An Aspiring Meister (Livia and Yuaei)

Yuaei

Yuaei raced down the snowy slope, her long fur billowing out after her as she ran to visit her cousin Livia. She wasn’t so sure what she thought about these Highvalley wolves yet. Some seemed okay. Some were, well… quite questionable… but Livia, and her sister Eros, were very different from the other Highvalley wolves, because they too had Havirian blood. In fact, they were her second cousins! They were family. And Yuaei loved and trusted them already, as if she had been raised with them.

“Livia!” Yuaei sang, slowing to a trot she tried to make graceful as she approached the den where the older she-wolf usually made her home, “Livia come out and play!”

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Livia

It had been a few day since their father had left her and Eros in Highvalley. They had been welcomed into their ranks. The blue juvenile already missed those who stayed in Heylguard, but this had been something calling her to start a new adventure and at least she had her sister to accompany her. Yet it was not only Eros, but also her new cousins that they had come to meet in this pack.

Her ear flickered toward the voice of Yuaei. A soft smile was painting it's way into her features, it was always lovely to spend quality time with her. "I'm coming." She called, as Livia quickly sorted the herbs she was looking at. A moment later she exited the den and saw her white and golden cousin. "Greetings Yuaei." Livia said with a small dip of her head. "What are we to play?"

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Yuaei

Yuaei waited (im)patiently as Livia finished whatever she was doing in the den and then came out. The pup paused thoughtfully, glancing inside the den and noticing the leafy scent that Livia had on her fur, “I actually don’t desire to play right now. I want to know what you were doing in there, cousin” she said, in her “sophisticated” Havirian Princess voice. Her blue eyes were curious as they were fixed on her cousin, and the smile on her face pleaded with Livia to show her. Yuaei was a curious pup, and had seen a bit of wolves fussing over leaves. But she wanted to know to what purpose.

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Livia

At her reply, Livia couldn't help but smile softly at her when she gazed at Yuaei's curious expression and anticipation to know what she was doing within her den. It was to a point an organized mess of some plants Livia had collected since coming here, and it didn't seem like a bad idea to bring in her cousin to see just what she did. "I was sorting through a few plants I have in there. Come in, any questions you have of the place or others you are free to ask me. " She replied, with a motion of her white-tipped tail toward the den; letting Yuaei go in first. She was a bit nervous having someone inspect her collection but in the end it was her cousin and she trusted her.

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Yuaei

Yuaei dipped her head politely as she whisked by her cousin, padding into the den. The scent of leaves was one she found that she really liked immediately. She breathed it in, enjoying the aromas, and then inspected it. It looked like nothing more than a pile of tree droppings, with no rhyme or reason that she could recognize. Yuaei was happy that her cousin gave her leave to ask questions, because she had so many that she didn’t even know where to start.

She walked to the far side of the leaves and sat down, so Livia would have enough room to come in and sit as well without blocking the sunlight streaming into the den and lighting the display. “So…” the pup began, her blue eyes scanning the leaves again as she tried to gather which question to ask first, “what made you pick these plants, out of a forest of thousands more?” she asked, her blue eyes studying the different shapes and colors.

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Livia

The blue she-wolf followed after her cousin, internally glad that she had cleaned up the place a bit days earlier as she picked out the plants that were already useless or in the process of getting there. Last time she needed was having all the leaves die out because of bad ones. Livia watched Yuaei as she observed the collection, it wasn't as big as the one she'd seen her mother or father have in Heylguard, but it was still plentiful.

Once the golden pup found a place to sit, Livia moved closer, and sat down moments later, her tail gently hugging her form. Patiently waiting for a question, her eyes danced over the plants in a quick inspection before her attention came back to Yuaei as she asked her question. "Their smell and how they look." Livia began. Thinking of a good explanation for her. "At first it was hard, I had no idea how I was to look with so many plants around. But once you start noticing the different smells and how they look, it becomes rather easy. Some smell sour, other smell sweet. Others, like the wild onion, once you smell it you scrunch your nose because of how strong it smells!" Simply remembering the scent made her twitch her nose.

"Most I learned since I was a pup, when my mama and papa gave us lessons on them and had us go look for some around where we were at." She said, remembering the times when all of the sat down and talked about plants for what would seem hours to a pup.

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Yuaei

”Hmm…” Yuaei had not spend enough time in the forest to be able to distinguish most plant scents, but she did know that some plants have distinct smells. She already knew what a few flowers smelled like, and dandelions too. Perhaps, with enough practice, one could tell the difference between all plants. With so many, though, it seemed like quite the challenge! Immediately it had Yuaei’s interest.

She perked her ears suddenly at the mention of Livia’s mother and father. She had met Aphrodi, who was apparently the cousin of her father, and had grown up with him. That made her love Aphrodi, and want to hear everything about him. To the pup Yuaei, Livia seemed like a very able and experienced adult. Especially now that Yuaei knew that Livia had been doing this since she was very young. That was a long time! “Do you know every single plant?” she asked, her deep blue eyes staring up at Livia in awe.

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Livia

"Yeah." Livia  said. She moved forward slightly, her nose coming to absently move the flower she had in front of her into a straighter line and to not stray from the pile. It was something she started to do when she began to collect her own bundles of herbs and copied her mother in how she saved and organized the ones she had them find.

Her ear turned toward Yuaei before her gaze did. It was easy for her to see the awe sparkle in her blue eyes. "I-" She didn't want to disappoint her cousin, but she didn't want to give a lie. "Well I don't really know all the plants," She felt her face turn warm. "I know the essentials.; but I know there are some plants out there that we have yet to discover, and I'd like to find one at least. If you'd like I could show you some of the plants when I go to check on them maybe?"

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Yuaei

Yuaei perked her ears at the answer. Livia modestly admitted that she didn’t know all the plants. Yuaei was not disappointed as much as impressed, once again, with the power of their Gods. It must be impossible to know them all. And she supposed that made sense. After all, the Gods have created an endless variety. What wolf could claim to know all of their gifts?

’But I want to know as many as possible,’ she thought. Maybe she could even be the first wolf to know them all! Why not? She as the daughter of one of the Gods after all. She was special. She nodded eagerly at Livia’s offer, “I would love to go!” she said, “you can teach me what they do too?” she asked. Yuaei had never been a strong wolf, but she had always been drawn to power, and being in control, regardless. If her spindly limbs could not force her way into the Gods’ good graces with physical prowess, then she would have to find another way, and healing or herbal knowledge in general seemed a good one. A wolf with knowledge could be even more powerful than a wolf with strong muscles. Although no mind could defeat my brother, she thought to herself, imagining her big and strong Brother Moon. He was still a pup as she was, sure, but she could see his soul, and his potential. She knew he would be great.

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Livia

There had been a tiny spark of doubt when she asked Yuaei if she'd like to accompany her. She knew not all wolves had an affinity and the patience to learn the benefits of the plants the earth and the Gods gave them. Having grown up with two of the most smart and amazing parents with healing knowledge from Havir, it seemed only natural for her to learn it as well.
Yet there was nothing to worry as her sun-kissed cousin nodded eagerly to accompany her. It had the blue-furred wolf waging her tail tip. "Of course! I can teach you everything I know." Alas, even as she said that with excited confidence, anxiety crept through her chest. What if she wasn't a good teacher like her mama and papa? No! She said mentally, she won't give into those whispers.

She looked to Yuaei's bright blue eyes with determination of her own. "We'll go to the woodlands, as most of the ones I want to check on are there. We can travel there and start naming the plants and herbs around us. We'd have enough time to come back in time for dinner."

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Yuaei

Yuaei had always looked up to her older cousin, even if she in a way felt responsible for her well-being at the same time, being her Princess and everything. She wagged her tail excitedly. “It sounds like the perfect plan!” Yuaei exclaimed eagerly, leading the way out of the den. It was winter, but still the land was bright with evergreens and other resilient plants of gold and red and brown. She looked back at Livia to make sure she was coming, slowing her pace to fall into step beside her cousin, ”So, Peace Cousin, where shall we start?” the pup asked in a tone attempting to sound mature. She reflected on the name she had dubbed her cousin with, and boy did it suit her well. Livia was always so level headed, she was like a rock, steady and calm and dependable. And above all, she was good. That was perhaps what Yuaei loved most about Livia. She was the most gentle wolf that Yuaei knew, the most warm and compassionate, the first wolf that Yuaei would cry to if she needed comfort. Yuaei closely associated her cousin with her namesake. Stability, tranquility, kindness… peace… yeah, peace was Livia.

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Livia

"Alright, let's go!" Livia reciprocated her cousin's eagerness. Following suit as she headed out of the den. There was excitement coursing through her paws, and it had her feeling like a pup again under the care of her parents. She had never really taught anyone about the plants and their medicinal (or poisonous) properties.

When Yuaei called her as Peace Cousin, Livia blinked. The blue wolf had been aware of Yuaei having nicknames for those around her, but Livia had never thought she would give her one.

She smiled a big smile, reaching to her golden gaze. "Thanks Yuaei.." She gave a quick nuzzle to her before she looked to the horizon where the Woodlands hid. "We'll start with the basics: The Dandelion!"