Blackfeather Woods the remedy is the experience
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#1
All Welcome 
@Rowan @Zephyr recruit?

Lane knew there were wolves in the woods ahead, probably a pack. She had seen them coming and going over the last day or so while she was scouting out Otter Creek. Her creek-walking had been successful, and between her teeth she carried the fruit of her labor: a ball of chervil roots roughly the size of a wolf’s skull.  

Lane took a deep breath, steadying herself as she approached the treeline. It wasn’t that she was nervous exactly; it was just that she hadn’t done this on her own before, so it felt like the much-anticipated graduation from an entire childhood’s worth of training.

There was a small part of her that felt doubtful. Defeated. It was the rebellious part that had wanted distance from this way of life. It was the part of her that wanted to prove that she didn’t need her parents, or their customs, or their training.

But what choice did she really have? Her life skills were tragically limited beyond the medical training she was bequeathed. Right now, it was practice medicine or starve. She would ply her inherited trade to fill her belly today, so that she would have the energy to teach herself new skills tomorrow.
#2
oops editing bc i misread in my haste to Snatch Thread
He's patrolling when he happens along another visitor to the Woods, his posture proud yet not imposing. The girl he finds there is fairly average, wrapped in earthen tones and perhaps not quite as intimidating as he'd like a potential recruit to be. Still, she's here, and that's something. He notices belatedly that she's carrying something, though he doesn't have a clue what it is. Hello. I'm Zephyr, one of the leaders of Ivory Rose. What brings you to the borders? That sounds pretty good, he thinks. Professional. Maybe he's suited to this leader thing.
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#3
He's skippable in this thread
Rowan heard the call.
So many wanted them today. Perhaps another recruit.
Another face to meet and explain to.

Zephyr beat him there this time.
Rowan held back, only watching. He wanted to see how Zephyr presented himself, how he spoke of the woods.
Rowan sat down, head high and expecting.
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The pack’s scout appeared quickly-- a petite yearling wrapped in icy white from head-to-almost-tail. Somehow this was not the creature Lane expected to emerge from the woods’ shadows. The words were even more unexpected. Zephyr of Ivory Rose was not a scout, but a leader.  Who would have thought?

Actually, Lane could see it. There was an air of ferocity about the leader, and Lane thought she could smell wounds healing beneath that wintery fur. Lane could be wrong though—it was tough to smell much of anything with the pungent chervil roots in her mouth.

Lane opened her mouth, dropping the rootball in order to speak. ”I’m Lane.” She swallowed. Now or never, Lane. “I was hoping for a trade?” She gestured to the rootball at her feet. “Chervil root for your pack’s medicine stores,” she explained, in case the leader was unfamiliar with the herb, “..In exchange for permission to feed from your pack’s latest kill.” It was her family’s go-to exchange.

”Or..” Lane hesitated. ”Or I can help you bring down the next kill, if you prefer.”  Lane’s eyes lit up at the thought. She was improvising now; her parents would never have offered to assist in a hunt (Imagine the danger! The risk to life and limb!). Her parents would simply have moved on to the next border if there was no fresh kill available at this one.

Another wolf appeared behind Zephyr, seemingly just to watch. Lane's gaze flickered toward him briefly before landing back on the icy leader.
#5
He feels the presence of his co-leader behind him — but no greeting accompanies his arrival, so Zephyr acknowledges him only with a glance and a slight nod. His attention quickly turns back to the stranger at their borders, to the soft bell sound of her voice. A trade — not what he'd expected, but not entirely outlandish. Still, We're looking more for recruits than trades — a longer term sort of trade, I guess, He offers a brief, faint smile, if only to color the statement with the humor he intends. But I see no reason to turn you down, if Rowan agrees. A glance back again, this time for Lane's benefit. He's a leader here too. And one half of all the decisions; he can't forget that, and so far, he hasn't. His gaze flits back to the girl. Our healer may not be familiar with chervil root as a medicine — she's more a botanist, in truth. If you can educate her on the uses before you leave, then it seems like a fair trade to me.
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Lane matched the small smile with one of her own. Although the comment was clearly intended as a joke, it was still odd to hear a pack leader liken recruitment to a long-term trade. Lane had always been told that packs were very serious about being a family and “loyalty above all else” and all that jazz. It was a huge reason that her parents declined to join with packs on any of the countless times they were made offers. They wanted free reign to practice medicine without politics interfering.

The conversation turned to Rowan, the other leader—also apparently, the other wolf present. Lane offered the man a nod of respect.

Next, Zephyr mentioned the healer, piquing Lane’s curiosity. The young medic felt certain that any herbalist worth their stuff would know about chervil, but Lane wasn’t about to pass up the chance to chit-chat about medicine with a kindred spirit.

“Deal,” Lane agreed without hesitation.  She looked briefly to the other wolf—Rowan-- waiting for him to confirm the decision.

“May I come in, or would you like me to wait here?” Either way would work, but Lane’s preference would be to visit the healer at her medicine den. That way, she would get to peruse the medicine stores and perhaps learn a little something from the healer here, in turn.

Lane was also secretly hoping she might find a recruit who was up for a little gossip session about this leadership duo. She hadn’t forgotten Zephyr’s offhand comment about seeking followers. Lane’s rebellious side wanted to join up immediately, out of sheer teenage spite for her parents. And perhaps she would, once she learned a little more about these leaders and what Ivory Rose was all about.
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Rowan nodded softly, yes. She would be a fine addition to their ranks. And valuable.
She seemed full of life, full of hope and bursting t the seams with knowledge.
She seemed cautious of packs though - asking for a trade rather than to join.
That was no bother if she accepted now. She could leave whenever she wished.
It was her life.

He wandered closer with a smile.
"Of course you may enter, but I have only two rules in my home," he paused, glancing to Zephyr, "One is to respect the sacred places and the blackbirds, the second being you respect and protect your packmates."
He wouldn't have it any other way. He wanted a calm life, one where everyone could be in harmony, to feel safe as he did. And he wanted just that little bit of spice in his life. To protect others came with the price of actually doing so. And he'd be glad to do so.
For the right packmates, of course.
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#8
The deal is struck, and Lane asks for permission to enter. He allows Rowan to answer, nodding when his co-leader finishes. I can show you around, The wraith offers, stepping back and slightly to the side to allow her more room to pass. Best to get her familiar with the woods as soon as possible, he thinks; it's easier to take it all in when you have a guide and time to think about all of it.
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The other leader stepped forward and spoke. He had a kind smile, and Lane felt welcome despite being a relative stranger to these wolves. 

He stated two rules, and Lane tilted her head in curiosity. Where to even start? What were the sacred places? Why were they sacred? What kind of behavior-- pray tell-- was considered to be disrespectful of a place? And on a related note, how does one go about being respectful (or disrespectful) of a bird? Lane wondered if odd rules like this were typical for packs. She wondered if rules like this were why her parents avoided them. 

Being respectful and protective of packmates was more readily understandable, but these were not Lane's packmates. She was only here on an errand. Perhaps Rowan had missed that part of Lane and Zephyr's conversation? 

Lane turned to Zephyr with a quizzical look. The wintery leader offered to show her around. "Thanks." Lane was grateful for the escort... she was still a little unsure exactly what sort of behavior was expected of her in regards to sacred places and the wildlife and whatnot, so at least she would have Zephyr's lead to follow.
#10
<3 wrap up here? i'd love an updated thread, not sure what assumptions to make tho!
He catches the look, and meets it with a nod that says they'll talk about it soon. He'll have to take it upon himself to clarify the nature of the transaction for both ends. For now, he focuses on getting Melaine off the borders. With a gesture to her and a nod of farewell to Rowan, he turns to lead her off, eventually deciding to address the moment of confusion with the promise of clarifying to Rowan later.
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