Hushed Willows I swear by the moon and the stars

thread for hunting trade/roll here: http://wolf-rpg.com/showthread.php?tid=11893&pid=202366#pid202366 3 attempts in total. First attempt: success

The sun had awoken her, light beams caressing her eyes and scars gently and nudging her to rise. The native stretched her limbs, letting out a yawn quietly as she headed out of the Crook. Hopefully, she didn't wake anyone up, though her paw did hit a rock on the way out and turned it over. Shikoba felt her stomach rumble deep inside of her, her rib bones stretching out her skin and a thin layer of fat. She wanted- no, needed to eat something. All of her hunting efforts went to the kids, especially little Larkspur. 

With her tummy making more whale noises, the beta set off to the river to go and catch something promising. Her paws slid against the soft stones, often bumping into one another and rolling around. Shikoba waddled into the river, no grace or presentation. She looked like a duck, taking light steps in before settling into the chilled water. Schools of fish swam by her paws, their tails teasing her hungry eyes. A pale tongue wiped itself against her black lips, trying to find a good target.

Soon, she saw a lone salmon swimming a bit closer to Shikoba than the other. Her tail lay still in the water, her heartbeat drumming like a hummingbird's fast wings. Counting off in her head, Shikoba planned her attack and dunked her muzzle into the water. At first, she only felt moss, but then her teeth snatched the salmon at the last second. Moving her muzzle along quickly, she snatched the big fish up and squeezed the life out of it. Smiling, Shikoba waddled out of the river and began to tear the fish into strips before devouring it quickly.

Since these two haven't really met :3

Grace was out doing her own thing in the willows that day, exceedingly happy that the territory was nearly back to normal. It wasn't enough, however, to pull her from the depression she was sinking into like quicksand. She didn't care, of course, because why the hell should she? Kunik was dead, Nova was gone, and now the yearling found herself thinking the pack didnt just not care about her, they thought she was a nusance. Nevermore had the girl ever wished for Shreya to suddenly appear, but the knot in her belly told her that the grey elder wouldn't be in the Keep anytime soon. Esaro would have been another choice for her to run to, her best friend and first love, but as far as she knew he was dead. Yay, more happy thoughts!
It wasn't long before the russet girl limped her way towards the packs new Beta, Shikoba. Grace knew her, of course, from meetings and the initial introduction to the Crook, but they hadn't interacted at all. Holding herself low, trembling nervously despite the fact that this was no male, with her ears and tail nearly indistunguishable from the rest of her red coat, she approached the Beta female.

ooc: Ah! Grace is so adorable!

the beta snatched up the last of the salmon, licking her chops with a pleased expression. Her stomach have off a satisfied gurgle as Shikoba rose to see a new wolf come by. Quickly she looked over the girl and tried to think of her name.

Belle? No. Sam? No that not right. Names were hard to remember, but it finally clicked with Shikoba. It was Grace!

Although Shikoba wasn't a snob, she did like receiving respect for her stature. She didn't like it, though, when they were afraid to see her. The scarred wolf chuffed in greeting before settling down back into her sitting position. Her scarred face showed a soft expression, a warm smile pulling on her black lips. "Grace" she said, feeling the name roll off of her tongue with ease. "No scared of Shikoba," she said, hoping to develop a good relationship with her. "Shikoba wolf like Grace. Rank not matter."

She's one of my faves :3

Shikoba was finishing a meal when the yearling drew closer, and though she held herself in submission the Beta called for her calmness. Her smile and relaxed demeanor helped, but perhaps Grace was just a little too shaken by recent life changes to be as confident as the month before. Her ears swiveled forwards, cupping towards the woman and her broken words. Rank didn't matter, and that was truly a relief to the russet girl, but there was still the fact she was simply a nervous wreck. It was more of a surprise to hear that Shikoba liked her, in fact, and that was the straw to break the camels back, curiousity pushing her into being social.
          "Like? Me?"
Blinking her golden eyes a few times at the woman, Grace drew herself within a few feet of the female and again lowered herself into a hunching sit. Her shoulders sagged, and the yearling curled into herself even if her eyes were settled on the beta. 
                         "I didn't know such a thing was possible, to like a useless cripple."

Grace seemed surprised to hear words of liking her. Did sue find herself to be alienated and useless? Shikoba's head tilted at the other's words, very surprised. At home, everyone was loved and treated with respect. They were a piece to the big puzzle that would always stay completed.

"Shikoba like Grace!" She confirmed with a quick and firm nod of the head, her smile never fading. The yearling seemed to go on about her confusion with being liked. She settled with the beta, explaining the way she felt. 

"Useless?" Shikoba asked, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Grace kind spirit. Kindness strong gift." She said, nodding her head again. Kindness was what made Shikoba's world go round. If there were no kind wolves in the world, then there would be no life worth living. "Cripple not matter. Grace kind. Most important."

Shikoba's friendliness held firm, and even moreso her confidence that she did, indeed, like Grace. She was a kind spirit, or so the Beta said. That one brought a shy smile to the yearling's inky maw, Shikoba's own kindess breaking through her despair. A singular light in a pit of darkness, if you will. The girl relaxed a little bit more, listening to the broken english of the scarred female. 
Scars? Grace's golden eyes roamed across the battle wounds of the multicolored female, taking them in with sad eyes filled with understanding and sympathy. Like Grace herself, the womans body was littered with little scars with equally as small meaning, but  other larger and greatly noticed scars held stories behind them. 
Nonetheless, if Shikoba was willing to help her, Grace went on with her point. Kindness was an important factor, she knew, even held it important to her own heart. However, there was more than kindness to be helpful in a pack setting. 
             "I cannot fight and defend my pack. Even if I'm a healer above all, shouldn't a normal wolf be able to fight to be of true use?"

The beta listened quietly to Grace's words, wondering what made her feel that way. Grace admitted that she could not fight, but instead was a healer. She questioned herself, wondering if she was even useful if she couldn't fight and protect. Shikoba's warm smile was directed towards Grace, wondering what could have made the girl so timid and self-conscious about herself.

"Wolves fight," she started off, knowing that almost every wolf knows how to fight and protect. "Not all wolves know heal. Know of heal special." Shikoba sure as hell didn't know much about plants, she only knew that some were good and some were bad. Knowledge of the growing greenery was worthy of being envied. "Grace not fight wolf, Grace heal the fight wolves. No Grace, no heal, no fight wolves, no protection." It was simple really, Grace was a part of the big cycle of wolves. The fighters would go and protect, they would come back injured, she would heal them, then send them back off. Without her, the cycle would be broken. "Grace important to pack. Always important."

Shikoba's smile warmed her heart, spreading her tiny smile wider and bringing a couple of wags from her tail. Her choppy words brought a new light upon her world she hadn't noticed, but she was right. Without her healing, how many wolves would have gotten wounds infected, died? If the Marauders were attacked, she would be the one to heal the wounds and treat the pain. It was the russet yearling, with Trick as her partner, who would treat the wounds, and she who planned on growing the herbs right here in the willow trees. For a long couple moments she was quiet, and then Grace turned her golden eyes, glossy with tears, shone up at the woman.
               "Y-You're right. I guess I am important, even if Trick knows more than I do. I'll learn everything I can from him. Thank you Shikoba."

Maybe Shikoba could teach her a little bit about her religion? :3