hearthwood had much beauty. kukutux had settled easily and washed the dust of travel from her body that first day.
the second, she spent with nasamiituuq, identifying plants near the place where reverie had given them as sleeping-place.
for now, she was briefly alone, chanting softly as she mingled the contents of two hareskins together in a vibrant heap at her paws.
It had been years since the wolf had been in the area of her birth and it was filled with both good and horrible memories. She told herself she’d never come back but it felt nice to be home.
It was a nice day and she went to find her alpha. Thankfully it wasn’t too difficult and she walked up. “Hi.” She said softly as she approached. She noticed what she was doing and was curious. “What is it you are doing?”
"it is good to see your face," moonmother greeted the sister of valiant. "this is mountain-mint," to a pile of fragrant, fresh-dried green. "and this has the name of qisiqtutauyak."
she looked up. "i will show you how to mix these together."
The wolf smiled and listened as she explained what the herbs she was mixing was called and the curious woman had so many questions and first thing was how to pronounce the other name but she decided not to embarrass herself with trying and went with her second question. “What are they for.” She had heard of a few Herbs but never this one.
"mountain-mint is good for many things. to clear the breath. to settle the stomach. it is not as strong as plains-mint, or as strong-smelling as forest-mint. it can be used to wash small wounds as well. and this other, it is good for the eyes. if an eye is hurt, apply a mixture of this to the inner part and then use water to clean. a tea of these berries can help a woman when she is sick in the beginning of her pregnancy. and a stronger drink can be given to those with many years, for the aching that comes with old bones."
Now the young woman had no idea there were that many different types of mint and it made her even more intrigued as the woman spoke. “Wow.” She said simply in wonder this woman knew so much about plants.
She could only dream to one day hold so much knowledge. “There’s so many different kinds. I didn’t know it could be used for so much .” The woman took mental notes and watched intently to what she said and took everything to memory she didn’t want to forget anything that she said.
"each plant has many uses, and a healer may see how to use each in her lifetime."
she glanced at minnow warmly, wondering. "there are many ways to do medicine. do you have the want to learn one way, or all of them?"
She offered a smile. “I’d like to learn all you’re willing to teach me.” She said hopefully.
She had caused so much death and now all she wanted to do was heal. Both herself and others that she comes across in her lifetime.
she nodded. "then when we will begin with how to give medicine to the sick children and those who are old. the very young and those who have many years should never be given a complete tea, or a full offering of medicine. it can stop breathing and slow the heart."
"the first is the cough of children. it is tight, dry. it can stop a child from drinking mother's milk, which will weaken them. chew a mild mint. mountain is best. place it inside their mouth, at front. breathe upon their mouth, their nose. as they swallow, they will breathe." she could not explain how warm air made potent the wet mint, nor how the cold breath thereafter could clear the throat for a time.
but she knew that it was effective.
She took a quick mental not of what was first said. Not too much for both young children and elderly. “Oh wow.” It scared her to think that plants can do so much good but also so much harm but she guess that was the way of things and creatures. “So doing that process kind opens up the airways so they breathe better right?” She questioned
"yes. you must do it often, but not so often. the milk of the mother brings strength, but only if the children can drink. if they have more times to drink, they will grow stronger and will not need so much afterward."
The woman had a few questions. “And what if the mother isn’t producing enough milk for her young. I’ve heard of using borage leaves for that issue but I’m unaware of when and where they grow?” She thought the question fitting due to the topic they were discussing.
"honey and the leaves of the milkweed plant. and borage, you have said. you may find it where there are places of long grass. you may find it where there are many trees, where field and shadow touch their faces together." her eyes shone with pride at minnow's quickness.
She took a mental note on the location of the plants. Thankfully she knew of plenty forests in the area and would have no difficulty finding the plant hopefully for when she goes herb hunting later. “Is getting honey difficult?” She questioned.
She once had gotten stung by a bee as a child and that wasn’t a happy experience but perhaps the she wolf had some ways of doing so without being stung.
"it can bring the sting of bees. you learn to bear it," kukutux smirked.
there were other things to be done; now she stood with a nod and said, "please wash these piles," pointing toward three. "i must visit reverie."
The girl gave a swift nod of her own.
“Of course.” She said.
“Thank you for the lesson.” There was still so much the woman wanted to ask but her many questions would have to wait for another time. For now the girl would just do as she was told.
Feel free to archive thanks for the thread!