Blackfeather Woods You just might see a ghost tonight

Maybe @Nemesis? Ehe~ Anyone's welcome, though.

As of late, Kove had been the happy sort. His life was back on track, it seemed, giving to him the opportunity to live it the way he'd originally planned. He had a wife that he was certain would never choose another over him, and a son to carry on the family name someday. It would be better, of course, if his daughters were with him, too, but he knew he could never force them to remain there. He'd wanted for them to be happy, after all, and so he hoped they had achieved exactly that wherever they each resided. Someday, perhaps he would seek them out and check up on them, but for the time being he was focused on living his own life. They had made their decisions long ago and, while he wouldn't hold that against them, he wouldn't wait around for them, either.

The borders had claimed his attention, offering to him an opportunity to clear his mind. Patrolling had become like second nature to him, the borders often seeming far more familiar than the rest of the territory. Of course, that wasn't actually the case, but it was quite the thought to humour. Even so, it'd occupied his mind only for a short period of time, as his attention was then returned to the task at hand. Secretly, he hoped he might catch a glimpse of his lover, for it felt as if it'd been far too long since they'd last conversed. And, all things considered, Kove wished to spend much more time with her, as well as discuss various things.

Patrolling was not Cicero's thing nor chosen duty, and so it was not upon a similar patrol that he ran into his pack mate that day. It was after returning from the neutral territories, plants spread across his back after his meet-up with Sage, that Cicero found Kove upon the borders. There was still a limp in his step; the wounds on his shoulder and neck were healing good, but the wound on his right leg had festered and the ugly blisters that he had caused with the poison ivy were still slathered out across the front of his leg, leaving little wonder as to why his gait was broken.

After readjusting some of the plants he'd gathered near the lake, Cicero approached his pack mate. "Kove," he greeted, glad to see the warrior for it had been a while since their last meeting; it was when he had last come upon Kove after his mission to locatie his daughters that he had properly seen his pack mate. "The borders are good today?" he assumed, for Kove looked cheerful, to say the least. Little did Cicero know that it was not him that Kove was looking — and smiling — for.

Often, it was his hearing that picked up on the approach of another long before he'd be able to spot them, their footfalls unable to be missed. This time around, his head had been turned in the direction of the neutral territories, looking the free land over, which had resulted in him spotting the younger male before he'd been close enough to be heard. Thereafter, Kove had remained there in place, awaiting for the boy to reenter the woods before giving to him his attention. He certainly wasn't the wolf the Inuit had been seeking, but that didn't quite matter. A pack mate was a pack mate, after all, and it'd been some time since the two had last seen one another. "Cicero," he'd returned, offering a nod of his head. "They seem fine so far. I haven't spotted any unwanted company lurking around, so that's a good sign." Things had been rather quiet as of late.

His gaze was eventually drawn to the other's forelimb, an indistinguishable brow raising as he caught sight of it's current state. "You should have someone look at that while you're here," Kove stated, motioning towards Cicero's leg. "I don't know much about the treatment of wounds and stuff, but I know for sure that doesn't look good." Looked painful, in all honesty. Or, in the very least, irritating.

The borders were usually quiet, in Cicero's experience, so it came as no surprise to know that nothing much was happening to them today. He nodded in acknowledgement, until the subject inevitably shifted back towards his wounded leg. "Cicero knows to treat it himself," he said, although admittedly the herbs had not been as impressed now that the wound had inflamed after he put on the poison ivy. But still, it taught him new things and so for now, was worth it. Whether it was ultimately worth it would and could only be proven by time's course.

"Kove is looking cheerful today," Cicero noted with a small smile. He filled in no more, curious to see Kove's reaction. In Cicero's experience, those who were happy about something were usually eager to share word of it, and so he did not prompt such himself.

In spite of his words, the Inuit could not refrain from wondering if he shouldn't tell someone of the other's leg. Though he did not doubt Cicero's knowledge when it came to herbs, he did doubt that he was looking after himself properly. Of course, he knew not that the younger often experimented upon himself when researching various plants, but knowing so would only have solidified his beliefs. For the time being, he did not comment any further on it, choosing to let the topic slide away. If things worsened, perhaps he would then speak to another about it.

"I guess I am," he'd returned, the corners of his lips lifting. "Things haven't been stressful lately, and it seems I'm finally getting what I've waited for since I was about your age." A true union, one of which that would not end. He would make sure of it, too, the idea of leaving never crossing his mind. Kove was right where he wished to be, within the home he most enjoyed, and being granted the love he'd always believed himself to deserve.

With only little prompt, the reason behind Kove's cheerfulness soon came to light. Cicero smiled at him as Kove shared that he was finally having a time with little to no stress and that he was getting something he had been waiting for. Though Cicero liked to play guessing games, he also liked to have the correct information and so he did not make any assumptions just yet. He asked curiously, "What is that?" while his own mind reeled with all the possible options. Mateship was one of them but was at first discarded — he had been mates with Scarlett, and they'd even had pups, so a family and pups were quickly struck from the list, too.

A question came to light, then, his words having presumably drawn forth curiosity. At first, he'd considered brushing the question off, being indirect with his wording and pushing for a new conversational topic. Yet, he'd eventually decided against doing such a thing, for it was the same as lying and he would not lie to a pack mate. He was against the notion especially given who the other wolf was, for he knew the boy had grown within Blackfeather, and surely deserved better than roundabout responses. So, it was with hardly any further consideration that he'd answered with, "Something permanent," for no other words could describe his situation. With Scarlett, he'd desired for their union to forever be a constant, but it was never meant to be one. They had jumped without looking, without feeling correctly, and both had paid the price for their impulsive actions. As he saw it now, their union had been a farce, the feelings between them having been considered incorrectly. Kove had helped her several times over, and it was the feelings of gratitude that had tied them together; it was with these current thoughts that he got through the days, lacking any further bursts of emotion towards her. With Nemesis, things were bound to be different, and he was certain he would not be betrayed again.

Cicero was not sure how to respond to Kove's comment. He thought for a moment, and decided that there was perhaps a link to their previous subject, to how Kove had felt doubt about Scarlett. He seemed a wolf very captivated by love, much like Cicero was, but the way that he filled in this love was much different than how Cicero saw it. Yet as Kove shared this sentiment — or so Cicero thought; he was sure that there was a chance that he was wrong about what Kove really thought or said — Cicero felt a pang of envy nevertheless, something that he did not often. He was not sure that his ties to his brother would ever be as definite as Kove described his to be in that moment, and it stung.

"Congratulations," said Cicero, though his words sounded hollow. "It is nice to get what one strives for." He was not sure that he would ever, but if life had taught him something, it was that stopping the bad things from happening was good enough sometimes. Cicero had not allowed the beast Sheogorath to pass onto him for some time now, and he was content for the moment. Content enough.

Deciding not to let any of his own misery reflect onto Kove's achievements, Cicero suggested, "Join Cicero to look for some herbs?" He needed to restock his caches after his absence, anyway, and may as well do it alongside a friend. He wasn't sure if Kove knew anything about poisons, but if not, at least he would provide company.

Congratulations were given, and though the tone was unsettling, no comments regarding it were made. Kove knew nothing of the affections the younger male had for his brother, nor, perhaps, would he ever. What he did know was that he was content in life, and though it might sound selfish, he didn't care much for the lives of others at the moment. His own was being pieced back together, set straight again on the track that he'd been meant to take, and overseeing that was his top priority. Not to mention that, even if he were to question Cicero about personal feelings, there was little confidence in him answering them. So, no attempts were made, no prying was done. The topic was left alone thereafter, having been drawn to a close as the ghost nodded, silently giving his thanks for the words previously offered.

The change in conversation was not fought against, but accepted, and he found himself nodding once more. "I don't know much about plants," he'd admitted. "But I wouldn't mind helping out and possibly learning something in the process." Never had he been interested in the work of herbalists so strongly that he'd been driven to learn from them, but as he aged, he found himself looking to experience new things. If Cicero wouldn't mind his being there despite the lack of real use he would be, then Kove would gladly assist to the best of his abilities.

want to fade since this is getting old? :)

No more conversation followed regarding relations, and Cicero was content with that. He nodded as Kove offered to help and learn about herbs in the process. "Cicero can teach Kove a thing or two," said Cicero. He had taught many wolves in recent times about toxins, and though this interested him much more than healing herbs, he could even tell Kove some things about those if Kove wished it so.

Without further ado, Cicero slipped into the shadows, glancing over his shoulder to make sure that Kove was following him, so that they could go and look for some more herbs to fill Cicero's caches with. Little did he know that this hard work was likely all for nothing due to the locust swarm that would pester them later — it was perhaps a good thing Kove was around to learn things now so that their journey would not be all in vain.

Sounds good~! Short post, ahh.

In spite of his lack of prior knowledge, his assistance was accepted with an offer in tow: to be taught a few things. Eventually, the knowledge of herbs and toxins alike would come in handy for him, and he would have Cicero to thank for steering him in the right direction. For how long he'd be able to fuel his interest was unknown to him, for the future was always unclear and premonitions simply didn't exist within any sane mind. Yet he worried not about such matters, for no one could ever prepare for that which they knew nothing about. Kove lived in the present, and so he'd followed after the mottled wolf with only that in mind.