Herbalists' Cache faithful john

thade is rather silent as wintersbane speaks, letting him in on his secret, though uncertainty wavers in the quirk of the tundrian’s lips as he contemplates whether thade believes him. children didn’t often believe their elders — he certainly hadn’t. it was something that thade would come to learn with time, or perhaps he wouldn’t. wintersbane couldn’t say where the boy’s life would take him or what lessons it would teach. still, he tries to impart his wisdom in the little bit of time he has with the boy, even if it doesn’t make much sense.

thade’s question, as they shift to wintersbane’s expulsion from his own pack, draws a soft twitch to the tundrian’s lips then, previously terse; now sorrowful. as if the apologetic expression might soothe the harsh reality of the truth. but he cannot lie and he cannot pretend that wylla hadn’t been right in her harsh judgement. he wouldn’t have tolerated it …so why should his previous co-leaders? still, he’d held onto a small spark of hope; a star that has since died out. yes. that is what it means. he eventually speaks solemnly, glacial gaze watching the boy carefully for his reaction.