Herbalists' Cache iii. whispering woods of wild and lurid dreams

Sapphire eyes lifted, the herbs forgotten momentarily, as she sensed another approaching. She felt eyes dance over her and as if conjured, the silhouette of a man cloaked in moonlight and smoke materialized before her. 

The Medicine Woman failed in her attempts to stifle a gasp, a soft indrawn breath that seemed deafening as the Faery drew closer.

He was not the first she had seen beyond the lands of Sapmi yet he was startling, he resembled no man Elve had laid her sights upon. The wolves of Sapmi were tall, broad - dark and powerful beasts designed for the unforgiving life of the tundra. The man too was graced with the build of a warrior but his steps fell reverently upon the earth, his eyes shone with unmasked warmth as his soft tread led him to halt a pace from the elf. 

Tattered ears flickered to half mast, capturing the kind words that struck against them with the gentle caress of a summer drizzle. Elve found herself unable to answer immediately, her eyes still locked enrapturingly upon his. 

Suddenly, a hot flash of shame washed over her. Had Hessía taught her nothing? Her adoptive mother would have been apalled to witness the young woman's manners. Remembering herself, Elve's head ducked demurely. Ocean eyes sought the silvery paws of the other, a flash of surprise making itself known as she compared the size difference to her own. A plume of buttermilk and cream drifted low to curl around her flank submissively though it still twitched faintly in welcome. 

Her lips parted to speak and offer some greeting but the words died in her throat as he spoke once more - whispered tones of unabashed admiration. Despite the ingrained training, the healer's eyes returned to his in surprise. 

"I..." She began, the rasped whisper fading into silence as he cleared his throat subconsciously. Cyan eyes darted away - unsure what she would even say. 

It was kind of him...but surely it was not true. Not Elve - breakable bird of an unholy union, the spawn of a mixed bloodline that should not have been. Tiny and exotic next to her lupine brethren, she had always been passed over as a candidate for marriage. 

"T'is woman greets you, Druid," Elve murmured at last in greeting, inclining her head in a respectful bow, once she had collected herself. The Sami could not have explained how she knew this title applied to Sherigrim but it rolled from her tongue as easily as her own language.

His question sent her gaze fleetingly towards the swollen lumps clustered about the ivory layers of her chest and scattered along the length of her forelegs. 

" 't's not so bad. I've got som' leaves," she gestured to the blackberry leaves piled neatly upon her wrap. 

It was then that the wind shifted, bringing with it the scent of some kind of rodent. Oddly, it seemed to come from within the strands of Sherigrim's pelt - even more peculiar, it smelt alive. 

Curiosity simmering beneath the collection of her serene features, Elve dared to take a few halting steps in the male's direction. Her blonde auds lowered and cerulean optics darted towards him occasionally, checking to see if she would be met with a blow for invading his space.

Hovering shyly at one tall shoulder, her pale muzzle extended to sniff gently at the mouse burrowing within his coat.

Elve's eyes flickered to his briefly, unable to withhold her smile of fascination. 

"Enchanting," she complimented softly, accidentally slipping into the tongue of Sapmi.