Dawnlark Plains a little wrinkle in time, make you pull the iron out

a string of profanities unleashed from chani as she picked herself up from slamming hard into the packed snow of the melting plains.
she had been attempting to employ hunting techniques imparted to her by theo, but it had gone poorly. now the hare ran far ahead and her shoulder hurt. the girl snorted, rolling her eyes harshly and whirling for home.

Thyme had made his way out of that marsh. That way wasn't for him, so he decided to head in another direction. Spring was really starting to come out, and it caused for patches of grasses and ground to appear. It also caused for half melted snow which turned to icy patches. The male noticed a female ahead that seemed to make a stumble. He winced out loud at the smack. Poor gal.

Luckily she seemed to get up on her paws though. The male decided to approach her, a little cautious if embarrassment of the girl might not make her openminded to a stranger. He woofed to let her know he was close. He stopped at a respectful distance. "I hope you are alright?," he asked her. Tail low and relaxed, his body lean, perhaps a little on the skinnier side.

as fate would have it, chani's complete failing had not gone unnoticed, a fact that irked her even as she spun to stare at the stranger. he was all muted, pleasant shades, with mahogany-bark eyes and a politely worried expression.
it was the last thing that made her bristle. she was taller than him by a bit, though he had age on her. "i be fine," the girl said coolly. "huntin' takes a lot of time," chani added, eying his thin frame.

Thyme had to agree on that part. He didn't look at the fact that she might be taller or younger. He just saw the wolf make a smack and hoped they were alright. It seemed that they were. Thyme had the feeling she didn't like that he had seen her fail but he didn't think any less of her. Hunting was difficult.

"It does take time," he could only agree with a nod. He was the prime example, since he usually only had small meals. "I'm glad. I just wanted to make sure, I got a little healing experience so if I could help you I would have. But you look fine," he hummed. "I'm Thyme." Deciding to ignore her glance over his thinner frame. He knew with his life style he wouldn't pack much weight.

100th for u! <3

the man was — thoughtful. chani relaxed a little as he explained his interest, though she continued to openly speculate about him with her eyes as he spoke. when thyme gave his name, she straightened quite stiffly, unsure of whether she should do the same.
the girl had become quite insular in her development, preferring to stay at home rather than leave for most reasons. sans this one: wanting to be useful. "i be chani. an' i have no interest in plants," she teased, teasing his humour, "only fallin' an' needin' dem to be used on me."

omg <3

"Nice to meet you, Chani." Thyme gave her a warm grin when the female had some humor. "I feel you, even though I am named after a plant," he chuckled. He found plants damn difficult as well, he knew the basics, scratched the basics really. But it was always nice to know a few plants when traveling alone. One didn't want to get injured. "Do you need some plants to be used on you?," he asked then with a chuckle, his tail wagging. He wanted to ask, just to be sure.

wow sorry! D:

"what do thyme be doin'?" chani asked, genuinely interested in the plant's medical qualities as well as wanting to make another joke. "ha!" she coughed to his offer, flattered and intrigued but too proud to admit any soreness. "i t'ink not! but i would listen to how you became an herb-man, hm?"
she flicked her eyes over his pelt again, vaguely approving, and then set out to look for something else to hunt.

<3 I don't mind a little slower pace, no worries please!

Thyme shot her a grin. "The plant or me?," he chuckled. "Thyme the wolf just be wandering," he admitted. "Thyme the plant... It can help with fighting infections. Probably not with falling down. Thyme the wolf might, but he can't help fighting," he shrugged lightheartedly. It seemed he had accepted that fate.

"My mother," he spoke, his tone a little softer but not discouraged. "She is from here, pretty sure. I do recognize those mountains," he spoke and pointed his muzzle towards the sunspire mountain range. "I used to live there with her." He realized that he didn't know if his mother was actually from those mountains but... she was probably not there anymore either.

<3

thyme the wolf. thyme the plant. chani decided she liked that, but not the fact that he'd been separated from his mother. no judgement; she simply could not fathom being far from chacal, even as she wandered. sapphique would always be there. it would always be home. she could always come back, no matter how far she went.
and, in the manner of children, chacal felt immortal to her, all-seeing, invincible.
"do you ever miss her, thyme?" chani asked, scuffing at the ground; she felt the name was just right for the gentle man keeping company with her now.

This thread is so cutE!!!! <3

Thyme was glad that the energy felt so relaxed and nice. He realized he had missed company. Chani was good company. The wolf's tail wagged happily over his hocks. He did inhale a little when she asked that question. "Yes, yes I do," he admitted to her honestly. "She was the best, or I remember her as such."

"I went to look for her, but the pack I was born into no longer exists on either location we used to live," he explained. He then lifted up his head a little, as if he was physically trying to cheer himself up. "But I know that if it is in the stars then I will see her again one day," he told Chani.

it is!! sorry for the wait <3

the girl nodded, pleased at his praise of time with his mother. it was how she felt about her own. seeing it in a man was — not odd, per se, just not something she had seen yet. she expected her baby brothers and cousins to grow up with the same appreciation for the women around them; thyme had just been the first to say it.
her heart hurt a little. "i can't imagine being wit'out mine," she admitted. "or even t'inkin' about her dyin'." she cleared her throat a little. "how did you — find peace in it?"

please no worries! Thyme is a slow paced character for me <3

It was nice to find someone who understood. Not every wolf had a good relation with their parents, or even mothers. It was difficult, he admitted. But my thirst for knowledge helped to keep me moving and distracted. He also had traveled far, just so he could pull himself away from the fact that he didn't know where his mother was. I truly hope she hasn't passed, but it could be, he sighed. He did try to cheer himself up though, liking to be positive. She was certain his mother would survive, after all she had survived many things. Staying positive on that I will one day see her again. Find her, he smiled warmly.

<3

stay positive. chani, who had suffered very little in her life, still found that hard to parse. "my family believes in de lwa. spirits we cannot see, who listen an' guide. we can call upon dem when we need." she studied thyme. "does your mot'er believe anytin' like dat?"
before they could go on, however, a second rabbit showed itself, and her eyes darkened with excitement. "hungry?" she whispered, slipping into another crouch. "i have to redeem meself, you know."

Thyme instantly angled his head with curiosity when she explained about lwa. That was something new and it instantly took to his brain to remember it. I have never head of lwa, he spoke. How would you communicate with these spirits if you cannot see them? How do you know they are there? He tried to ask it in the most respectful way possible. My mother taught me to believe in me. I have to stay positive and follow my instincts. But I am happy to learn more about your lwa!"

Thyme quieted when she spotted the rabbit as well. Thyme instantly nodded to confirm he was hungry. "I can help unless you want to do this yourself, he whispered back. He sat down, indicating that he would let her handle this herself if she wanted to. Logically it seemed that she might want to do this herself to redeem and prove herself.

chani's ears cupped forward. "sogbo came to me in a dream when i slept at de sea. other lwa came to t'ose who were initiated wid me."
but she needed to hunt now, and reluctantly turned back to her quarry.
move. lunge. race. strike.
blood splashed her chest. she dropped the furry bundle and panted in great gasps, chuckling at herself with a long, low whoop of success. "t'ank you, sogbo. an' t'ank you, thyme. moral support, eh?"

Thyme thought about it, how often he had dreams. Not often, but when he slept it was always quick and not very deep. He was on his own and sleeping for too long could be dangerous. Who knows, maybe when he was able to sleep for longer hours he might get a visit from lwa. Interesting. I don't think I sleep deep enough to make a connection then.

He watched her go off to hunt. He sat down, waiting. She clearly didn't even need his help because she returned with a meal. He whooped with her in celebration. A smile quirked upon his lips. Thank you Sogbo. And good job Chani, he complimented. Moral support, he agreed. This did make him think. Perhaps he did no longer wish to be on his own. Maybe he should find a place to settle. If I want to see you again, where can I find you?

"do you be wantin' to see me again, thyme?" chani teased, a quick-witted adjustment to hide the sudden flush of warmth climbing her cheeks. a boy! wanting to see her?
generationally, chani had been raised with an overarching sense of complete feminine power that needed no men. boys were therefore still a mystery to her. "north, pas' de rise of de redtail wolves. fierce. steer clear. come to de sea. call for me."
there it was again, a low flicker in her chest.

Thyme shot her a charming grin. He couldn't help it. I would like to, he admitted, not scared to admit it either. She was an interesting wolf and her culture seemed something of interest as well. He had to smile at her quick wit as well.

North, passing de rise of de redtail wolves. Stay clear. Go to de sea. Call for you, he repeated to mind. His tail wagged. Then she could also perhaps explain him more about that sea as well. I will look forward to it. Thank you for giving a lone traveler some company. With that he would let her leave, not wanting to press his company onto her. He wanted to explore the valley before traveling back to the coast.

love this! and them! tysm <3

well.
if she could have flushed another gradient of red, she might have done so. her own tail waved. "be careful along de sea, thyme," chani said seriously. "if a wave does not get you, a t'ousand crabs are sure to do just dat."
a wink, a grin; a jest; she turned and ran for home, showing off a little as she sprang in rangy steps along the slickened ground.

Yes I can't agree more! They must meet again!!!

Thyme nodded. I will. Thank you for your warning. When she left he cursed himself to ask her about these crabs she mentioned. Clearly he didn't know what they were not being from the beach. Though, he would be vigilant. He didn't know why he felt that he had to say goodbye, but he knew he would do his best to find her on the coast. He repeated her instructions until they were engraved in his mind.


- fin -