Snow crunched lightly under each step Crete took, breath expelling from his leathery, black nostrils in tendrils of white steam, before the stark cold, too, claimed his breath. Sea green eyes, took in the unfamiliar territories around him, figuring that maybe some time out from under his brothers’ attentions would help to allow him to brood in private, and work through the mess that was his emotions and the chaos that was his thoughts most days; and Crete had a lot to work through. Adaptation. Tyrannus’ betrayal. Coping. How he felt about Hawkeye’s bizarre (as far as he’d seen) leading methods, which troubled him though out of her generosity this was something he did not wish to bring to anyone’s attention. The ease of which she accepted wolves into her pack caused unease within Crete. The times were harsh, yes, but was Blacktail Deer Plateau so desperate that they took any cripple (in his case) and straggler that came their way into the fold? Aether and March Owl had done things so different. Crete would have done things so differently - not that he ever had any semblance of a chance at leadership - his muteness had all but made such a thing impossible for him.
A errant shake of his head was given, as if he wished to chase those thoughts away. There was a lot of inner turmoil going on inside him, and Crete knowingly accepted that. It was clouding his thoughts, feelings, and judgment and until he was at peace with the demons inside, he had no right to judge any one else. It was as simple as that. Steps paused as he felt a rush of steam, warm as it was, causing his fur to curl slightly, as he entered the hot springs, shivering slightly from the rush of warmth that worked to chase away the chill that settled in during the winter months. He paused at a pool and sniffed at it cautiously, wondering if it would be wise to soak in the warm waters for a bit, before he hesitated, unsure. Perhaps he could find something more practical to do - like search for medicinal herbs instead. The last thing he wanted to do was become ill from a poor choice.
Blue Willow was searching the surrounding area of her new home for remnants of medicinal herbs and plants to not only learn the new plants, but also to familiarize herself with the ones she did know. That way if the occasion called for it, she could be of service. Truth be told she felt like a slacker of late, not being able to hunt large game, though that was no fault of her own, she hadn't grown in a pack it had just been her and her two elderly parents they would have never been able to take down big game. Her father once upon a time would have been able too. She allowed a small ghostly smile cross her face as she thought of the gentle giant her father had been. He had been a warrior in a former life, and it had taken quite a deadly toll on his body and his soul. He was still trying to do pennance for it. It used to make her sad that he tried so hard to erase the bad he had done and sometimes he over worked himself trying to make some good overcome the darkness that he felt lied deep within in his soul and body.
Blue Willow reflected on this for a moment, she had seen aftermath of war, she had healed the sick and the infirm, she had held the wounded paw of a warrior as he took his last breath, but she had never herself known violence intimately just the aftermath. It was a strange thought that crossed her mind filling her up and making her think distractedly.
She was actually so distracted she almost didn't notice the other wolf until she was almost on top of him. With a small yelp she quickly backpedaled and hit the ground he smelled like Peregrine yet not like him. "I"m sorry my head was in the clouds i didn't realize you were there until i was on top of you. She tucked her tail between her legs and kept her eyes averted she did not know this wolf he was clearly part of the pack so he was on a higher tier than her obviously, but she did not know him.
These days, Crete didn’t feel like his normal benevolent self. These days, his thoughts were harshly judgmental, disapproving, and un-accepting. Not to the mention of his discord with his Alpha female inherently had him on edge. She did not seem to like his opinions, and he was troubled by how she chose to handle things as Blacktail Deer Plateau’s leader. In truth, he was not sure how long his time was there for if he did not find his butt kicked out for his opinions he had been pondering the idea of just leaving on his own. The thought of leaving his brothers caused him pain, but he was feeling discontented and he could not follow someone whom could not accept opinions of others and instead of trying to console them throw them petty words they knew nothing about.
A sigh was given, barely audible.
Crete hadn’t particularly, been paying all that much attention to his surroundings beyond the pools of steaming water in the ground, either. As it was, he was rather startled by the sudden scent of another, familiar though it was in the coiling steam that surrounded them, causing his fur to dampen and curl. The other yelped and Crete turned around quickly, sea green eyes studying her with caution, hackles bristling slightly as she apologized to him. As it was, he did not particularly fault her. It’s ok, He shook his head and offered her a small smile in attempts to communicate that he wasn’t angered or upset with her, though he realized a moment later that she probably hadn’t noticed since she had tucked her tail between her legs and diverted her eyes in what Crete quickly realized was a form of submission. Not sure if he wanted to silent laugh amused or be startled he didn’t know. He guessed hierarchy wise he was of a higher rank than her - for she had Blacktail Deer Plateau’s scent all over her, mixed faintly with Peregrine’s scent.
After composing himself from the shock of seeing someone submit to him, he took a step closer and touched his nose to her cheek in a platonic manner, nudging her muzzle up in an effort to communicate that she could stand and look at him.
If Blue Willow had been able to read the other's thoughts and she had heard him thinking about acts of justice. She would have wholeheartedly agreed, there were some things that just needed justice. Though she did not support being overly cruel or robust with such acts, she felt that they did need done. Her father had instilled that sense of justice in her, the two things he took from his past without a heavy heart, was his belief in Justice and duty. Also if she had known at the time that he was also looking for herbs and was also trying to be a healer she would have wagged her tail in happiness she always felt alone in this endeavor, as most wolves wanted to be warriors and hunters and guardians, at least the ones she had met throughout her travels.
Blue Willow did not have an opinion fully of the alpha or the pack yet, but if she had known that the other was hurting she would have tried to help. She herself felt that the alpha could be a bit rude and rather callous, but she would never voice that opinion that was something she would keep to herself. She did not like conflict as a rule.
She hadn't noticed his smile, more afraid that he may fly into her which some males were prone to do, especially when you were new and you practically bowled them over with your body because you were not paying attention. She was startled momentarily by the soft nudge to the cheek and she turned her head to look up at the other and saw him trying to get her to stand. He was a quiet wolf the one in front of her, but she was able to read his body language easily as if he worked at it. She stood and smiled a small smile and offered up another apology and her name. "Oh i'm sorry again for running into you. I'm Blue Willow, you can call me blue or Willow if you prefer. She did not yet know this was the mute brother Crete of Peregrine.
Not every wolf was going to automatically agree with her just because she was the Alpha.
Shaking his head of the dangerous thoughts that consumed him, tucking them away to a dark corner of his mind to be drawn upon at a later date. He had company now. Not that Crete would consider himself good quality. She stood at his urging, and contended the Redleaf-DiSarinno man took a step back, giving a bubble of space between them once more. She apologized for running into him, and he shook his head in an attempt to communicate that she didn’t need to apologize. Everything was fine. She introduced herself, adding that he could use one of two nicknames that she rattled off to him. At that, Crete offered her a soft, sad smile. He couldn’t call her either, but in his head -- though he was partial to calling her ‘Blue’ for some random reason. I would if I could, The thought resounded through Crete’s mind, and his lips parted pushing out breath as his lips moved to the soundless words he had previously thought. He had no other way to tell her that he was mute than attempt to talk. It was as futile as it was every other time Crete had ever tried to vocalize.
If Blue Willow had been able to read his mind and knew that Crete thought himself not good quality of company she would have scolded him slightly. She herself was just glad to find another wolf out here. She hated to be by herself, borne from years of never being alone. She could honestly not think of a single time she had been alone other than on her trip overland to here. She was sure the two of them could come to some way of conversing, she could draw pictures and his body language she noticed was superb, so she was sure that he would be good company even if he did not think so though she did not know it.
She tilted her head softly and smiled at him, "Ah you must be Crete. Your brother Peregrine told me of you. Though he didn't tell me that your nonverbal skills were phenomenal. It is a pleasure to finally meet you, so far i've only met Peregrine and Alpha Hawkeye and Kuno Klug though i am partial to calling him Kuno. His name is rather long, granted as is mine. So, What are you doing out here Crete all by yourself? I don't really like to be by myself, never have the longest i've been by myself was when I was searching out a home, to find this place. I'm looking for remnants of where healing herbs grow right now, hoping to put the one thing i know how to do to good use for the pack and myself. She chuckled at herself and hung her head slightly with a small blush. " Oh dear I'm sorry I tend to talk a lot. She looked at the ground a little sheepishly, she had been rambling, something she was very good at. It caused her some embarrassment sometimes.
Blue complimented Crete’s non-verbal skills, calling them phenomenal; as Crete processed her flattering words a soft rush of heat crept like a thief into his cheeks, warming him, causing him to give her a sheepish sort of shrug. He supposed he had never considered it before. Silence and the according non-verbal communication was all Crete had ever known. He had never felt the gentle thrum of speech beginning in his chest, never felt the vibrations rumble up his throat, was never to know the soft tenor of his voice as it slipped from spliced lips, rolling off his tongue. Would never hear the sound of his own howl as it was to cut through the air. As it was, he didn’t even know the ferocity of growls and according snarls as they would tear from something deep and feral in his chest. Body language was all he ever had, all he would ever have, so it was not unusual for Crete to simply think nothing of it. At her inquiry, Crete considered his responses. When he had first slipped from the Plateau he really had not had a destination in his mind, had not really harbored any purpose other than he liked exploring. It was then that Crete remembered he could be doing something more productive, and that he had begin to have designs of hunting for medicinal herbs -- not that he was overtly confident he would find any. Instead he shrugged his broad shoulders once more, communicating the truth: he really hadn’t had a purpose.
In her ramble, of which Crete really didn’t mind -- he had plenty of sisters and associated over talking with the female gender given this -- she expressed that she actually was searching for herbs. So she was a medic too? Maybe I can help? Crete’s body shifted slightly, his expression stating his inquiry and interest in helping her gather herbs. It would be an easy enough task for Crete if she told him what she was looking for - he was well versed in medicines and would likely know what it looked like by name.
Blue Willow studied him for a moment after she had realized she had been talking so much. He did not look like Peregrine that was for sure, as she had not yet met the other brother she did not know if Crete looked like him or not. And of course she had never seen their parents or family so she could not know that he really looked like his father's brother. She herself took after her father, though the gray came from her mother and her green eyes also. Her brothers had been carbon copies of her father, that much she could remember. She had taken after her father's size too, her mother being on the smaller side of their breed.
She chuckled softly at his sheepish shrug, not to be mean it was just a delight was all to see him warmed at her words. His body language was indeed phenomenal. She imagined if she had been not raised as a healer she would not know his body language or be able to interpret it. However, she had seen the dark pits of hell that some fell into after battles and attacks and she had met many with crushed windpipes or voice boxes, those that would never speak again. Some had just been in so much pain they did not talk and she had to learn to read their cues find out what they wanted to ease their discomfort as best she could. She couldn't help but wonder if he had been able to speak how he would sound, would he have a soft gruff voice, or a high whispery one. Would it be like honey soft and smooth or would it be rough and coarse. She would never know as he wouldn't but it was nice to imagine, maybe she could give him a voice in her head his own so that in away he had his own voice.
She smiled again at his shrug and said quietly, "my father used to often go off on his own to gather his thoughts and meditate and explore. He always explored before us, so that he knew what we would face. She noticed his interest and her smile grew wider, "Oh I would love some help. I am afraid though that I am not from this area originally, so I was just walking through trying to find things i recognized and would be able to find later. I know we won't find many plants right now, but I would like to find at least where they will grow so I can revisit them. So i guess in a way this is going to be an adventure as I don't know exactly what I am looking for. She blinked her gaze curious and hopeful, she would dearly love some company.
Crete had focused back upon Blue in time to catch what she had just began to say to him. She told him that her father had used to explore so he had an awareness of what his children would be facing. Aether and March Owl had never done that - pretty much it had always been explore at your own risk, be careful and come home alive, or at least in one piece. Of course, both March Owl and Aether had a pack to run and did not have the time to devote to making sure their numerous children weren’t getting into mischief. She admitted, after she seemed to equally hop off memory lane as he had moments before, that she was not familiar with this region. Crete was new to it as well, though knew it’s flora and fauna a tad bit better than her, if only because he’d been there a little longer. He’d came across a few plants he recognized, though in truth, he would be of little to no help to her if they stumbled across something she didn’t know but he did, or if they came across something neither of them knew.
Still, he had offered to help in his Crete-like way, and he was a gentleman of his word. He offered her a soft smile as if to say That‘s ok,.
She offered him a small smile and then nodded her head, "I thought I saw some Sword fern growth or a place where it would grow? Are you familiar with that one? I also think that Peregrine would like me to find some herbs for Hawkeye and her impending conception. Shall we start in the forest? or do you think there may be some here near this spot that we would do well to explore and look at first? She looked at him in her matter of fact way, ready to get started, she found that she was excited to get started and she wanted to wiggle like a pup.
Sword Fern; it's spores were useful for relieving pain, Crete recalled as if he'd just recently wrapped up a medic lesson from Aether. To her question Crete offered her a knowing nod, gesturing for her to follow with an incline of his muzzle. If he remembered correctly he had passed a small clutch of them not too far from the hot springs. The steam curled around him as he sliced through it, generally assuming that Blue was followin him, though he did not pause to glimpse back. Sea green eyes scanned the flora dusted in snow, knowing that even bent by the weight of snow he would be able to find the sword ferns once more. They were distinctive and hard to confuse with something else - unlike some of it's flora brothren. There were berries like that as well, one was edible while it's bear identical twin was poison. It was a thin line, Aether had once confessed to him, between being a healer and a killer. In small doses it could heal and in larger doses it could kill; and that being a medic took practice and preciseness. At Blue's words of finding herbs to help Hawkeye conceive, however, Crete stopped suddenly, looking back sharply at the woman. Despite Crete's unconditional love of his brother in that he would not aid her. If she could not conceive without the help of medicines then perhaps it was better if she didn't bother at all. Crete shook his head no, clearly stating his stance on that subject. His reasons were many, half based on his distrust of Hawkeye who acted like a spoiled child more than she did an Alpha because she did not like his concerns, and because he was afraid that Peregrine would ultimately end up heartbroken.
Blue Willow froze for a moment at the look she was slanted by the other. She quickly realized it was just to make known his opinions on the matter of what his brother wanted though at first she had thought him angry. She was torn she agreed full heartedly, she did not think one should try and induce conception, as pups were a natural thing and if you were to have them you were to have them simple as that. However, at the same time she felt that she should at least try, only because she was asked too. She to however had her own worries about the alphess and how she was running the pack as of late. It made her nervous and perhaps pups coming into the tension would not be good. She was very clearly torn, weighing on the side of caution however she made a quick decision.
Blue Willow nodded her head, "I agree with you though i do not know all your reasons. I think conception should be a natural thing and some of us are just not meant to have pups, not that she won't just pointing it out. So I will look for some different herbs, mostly for colds as this weather is going to make a lot of us sick unfortunately. She hoped her choice would be met with a better result.
Blue didn't need Crete's approval for he was not important enough to demand such a thing. He already been deemed disloyal in an underhanded manner by Hawkeye at the meeting and if she wanted to banish them then fine, Crete wished she would just do it instead of sending childish threats his way. Though, Crete wasn't sure what he expected for she had already painted herself as childish to him, in more ways than one. That was not something he desired in leader, and what kind of mother would she be? Blue spoke, agreeing with him, and a part of Crete felt guilty that he'd convince Blue to disobey Peregrine's wishes - only because Peregrine had asked for them. Not guilty enough though, to attempt to get her to change her mind. As far as Crete was concerned Blue was an adult and more than capable of making her own decisions without his influence. Crete nodded before he started forward, quickly coming across the cluster of Swordfern, gesturing to them with his muscle, though he had half of a notion to grab a couple and start his own medicine cache himself.
Blue Willow herself did not know that Hawkeye had been threatening Crete personally at the meeting, but she had heard the threat none the less and she did in a way take it personally. It irked her, as well as made her nervous as a rule she stayed far away from conflict, only to help in the aftermath. She was not disobeying Peregrine in anyway, he had asked only if she could find some and if she didn't find any well there was no harm nor foul. She actually could not truly think of any herbs that could help with that anyway.
Blue Willow let out a happy yip and strode forward sniffing at the sword fern. She quickly looked around to gather her bearings and find all the landmarks so she could find this again. With a small step forward she nipped a few fronds and roots off of the plant and then with a quick movement of her paws separated what she had taken in two piles being sure to leave enough for it to grow higher in the spring and she pushed some towards Crete. "Here you go Crete you helped me find some so you should have some too.
She looked around again wondering what to look for next, then looked over at him and said quietly, "Do you think we have time to find anymore herbs or do you think we should head back to our dens?
A chuckle vibrated soundlessly in Crete's throat when Blue dashes forward with a happy tip, not used to seeing such a pure excitement at the discovery of plants. As it turned out, Crete did not have to gather any sword fern for his own, for Blue had made two piles while he surveyed the territory and offered one of them to him, generously. Crete was unable to break the old habit of vigilantly watching; he was not an advocator of violence but that hardly meant that he was not expecting it. They seemed to be alone in the hot springs ab when he had contented with his assessment he had turned his attention back to Blur. Thank you, Crete conveyed, minutely surprised. He had not expected the small gift. At her question he glimpsed down at the pile thoughtfully for a few seconds, before glimpsing back towards Blue. I should probably get back, He hates to cut their time short but he had two motivating reasons to return. First, he did not want to be away from Blacktail Deer Plateau for too long given the most recent threat, and two he was kind of obsessive compulsive and didn't like his medicines to touch too much. But we should definitely get together and do this again some time. Crete offered wordlessly, unsure if she would even understand before he have her a small smile, bowed his head to grasp his small pile in his jaws and headed back towards the plateau.
Blue Willow had been to excited to keep watch and ever vigilant, but she was glad that Crete had done so. In a way he reminded her a bit of her father, he always did that keeping an eye out even when he was relaxed and he was kind like Crete.
She smiled at his surprise and gave a small smile "You're welcome. She enjoyed showing him some kindness, he, Kuno and Peregrine were the only to show her kindness thus far and their life had been far from kind in the last year or so. Hawkeye had even been a little standoffish and rude when first meeting her, granted it was to be expected as she was the alpha and was making sure that Blue Willow had been a good fit.
Blue Willow nodded in agreement and whispered as he was walking away, "Yes we should do this again. With a bend of her head she bent and picked up her own pile and started back the same way as her pack mate.