Bearclaw Valley That the past is real II

@Ameline

Arric had left the pack lands fairly quickly. He had not lingered as it was not his way to impose on others. He had decided at last minute to take a more scenic route home.

He wasn't quite ready to go bsck to hia reaponsibilities. And winning over Cygnet. He was certain Arlette was possibly irritated with him as well, but he had done ehat he would have done with any of Akavir's children.

He was rough around the edges. Not very kind, in his gruff way. But he tried. He stopped along the valley nose to the ground. He'd have to bring @Arlette here. She could probably find some herbs she needed. At the thought of the healer a small smile colored his maw.

The sentinel stone was warm beneath her; it made it almost too easily to sunbathe and drift off when she was supposed to be keeping an eye on the valley's one open entrance. The field beyond the valley was broad and open, and she watched in the early morning as deer made their way into the open to paw through the snow and graze. She watched in the evenings as coyotes danced; at night, an owl hunted, diving down to plunge its talons into the snow to grab a little rodent, before silently winging off again. 

She'd begun to blink lazily when the scent of another wolf came to her. She wetted her lips and opened her mouth slightly as she tasted the air, recognizing the scent of the Swiftcurrent Valley wolves. She had yet to meet Akavir and Eshe personally- according to Ancelin, the man was somewhat stiff, but they seemed willing enough to accept the presence of another pack. 

The man who appeared in the distance had his head down, sniffing about; a faint smile on his lips that lightened Ameline's spirits. She slid down off the sentinel stone, and made her way toward him, ears perked but tail swinging softly from side to side. No doubt he would catch the scent of the markings she and Ancelin and the girls had strewn about the area- but she was always keen to put a face and a name to the scent, so he might know who it was that now lived here.

Arric was caught off guard by scent markers. He backed up so as to not accidentally cross. Even though chances are he had already gone way too far.

He stopped frozen in place. Unsure. When a she wolf traipsed towards him. He'd been so lost in his thoughts he hadn't realized she was there until he was literally staring at her.

Hello. 

He smiled then. Blue eyes looking around. Holding a neutral stance. 

I'm arric from swiftcurrent creek. I'm sorry if I crossed lines. Do i need to back up?

He looked around and backed up another paw step.

She regarded him carefully for a moment. In a previous life (one which had been the majority of her childhood) she would have attacked him on sight for coming so near to the borders in spite of the scent markings. Now, she was to both learn and exercise restraint, especially in the presence of their neighbours. 

Her first grin was a bit smug and she nodded. ”Jutht a bit,” There was humour in her voice. His error (being as slight as it was) could be easily forgiven, though she couldn’t help but feel disappointed that their reputation seemed to be little more than a shadow. 

Swiftcurrent knew they were settling there- but then again, the man had looked so lost in his thoughts, he’d perhaps not even realized where he was. 

”We live here now,” She said, as a kind reminder, should the fact have either slipped his mind, or not been passed on from Akavir and Eshe. ”I’m Ameline. You looked a little lotht in thought there; everythin’ alright?” She was fishing merely because she was curious.

Blue eyes alighted on dark face surrounded by amber and eyes to rival his own
 A smug grin stretched her lips and he couldn't help the small huff of amusement. He nodded in agreement.

He made a mental note to check with Akavir if he knew they had new neighbors. Because he'd not been told.

He chuckled and nodded. Yea just thinking about my girl and how she'd love some of the foliage and herbs here. She's a healer. And grows her own garden.

He looked around. Backed up a little further.I am sorry. I was lost in thought there and didn't even realize.

When he mentioned having a girl, her brow quirked. She loved gossip, and had to wonder if there was a chance that the one he was referring to was Sovereign- though Sovereign had never mentioned keeping an herb stash. 

Of more note was the fact that his girlfriend was actually able to cultivate herbs. Ameline took little interest in learning the practice herself, but she would be quite interested in having someone handy who could do the same. 

”She growth ‘em, huh?” She commented. ”Thoundth intereth-ting to me. You think by any chanthe she’d be interethted in a trade?” She asked. ”Thay she put-th in a garden here, for uth…Then she can take what she want-th from the Valley from time to time.” She proposed.

Arric wasn't roo close with Sovereign or he assumed at least that Ensio was or going to be her Paramour. But that wasn't his knowlege to know yet.

He nodded. Yes. She's an amazing healer. And her knowledge of herbs and their uses is extensive.

He totled an ear forward. I won't claim to know her thoughts, but she'd probably be amenable to it at least. I'll ask her when I get home and then bring her round for a visit.

This would fulfill two goals. Possibly give them more allies and also give Arlette something that she liked to do. And a chance to speak outside of the pack lands.

Ameline thought of her sister, Raelle, knowing that she too took an enthusiastic interest in herbs, specializing in poisons. Ameline had no use for such things, but if Arric’s “girl” knew helpful medicines, she might trade knowledge for access to the valley’s herb supply. 

”Thoundth fine to me,” She said. ”We might come for a vithit thome time thoon anyway; we’d like to get to know Akavir an’ Eshe better, conthiderin’ we’re neighbourth an’ all.”

Arric didn't understand the nuances of herb lore. But Arlette loved it. And he wouldn't take that from her. He'd do his best to make sure had access too and continued to enjoy her hobby.

A grin and his eyes lit up.

Thanks. Oh yea?

He dipped his muzzle down. We could host you for a a couple a days. And maybe we can do a joint hunt?

He certainly seemed keen to put in an effort to hunt with their new neighbours, which Ameline appreciated- though she also began to wonder if Swiftcurrent might be dwindling in numbers, to seek out a neighbouring pack with such eagerness. Redtail Rise had seldom had much to do with other packs, so she had to hide her skepticism. 

This wasn’t the Rise; they would do things differently here. 

”I’ll talk to my packmateth an’ thee. We got two kidth who could uthe the chanthe for a big hunt, to learn,” She admitted.

Arric knew that they had more than enough to gather and fill their stores. But it was always a blessing to have more than even that. And with more manpower, they could hunt elk or bison or deer and take more than 1 or 2, potential to take down 3 or 4 depending on numbers.

He nodded. We have a young one in our pack as well that could learn and I don't know what spring brings for any of us. There are a few mated pairs in our pack.

One child in Swiftcurrent- they had perhaps been small last spring then, she thought. They might grow more this year, and she considered the benefits of allowing their children to mingle. 

The mere idea of having children with Ancelin made her bristle lightly with anticipation. ”Uth too. My mate Anthelin an’ I are gonna have kidth thith year,” She claimed. Drust was a solitary creature- there was no telling whether there would be any other litters in the valley this summer.

 For now, though, there was Amalia and Athalia to consider. ”Our girlth might like to meet your young one. What’re they like?” She asked, still a bit unsure herself how she might best describe the two girls she and Ancelin had taken in.

There had only been Akavir's children and Moss's one last year and they were all gone, except Cygnet. It was actually rather sad really. That three didn't stay and one only stayed because she had too and knew no others. 

He smiled. Early congratulations then. May they be wonderful. And Labor swift.

Arric chuckled. Cygnet is a wolf pup that knows her own mind and isn't afraid to share that mind. She tends to be a little bristly, but she lost her mother at birth and well she only had a few wolves to raise her. So I think she tends to put a guard up. It would probably be good for her to meet others, near her age.

”Thankth,” She said with a slight smile. Arric was friendly, accommodating. Exactly the sort of wolf who would make for a good neighbour- or an excellent packmate. 

She wondered where she might prefer him- and decided she would think on it, later. Perhaps there might be some way to make Bearclaw Valley an inviting home for him and his mate- especially if she so desired the herbs that grew there so plentifully. 

Any devious thoughts slipped from her mind, however, to hear of the orphan Cygnet. So much like me, She thought. ”Thoundth like she’th had it tough.” She didn’t like the girl’s name, but she knew that strong-willed orphan girls could be a force to be reckoned with. 

”Our girlth were orphaned too. They’re quiet, but very bright. It might take them all thome time to warm up to one anothuh,” She admitted. The girls had been sheltered, she thought- but well cared for. ”Well, why don’t you an’ your Mithuth thtop by, thee what we got growin’ an’ then well thet up a time for a hunt an’ a meet an’ greet for the girlth?”

A grin. Welcome.

Arric was a loyal beast and as such. His loyalty belonged to Akavir and Arlette. A thought of him was terrified of the two of them not getting along, because well. IT just didn't bear thinking on. 

A soft sigh and a sadness in his gaze. She has. I hate that she has.

He thought of Cygnet and he did feel for her. Even if she hated him. He still wanted what was best for her. But he didn't know how to cross the divide between them. He had to figure it out. 

Cygnet is bright too. And alittle backward. She hasn't spoken much yet. She tends to prefer body language to actual words. I actually am unsure if she even knows how to talk.

A grin at the mention of Arlette again. I accept those terms. And I am sorry again for stomping all over your border.

She learned more about the girl, but felt more optimistic for the child having grown up around a family of wonderful wolves who were non-verbal. While Arric seemed to have his concerns, Ameline waved them off. 


”I know a whole family that don’t talk,” She said. ”But they’re thome of the finetht wolveth I know…I learned a lot from ‘em, tho…Don’t worry too much about her if she don’t talk. She’ll exthpreth herthelf well enough in other wayth.” 

Of course, she hadn’t met the child. Her circumstances were different from the ones that New Snow and Mountain Boulder lived in. 

She tilted her head to the side and felt a light crack, releasing some tension. ”Well, I’ll let it thlide thith time,” She drawled. ”Come back thoon though, an’ bring yer mithuth.”

It made him feel a little better. That Cygnet woild be alright if she didn't speak. Most of the wolves in the creek knew what she wanted. Or could figure it out. But he worried about others.

A aoft chuckle. Okay. Will do.

He tilted qn ear forward. It was nice to meet you Miss. Amelin3. Have a good day.

He shifted and would turn away tiwards home and Arlette. Excited to share this with her.