Bramblepoint And I give up instantly

Before she worried about finding new sources of the plants she wished to grow, Fennec decided to return and see what was left of the gardens she'd abandoned. As she drew near where they'd been, there was no familiar sound of ravens, and Quick was likely long gone as well. Despite the changes, it still felt a bit like coming home.

This was always where she'd wanted to claim. Witch of the Bramblepoint. It had a nice ring to it, but it wasn't going to happen. She'd have to wait and find out what her next goal would become; for now she would keep it simple and focus on finishing her new garden.

It took her a while to find the old one. She remembered the general area well, but it was so overgrown she didn't recognize the plot. The scent of mint was overpowering, though, and that eventually clued her in. It had taken over most of a third of the garden and overflowed the boundary, spreading out. It had always been a fight to keep that particular patch in check.

She started to nose through the rest, taking stock. Some things had died, others seemed to have disappeared and been choked out by their neighbors. But there were plants worth saving. She'd brought a hide to help her bundle whatever she wished to transplant this trip. It wasn't as nice, or as intact, as some of the gifts she'd thrown away months back, but it would do the job well enough.

This was far.

She wondered if Mo was here, if he found furs here that he wished to return to her, but this was well beyond Moonglow. She would return. That was not a question, but her heart weaved through the wilds. They would likely notice her absence, but she felt her reason was good.

Besides, the adults scouted and roamed. Much further than this even!

But here was no Mo.

Only a cream toned woman who plucked at the fresh smelling earth. She thought of her anaa, before she cleared her throat softly.

Hi.

Fennec was too busy digging to notice the small footsteps approach. She'd begun piling some of the richer earth on the pelt and was just getting to the second of the plants when the stranger spoke.

Fennec jumped slightly, spooked. She wasn't worried about any danger from someone who sounded so young, but she did immediately wonder if the girl was from Brecheliant. Fuck, she hoped not.

Hi. Fennec answered without turning, and she dropped the plant among the others for moving before she stood and canted her ears towards Callyope. She couldn't tell, from here, whose scent she wore.

Can I help you? It was a bit of a rude question, but she was clearly busy. What was this girl doing around here anyway? She had to be from Brecheliant... the Caldera wasn't here anymore, and she sounded young for a loner. Well fuck. If she was one of Eljay's, she'd definitely tell her dad about the blind woman robbing their gardens. She'd really been hoping to get in and get out without anyone realizing she'd been in the area.

The woman jumped.

Callyope had never seen someone react like that before. Even when she startled her siblings in play or approached the adults, they seemed so steadfast in rebounding.

The woman straightened and Callyope saw it.

Moons for eyes, shielded by clouds. Murky and mysterious. She had not seen anything like this either.

I look for Mo.

She confessed softly. Perhaps she should have asked a follow up of if she had seen him. Instead curiosity gripped the better of her. The mystic woman with all her herbs.

What are you doing?

Mo. Obviously not anyone Fennec knew or had heard of. Apparently she wasn't expected to, because immediately the subject changed. At least this was a question she could answer.

I had a garden here. A few of the plants are still worth something, so I'm taking them somewhere new. Fennec answered, idly nudging the dirt into a better feeling pile as she spoke. I doubt anyone will miss them, anyway. No one had bothered to keep the space up, not that she was surprised. She was likely the odd one for making something like this so far outside of their claim, but the isolation had been a part of the appeal.

They are better with you. She admired meekly. You come back to them. No one else tended to them.

Some plants seemed more rampant than others. Whatever delicate care they may have once seen, was lost to Callyope's eyes.

You are a healer, Half a question and half a statement. Her mother dealt with plants and herbs. She had seen the way her mother would collect things.

She thought much of her mother, away from home.

Fennec come a bit closer, surreptitiously, while she spoke. Not close enough to feel like she was invading her space, but enough to catch a bit of her scent and confirm what she suspected. Not Brecheliant.. But surprisingly familiar anyway.

Sometimes. Not much anymore. But it never hurts to be ready. She didn't comment on the first part, since she hadn't really been asking for permission in the first place. Seemed like a waste despite the nice sentiment. Yet she wondered why she didn't have friends.

I knew Kukutux. She taught me a bit, once. She said that I was cursed. Fennec stopped, expressionless, waiting to see what the other wolf's reaction would be to that. That familiar prick of delight she always felt, trying to leave another wolf off-balance, wasn't lost on her. It had been a while.

Her stomach dropped.

Lurched and surged up her throat. A lump where her emotions of Mo had once resided. Now it was the alarm and terror of the woman's words.

Cursed.

Kukutux was her mother. Her words were gold.

Cursed how?

Her voice trembled now.

She never said. Fennec could hear, with some admitted satisfaction, the fear in the younger woman's voice. She was superstitious then. Perfect.

I've never seen it that way. I don't mind the power, even if it does come at a cost. She smirked at 'seen', then paused, giving her time to maybe have her curiosity piqued if she noticed the mention of powers.

Strangers were different than family. Family she could do fortunes for, but she had to be careful, because overstepping there had repercussions. Strangers she would likely never meet again and, as a result, she'd always enjoyed those more. They came with no pressure... and for the first time since Arcana went down in flames, Fennec found herself enjoying the thought of delivering. If this wolf took the bait.

What is your power?

She quipped quickly, hungry and greedy for the knowledge baited before her. How could she not be?!

Are you spirit talker?

Now her voice dipped, a whisper before all else.

In a way. The answer rolled out easily. Fennec wouldn't have termed it that way initially, but it was essentially what she claimed to do. Her "signs" could easily come from "spirits" of some sort, just with a little less direct of a communication style.

They don't say things directly. But they'll answer questions in their own way, as much as they want to give away, and sometimes they'll give me pieces of the future. Fennec could hear in her voice how plainly the girl was eating up her claims. She wondered if kickstarting a reputation with Moonglow would help word to spread. That wasn't necessarily something she would ask for her.

But if it happened, she wouldn't necessarily hate it.

I have heard stories.

She whispered with a voice full of awe. Nearly floored by the woman's claims. Such things were not hidden from the ears and eyes of Moonglow. Nor were they exactly the same in her home village.

But alas —

Where is your village? Do you spirit talk for them?

I don't. She could be honest about that, and she answered it a little flatly. Then she relented, at least enjoying the awe she could hear in the other wolf's tone. It really was quite fun to slip into form, even in small ways.

It's a canyon, east of here. I don't think they believe much in spirits. But that doesn't mean there isn't value in being there. Truthfully she had other reasons - one, namely. But leaving it to mystery was more fun.

Maybe I'll come sometime, and visit the mountain again. It'd be good to hear from Kukutux again. Fennec didn't recall her title, but that was before anyway. Back when the Glen and Moonspear both still existed. Back when she'd still had things to prove.

fade? <3

Callyope was enamored.

A canyon to the east held this woman. Maybe not spirits, but a spirit talker still.

Please. Call Moonwoman and me. Callyope.

But she knew she must be heading back home soon. Before her mother and father fretted horribly.