The Sentinels Little Wallflower

To anyone who wants to meet the little flower! Tagging @Cas for visibility but maybe @Muses or @Ingram ? 

 Witchhazel drew into herself a little more each day, finding that she no longer wanted to be as friendly and outgoing as she used to be. Granted, she never had liked strangers, and everyone she came across had to earn her trust first reguardless, but now it seemed a little worse -- still not afraid, just unsure and angry. 

The nights, she spent with Cas. Much as she didn't want to stay put for so long, she often found herself happily curled into his muddy fur before thoughts of wandering the cold woods could even form. During the day, however, the little flower was happy to lurk around and scavenge for scraps -- despite the fact that Castiel fed her -- but there were very few she'd met so far. Usually, she'd found herself too skittish to approach, too angry at the single woman who'd torn her everything apart. 

Today, she'd managed to find nothing food wise. Witch did, however, find something very familar -- herbs. While the little girl knew nothing of their actual uses, she knew that gathering them was helpful. This one was dock, one she'd first gathered with her mother -- unknowing of the name or its use, Witch set to doing the only thing she knew how to -- gather herbs. Much different from the torn and ragged leaves she'd first plucked all those weeks ago, these were pulled off the plant with delicate jaws and soft paws. If there was anything Althaia had taught her in their short time together, it was how to properly gather. One by one, the cream pup piled leaf after leaf.

During the day, Muses was more than happy to stick close to Donnelaith, contenting herself with getting to know her new home while everyone else was out and about. She had seen neither Ingram nor Deirdre that day, but was unconcerned, for she knew that they were both busy creatures; one busy with growing up, and the other with leading an entire pack. She herself was eager to meet her new family, to understand what it was that drew them all together beneath the canopy of the ancient sequoia trees. Perhaps it was fate, the will of the gods, or just chance. Although curious, her need to know was not pressing. Sometimes, she thought it was better to simply exist.

Eventually, she found herself in a more sparsely treed area of the forest. It allowed for other plants to grow where the sun broke from between the branches and leaves above. She grinned, pleased to have found such a charming little nook, before taking note of something small rustling among the brush. Tilting her head, Muses scanned the area, trying to find the source of disturbance. Finally, she spotted a young pup toddling about. In her mouth she carried leaves, placing them in a pile, before returning to gather more. Muses watched for a moment, intrigued. She could not recognize many of the plants in the area, but some were quite similar to what she had known back home. Others, very rarely, were identical.

She finally approached the child, slowly, her body lowered, turned slightly, to be the least threatening possible. Muses, all fluff and little substance, was the furthest thing from intimidating. "Hello," She greeted, stopping several feet away. If she barged in without a care, she would surely cause a breeze that would disrupt the small pile of leaves. "What kind of herbs are you gathering today?" Her tone was kind, filled with childlike curiosity. Perhaps this little one did not know exactly what she was doing. Muses glanced around, wondering if she had a parent or perhaps a mentor to accompany her.

She wasn't alone very long, and the footfalls of the dainty woman brought Witch's ears fanning back moments before her baby blue eyes followed. The fire-kissed princess sniffled mistrustfully at the pale woman, but the low way she carried herself and the sweet voice that echoed in question, Witchhazel turned her body to the woman. 

The only thing she understood, however, was "hello". Herbs, of course, she knew, but what she was asking about them was unknown to the Convel-Quinzel. 


                              "Haiiiii."

Her honey-smooth baby voice squeaked out gently, and then she dipped her head to grab a gentle mouthful of the Borage. Her slim legs drew her forward slowly, and Witch tipped her jaws up to both present and offer the leaves to Muses.

She was offered a response of something akin to baby babble in return. Muses blinked, observing the child a moment longer. Never in her life had she the chance to spend time with a wolf so young. If she searched her memories, she could vaguely recall her life at that age, although it was mostly obscure fragments without significance, although she recalled often being blocked by legs. It had not been a bad experience, but Muses always had an eagerness to grow and develop. She assumed that small puppies would be the same.

Instead of replying, the pale femme waved her tail gently, careful not not make it look as though she was simply flailing. Her bushy tail might look threatening to a creature so small. Instead of running, the pup gathered in her mouth a couple leaves, and offered them. Muses grinned broadly, slowly leaning forward and reaching with her left paw to draw the leave near. "Thank you!" She trilled with an abundance of sincerity. A baby gave her a gift! This was certainly her lucky day.

She gave the leaves a tentative sniff, although she had no idea what the plant was. It did not seem to be something that was native to her homeland; but then again, there seemed to be very little along the coast that was familiar to her. "I don't know what these are, but would you like me to help you gather some?" Inclining her head, she waited to see what the pup's response would be. She supposed that as long as the child did not run away crying, she would probably be able to amuse herself by helping to gather plants.

December 27th: Witchhazel is no longer active in this thread.

Though Witch's eyes had cleared and her sight was better than ever before -- when, in fact, she didn't realize it actually got better every day, there were just so many other more noticable things happening to her as well -- she would find that, looking back, her memories would be as fragmented and blurry as her eyesight had been in their first days. She would remember the thing's she'd learned, the people she'd met, but the visual aspect of it would be almost unrememberable. For instance, while she remembered everything her mother had ever done for her and their siblings -- like taking them over those mountains early in life, despite the fact that Witch didn't know why they'd gone -- but now.... She wasn't sure she could remember the exact lines of the silvery womans face, the details that made her unique from another pale wolf. With each thing the growing girl learned, those visual memories were shoved into the deepest parts of the mind she couldn't ever hope to access.

Muses was a new face to learn, one she was more likely to remember -- the woman leaned in, tail wagging gently behind her and face spread in a wide smile. Witch wasn't a pup to be startled easy, as mistrustful as she could be in the first moments of an encounter, but already the calm, motherly vibe the creamy flower got from Muses made her willing to trust. Her thanks reverberated within the Convel-Quinzel as pride, and her own cardinal tail fanned behind her. Hazel parroted the thank you happily, as if she liked it so much she wanted to hear it again.... It also sounded like she was thanking Muses for, who knows, maybe taking them? 

                                 "Thank 'ew!"

It didn't seem Muses knew what they were either, but she was glad all the same the older woman liked them. She knew what "help" meant, and "gather". Squealing in joy, she turned and leapt for the Borage piles, bowling through them and freezing to gaze up as the wilted, frosted leaves fluttering down on the two of them. Now, they could gather them again!