Janna narrowed her as eyes critically as she wiped the back of her hand across her sweaty brow, inadvertently smearing soil across her forehead. The autumn day was unseasonably warm but instead of bemoaning the heat Janna tipped her face towards the sun and let it wash over her, so few things warmed her these days.

 

One of those few things bounded out of the forest toward her, white fur sprinkled with the fiery leaves of fall. Janna winced as she realized the cub held something furry and limp between her jaws.

 

I caught it! I caught it! Silver deposited the dead rodent proudly near where Janna knelt in the long row of fennel. It was sooooo fast you wouldn’t believe it, Chime but I was faster and when it tried to run I grabbed it and shook it hard….

 

The young wolf tensed suddenly, catching a new scent on the breeze and leapt back toward the forest, unsettling several of the plants in the garden. Janna suppressed a groan and a giggle as she watched the hard work of the morning nearly undone. But the cub didn't notice, intent on new furry things to chase and....shake hard.

 

Wryly she considered the corpse Silver had left behind. Poor thing, she thought with a sigh, at least you can help the plants grow.Surreptitiously and quickly she buried the baby squirrel amongst the rows of plants. A shadow fell across her just as she patted the soil into place over the tiny grave.

 

Squinting upwards Janna smiled sheepishly, “It’s good to see you out and about, Anton. Any chance you could help repair the havoc Silver has wrought on the herb garden? If the whole thing isn't weeded by nightfall Miryana will have my hide.â€

 

Janna Telenvar

Head Tracker and Wolf Sister

Twisted Chime

Companion to Silver

 

OOC: Thanks for the list hun ;)

The heat of the day was surprising, especially since it was not yet midday. But, there was little to be done about it except bear with it, Anton had other things he had to do during the day. Well, he could choose not to turn up he supposed, but some things had been made clear to him. He would not be allowed to leave the stedding until he had completed his training, and without it he would not be able to cope with what was happening to him. Therefore, he would take what tutelage he could with a smile and a thank you.

 

Today, he would be in the hands of Janna, which meant that whatever they were doing, it would be safe. Unlike Burrich, that madman who had led him over a cliff. He could see the humour in it, but the Creator as his witness, a few days later and he still tried to avoid the memory of falling. Afterward was fine, just not that particular moment.

 

It was a small field where Anton discovered Janna, bent over and filling in a small hole. This must be where their wisdom grew her stock, was Janna that wisdom? Or was it Miryana? Anton couldn't say, but Janna noticed him almost immediately. Then proceeded to find him something to do. Weeding wasn't the most arduous task he could have been given, but it was one of the most tedious. Arming himself with a small garden fork, he attacked the weeds with a vigour that revealed he wanted to be done with it as quickly as he could.

 

"So, how have you been since we arrived? I've barely seen you for a week now."

 

 

Anton Averdal

Gardener

Janna arched an eyebrow as she watched Anton attack the row of herbs, hacking indiscriminately at weed and Andilay plant alike. Miryana will have my head, Janna thought ruefully as she crossed the distance between them. Warily she placed a hand on Anton’s shoulder as she knelt beside him.

 

“Don’t bruise the roots,†she cautioned. “There the most important part of the plant, and the Stedding is in desperate need of a good crop of Andilay this season. It’s good for so many things.†She couldn’t imagine any of her journeys across the world without it.

 

She crossed to a row of Healall and began weeding again, blathering on about the different plants in the garden and their medicinal purposes. The Tracker could tell Anton was frustrated, quite probably from the intense training he’d begun as a new Wanderer. Still it was considered bad form in the Stedding to interfere with another’s mentoring and she knew Burrich to be a steady sort. Anton was in good hands with the Wolfbrother.

 

So instead she concentrated on her work, occasionally glancing toward the forest and reaching out with her mind to touch Silver’s. Faster, faster…good smells….dirt…leaves starting to rot….there it is! Get it, get it! Once Janna plucked a sprig from a dusty looking row and waved it at Anton teasingly. “Remember this? I needed a whole pot of it after you thumped me with that stick of yours.â€

 

Gradually she sensed Anton relaxing a bit, answering in more than curt, one word sentences. Just as she was about the suggest they take a break and find something to eat Silver emerged from the forest, another furry victim clutched between her jaws.

 

“The Creator help us,†Janna sighed, “she’ll fertilize the whole garden with tiny little squirrel corpses.â€

 

Janna Telenvar

Head Tracker and Wolf Sister

Twisted Chime

Companion to Silver

Laughing at the sprig that was waved at him, Anton was finding it a bit easier to be around Janna. She had set his mind at ease before, it was good to know that after a week apart she was still able to do that readily enough. In fact they were working so steadily that Anton didn't notice the sun had shifted across the sky substantially when a sound caused him to look up. Silver, Janna's companion, had arrived and with a baby squirrel in her jaws.

 

Continuing his work as Janna buried Silver's latest victim, he was beginning to notice plants that he didn't recognise. That in turn reminded him of an earlier question he had. Waiting until she was done with the squirrel's 'burial', Anton was a little more subdued than before Silver's arrival when he spoke. "So, are you the wisdom? This must be your garden no?"

 

"I know a bit of herbs, but I am a Tracker. It is our Sages, like Miryana, that are the equivalent of Wisdoms amongst other things. They're not adverse to have the rest of us tend to their gardens though." The last was said rather wryly. "Seeing as we're the ones who benefit, we can't really say no. Especially after using so much silverleaf during my last trip."

 

Smiling at the jab, Anton walked over to something he'd seen earlier. "There are some I don't recognise. I was wondering, whats this one?" He pointed to row of herbs with curiously heart shaped leaves. He couldn't recall ever seeing it before.

 

 

Anton Averdal

Farpaw

Janna blushed as she contemplated how to explain what the herb was used for. Most women knew from the time they were young and though Janna had never had use for it she still knew what it was. “Heartleaf,†she told Anton, clearing her throat nervously, “its… to prevent breeding.â€

 

“Breeding?†Anton looked puzzled.

 

“You know….babies.â€

 

“Oh,†Anton straightened away from the plant as if might unman him and the Tracker smothered a giggle.

 

“Women take it in a tea before…..nevermind.†Janna turned to another row of herbs, desperate to change the subject. “Miryana’s dogworth is doing quite well this season. Pray to the Light we don’t need it to clean any wounds anytime soon.â€

 

They both turned as Miryana’s voice called out across the garden, “Janna, would you mind gathering me some rannel?â€

 

Janna raised a hand in acknowledgement and led Anton to the row, muttering, “I hope this isn’t for me.â€

 

Anton frowned, “You don’t look sick.â€

 

The Tracker grinned, “I don’t think this actually cures anything. Miryana makes this foul tasting potion with it and gives it to anyone she thinks is sulky or contrary.†Janna lowered her voice to a whisper, “Or anyone who makes her angry.â€

 

Laughing the two quickly harvested from a few plants and brought them to the Sage who was hard at work at a long table in what vaguely resembled a kitchen but it certainly didn’t smell like one. A hundred different scents assaulted them as they stepped into the room, from both the herbs hanging everywhere and the pot bubbling over the fire. Janna’s nose twitched and she rubbed at it, trying hard not to sniffle or sneeze. The Sage would be all over her with cures and the rannel wasn’t the only nasty tasting thing the Domani was capable of cooking up.

 

Miryana glanced up from the bowl she was mixing and smiled, “Thank you Janna, Anton. Janna those herbs you wanted are almost ready but I’ve another favor to ask.â€

 

“Of course, Miryana.â€

 

The Sage glided across the room and took a canister from a shelf, “I hadn’t realized I was so low on willow leaves and Salsa’s littlest one is teething. Could you get me some?â€

 

Janna Telenvar

Head Tracker and Wolf Sister

Twisted Chime

Companion to Silver

Anton was sure he could catch the scent of embaressment from Janna, even if her blush hadn't made it obvious. Yet her explanation for Heartleaf had Anton flinching away in turn. He had heard of women having remedies for ensuring they didn't fall pregnant but he certainly hadn't ever expected to handle such things. A tea before? He couldn't recall any of the women he'd known having tea beforehand. But then, they probably had something else, Heartleaf wouldn't be the only way. He hoped it wasn't the only way.

 

Swallowing, Anton was glad for the change in topic. Dogworth he knew of, he collected it himself on occasion because it was handy with smaller wounds to clean them out before bandaging. Before they could move on, Miryana had them looking for Rannel, something he was unfamiliar with. The explanation for that in turn surprised Anton though he laughed, it was certainly one way to deal with children. Then again, he didn't think Janna's fear had been feigned, he'd have to be careful of any tea that Miryana gave him in the future.

 

The place Janna led him to seemed to be a sea of odours. Once it would have just been a confusing haze, but now he could almost pick a few different things out from amongst the mix, yet another sign that he was changing. Yet their work was not done, as happy as Miryana was with them. Willow leaves, something he vaguely remembered being used but had never had much use for himself. The reason why Miryana wanted it explained why, it was a remedy for children clearly.

 

Still, as they left, Anton knew what to look for at least. It took them a bit to find what they were after, the willows that were best suited were found by the waters where Burrich had led him, and later they had spent the night nearby as he'd first entered the Wolf Dream. Something he chose to speak of as they worked to strip the willow leaves that were needed.

 

"Burrich brought me here awhile ago. Actually showed me the Wolf Dream, did you use that to warn the others that we were coming beforehand when we first traveled here? Also, do you use it often as a Tracker?"

 

 

Anton Averdal

Farpaw

 

OOC: Sorry for lateness, Nano.

Janna tipped her head thoughtfully as they turned away from the grove of willows, “I use the Dream constantly as a Tracker.†She shrugged, “I suppose its so natural to me now I don’t think about it much, but I talk to Owen or John regularly when I’m out about in the world.â€

 

Her golden eyes twinkled as she grinned at him, “In fact when I stumbled across you those talks were quite intense and lengthy.†She sobered instantly, “We feared you’d be too far gone by the time I got you back to the Stedding….

 

She broke off, eyes dreamy for a moment before she gasped. â€No, Silver! Get away!â€

 

Anton heard her, and heard her, a desperate cry in his head accompanied by a sharp warning smell. Janna darted ahead of him, crashing through the undergrowth and after a spate of dizziness he followed. All stealth was gone from the Tracker, she ran seemingly aimless, leaving an easy trail to follow.

 

When he found them Janna was cuddling the cub close, whispering soothing words and still shaking slightly from her own fright.

 

“What is it? Is she hurt?†Anton stepped towards them.

 

“Careful,†Janna held out a warning hand, “See that?â€

 

She glared balefully at a large feathery plant between them. “Gray fennel. The sap can kill you even if it gets into the tiniest scratch.†She set the cub down, far away from the offending plant and shooed her back. Gingerly she searched around until she found a large tree limb. With a determined frown she used it to carefully unearth the fennel, careful to touch neither the stalk or the roots.

 

“I’d rather just burn the bloody thing but Miryana wants to keep track of the growing patterns of such things.†She glanced over at her companion who was watching with a quivering intensity. “If Silver or another pup were curious enough and tried to taste it….†The Tracker shuddered as she beckoned at Anton, “Pass me that gathering bag will you? We’ll bring it back to the Sages…..carefully.â€

 

Janna Telenvar

Twisted Chime

Head Tracker ~ Wolfsister

Companion to Silver

Anton had found the idea that Janna and the others had talked about him alot in the dreamworld disquieting but before he could ask about it his mind reeled from the scream that came from Janna. Clutching his head as the woman began running through the woods, Anton struggled to keep up an odour in his mind rather than his nose that told him to be cautious but he needed to catch up to her. But by the time Anton caught up, the woman already had her wolfcub in hand, cuddling and whispering to it, and from the way Janna was shaking Anton wasn't sure whether it was more for Silver's benefit or Janna's.

 

His question answered by the herb Janna pointed at, Anton nodded as the woman described it. It was a tool of poisoners and assassins, which is why early on in his career Anton had learned not to touch a dead man's blades. Watching as the woman sat Silver far away from the plant and shooed the inquisitive wolfcub off, Anton stayed clear as the woman began to work around the plant with a fallen tree limb.

 

Taking up the gathering bag that Janna indicated to, Anton was surprised that Silver had been silly enough to approach it. It had always seemed like creatures knew instinctively what and what not to approach, perhaps that wasn't the case. Or maybe Silver was just different, maybe being around people made it different. Silver certainly acted differently to the wolves that first came across him, a painful memory that Anton didn't care to linger over.

 

It was with a great deal of care that the pair managed to get the grey fennel in the bag without getting anything on themselves. Sealing the bag up, Anton was the one to carry it as they began to head back to Miryana's home. As they walked, Anton's earlier question came back to mind.

 

"What would have happened if I had gone too far?"

 

 

Anton Averdal

Farpaw