The frustration of a failed rabbit chase was redirected quickly. As she had stood defeated in the cold, panting plumes of condensed breath, the howl rose and her ears quivered accordingly; Vienna..

Providing the rabbit's general direction one last scoff, she turned and jogged off towards the songbird's summons. It was sure to be a welcome change of pace, for it was at least different that grinding the hours away on patrol and the hunt. Not to mention, she would be glad to see her. Naturally she had noticed the steady return of her scent to the various places around the mountain. Her healing had been steady, and at least Mallaidh had been present for some of it. Which, now that she thought about it, was something she could ask Vienna about -- namely, if she knew anything of the healer's intentions to roam.

So, not too long after the call, Ame arrived with a soft chuff of greeting and slowly waving tail.

Ame was at ease in Vienna's company. While they were not exceptionally close, the dark alpha liked their easy dynamic -- whatever it was, exactly. Her tail swayed slowly. Well enough. And yourself? It is good to see you, she said. Not only.. her, but her out and about. In well enough shape to not be confined to a den to wait away the hours healing.

Ame did glance over where the wounds were on her neck and sides the best she could from her present spot, and without being all too obvious about it. She had seen them at their worst and certainly, this was an improvement. But, she did still hate seeing them, and that they had happened at all.

Easily, she found she agreed. Not noticing Vienna around had been almost unnerving since she had been here practically from the start, and it had only worked to make her more uneasy about her early healing. Thankfully Mallaidh's brief stay coincided with her injury..

The agouti wolf already had her attention, and she canted her head slightly -- definitely curious. When the topic came out, she couldn't help but nod. I see. Well, I can certainly share what I do know, but I have been hoping to learn more myself.. since what I know covers the basics, it is not everything. And truly, she wished to know more, even if her "bedside manners" left a little bit to be desired. Which was why she was easily supportive of Vienna's interest in the idea. They needed a good, consistent healer among them but she would need to find out how much Vienna knew already -- if anything at all.

If you could find someone outside of the pack to learn from, I think that would do you well. I have considered doing the same but not had a chance to meet anyone suitable, she said. Not that she had been specifically looking. She rarely roamed anymore and was usually up to matters here. The white wolf in the wetlands was the closest she had come, but he had not exactly been a medicinally-focused individual. Actually, I had first planned to learn more from Mallaidh, she chuffed softly. Ame had not planned to assume the official healer role, yet here again, she picked up the slack when necessary.. which led her to wonder if she should just get it over with and wear the designation in full one day. How much do you know already? she asked.

Indeed, for her pack mates, she would give them all she could. It was strange how.. unexpectedly attached to many of them she had become, even if it was in her own distant way. She had come here to follow Ferdie and Jace and things had evolved curiously from there, leading her into a dynamic she never would have foreseen for herself if one had asked a year or so ago.

I think that sounds good. While I do not know if they have a healer, I would look into the Plateau first, she suggested, unaware that this was already in Vienna's plans. The Plateau was probably the best relationship with another pack Ame could think of, even if there was terribly little to base that judgement on. Which, to her, was infinitely better than bad vibes. She would never nudge a wolf towards the Creek, Ankyra, or even to a lesser extent Redhawk Caldera. They were three she wanted little to do with and thankfully, aside from the Creek, distance made it difficult anyway.

On Mallaidh, she nodded softly with a hint of a frown. It was too bad, but she did not press the subject and instead listened on. Vienna did have a good grasp of the basics, it seemed. Ame was pleased. You have a good start, I believe, she commented first with a nod. I like yarrow best for fevers and as a poultice on wounds. It seems to help keep out infection very well for something simple, and is so easy to find in warm months. I have also heard it can ease stomach pains too, although.. I do not know that from experience. We always used it for wounds -- which is much of the basis of what I know, she said. It was what her clan had taught her, just by being around the older, more experienced wolves who had seen plenty of battles. She had also realized that most of what they used were common plants. They usually did not have time to go searching for them, she guessed.

Goldenrod, too, for wounds and even dried oak leaves can help them when chewed into a poultice.. oh, and dandelion -- the leaves chewed ease pain a little, but are not strong. She the quieted to read Vienna's expression, since Ame wouldn't bombard her with too much all at once and needed a beat to think of what else she could mention; she had hit the big ones already.

She did believe that if any pack was worth pursuing deeper bonds with, that it may be the Plateau. Vienna spoke of meeting individuals from there with good reviews, and Ame felt the same. Mhm, I have yet to meet a foul Plateau wolf -- although I suppose I do not know many, but even if they only have a few tidbits of information to offer, it is worth hearing I believe, she nodded. Anything was better than nothing, and by piecing together that with what little she could teach, it could almost amount to a worthwhile healer. With a bit of experience added to it, she believed it could be achieved in full.

Anyway, Vienna added her own -- willow bark, and Ame nodded with a soft laugh. Ah, well, good thing it came to you, even if a little delayed.. she smirked. I am not particularly familiar with it, but there are other barks that are useful too, apparently.. Again, not that she knew by experience. I am just less familiar with poultice-type applications, since for myself, I usually let the wounds.. breathe, and rinse them often, although this is obviously not always effective, she said, remembering the fever that had stealthily pounced on her many moons ago. It does make it hard to.. learn plants in the wintertime, when much of what we are the dried up stockpiles left by other aspiring healers to go by. Come spring, I think we will all be able to learn much more.. Through means of others or just simply experimenting on their own.

There was much to learn, and feeling particularly aware of her inadequacies, she wished for springtime to come sooner. Of course, as Vienna mentioned, there had to be more seasonally-appropriate remedies to master here in the winter to learn. Yet, Ame could not speak well of them, as she only knew of some barks that could be used, and even that was not understood in full. Most likely, and definitely something I would be interested in knowing better, she said with a nod, for more than once she had worried about the availability of healing plants in the wintertime.

Then, with the shifting subject, she brought her attention towards the packs. Not too much, beyond the fact that they are.. there. Beyond the Plateau, she heard little from the other northern neighbors and since she rarely went trekking out and about on her own anymore, her mental map of where everyone was located was a little fuzzy. She knew there was one not too far from the wetlands towards the northeast, and then there was Ankyra on the coast.. but there was much land between the two and surely a small handful of packs littered the expanses north from here. There is one, a coastal pack which I believe is generally north from here with a poor reputation that I would advise not getting to know better, but they are a good distance away. She had not made too much noise about them since there were many unknowns, and it had become clear that they were not an active threat to the mountain itself. But to wolves out traveling, it was worth knowing just a little about so to avoid the fates that Rain had encountered with them.