Janna sighed as she watched Silver bound ahead, crisp Autumn leaves crunching beneath her paws as she followed the scent of a squirrel. So much for stealth, the Tracker thought with resignation. They were close enough to the Stedding that it shouldn’t matter. The Rangers knew they were approaching even without the young wolfs antics. Still, she’d have to rethink taking the cub with her in search of Wanderers, at least til she had grown a bit. Matured.

 

Last night she had dreamt the strangest dream…of Windracer. He and Silver had been playing, wrestling with one another on the floor of her isolated cabin. Four times the size of the cub Wind had been tolerant and amused as he taught the young wolf to fight through playful nips and bites, finally holding the nearly white wolf down with one paw as he regarded Janna with what could only be called….a wolfish smile.

 

She will learn.

 

Janna had woken crying…something she had hidden from Anton. Her heart ached just thinking of the old wolf. The dream had been so vivid she’d wondered if it was the Dream. But that was impossible. Wind was dead and nothing could bring him back…except dreams.

 

She shook off the thought and turned to her companion, “Do you recognize this place, Anton?â€

 

The Wanderer nodded, it hadn’t been that long ago he had visited the Stedding in pure human form. Janna motioned to the left, “My cabin is along this trail, if you ever have need of me.â€

 

“You don’t live within the Stedding?†Anton sounded slightly panicked but his emotions were a whirlwind…one moment strong and confident that he’d found his calling…the next fearful and confused that this was all in his head…a hallucination.

 

Janna shrugged, “I don’t like being penned in, cities and villages make me….nervous. I prefer to be….outside.â€

 

When she had left the Stedding nearly a month ago the trail to the village had been nigh untraceable. Now, however a clear path showed the way and Janna cringed. They tried to vary the trails, so none became too obvious but it appeared everyone and his brother had utilized this path since her departure. She’d speak with John and Owen about that at the first opportunity.

 

Leading Anton off the main trail she approached the Stedding from the east, through dense woods and brush. Still, within a hundred yards of the Stedding itself a Ranger stepped from behind a tree, crossbow aimed directly at them.

 

He lowered it immediately as he recognized Janna. With a nod he stepped back and vanished, casting a tolerant glance at Silver who was triumphant at having sniffed him out. A bit late…but she has a good nose.

 

Ha! I found him Chime! Did you see that? I found him and he’s a Ranger but I still found him..

 

Janna agreed with her thoughts, hoping to quiet the cub some, Anton was still very sensitive to the thoughts and emotions of wolves around him. And there were many wolves here…both in the Stedding and outside of it, roaming the hills and mountains. Best to keep Silver’s chatter to a minimum. With an encouraging smile she sent the wolf ahead, to warn the Sages of their arrival….though they already knew.

 

She pushed aside a heavy branch and turned to smile back at her charge, “We’re here.â€

 

They stepped into a clearing, natural but expanded by the Woflkin to accomadate their growing numbers. The Inn towered over the center of the small community and it was a bustle of activity at this time of day. Women and children surrounded the well, gossiping and playing. They greeted Janna as she and Anton passed but kept well back at her warning glance. It was custom that a Wanderer only be greeted once the Sages had seen to him or her.

 

The Infirmary was larger than its predecessor, which had been leveled by fire. Janna grimaced to remember that night. Aurin’s grief had nearly cost them all…..not Aurin…Eyota, she reminded herself gruffly. As she approached the entrance a young girl, perhaps fourteen summers darted out and dropped an awkward curtsey.

 

“Hail, Tracker, Wanderer. Miryana awaits you within.â€

 

Janna bit back a smile and thanked the girl solemnly, leading Anton into the building. Several others waited in the large entrance, one man with a runny nose and red eyes…a girl heavily pregnant….a mother clutching her fevered child. Janna greeted them all by name and motioned Anton to a chair nearby.

 

“Miryana will be here soon. We need to be sure The Howling hasn’t….affected you adversely.†Even as she said the words Janna shuddered, hopeful she had brought Anton to the Sage soon enough. “Don’t worry Anton, we’re only here to help you.â€

 

Janna Telenvar

Head Tracker

Wolf Sister

Twisted Chime

Companion to Silver

 

OOC: Post your reaction to arrival at the Stedding and Miryana will post after checking you out ;) After I'll open the thread to everyone for a meet and greet.

Traveling over the Mountains of Mist had been an interesting experience, though it was one marred by a certain necessity. Anton's 'howling' had taken its toll, and even now Anton was nowhere near ready for it. He could hold it together, even when the pup's thoughts burst into the middle of his train of thought, but that wasn't to say he handled it well. More than anything, he felt violated by the way the thoughts were just shoved on him. He had his doubts as to whether he'd ever become as comfortable as Daruun or Janna had with it.

 

The approach to the stedding was a familiar one at least. Following Janna, Anton recognised the terrain and the settlement when it came into view. Yet as they walked amongst the people, not a single person greeted him though he knew they recognised him. More than anything, that made him wary, but he kept following nevertheless.

 

The infirmary? Why? Such thoughts were without answer as a young girl approached Janna and told her Miryana awaited them. Miryana was not a name he was familiar with, maybe it was a title. Taking the chair that he was offered, Anton took in Janna's words but was nevertheless worried by her choice of phrase. Affected him adversely? How could it not have affected him adversely? Still, there was little he could do except nod. All he could do was trust in Janna, and hope it was the right thing, because at the moment it was the only thing he had.

 

 

Anton Averdal

Wolfkin

Miryana had just finished tending to her herb garden when word came that Janna was approaching with a new Wanderer. Washing her hands in a nearby bucket of water the Sage dried them and smoothed out her skirts. Her long auburn hair was pulled back in a pony tail this morning.

 

With a soft word to her apprentice Erin she sent the young girl off on an errand so that she could properly greet their new arrival. Flowing into the infirmary from the gardens she noted several people waiting being attended to by some older apprentices and smiled at each as she passed.

 

The Sage’s eyes immediately found Janna and the man with her who glanced about the room in apprehension. She had seen him around the stedding once during his brief visit some time ago. The poor thing had no idea he would be coming back so soon or why.

 

Smiling at Janna Miryana placed a hand on her good one and gave it a soft squeeze. “Who have you brought for me to see Janna? I take it your trip was free of any trouble.â€

 

Janna flushed slightly before answering. “This is Anton Miryana.†Rubbing her head unconsciously she cleared her throat. “Apart from a bump on the head I am fine. Anton here suffered a minor injury to his groin but appears to be fine now.â€

 

Raising a questioning eyebrow at Miryana was not surprised by her explanation.

 

“The bump I suffered was provided by Anton and I returned the favor.â€

 

Shaking her head Miryana moved to take a look at Anton. The man seemed nervous to say the least as his eyes darted about the infirmary. After poking and prodding Anton for several long moments she declared the young man fit.

 

Looking into his golden eyes she felt sympathy for the man. “I know things must seem very surreal to you right now Anton but trust me it does get better. We are family here and you will learn to harness your new found gifts and in time they will be as natural to you as breathing.â€

 

She sensed her words to little to sooth Anton and a thought crossed her mind.

 

“Janna I believe our new arrival would do well to learn from Burrich. He was haunted much at first and would be an ideal companion for Anton.â€

 

Placing a hand on Anton shoulders she finally gave him a proper greeting. “I am Miryana head of the Sages in the stedding Anton. If ever you need my guidance the door is always open. You have a lot to digest and it will take time. If you have any questions that Janna has not answered please feel free to ask them.â€

 

OOC: Miryana is Domani down to the core.

To say Anton was nervous as Miryana prodded him, examined him, would have be an understatement. He had no idea what she was looking for, and he knew he wasn't right, would he be considered too damaged? Worse still, Miryana's verdict did little to allay the anxiety, or her words after that. As much as he liked new things, part of why he always traveled, this was something he did not feel he was ready for, not at all.

 

The name Burrich brought a face to mind, when he had last been at the stedding the man had been pointed out to him, but they had never spoken. Further thoughts were put aside as Miryana spoke again, offering her help in the future and to answer any questions he would have now. Although he'd already asked Janna, and he knew the answer, there was one question he had to ask.

 

"There is no going back is there?"

 

"No."

 

Nodding slightly, another question came to mind. "Will I be able to learn the keep my thoughts mine?"

 

A quick look from Miryana to Janna brought an answer to her own question. "The wolves north of Elmora were not gentle."

 

"Ah. As to your question." Miryana turned back to Anton. "Yes, you will learn how. Yet by the time you master it, I hope you will have little need of it."

 

Anton had his doubts of that, but there was little else for him to ask now. "Thank you, I cannot think of anything else."

 

 

Anton Averdal

Wolfkin