Redhawk Caldera fetch me the monkey's tail

A sad looking hare hung from Reyes' teeth. He was tempted to eat it and claim a failure-to-catch if anyone asked him what was up; but he knew better. There wasn't much meat on the creature. It had the look of something desperate when he'd come across it — it hadn't even run when he'd approached it. It was less a hunt and more of a compassionate end-of-life.

Reyes picked his way across the snow towards the center of the caldera. He veered off-track as he looked for a good place to bury the sad sack of meat, and contemplated if it would be worthwhile to dig a fresh one. The ground was frozen; it a quick thought that Reyes readily dismissed.

As he swung about, trying to decide on a plan of action, he thought he saw a silhouette among the trees. He froze and watched it, noticing a particular shift of the shape as if it were a limping figure. The boy sniffled, swallowed, and then headed off to intercept them. The caldera wolves had some injuries among them and whoever it was Reyes marched towards could likely use a fresh meal, meager though it was.

Fennec didn't intend to wander far from the den, but she didn't necessarily want to be there to take care of this.  She had some of the plants Penn had brought (grudgingly) clamped in her maw as she limped through the snow.  She wasn't one hundred percent sure what they did, but she had the inkling they'd help.

Her shoulder felt tight, and the skin around it itched and flared with irritation.  Beyond that, she could taste a hint of it when she scented the wound - infection.

It wasn't bad or far reaching, but obviously she hadn't managed to clean the thing well enough.  And now she had to re-open it to get it right, which was going to pretty much suck.  She could've had Eljay do it, but this was something she didn't want to do around the others and also wasn't something she figured he'd enjoy.  It was going to hurt.

Her ears turned towards Reyes as he approached from the side, and she paused, wondering what he wanted.  She hadn't met him officially yet, though she'd crossed his scent a time or two and knew who he was.  After a moment, probably not even long enough for him to set the rabbit down, she tossed a question his way.  How are you with blood?

The pale golden fur of the stranger reminded him of Niamh and he wondered if this was one of her other kids, and then she spoke. He dropped the hare and licked his lips, wondering why anyone would ask a question like that.

On principle or, like, as a condiment? Reyes countered. He shrugged, not knowing yet that the willowy girl could not actually see him. Fine with blood. Seen plenty of it. Why? The thought actually made him hungry — which on some level was kind of sickening.

His response managed to elicit a slight cackle from her.  He was alright, then.  She figured it would be pretty odd for a wolf to have a major problem with it, but sometimes the blood of their own was a little stranger matter?  Either way, she was glad to hear it.  Because I could use your help, if you don't mind.  She replied, nudging the plants she'd dropped in his direction.  I gotta clean this out, but I'd rather someone who can reach a little better chew those up and use them after.

His comment about seeing plenty of it stuck with her, and she held onto it as something to ask about.  She'd been in her share of spats, but if he was a fighter too, maybe she'd found herself a third mentor in the Redhawks.

Help? He wasn't exactly trained in medicine or anything, but... She looked like she could use it. That and the smell of the herbs brought Reyes back to happier times with his mothers, so, hell, he'd give it a shot. 

The stranger nudged at the plants and he looked at them, wondering if Erzulie might recognize them, or if she'd ever used them before. They did not look familiar, not that it mattered.

—I'd rather someone who can reach a little better chew those up and use them after. The golden girl stated. Reyes nodded. He gathered the herbs close and sniffed at them. Okay, but if I chew them they won't like.. gimme the runs, or something? Better to get confirmation before he start chewing on anything weird.

No.  Least, hope not, she thought silently.  She'd never worked with seaweed before.  She didn't even know where Penn got it, cept he'd said the coast?

Fennec sat down, tensed her jaw in preparation, and began to scratch at her shoulder.  It hurt like hell but she had to tear the wound open first.  When it seemed like enough, she began to clean it, working at it until the fur was smooth and her blood tasted clean.

Then she slid to lying down so that Reyes could do his part.

Earlier, you said you'd seen a lot of this.  Are you a medic?  She hadn't heard much of this wolf aside from his name, and the question released some of the held back tension from holding back any sound.  Thankfully the claw marks were relatively thin.  Could've been worse, she imagined, thinking back to Niamh's leg.  Good thing she'd already put some of this stuff on it.

Her answer didn't alleviate much of Reyes' doubt but he was distracted by the way she began to pick at her wound. It wasn't the blood that bothered him so much as the sight of someone chewing at their own scabs. It did not look like she knew what she was doing until it was finished and she lounged with the wound exposed towards him. A bloody mess decorated the girl's face in an unbecoming manner.

Steeling himself against any weird flavors the plants might hold, Reyes bent and gathered them, beginning to chew. It took a few seconds but what he anticipated to be an herbal flavor ended up being fishy and salty, and he almost gagged. 

Are you a medic? The girl asked, staring off in to the distance rather than at him, which he was thankful for. Reyes spat a wad of the plant matter on to the wound and then began to work it in with caution and care. He wasn't exactly keen on touching this stranger - or anyone for that matter - and took his time.

My mother is. He answered. I've been around a lot of... blood, guts, and glory types. He didn't want to get sucked in to a conversation about his life or his traumas, so he left it at that — turning the conversation around by asking, How'd this happen?

While he worked on the plant, she worked on cleaning herself up.  It was pretty gross business but she was becoming more and more used to it as she practiced; even her own.  She could feel her entire body shaking a bit from the pain and the tension, and she forced her muscles to relax.  In time it would subside.

Damn, so he wasn't much for sharing.  She'd hoped he'd be the type keen to elaborate on his exploits.  Instead he turned the conversation to her, but she allowed it, figuring he probably needed his mouth for what he was doing.  Interesting that his mom was a medic; she'd remember that.

Cougar?  Never fought one before, but they said that's what it was.  She tried to recall the fight, but some parts were fuzzy.  She always had a hard time remembering once instinct kicked in.  I didn't even notice till after, and didn't get it well enough cleaned.  Eljay had no doubt warned her, but she'd still been more worried about the other two.  At least the claw marks on her lower stomach didn't seem to turn.

You ever fought one of those?  It isn't prying if it's pertinent.  She wanted tips, and she'd take them from any source she could get her paws on.

Reyes knew what a cougar was, and grimaced a little at the mention of it - unaware that his current company could not see the expression crease his face. He didn't bother trying to speak while he plucked at the herbs and began to mash them in his teeth, but when the girl asked, You ever fought one of those? he shook his head; if he had ever encountered one the event was lost among a myriad of deeper traumas.

He began to wad up the mess on his tongue and began to apply it, having given no warning to the girl; but he still thought she could see everything he was doing so any reaction Fennec had to his effort to help her would surprise the both of them. Once enough had left his mouth that he could speak freely (with a bit of a 'my mouth is full' slurring) he paused to ask, This workin'?

He was silent, presumably because he was working on her shoulder.  She waited for an answer but instead he asked about the treatment.  She'd been gritting her teeth against the sting of it, so her voice was a tidge strained.  Feels like it.  It wasn't a bad kind of stinging, and it felt like he'd gotten it pretty well covered.  Only time would tell if it actually helped, and if it did, she'd probably have to ask Penn where he got those plants.  Fuck, that'd let on that she took them.  She'd have to spin it.

So?  Did you?  Or do you not know what one is?  She asked after taking a steadying breath.  She hadn't caught his head shake, so she imagined he'd just gotten distracted and her tone was poking fun at it.

Once the last of the mash was applied he felt content, at least until the girl probed him for a response. Couldn't she see he was a little busy? He scowled slightly and gave a non-commital shrug, not knowing that he needed to verbalize a response or Fennec would be left (quite literally) in the dark.

Reyes did try to think back and identify whether he'd fought one before; all that came to mind was the familiar grimace of the pirates who he had run with, which hit him like a metaphorical sack of bricks. The ferocity of the recollection (salt in the wound, bloody teeth, pressure on his back—) made him recoil.

For a moment he forgot where he was, and snapped, I've seen plenty!

Wow, touchy.  Fennec bristled a little at his tone, and her own reply was a little cutting too.  Not like I really care.  I was just curious.  She didn't know what had elicited that reaction and she didn't have the patience or empathy to read into it.  All she knew was she'd been hoping to get a tip or two and he turned out to be useless.

It's fine, that you haven't.  Niamh said she'd train me.  And Fennec was going to hold her to that.  Sure, pretty soon she'd probably be too fat, then too busy, but in the immediate future?  They had time.  Her interpretation of his response was that he was defensive because he hadn't seen much of anything, and that was what she was sticking with for the moment.

The mention of his aunt made him bristle next, falling in to an uneasy silence. He wanted to say something about Niamh but wasn't quick enough to think of anything in the moment, so it went stale. The chewed herbs Reyes had slathered across the wound had begun to dry on the exterior, soaking in to the skin otherwise. Looks like it'll hold, Reyes grumbled, commenting on his work. The taste of the herbs had numbed his tongue a little bit. It sort-of felt like he'd been chugging bog water, and he wanted to be rid of the flavor. I wouldn't train with Niamh with a wound like that, he advised — not that anyone asked — and then snorted softly, she'll kick your ass.

Fennec was still annoyed, but not enough that she didn't appreciate good honest banter.  In fact, what he said took the edge off of her annoyance a little, if only because she'd accepted full on it was true.  And that definitely wouldn't stop her from trying.

She usually kicks my ass, so believe me, I know.  Fennec replied with a smirk.  Doesn't make it any less fun.  Might be a weird thing to do for kicks but hey, she was a weird wolf.

If you could do any better, I'd train with you.  But if you're not interested, that's fine.  She stood up and tested her shoulder.  It felt raw and pretty bad, and she'd definitely be limping on the way back.  But some of the burning feeling was gone, and the stuff he'd put on felt cool against it.  Thanks, for this.  She added.  It wasn't exactly a natural instinct for her to thank others quite yet, but she was trying.  One of a few things the past few months had gotten her thinking about.

At least they were on the same page about Niamh. Reyes was glad that he found one other person that understood how threatening she could be. The girl was not dissuaded by the fact Niamh was a no-holds-barred kind of crazy and that made Reyes simultaneously nervous and impressed; he said nothing else on the subject however.

Fennec's thanks was another surprise. Reyes grunts to acquiesce the comment but then decides to mutter, No problem, even though his skin was still crawling from the physical contact. Would this herbal flavor ever leave his mouth? Oh well. Maybe when you heal up... I dunno, we could go huntin" or sparrin'. Unless you are actually a suicidal headcase and wanna go straight for Niamh.

we can wrap here if you like, thanks so much for the thread!!!!!!

Might be a head case, but I like a challenge.  She might feasibly go straight for Niamh, but unlike Reyes, she trusted her step-mother.  Niamh might push things too far, but Fennec had a hard time believing she'd cause permanent damage.  Plus, she trusted herself to avoid that.  If she couldn't, then she needed the work all the more.

But I'll take you up on that.  The sparring part, at least.  Hunting she'd have to wait on.  Fig was about the only wolf she'd ever felt okay actually hunting with.  It was the only arena where her lack of sight gave her a true and somewhat embarrassing disadvantage, and she wasn't sure she wanted to put that on display for Reyes.  She flicked her tail carelessly to mask any of that, then sniffed and nosed about to pick up the remainder of the herbs leftover.

She didn't have too much else to say, and really should be getting back to check in.