Magic with Weeds (OPEN)

[Sivoncé™]

All means of creatures teemed here in the dark heart of the forest; owls hooted in the night, vulnerable creatures took cover in their dens, for in the night, the forest belonged to one creature, and only one: the wolf.

Glistening in an outline of moonlight, the she-wolf moved carefully, silently through the dense region of the Nightmare Wood. She glowed like a specter in the moonlight, appearing to be a pale silver. In the day, however, her pelt was white as snow. As she progressed deeper into the deep, mysterious wood, she felt a growing wonder at her surroundings. Cora inhaled deeply, relishing the plethora of tastes that rolled over her tongue. Perfect!

Up ahead, there was a a small break in the trees -- not a clearing, but a place where the tall, towering trees were not so densely clustered. Here, Cora sat and looked up at the small patch of sky that shone down upon the place."I don't know whether to pray to Verlust or to someone else," she whispered softly, "but whoever's watching over us up there....please, give me a teacher." Cora closed her eyes and held the wish in silence for a moment before giving it up to the heavens.
"All right...let's see what we've got here..."
She turned to survey the surrounding brush and plantlife, and slowly began to pluck particular leaves and berries and place them in a pile at her paws.

[.Rabid Lycan.]

Evening crickets already began to stir, whistling their consistent melody into the night. This area of the woods appeared still and tranquil. Peaceful, despite the casting of shadows and the ever-hazardous teeth of thorn bushes snarling into the darkness.
But, perhaps, it was not only crickets that roused in nightly song.
The aged russet and charcoal splashes of a lupine coat dimmed to indigo shades, his silhouette all but disappearing as he proceeded deeper amongst the trees. Only his paws and chest radiated a ghostly aurora, each haunting step bringing him deeper into the maze of pines and who knows what else.
The creature paused, lifting his muzzle to scent the air. He wasn’t quite sure how long he had wandered through these woods, but knew for certain that he would need to rest soon enough. His pads were worn raw, his vision clouded with exhaustion—and yet, a curious scent brought him from his daze.
Wolf.
Not bothering to hide, the male continued after the scent, slowly drawing near a more spacious area of the forest.
After all, what was there to lose?

[Sivoncé™]

Cora sighed softly to herself as she pawed through the piles of leaves and plants. She knew, when she'd taken on the role of herb healer neophyte, that it would be an incredible responsibilty. She hadn't expected it would take long at all to find a teacher, however. I'm useless if I don't know what I'm doing. Right now, Babylonia herself was her main patient. And that's not a wolf I really want to get angry. She groaned and tossed the piles of grass away in frustration. I'll never get this right all by myself! You think Verlust would come down from the skies if it's this desparate! Babylonia was her beta for cripes' sake!
Suddenly, she became aware of another scent; one she recognized far easier than any of the herbs or flora scattered around her. Wolf-scent? Not one I know...and not Hellfirian, either. Slowly, she rose to her paws, eyeing her surroundings with suspicion. "Who's there?"

[.Rabid Lycan.]

Sweet memory.
The charcoal tips of his auds tilted skyward, astonished by the tone that hummed singsong melodies into his brain. His heart quickened in its chamber, the alternating beats escalating to a fierce romp. I know this voice, but from where? He thought back, to hazy visions of a beautiful fae, and a lonely landscape where the two of them frolicked. No, not frolicked—he blinked slowly—just simply content to be. Her.
Finally peeling back the remainder of the brush, the brute halted. He was transfixed, memorizing the outline of Cora before she could speak another word. He could not speak, nor think—just stare with an almost admiring familiarity.
After several minutes, he opened his maw, but could not recall her name.
I must know it. I do know it.
“…me.”

[Sivoncé™]

Cora whirled around, hairs standing on end, and maw curled in the beginnings of a snarl. Then suddenly, a strange little peep of an answer came from the brush. Her hostility was stifled with surprise. What a strange thing to say! Slowly, she crept forward, a hint of curiosity glimmering in her eyes. "Who's me?" She maintained a defensive stance, prepared to turn and run should any wolf attempt to come at her. But the voice belonged to a male -- igniting the flirtacious side of her. It was slightly entrancing, the stranger lurking in the dark, beckoning to her. Or, well, it could've been creepy if you wanted to make it morbid. Cora, on the other hand, preferred the first outlook.
"Come on out," she teased lightly, "I don't bite."
Herbs forgotten, she scanned the undergrowth for signs of her mysterious admirer.

[.Rabid Lycan.]

Gradually, the odd warmth in her voice beckoned him onward. The twin scars, twin pink lines, emerged from the darkness first. As the foreleg rested on the earth, he made quicker movements. His vibrant pelage was submerged in a silver aura, moonlight lighting his orbs afire.
He stood there, partially unveiled, the twin orbs ablaze in orange glow.
“Krueger.”
Don’t you recognize me?
“…what would one such as yourself be doing out here? All alone, especially.”
I could take care of you. Protect you. You know this—have you forgotten already?

[Sivoncé™]

Cora studied him critically for a moment. Definitely not Blood Mist, but he looks like he could fit in with us. Well, if he tries to attack, I'll kick it and scream my lungs out or something. But he doesn't seem like he wants to hurt me. She offered a small, tentative smile. However, his next question unnerved her slightly. "I'm Cora, healer in training." She flicked a tail back towards the abandoned pile of herbs. "I don't have a teacher yet. I'm trying to teach myself so Babylonia doesn't have me killed for being an inadequete waste of space." She sighed softly, eyes appearing troubled. Damn, I do a good damsel in distress! He's a little weird, though -- not sure if he's worth putting on this much of a show yet. Ah, well, a little flirting never hurt anybody.

OOC: I have a bad feeling Cora is gonna end up getting mauled sometime in the near future

[.Rabid Lycan.]

(( you may want to tell Cora not to be flirty around him xD Bad things happen ))

His eyes studied her longingly, a fanciful gleam to his eyes. The motions, the actions… at one point, the steady stream of recognition was upset. Different. Somehow different. Are you toying with me? He blinked, awash with insecurity, when suddenly Cora confirmed her occupation.
He stared, hardly daring to breathe. Complete silence.
“Really?” he murmured slowly, shifting his weight. “Personally, I’m quite fond of herb lore myself. Honorable profession. I do not see why one would want to harm another in studying. Perhaps you should leave her before you get hurt.” He paused, a subconscious strand of thought coaxing him an inch forward. “You don’t want to get hurt, do you?”

[Sivoncé™]

Cora's ears flicked idly. She was beginning to detect something sinister and sour behind the wolf's words. She groaned softly, this time her eyes reflected the true weight of her duties. "Babylonia is pretty much the indisputable queen of this place. She's a Hellfirian -- used to be Verlust's beta, you see. She was pregnant when she died. Somehow, she ended up giving birth when she was resurrected. But she has really horrifying scars -- I mean scary stuff that still bleeds every now and then. I don't think she'll be able to have children anymore or even walk the same as she used to, no matter what I do."
Her eyes flashed and she raised a brow at his last question. "And who would hurt little miss me? She might be queen or whatever, but the point is she can't move much. She's a fallen idol." She blinked oddly at him for a moment, and then added, "You're a healer? Really? Do you think you could teach me?"

(( OOC: I just had to make her flirty and beautiful ))

[.Rabid Lycan.]

Krueger’s eyes shifted along the svelte curves, the bright eyes—his eyes sealed and unsealed, hardly listening. A little noise clicked in the back of his brain, almost like a voice. It told him to stop, to consider what he was thinking. Describing how shameful and humiliating his thoughts were.
But he all but exhaled, and the voice was gone.
No, too quick to be a voice. He must have imagined it.
“Yes, I am practiced in herbs. And I do not have a home, so I suppose I can remain here, and teach you.” He bowed his head slowly. “But I am afraid I do not understand. What is a Hellfirian? Who is this ‘Verlust’? I am afraid I am unfamiliar with such wolves.”

[Sivoncé™]

Cora blinked back at him with disblieving eyes. How in the world is it possible for him to not know of Verlust or even Hellfire?
"Hellfirians....well, they're from Hellfire. There was a great forest fire here and...the wolves of hell came to life again. And Verlust is pretty much the goddess of our pack, Blood Mist. She lived long ago, but she didn't come back with the others." She tilted her head curiously at him, eyes sparkling slightly. "Where are you from, Kreuger? It astounds me that you've never heard any of this before. We would welcome a healer with open arms, I can assure you." She offered him a pleasant smile. There's something kinda creepish about him, but we do need a healer. Might as well lay on the charm and convince him.

[.Rabid Lycan.]

“‘Came to life again’? You mean they were dead? How did these dead wolves get to Hellfire? Does someone carry them there after they die? Where is it?” His gaze was uncomprehending, not quite catching onto the concepts. As far as he was concerned, wolves died and that was it. Nothing else. “I come from…”
A long paused formed between words, an odd expression forming on his muzzle before returning to normality. Or as close to normality as he was able.
“I come from over the mountains a ways. I lost my family a while back and have been traveling for quite some time. Most recently, I came from the west, looking for a home. And a life as an official healer, you mean?” His wandering gaze returned. “That would be delightful.”

[Sivoncé™]

Cora watched him, her surprise gradually changing into amusement. At his endless slew of questions, she couldn't help but giggle at the silliness of it all. "Yes, they were dead. Hell is the place you go if you are considered "bad" or "evil". If you murdered or did something bad. And I don't really know -- I'm not Hellfirian -- but I suppose you just magically pop up there or something. Maybe ask one of them when we get back to camp? It'd be an interesting answer. I wonder if they even know how they got there..." She trailed off thoughtfully, then laughed again at his strange mannerisms. "You're a very strange wolf, Kreuger. Are you sure that's where you're from? And well, I'd be very grateful if you'd stay." She began gathering her pile of mismatched herbs to carry it back to camp.

[.Rabid Lycan.]

Krueger raised a brow. “Who defines what is evil?”
A sort of coldness momentarily swept across his spine at thoughts of such a place—a place crammed with filthy murderers and traitors. Wouldn’t you get claustrophobic in a place like that?
Shaking away the thoughts, he watched her with a line of confusion across his muzzle. Was she laughing at him? Was this mocking? Did he say something of amusement? “I am quite sure,” he assured her, not quite catching her tone. “And okay, I will accompany you to your camp of Hellfirians. It sounds intriguing enough.”

[Sivoncé™]

(new thread in camp? ;D )