Swiftcurrent Creek Or you don't have friends, you have a nation

Tags can be for ref or for joining, all welcome <3

Things were always changing at Swiftcurrent Creek. Reverie took the time to note which scents were familiar to her and which were not. Arlette had remained, but that didn't surprise her. @Etienne she remembered well, though she hadn't expected to find him here. Others were unfamiliar. But one scent among them —

Reverie felt the bile rising in her throat even as she wondered whether she was only imagining @Lestan's scent thick within the borders. She swallowed back the sour taste of it. Surely Akavir would have mentioned his presence.

Or maybe not. Maybe she shouldn't linger here.

Etienne was busy. Filling caches. Drying herbs. He would not allow the creek to suffer at least not if he could help it for sickness.

He shifted and shuffled looking. There was a sharp tangy scent to his pelt. Herbs and grasses

Though it felt as if a lifetime had passed since she'd last seen the healer, Reverie was nonetheless delighted to catch a glimpse of him through the foliage.

Etienne! She called out softly, already on his trail. He'd been living in the mountains when they'd last met, hadn't he? How the soft-spoken man abided Akavir and Arric's coarser nature, she wasn't sure — but Etienne would at least be safe here.

Etienne had scented Rrverie. And though their last encounter had been fraught with pain. He had done his best to soothe. A small smile as a voice rang out.

'ello miss. Reverie. 'Ow be you?

He didn't ask after any of the others, not even Dusty because his scent was gone. And Etienne did not want more bad news.

Oh, exhausted, Reverie laughed, sounding as if she might burst into tears even as she did. She reached out to hug him, seeing in his face that he must feel the same. But I'm happy to see you. It's good that you're here. Swiftcurrent Creek is - it's a safe place to be.

Safer for him, at least, than for someone like her.

I won't be here for long - but maybe I can help you with some things before I leave. We can catch up, if you'd like. Her smile was tentative but filled with warmth. Even a briefly-met friend was a valuable thing in times like these.

There as a sadness that had always clung to Reverie. Etienne had not known her well, but the brief meetings. She had held the worlds hurt like armor and yet the spikes turned inward and ripped her anew each injustice. She hurt adn took it all too personally. But Could Etienne even judge really. Look at him.

He gathered her to himself. Sharp tang of herbs and all. Paws dirty from the grit and loam. Leaves stuck probably in his fur. Dat it is.

Etienne studied her. You be leavin again so soon? Wut you be needed to do dat you can't be safe too?

Etienne nodded and motioned at the herbs. I be gat'erin' 'erbs. I be dryin dem. Gotta bundle em and 'ang em.