Hushed Willows You got me stuck on the thought of you

Reverie had never given much thought to teaching others, not until she and Boone had started to gather followers who would need to be guided in what was expected of them. She wasn't at all sure what kind of teacher she would be. Nonetheless, she gathered some of the most basic of the herbs she'd stocked in her den for the winter and brought them to what seemed like a suitable place for a first lesson — one of the thickest willows in the forest, a place where several wolves might stand on the huge gnarled roots around it.

She set the herbs down on one of the roots and called out for @Reina and @Blossom. They would arrive to find her balancing precariously on the tallest of the roots, prancing across it like a child. Leader though she might be, Reverie could not make any claims to maturity.

@Reverie, correct me if the last piece to this doesn't fit the timeline eyebrow wiggles looking at the recent Rev/Boone coming together post

A surge of excitement blossomed within Reina's chest at the prospect of spending more time with her friend, Reverie—the sole genuine sanctuary in this newfound place she could now call home. The others had maintained their distance, and she couldn't blame them. The pack meeting had been disastrous—she hadn't intended for the spotlight to shift onto her. Since the meeting concluded and the members dispersed, engaging in their activities, she grappled with the aftermath. The barriers she had constructed to keep thoughts of HIM at bay had collapsed. Taking some time to reconstruct them, she hoped that with the assistance of Reverie and the distraction of a job, they wouldn't crumble again.

With a yearning to mend her own wounds, both physical and emotional, Reina looked to Reverie, eager to start the lessons. She watched as the gilded wolf leapt across the roots, carefree and child-like; Reina felt her unease lift as she smiled. It was nice to see someone enjoying themselves, no matter who was or wasn't there. Laughing, she called out to Reverie.

"Hey, there, little frog! What seems to have you in such a good mood today?" She padded over the roots, barely managing not to trip, before settling down near the herbs Reverie brought for the occasion. As she came in closer proximity to Reverie, she could smell Boone, the intimidating leader of the pack, and, despite the recent interaction with the male, she smiled coyly to herself. Good for them.

Blossom is still welcome at any point <3

Reverie was watching for her daughter, but it was Reina who found her first. Her tail waved joyfully at the sight of her, which sent her a little off balance. Reverie tumbled from the tree root with a small oof. But she bounced back up just as quickly!

Little frog! No one had ever called her that. Reverie didn't think she looked much like a frog, but before she could comment on it, Reina asked after her mood. She smiled faintly. It's just such a beautiful day, She said, because she did not know how to say that her good mood was simply necessity. Reverie was cheerful because she had to be; because the clouds gathered endlessly and she was a dancer at heart, and she had spent her whole life dancing in the rain. Why stop now? Why slow down for a world that never waited?

I brought some um, some herbs - to start teaching you about them, Reverie went on, smoothing her mussed fur and reaching for some of the broad leaves. I thought we could start with how to treat wounds - a sick wolf will usually have time to get to a healer, but blood loss or infection can take a wolf overnight. This is goldenseal - it helps with infection. It tastes terrible, though.

The faint smile Reverie had sent her way was slightly concerning to Reina. She pocketed it away for now. It wasn't worth bringing up at this time with the recent drama that the red wolf had caused at the pack meeting. Time to focus on why she was here: to provide for the pack as was decreed.

"Hey, Rev, I appreciate you, you know. For taking the time to teach us about these herbs. I kind of had to just...wing it out there on my own. I never had the chance to learn the proper ways to use herbs." Her tail wagged excitedly; she was finally going to feel useful! Maybe she could become a master healer, someday. All she wanted to do now was help others--Reverie and Boon helped her by taking her into their pack. She would be forever grateful to them; the only way to show her gratitude is to become the best version of herself and take care of her family.

Goldenseal, huh? "If it tastes so terrible, why use it?" She mulled over her own question silently, trying to think a little more logically. If it tastes terrible, then there must be another way to use it! "Could it be broken down somehow and made into a sort of...I don't know...a paste, or an ointment?" She eyed Reverie, hoping that she may be right.

Reverie's smile brightened to something more genuine when Reina spoke again, warmed by her gratitude. I don't mind teaching you at all. I appreciate you being here - being part of Hearthwood. I know it's not always easy to get settled in with a new pack, And she did, truly; she'd struggled everywhere she went until she found Boone. Somehow he made it easier to feel grounded.

Something like that! Reverie said next, already feeling a spark of pride at how quickly the red wolf caught on. She spread out the leaves for Reina to inspect. It's easier when they're fresh - I like to roll them against a rock until they're a little shredded, and apply them that way. But if they're dry, you can crumble them onto some wet moss and it works just as well.

I am SO sorry, I completely missed this thread!

Reina blushed slightly but chuckled regardless, remembering the pack meeting and how hugely she failed at first impressions. "When I saw Boone, I didn't see him. I only saw another enormous male, one from my past back home. Which is quite silly because the only similarity they have is in size only." But unfortunately, it was enough to bring him to the surface of her mind and it was so sudden that she couldn't even grasp the fear to hold it back. She had felt helpless, then. Just like she did when she was captured and endured torture and again when she found her home demolished and in ruins.

She shook her head to rid herself of the memories before they took hold, a deep breath expanded inside her chest and her blood settled, the fight or flight reflex leaving her body on the exhale. She only wanted to focus on Reverie and her teachings. This was what she was made for: healing and protecting others.

"So useful! Definitely could have used this on my travels." Reina inspected the leaves that Reverie had laid out for her, sniffing and scenting, memorizing their image and the way they smell so that she may efficiently gather them should she need to in the future. 

"I'm happy to be here, truly. I'm tired of running. Hearthwood is my home now; you, Boone, and the others," Even that little judgmental black ball of fur, she thought to herself with a roll of her mind's eyes, "are my family. And I want to learn and do all that I can to make sure everyone stays safe. I couldn't do it with my own family--I'll be damned if I let anything happen a second time."