Redsand Canyon hactenus

on ruenna's suggestion, germanicus took up the trail left by @Aquene, intending to seek her out. if she was interested in soldierly duties, it was his role to interview her for this position.

mereo, thus far, worked smoothly. the routine into which the eagle had settled was comforting. it kept his thoughts organized.

but crowfeather continued to emerge in them.

today germanicus pushed all away and focused upon finding the new plebian.

Aquene had been working diligently since she had been brought to the Canyon and chosen to settle down root there as well. It had been time, for quite awhile, to turn a new leaf though she had only just now worked up the courage to do so. She had been working to build up stores. Herbs did not last forever, especially not when plucked from the ground, but there were some where it was more efficient to pluck them and store them away safely even if for a short amount of time in order to keep them accessible, especially at a military outpost like Mereo where injuries could occur at any time.
 
She had been carrying the latest batch of yarrow and storing it away from the winter weather that had gripped tight over the continent. Herbs did not handle colder temperatures like wolves did, and if infection struck she wanted to be prepared. She was digging out small notches in the side of a small cave-like divet in the side of the canyon, storing the herbs by type in the notches. It took time, but once it was done it would not have to be redone.

aquene was devoted to her tasks when he arrived. germanicus did not interrupt her, only stepped into her line of vision. the sharp scent of herbs crept to his nose. 

it reminded him of when he had arrived back into the canyon with arsenio and tamar. how the room he now shared with ruenna had been touched by the fragrance of her medicines.

he was content to wait until aquene had finished. if her focus was this manner for plants, she might be able to transfer it to the military ranks.

Aquene became aware of the presence, but with it she smelled no blood or illness, and so she let herself finish her task, slowly storing the yarrow stems away before turning her attention to who lingered within the edges of her vision, her eyes widening. “Imperator.” She greeted respectfully with the dip of her head in greeting, not sure what she had done to earn such a visit, especially since from a quick once-over he seemed to be free of injuries.

It still felt odd to her to use titles instead of names, but she was slowly getting used to it. “Is everything okay? Can I be of any assistance?” It was what she argued she did best, helping others, especially those she had devoted herself to as she had to him and the Matrona when she had joined the ranks of Mereo. She was still learning the rules, and customs, but it was coming along at a pace she deemed acceptable.

"i wanted to offer you the option of training as an auxillary," germanicus said, but it was ruenna's words which came out of his mouth. odd. not unpleasant. he studied the woman. "if you wish to remain as our physician, that is more than acceptable. your skills will always be necessary here."

"but you do not need to stay there. the soldiers' ranks are open to you as an option." as he spoke the man looked for signs of fighting in aquene. she was gently-spoken and attentive. he felt that these characteristics might transfer well.

The offer fell and her eyes widened slightly, not expecting such an offer to fall. She had never spoken of fighting, the only mention of any such foreknowledge had been her comment about the strategic defense of such a narrow passage entering the canyon but even that in her mind had not been much. Her maw parted for a second as she considered her words, and she listened as he explained that she did not have to take it. “I am honored by the offer, Imperator, but I must admit I am hesitant to make such a decision.” She started politely.
 
“I come from a pack where women were believed to be more apt with healing, the fighting left to the men… I’ve practiced strategy but that was because I shadowed my father often in case of fallen soldiers… I’ve never learned how to fight, not in the truest sense, anyway.” It would be a lot of work, work she was not certain he would want to invest when she was already trained as a healer, and so the decision turned back to him. She wasn't sure she was capable of harming another when it came down to it, but perhaps that was just the way she had been raised.

"my natal land was also the same. women were home-makers. mothers. they did not serve in the military." and though he would not say it aloud, the structure of this world had been committed. firm. the lack of deviation had provided solid parameters inside which one might operate.

she seemed resistant to the idea of joining his auxilia. he did not want to press her. the eagle only nodded. "if you would ever want a sparring lesson, i would be pleased to give you one." germanicus motioned to her herbs.

"what were you doing just now?" the man asked, curiosity under the common gruffness of his tone.

She had to admit, she found herself surprised his lands had been the same way, and yet here they were. He was offering her a role she never would have been allowed to take in her society. Had things played out the way her father had wanted, she would have been married off to a strong warrior, and she would have taken up lead healing duties from her mother… clearly, that had not been the case. She had desired a little more freedom than that.
 
Here this freedom seemingly was. “I would be honored, Sir.” She’d be a fool to turn it down. Even if she did not join the ranks of the auxilia, which seemed terrifying in it’s own right for a girl who had never so much as sparred before… it would not hurt for her to learn how to defend herself. She heard the curiosity in his voice as her head turned lightly to look at the stores she had been developing. “I’m pull herbs from the cold weather… in the cold, herbs shrivel and die, leaving them useless… but there are methods that allow for the preservation of certain herbs, like yarrow which is used to prevent infection in wounds. Some have to be alive and plucked straight from the ground to use but some remain potent if they are dried out. Ideally, I’d be able to dry them out with the sun in the summer or fall, but it’s already winter, so pulling them and preserving them away from the wind is the best I can do at the moment. If a particularly sunny and somewhat warm day comes about, I may be able to dry them yet… but it will preserve the life and efficacy of them.” She explained her reasoning behind digging grooves. It had taken time, and she had been meticulous in the size for each storage space.

the imperator listened. she had a good head for cultivation, something he had seen practiced in other cities before. aquene was preserving their stores, already cognizant of their importance inside mereo. it was an understated sign of an intellect that could be treasured here.

one day mereo might need a field physician. germanicus felt that when this time arrived, the dark medicus might find herself up to the task. he stepped forward to take the fragrance of each plant, committing its name to memory. he had no head for more than basic emergency medicine. but the eagle learned where he might.

aquene already had a fine larder etched into the wall. germanicus looked at her. "are you in need of tools or more spaces for your herbs?" he asked, already thinking of a fine tablinum he had seen set away from the sleeping-caves.

She had come to accept the feeling that any interaction she had with either the Matrona or the Imperator, though this was her first, was going to feel like a test. It had been similar to Ruenna hitting her from all sides with questions during her initial recruitment. She knew that a medic would always have a place within a Military Outpost, but she was very aware of the difference in standards that existed between the military and civilian ranks, and she simply sought to prove her worth. A day would come where her worth would pay off, but until then she’d drive herself into the ground if she had to. It was simply her nature to serve at the pleasure.
 
The question fell and she paused, taking a full stock for the moment of the space she currently had. “Tools are always welcome; I will always have a use for them here, especially anything that might help me carve out the grooves for storage. They take time currently to manifest… space with time… with winter already settled in I doubt I’ll have the capacities to expand, but come summer there is much more than can be done.” Any time after the first frost was perilous for plants, especially when one was just starting to initiate their stores.

the imperator gave a nod. "when i am on patrol, i will ask the auxilia to bring back any suitable digging-sticks. i will also search myself."

the man stepped back. "i have a place in mind for you to expand when the summer arrives. i will show you now, if you are available." 

aquene may have not had a soldier's making, but she had the air of a teacher. it would be useful when it came time to educate others.

germanicus had a patient countenance. he would leave her to her tasks or lead on to the space he had chosen. either way, her work in mereo continued.

Aquene smiled gratefully to the Imperator and gave a nod. “Thank you, Sir.” She responded politely in suite. She was still learning her way around the complex social dynamics that seemed to exist within Mereo but she felt it was an appropriate response.
 
She nodded again as he stepped back and spoke of a location. “I am available and would love to see it now. It will help me plan for the layout of this current den.” She explained a bit of her reasoning behind it as well.
 
Perhaps with time she would grow into her own, stand up for herself and others and become a soldier as Germanicus had offered. It wasn’t in her nature to put up with another person’s shit so it was perhaps even likely… but for now, she was content to teach and heal any who wished for either, and to serve Mereo in the expertise that she already had.

the imperator walked with the plebian toward the caves occupied as sleeping areas. however it was not there he strode, it was to a small, single room with a wide entrance. it was set away from the others and featured a round archway along with natural shelving against one wall.

it was as long as it was wide, almost a sphere. he stood back and motioned that aquene should look at the tablinum herself.

he himself could not fathom her use for it. but this was not his to decide.

Maybe 1-2 rounds more?

The plebian followed the Imperator, the wide entrance catching her eyes immediately before she glanced around, taking in the round archway and natural shelving against the wall. It was ideal, and the wide open space would make for easier treatment of patients closer to the herbs she would need for treatment. “This is perfect.” She commented almost immediately as she went to examine the wall closer. “I might move my current stores up here. I can use this as a base for treatment, with wide enough space to lay down pelts for patients.” She hoped to not have to mend more than one wolf at a time but she knew it was a possibility given they were a military outpost.
 
“Thank you, Imperator. This will help me greatly.” She needed to give thanks and credit where it was due, and the man had a keen eye even if he seemed to not know about the art of healing, at least not as a permanent position as she was currently intending for it to be.

ofc! <3

aquene seemed taken with the space. the eagle was quietly pleased. mereo was in need of a permanent medic. he would do what accommodated the dark woman. "you are most welcome, aquene."

the day was getting on and he would do the same. "seek me when you want that spar," germanicus invited. he would wait a moment longer to hear her parting words and then he would turn to find one soldier or another for a long patrol.

For a second, she almost forgot he was there, lost in the space that was now hers to control. There were still a few things to consider, like ways to perhaps stifle any wind that might blow into the large mouth of the den to keep patients warm and herbs from blowing everywhere… but she was creative, and she could figure that out. She might even seek out Malila and see if she could assist with coming up with a solution. She smiled softly back at him, true to her quieter nature before he excused himself. She nodded. “Thank you, Imperator. I will.” She planned to seek him out soon, after she got the rest of her stores in order.

Fade!