Redsand Canyon And though I close my eyes, I see la vie en rose

Forwarding this a bit to when she is somewhat returned to her strengthened state.

The time had slowly, but surely come. Ali was more than ready to be back on her own four feet and make true the promise she had given to @Germanicus on the eve of her arrival.

Imperator, She sought him eagerly, dipping her snout with a newfound respect. He had given her a life, and so it was only fair she owe a debt. I think I am myself again. So, I would like to start living up to my vow. What is there that I can do here? I am willing to do anything...

There was little Ali couldn't do, vain as it be. In what she considered to be her past life, while though she had only lived one, she partook in many things. Hunting, scouting, tracking, combat, healing... none of it was new to her. Every trade had once been her own. But even now, after being closed off for so long, much of the experience remained within her; caged, but now ready to be set free.

the woman of latin.

germanicus received her warmly. it was unlikely that the lady would be an apt soldier, given her age. but there was much here to do.

"mereo has a place for healers, scouts, lorekeepers. all roles can be supported here." he stood from his place in the forum and dashed sand over his drawings.

"what would you like to do, domina? where do your strengths lie?"

The imperator was thoughtful and considerate with his options. Alstroemeria was indeed an older woman and her days of battle were long past her.

Agnosco animum tuum. Gratitude through a language he could appreciate.

I have spent years with herbs: those that heal and those that poison. Learning my way around territories does come with ease as well. I'm sure I could be of use as a scout, or even messenger. She thought to mention the work as an emissary, but surely that was a job for someone of higher status here.

germanicus gestured that they should both sit. "my former wife the lady ruenna, is a fine ambassador." he was careful not to use the past-tense, highly alert and sickened already by the idea that their bond had not ended in the natural death of age as it was meant. "a messenger should be both."

"there is a boy here who is called icarus." atreus had never given his true title after all. "he has indicated interesting in ranging. perhaps you might mentor him. his energy could support your excursions and you would have a guardian in the wild. of course, i believe short journeys that bring you both home before nightfall are best while winter is soon to come."

She joined him to sit, ears perking forward to listen.

Her assumed tasks, she would have thought to be simple and.. frankly, solo. But Germanicus had other ideas. He wished for her to mentor another — something in which she hadn't done in many years.

I cannot say that I will make for the most renowned and graceful teacher, but I can certainly give it a go. There were no true promises she could ever make, other than that she would try. And so she would.

"renown and grace is not necessary to impart a lesson. icarus was thin when he came here. but he has the experience of traveling alone even at his young age. i mean only for you to help him hone his smell and sense of direction. the rest will come when he is sent out on his missions."

germanicus thought of the journey to come and knew that alstromeria would not be able to go upon such a jaunt. but she would be in fine company all the same.

It was nothing short of a relief to know that he did not expect too much from her in this instance. To be put simply, all she had to do was render a few suggestions here and there and keep this boy on his feet. That was something she had no doubt in accomplishing.

Seems fair enough, Ali nodded firmly, waving her tail slowly through the red sand. Anything else in particular, or just that, for now?

"only that for now," the eagle said. it would not do well to have her worn down by long traveling so early. "whatever you need for your treks will be granted," he told the matronly woman,

a thought came to him.

"our matrona, the lady aquene, studies many medicines. it may be of benefit to seek her experience with midwifery." such skilled individuals could be loaned out in exchange for other things. 

he thought of fennec.

That was it. But then were something more—

Midwifery. A new concept; something she'd never before studied. It couldn't be too hard, though.. surely. I have never been a midwife. But that didn't mean she would turn down the opportunity to learn. Ali almost thought to ask if Mereo would be soon expecting, but figured it best to not be too nosy. 

This boy... you will introduce me to him? It was either that, or endure an awkward first interaction with a youth she'd never met.

the imperator indulged.

he called for @Atreus and stood awaiting the boy. "there is a pack south of us with a man who also practices midwifery. paleo. if your travels take you in this direction, it might be good to also become familiar with him."

he was pleased with her inititiave.

Paleo.

How soon could I go? She asked with a tip of her head, brows slightly furrowed. The sooner I could meet him, the better. It will take time to learn such a trade.

Sorry, I missed this tag somehow!

Maybe it was backward to take such pride in servitude, yet he really did derive pleasure in being prompt whenever the Imperator called. He thought it spoke well of his discipline, even if his fighting skills were still lacking.

When he arrived and saw a heavily maimed woman accompanying Germanicus, Atreus gaped openly at her and muttered, Holy shit… Looking to his leader, he raised his voice to add, Did Tierra tell you I was interested in healing? ‘Cause I don’t know the first thing…

But surely there was another reason the Imperator had summoned him here. Oh shit, he thought. What if this lady was some kind of mega warrior assigned to personally train his flailing ass? She kind of looked the part.

no worries! <3

germanicus did not smile though his yellow eyes were minutely amused. "auxillary, this is lady alstroemeria. she wants to take trips outside of mereo to increase her experience in scouting. i would like you to escort her, both as guardian and as pupil."

he knew the timely icarus was not skilled with fighting. but the woman had seen her share. they would be a commentary to one another. "i have informed her that shorter excursions are best, and during the day."

he glanced at them both to see how they liked the look of one another.

The boy soon arrived, and with a few foul words to spare. He may have taken her by surprise just as much as she had him, but they differed with the fact that she made no effort to show it.

Instead, she simply nodded her head in greeting. A pleasure to meet you, Icarus.

Germanicus went on to explain their prior discussion. And then they both waited for the auxillary to speak on his impressions.

Oh, Atreus replied, okay.

He was kind of relieved she wasn’t being assigned as his sparring tutor. He could probably use one but he was much happier with the given task. Germanicus laid out some terms for the excursions they would take and he nodded obediently, eyes flicking between the two adults.

Belatedly, he realized he should say, Nice to meet you too, lady, which came out sounding unintentionally sarcastic without her name tacked on but hell if he was going to try pronouncing it.

Atreus cleared his throat sheepishly.

well-met. icarus was polite. germanicus approved of this.

"i will leave you to it," he told them. if there were no other inquiries, the eagle would turn and depart.

the lady and the soldier would plan their own routes.

Gonna wrap with one last post so I can hopefully use this for his specialty. :)

Germanicus promptly left. Atreus’s mouth opened as he gazed after the Imperator, though he clapped it shut as his eyes eventually drifted back to Alstroemeria. He shifted awkwardly as he tried to think of what to say to her.

While he pondered that, he couldn’t help but notice her appearance again. He had never seen someone with so many scars. He wondered how she’d come by them. Fighting, duh, the voice in his head sassed.

Aloud, the boy said, I have a couple of ideas about where we could go but it’s too late in the day to go anywhere today. I’ll come find you soon, although the last thing Alstroemeria looked like she needed was some mediocre fighter guarding her. Uh, see you, he tacked on with a nod before skedaddling.