warm as she greeted the man who stood at the border. Hello! Did Crowfeather send you?
She looked him over and found herself slightly intimidated by the way he held himself. I'm Reverie.
it was not long at all before a pretty gilded girl came to greet him. "he did not," germanicus answered. "i come in my own name, germanicus."
he looked around at the winterbound trees beginning to softly green with spring's touch.
"i came to see what i might learn about the creek, lady reverie, and to offer my help with tasks that need completion." though she would not see it, germanicus struggled now in this moment with the absence of his titles, the informality of his visit.
Disappointment tightened her chest, but Reverie tried not to let it show. Germanicus, then. He was polite enough, but there was a cold sharpness to him that she did not like, as if he was not a man at all but a blade which had spent years relentlessly whetting itself. What circumstances made that kind of person? She wasn't sure she wanted to know.
Oh! Well... we do need a healer, but I don't know if that's something you can help with,
She was frowning thoughtfully. I'm supposed to teach someone anyway. I just haven't found anyone who wants to learn. Maybe I should get Akavir or Arric? They're the leaders here, they'd know what we might need.
I can tell you a little about Swiftcurrent Creek, at least. Everyone here is pretty quiet. There are new children, though. That's really the only exciting thing to happen lately,
Other than me bringing trouble here. But Germanicus didn't need to know that. He'd called her lady! Reverie was no lady, but she'd enjoy it for as long as she could.
"i would not be opposed to meeting them."
reverie offered a good deal of information in her thoughtful, rushed speech. they were possessed of children. two men ruled. they were not yet settled enough to have an herbalist.
"crowfeather is a good teacher and pupil," the eagle said of the shadow, heart twinging with a deep affection.
"i cannot help you with healing. but i know basic field medicine, if you would be interested to know."
meadow.
Reverie was uncertain what Germanicus meant by the statement; was he only informing her of his knowledge, or was he offering it? She didn't want to assume the latter, but she couldn't help thinking that it would be so like a man to hear that she meant to teach a subject and assume she did not even know the basics. In the absence of any real clarity, she chose to ignore it.
Crowfeather is wonderful,
She agreed idly, her tone still polite but slightly cooled. But then she was thinking of Crowfeather, and her gaze turned soft and distant with memory. How is he? I meant to visit him, but then... well, maybe I will visit soon.
Reverie was distracted entirely now, but maybe that was for the best. She was feeling uncharacteristically irritable.
something came over the girl.
"he is well. riverclan has welcomed its first children as well. he stays close for that reason."
perhaps others, and he thought of the woman whose scent he had caught when he first came to the hollow.
"has there been conflict in the area, lady reverie?" he asked, turning his mind to an easier topic than medicine or endless patrols.
germanicus sought a purpose.
Riverclan had children! Reverie wasn't sure how to take this; she had so many questions. Were they Crowfeather's children, or someone else's? And why did everyone seem so intent on this purpose? She thought of the subtle swell of her own sides, the way no sleeping position seemed comfortable anymore, and fought the urge to vomit. Germanicus had more questions.
She remembered that he had come here for a reason of his own, not just to chat and not for Crowfeather. Yes,
Reverie nodded slowly as she recalled several things. There was conflict here before I joined. I don't know the details, but Akavir and Arric would. Something with a group of wolves, I think. It seems like they left. I met one of them, though - Sadey.
conflict before but not since.
germanicus nodded. "i would like to put another patrol between here and riverclan. i understand you are not leadership. i will keep distance between the creek and myself." he meant no threat to their borders.
and then, curious; "have you known crowfeather long?"
Reverie nodded as Germanicus spoke, still in the midst of sorting out how she felt about this man and his idea of helping (she spoke of medicine; he spoke of conflict) when he asked about her history with Crowfeather. Again her expression softened at the thought of him, but this time there was a pensive quality to it. She was remembering that he was the first person she had seen when she came awake in this new place. The first eyes she met, not the gold of the place which had created her but a brighter strain of sunlight, something bold and lively. A beautiful, cheerful color, but somehow he wore it in sorrow.
A few months, sort of,
Reverie explained softly. Our first meeting was - well, terrible! We decided to start over after that. I haven't seen him since, but we... shared things, and I care about him.
She fell into a brief shy silence before adding; What about you?
"for years," he answered her, fondness at last stilling some of the iron in his spine. "he is easy to care about."
the shadow, the shadow to whose embrace he was able now to return at any time.
"perhaps i could carry a message back to him, something light."
crowfeather, filling all corners of his mind.
Long limbs took him to the edge. Reverie engaged with another. A swell of protectiveness rose upon him. Not for any untoward reason. Simply that she belònged to the creek and someone was too close and nosy.
He added a firmer step to his gait and arrived at her side. Only easing as he recognized the scent on the man. Riverclan. Ally.
I'm Arric.
he spoke quietly, but strongly.
Years! Reverie hadn't realized Crowfeather was so much older than herself. Years, plural, was even longer than her own life so far. At least, she was pretty sure it was; she wasn't sure exactly how much time had passed between leaving home and coming awake here, and didn't think she would ever truly know. Germanicus offered to carry a message; Reverie nodded eagerly and found herself relieved to discard that line of thought.
Oh! I - yes, thank you! Can you tell him - that I would like it very much if he could visit sometime? I would come to Riverclan, but I -
Reverie was saved from having to explain her predicament by Arric's sudden arrival. She cut herself off and stepped back from Germanicus, already surrendering her part in the conversation.
Reverie did not understand pack hierarchy, but she understood authority, and was always very aware of Arric's over the pack. Over her. This is Germanicus. He knows Crowfeather - I'll let you two talk,
Honestly, Reverie wasn't entirely disappointed to have an excuse to return to Lestan. She loved meeting new people, more than almost anything, but there was a definite hierarchy to her loves and Lestan occupied a lonely place at the top; his only true competitor, her love for dancing. So if the two men seemed content to let her leave, she would excuse herself to find and harass her lover.
a large man came to them.
germanicus drew himself up into the cool impassivity of a trained soldier.
"i have known crowfeather a long while," he offered for benefit of the male he assumed was a leader. "i will carry your message, lady reverie."
a pause. "i had come to question about the nature of the pack and to offer my services while i am in the valley."
Reverie excused herself and Arric watched her go with an amused smile. New love.
he said quietly. She goes to find him.
Then his tail twitched and he turned back to face the impassive man in front of him. Assessing with blue eyes, he studied and wondered who this was.
You are a new member of Riverclan?
Arric tapped a paw for a moment in thought. We are hunters and warriors mostly. We utilize Riverclan for their healers and they utilize us for our hunting and warriorship. All I ask is that you watch for a gang of wolves that gave us trouble upon our first claim of the territory. We keep a weather eye on the patrol for them and a wolf that looks like Reverie. He has caused us issues too. Other than that we have nothing. Though I am always willing to spar or hunt with others.
new love.
he thought of crowfeather with warmth.
"not a member. but i am firmly allied."
hunters and warriors. an exchange of herbs between them. mentions of a golden man.
the tactician nodded. "what is the most pressing need you have?"
Arric allowed his thoughts to wander to his pack mates and gave a soft nod. Probably a healer. We have a few that could benefit from it, and we can always use more food. Which I can lend my body and paw to that. Healing though, well that's not my forte, unless you count healing of the mind.
He tilted his head. What of Riverclan, what are they in need of? Or yourself?
"i would be honored to hunt with you," the man said quietly.
this arric seemed a good man. the strength of the creek was reflected in him.
"i need nothing." but his face softened momentarily, to be asked. to be shown care from a stranger. "i am only settling into a much needed change."
A soft chuckle.
Thanks. Though I'm just glad to have a hunting partner.
He shifted, long legs moving him backwards a bit and motioning for the other to step further. They could hunt now if he so wished, or they could just pass the time.
Arric looked over the wolf.
Sometimes you need change to grow. So I hope that whatever change you made it gives you peace.
Wasn't sure if you wanted a hunt in this one or in another. <3
can keep going here!
"i think it will."
but the eagle was close-mouthed, not wanting to think of the vast shame he had dealt himself, mereo, and fennec.
he ached for her now, her wisdom. her arms. why could he have not been content?
"what is the herd you are following?" he asked instead, wanting to know the sort of animals arric knew were around the creek.
Okey Dokey :)
Arric nodded and dropped the subject. This male didn't want to talk about it and frankly Arric didn't want to push. He was tired of playing counselor as of late. Not that he minded helping where he could, but even he could get tired and burnt out.
A small deer herd. Not many mostly young. There's a few older ones, but they hide pretty well, or at least roam from the Creek. I usually fish, but I think we'll be alright to grab one.
a deer, to themselves.
germanicus nodded, indicating that arric should lead. "when i was last through here, i saw a herd of white deer."
that seemed so very long ago.
He traveled and bent low to the ground. There they were, not even aware that the two were encroaching on their space.
Arric scented the air and read the area. Eyes landing on the 3 deer that stood near. They all seemed pretty hearty so this would prove a challenge. There were no limping, no old and infirm. He figured one of the two doe would be easiest to dispatch. Leaving he buck alone.
two does. a buck.
germanicus felt his fleetness could cut the females apart while arric's largesse would pose a greater challenge for the antlered creature.
and so he moved toward them, not yet racing.
A glance, a small snuffle. Then a whisper of a word. Which one?
Then he watched with bright blue eyes. Anxious to get started, but wanting a plan in place. He would not put himself or the other in harms way for nothing. They would have a plan before they executed such a feat.