Jade Fern Grove rudimentary tasks

ooc; collecting moss and herbs for LCH. a naturalist trade thread even if its AW

his claws shed against the bark, expertly processing the foliage that lay there. moss was one of the many common items to work with. some would say it was boring, to collect such a thing, but he found the task to be amusing enough. it worked with his upper muscles, building strength, and taught him patience and control. if he got angry enough, he'd shred all the precious moss. patience was required to fill a good stock. Lost Creek Hollow had a diminutive stock where he was concerned. they would need more plants to get them through spring and summer.

fall and winter were more pressing. illness spread easily. food was scarce. tempers flared. Baelfire just hoped that the pack would get through it; there was plenty of time to worry later. he gave a grunt, moving down to the ground to collect the small bundle of moss he had scratched from the tree's bark. counting the shreds separately, he deemed it enough for now. he placed a paw on the moss, trying to roll it carefully into a pile so he could carry it back to Lost Creek Hollow. the young man grunted again, plucking the manageable bundle from the earth.

he'd turn, being met with a figure moving amongst the foliage. whether they knew he was there or not, he'd watch them carefully.

Gannet had been quiet ever since his call went unanswered at Moonspear. He'd tried to get past it, and to not jump to the worst, but it was hard not to with how his conversation with Charon had gone. Did Hydra think he was selfish too? And did she not want to be friends any longer?

This quiet pervaded him and affected not only his thoughts, but also his trade progress. He hadn't felt up to going to Elysium and asking yet, and he was beginning to lose steam when it came to hope on finding a teacher anywhere.

So when he spotted a guy (who was same scent?) getting moss, his voice was more tentative than hopeful. Are you a healer? he asked, stepping from between the greenery where he'd been passing through on his way to hunt.

the figure would approach. Baelfire's green eyes swept over the pale form of the other man. his scent familiar by now. Lost Creek Hollow. that made him a packmate. he'd regard the other silently before lowering his neck to drop the precious moss he had collected. "yes" there was plenty of reasons to gather this resource, after all. lining dens for one. maybe this one was the man named Gannet that Treason mentioned. "why?" it was rude to assume things, though. and the man had a nose; he could tell he was from the same pack if he really tried.

Some wolves might find it hard, when faced with someone like Baelfire who were practiced in a trade, to swallow their pride and ask for help. It was extremely obvious, in that moment, that Gannet was not one of these.

Can you teach me? He asked. His tone was straightforward, no pleading, just a request. I know some. But I want to learn more. If this wolf had knowledge, and further was willing to share it, then he was one of select few. Gannet couldn't let the chance go to waste.

"you are Gannet" the young man would say. not a question but a statement. Treason had already spoken of one individual in Lost Creek Hollow that would want to learn from him. Baelfire assumed he'd meet the other on their pack's territory. not out here in the wild. his gaze shifted to the remnants of the moss on the tree. "gather some moss. let me see your technique." he wasn't going to hold this man's paw for him. if he showed promise, he'd tutor him. it was also important to know that healing was not always mending bones and cuts. there was a bit of a boring side to it. like moss gathering. it helped with control.

He nodded when the other man correctly guessed his name. The answer wasn't a yes, but the instruction clearly indicated that he was willing! Gannet's eyes lit up and he immediately complied, moving to join Baelfire in gaining some.

Technique? he asked as he did, not fully understanding. He did not know what moss was used for yet. Technique in what?

He was fully absorbed with thoughts of lessons - he may or may not ask the man's name later.

so this was the guy Treason mentioned. "technique" Baelfire would repeat, turning to the uncollected moss. expertly, he'd draw his paw along the trunk. carefully making sure to leave enough for Gannet to gather, he'd claw out a thin strip that curled on the ground. "it teaches... a steady paw" he'd explain, wondering how he always got roped into teaching others when he didn't know as much as people thought he did. though he knew more than most apprentice healers. not that he was complaining; he felt it was amusing. "control. patience" he'd step back to allow the man his space. "try." he didn't expect Gannet to get it right away. good thing he collected enough moss so if this stock was shredded well... he wouldn't be bitching about it.

Oh, in collecting it. Gannet hadn't even thought there might be a trick to it, and he still wasn't sure what exactly Baelfire was referring to, but he'd try his best to mimic. Gannet looked at the piece that Baelfire had clawed off, then at the tree, and slowly began trying to drag his paw over to take one similar.

He was patient enough that he got a piece, though if it was correct was up to his teacher's discretion. Why this way? he asked, curious on what it would be used for and why the collection was so important.

Baelfire bit back a sigh, remembering that not everyone got his short little explanations. Vuk had so far been a good apprentice. she didn't ask so many questions and just did as she was told. she seemed quick minded, but she was also young. Gannet was trying to learn, and he'd try to be patient with him but... he just gave an explanation of why. wasn't he listening? of course, he also hated to explain a shit ton of stuff right away. too worried about overwhelming someone, most likely.

"it teaches control" he'd repeat, trying his best to explain it right this time "healers need... a steady paw. you can't just go crazy. you need to remain calm when your patient isn't" shredding the moss gives a sense of power that you didn't get when faced with adversity. if some wolf was bleeding out from their throat, you couldn't be panicking and crying and freaking out. "and if I claw up all the moss into little pieces it'd be a bitch to get back to camp." he'd grunt.

"this way, it'd roll naturally into a bundle." eyes strayed to his own bunch of moss. curled nicely and easy to tuck under the chin if he had more herbs to carry. even something as simple as gathering moss was useful.

So the reason he'd given was the only reason. Gannet wasn't sure about this... he didn't understand how collecting moss could lead to helping. He wanted to know what it did, not how to gather it. But he was patient and good natured enough that he trusted and continued to practice the motions. Keeping calm was probably the part of healing that was most natural to him.

What is it for? he did ask, as he continued to patiently collect it. If Baelfire was annoyed by the questions, Gannet wouldn't notice. He'd continue to ask until he either ran out or the teacher ran out of patience and departed. There were too many things he wanted to know.

Fortunately for him, Baelfire had some patience. Gannet was able to ask some more, and learn some, before he was dismissed.