The days following the treatment of her eye had been restful, more or less. Still she assumed diligent her role as guard to the Vale, only venturing from the borders when the scent of a hunt wafted from just beyond. She kept close to her home if only to make certain no further harm would come to her healing process. While she was able to see from the injured right eye, the flesh was still delicate and in a vulnerable state. Any inkling of this to another not of the Vale, might have seen this as an advantage to exploit. And by all that was good, she could not afford that. Not when so many depended on the strength of the warriors.

However, she tried to hold true to some optimism. Looking to the mountains where she found her solace, she scaled the formidable face with relative ease til she came upon the cusp of the hidden basin; the sizable reserve where the natural water was collected, purified and stored.

But she was not alone in finding it, for the scent of another greeted her upon entrance. Familiarity sparked life into the otherwise tired, dulled eyes, as did concern in seeing the dark pelt. What was this female doing so close to the Vale? The words rested on her lips but would not make a sound, rather they remained on trembling lips, kept inaudible by a fragile sense of calm. Rather than approach right away, the female remained where she was stood upon a sturdy stone. Her eyes, both wide, were trained on the female, not antagonizing but watching to assess her intentions.

She watched the female with eyes widely drawn, much as a hawk would watch the happenings of a mouse. The warrior had no intention of startling the woman without cause, yet there was an interest in her gaze both genuine and predatory. Genuine in that she was curious to what led her to the water’s edge… and the latter as she perceived this to be some kind of rest as she prepared for her true purpose. She did not find it a coincidence that the very female that guided her to the mountain was again found not only near but upon its surface. An infiltration mission perhaps. A futile attempt to find the entrance of the Vale before being caught by its natives.

Quietly, Nuata watched as the dark healer struck then reared her catch from the water… only to have it flop back into its slippery home. She was too quick to celebrate rather than assure the creature was dead. A bite to the head would have done it good, but of course the creature was now far from her reach.

“Bite it next time,” she grumbled, effectively breaking the stillness.

Make sure she was okay?

The perplexed expression did not escape the furrow of her brows. More often than not, it was the warrior that ventured outward to see to the wellbeing of those called friends. But this female before her did not yet warrant that title, nor did she believe she held the same kind of regard with the healer. Had it been the elated countenance of the pale Plateau wolf that came to her, she might have been more accepting of this assumed truth. But as of late, the woman’s mind was filled with the doubts of whom to believe. There had been a time when she would have perceived another’s words as truth, but such days were beyond her when there was the pack and its safety to think about.

Never the less, she replied with a grumble of uncertainty; “I am alright.” Then she let her gaze glide across the rigid stones. “You have not crossed into the territory,” Xi’nuata informed her. “The peaks and lake are still free for your travels…”

Fishing was far from one of her fortes, nor did she ever have the desire to explore it unless necessary. To hear genuine interest in the task perked her ears somewhat, but she was adamant to remain visual passive to the woman’s intentions beyond what she deemed interesting. In truth, the warrior was having a difficult time assessing if there was indeed a threat to the healer’s presence. Her own belief to take others at face value were in constant conflict with the perceptions she had come to learn. Lest she be made a fool for surrendering to optimism prematurely, she maintained a hardened eye, however much it irritated her to squint.

“Thank you,” she replied low, politely, though there was a determined depth to her chords that suggested mistrust. And while she had pride in her healer, she could not fully bestow credit to her. “My companion saw that my eye remained clean. Our healer simply checked to make sure there was no infection. Your methods did not call for further remedies.”

Xi’nuata kept a careful eye on the female as she adjusted her posture, watching as she not only shifted her weight but made her appearance more open. It left little to be desired in terms of an opening should conflict arise, offering a sort of ease for the warrior in that the benign intentions of the healer might have been true. Her nostrils flared with an exhale of breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, then gradually she allowed her shoulders to slump to a more relaxed posture. Her eyes remained fixed on the woman, however, they centered more on her crown than the bridge of her muzzle.

“What he could not remove…” she continued just as softly, though she skeptics edge had receded from her voice somewhat. “I pulled myself or washed them away.” Fortunately it had not taken days to remove them. Though she still found the odd broken thorn now and again, but none as paining as the ones once suffered in her eye. “But I see now where you skill comes from,” she remarked to the healer’s lineage. It was not uncommon for skill sets to pass down from generation to generation. If anything it proved that such care had its advantages.

More and more, the warrior was reminded of the pale wolf by the healer’s loquacious nature. While she found some semblance of comfort in it, it made the female miss her Plateau companion all the more. Their time upon the bluff was short-lived but entertaining. And dare she go as far as to call it ‘fun’. She had never smiled as much as when within his presence, nor did she ever feel as free when standing in his light. Only one exceeded him. And only one ever would.

Xi’nuata listened patiently as the healer shared her tale, growing more comfortable in speaking in both tongue and posture. Attentively her ears came forward as she received the excitable words, painting a picture for herself of a wandering family offering word and healing for food and warmth. An existence she imagined would be hard in between the walk from one pack to another, yet strangely enriching with what could be learned. “Why do you live in the Plateau if more can be found with you traveling between packs?” she inquired.

Family.

The word held a horrible meaning for the Vale warrior, but for the healer it seemed to be a word of comfort. She spoke fondly of her mother and father, the life they led, even the hardships were not without a light at their end. And then there was her own hope to birth a family of her own. The reason in which she sought a pack in the first place. It was not so different than her own reasons for joining the Vale; purpose, yet found in different intangible things.

“If your bond is strong,” she uttered quietly, “then you will see them again.” Not unlike what she had seen with Anemone, the positive bonds of family never failed to bring the mislaid together. It was only unfortunate that she could not find such solace in the word as they did. And for this, she envied the both of them in silence.

“When you are permitted your young,” she continued. “Will you travel with them as was done with you?” Would she give them the same enrichment as her parents?

So much time had passed since she looked upon her own twin brothers, she could not exactly recall their faces nor their likeness. Nieces and nephews… continuations of siblings; would her brothers have fathered pups of their own by now? Both of them sitting a four years now, it would have been surprising if she did not have relations of her own wandering the wild and unknown. But who was to say they had even lived long enough to see their seed to root? Such thoughts had never crossed her mind before, and it was strange that they could become present now.

Grumbling softly, the female shook her head to dismiss the thought then brought her ears forward to return to her listening posture.

“You would give them a choice.” From the many words came a single condensed conclusion she could acknowledge, and with it came surprise. She would not have thought a parent would give their offspring this liberty. It seemed foreign to her, as one that was made to follow the dictations of others. Individual thought and desire were abolished both kindly and forcefully, making her the sheltered thing she had been before finding her paws on the wild earth. That a pup would be granted their freedom simply by desire was… frightening. But it was an outlook she had no intention of contesting. Rather she left it as thus and simply nodded, having heard.

OOC: Of course!!! :D

Love and acceptance. No ill feelings upon their leave, but an openness to return by the blessing given from their mother. It was a romantic sentiment, one the warrior did not fully understand but none the less committed it to memory. The way the healer thought was so… kind, and like the pale wolf, she too unknowingly gave the female something to ponder on.

There were no children in her future yet, but such talk gave her much to think on should she bare them. Only ever had she known that a female’s role was to bear the pups. Never give them choice or bestow upon them love or acceptance. They were but another life for the pack to have and keep. That there was more to it was… astounding.

Xi’nuata had fallen silent as she allowed herself to think. Each word and kind sentiment replayed until it became a part of her memory. She might have inquired further had it not been for the clatter of rock from the mountain; the tell-tale sign that something more walked across the jagged terrain. Enlightening to it, she returned her state of mind to its dutiful role but not without a close word to their conversation. “Blue Willow,” she whispered the name having surfaced it from her memory. “You have given me something to think on… and I thank you for that.” Politely she dipped her muzzle before taking a step back as she turned. “I must return to my duties. Take care with your fishing…”

Then quickly she departed, bounding into the mountains with expert grace til her colors were no longer seen.

[Exit]