Post by avalikia on Mar 30, 2010 3:30:46 GMT -5
Characters:
Tehya - Female Juvenile Whitetail Deer
Niabi - Female Elk
Leilani - Female Elk
Konachi - Male Wolf
Setting:
Maple Glade
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Tehya comes walking back in from the south after exploring that area. She looks around the place and it seems empty to her right now. As her spots on her coat seem to be getting grayer and the coat around the spots also seem to be turning grey as she gets her winter coat. She then walks over to some grass and starts to graze for a little bit.
Niabi is nervous. But not, surprisingly, because there's a wolf following her. No, it's because she's bringing said wolf near the center of where the whitetail half of the herd is based. Roscoe would have a fit if he knew, so hopefully they don't run into him. She hasn't said much to Leilani and Konachi about exactly where they're going, only that she needs them to follow, but after reflecting back on recent events she's decided a few things. And as alarming as those decisions are to her, she thinks that they're right. Worried about running into others, she notices Tehya pretty quickly, but she knows that the fawn is probably one of the better deer to run into. "Hello, Tehya! Don't worry, he's okay," she says quickly, glancing from fawn to wolf.
Leilani is walking along at Niabi's side, glancing around the forest. The idea of there being consequences for bringing a wolf over to these woods did not occur to her, as she is not aware that they are heading into the area of the woods where the whitetail part of the herd is based, having only been here one time before. She also spots Tehya and smiles to the fawn. "Well hello there! We meet again."
Konachi is limping along on three paws behind the two elk. The wounds on his muzzle and flanks seem to slowly be healing. He knew he had gotten through Niabi's instincts, and was quite curious as to where they were going. He sees they deer they are walking toward and does a double take.... she looks almost exactly like one of the deer he knew at his old home. He smiles, continuing to occasionally look over at the deer. "Hello Tehya, I'm Konachi." he says, with a friendly smile.
Tehya looks over at the others and blinks some as she starts to back away. Then looks over at the Elk. "Did you two know you had a wolf following you?" Then blinks as she hears the wolf talking to her. Then looks over at the wolf. "Are you really talking to me?"
Having worked with Roscoe for so long, Niabi couldn't avoid thinking about what might happen if she brought a wolf here if she tried. At the very least she expects him to run across the scents later and start asking questions. But she'll cross that bridge when she comes to it; for now she's on a mission. Laughing a little at Tehya's question, she says, "I sure do! And normally you should run away from wolves, but this one's okay. Alright?" Having said that, she'll let Konachi answer whether or not he's talking to her. Instead Niabi's focus returns to the surrounding plantlife. Now let's see... it was somewhere around here... she pauses as consults her mental map of the area; it looks so different than it did in summer.
Leilani looks between Tehya and Konachi as they talk to each other, thinking that the young deer is pretty brave that she didn't run before Niabi even had a chance to tell her that he was safe. She then looks back at Niabi as she catches the cow looking around. "What are we looking for Niabi?"
Konachi smiles to Tehya "Yes I am talking to you. And I can't help but notice that you look alot like one of my best friends from when I was your age." he says as he sits down to rest as it seems they have reached there destination.
Tehya looks over at the two elk for a little bit. "So anyways what in the world are you two looking for." Then blinks in surprise again as she hears the wolf say he had a friend like herself. "She looks over at the wolf. "You had a deer friend? That is very strange. I wonder if the other deer and wolves told both of you that was wrong."
"Yarrow," Niabi says to answer Leilani's question, though she's guessing the word is meaningless to everyone else present. But after just a moment of confusion her brow lifts in realization, and she pushes at a bush. Tucked among its branches is another plant; sick-looking thanks to the time of year, but still alive. "Ah-ha!" she says triumphantly as she pulls the whole thing out of the ground. Normally she'd just trim off the feather-like leaves, but since it's dying anyway she might as well put it in easier reach. "This, is yarrow," she explains as she starts to strip off the leaves with her teeth and put them in a small pile.
Leilani laughs a bit at Tehya's response to Konachi having a deer as a friend when he was younger. Though her attention is quickly drawn to Niabi as she watches her pull out a plant and begin stripping the leaves from it. "What are you doing Niabi?"
Konachi maintains his smile "Well the valley I lived in we wolves and deer got along well, it was nothing like the real world." he replies, glancing briefly at the two elk before he continues. "You would have seen the antics we got into... like when we pretended to hunt and I was the prey. All of the adults were close to rolling on the ground laughing."
Tehya blinks as she listens and chuckles some. "That does sound funny." Then looks as she was about to ask a question and hears Leilani ask it. As she is waiting for the answer. She looks over at Leilani and smiles. "So I had wondered where you went too." As she then stretches some.
As her mouth is occupied with the task at hand, Niabi doesn't answer Leilani until she's decided that she has enough. "Yarrow is a good herb to know; its flowers are good for any kind of cough when they bloom in spring, but the leaves are more important. When placed on open wounds they speed healing and make it more likely that they'll heal well," she explains, her eyes drift to Konachi and an ear twists oddly as she watches him talking to Tehya.
"Hmm, I'll have to remember that. Looks kinda sickly though. Is it ill? Or is it just the cold weather?" She asks, wondering how different the plant looked during the spring and summer. She turns to Konachi now though. "Sounds like your going to get some medicine for your wounds now." She says brightly with a warm smile.
Konachi blinks looking a bit surprised. "Thanks Niabi." he says, smiling as he stands to pad over closer before sitting back down.
Tehya still stays where she is at. As she then looks over at the two elk and smiles. "Hmm so I am guessing Niabi is the healer of the herd." As she then wonders if they notice she looks different now.
Glancing at the plant Niabi answers Leilani with, "I'm not sure, actually. Could be the weather, could be that the bush grew too close. But it should still work just fine." Nodding to Konachi at the thanks, she warns, "This will sting a bit." Picking up the first leaf, she gently lays in on one of the wounds on Konachi's leg, nudging it as gently as possible to make sure it's completely covered, before she goes back for another one in order to repeat the process. While Niabi's noticed the difference in Tehya's appearance, she doesn't remark on it; she's has so many other things on her mind.
Leilani watches Niabi treat Konachi's wounds with the leaves for a while, but eventually looks back at Tehya and walks closer to the fawn. "Looks like your winter fur is growing in nicely, and none too soon I think." She says with a friendly smile.
Tehya blinks some as she looks at herself and then back to Leilani. "I was wondering about that since some of the other deer around here were changing. I was wondering if I was changing too." Then looks at Leilani. "Is it my imagination or is your coat changing too?"
Konachi grits his teeth at the stinging, and closes his right eye as you put the leaves on the wounds on his muzzle. "You seem to be a good healer as well as a fighter." he says
Smiling slightly at Konachi's comment, Niabi says, "Well, like any good mother, mine taught me everything she possibly could. And she knew a lot." She certainly doesn't think that she's anything special. It was her mother that knew everything and was always better at it than she was. It's like walking somewhere in winter; it's easier if you have someone else's hoofprints to step into. Her ears twist to listen to Leilani and Tehya, but she keeps most of her focus on her work, and its difficult to talk when you can only carry things with your mouth.
Leilani nods and chuckles a bit at Tehya. "Yes, all deer get new fur in the winter. It is thicker, and better at keeping you warm in the cold of winter. We all keep this special winter fur until the late springtime, when it will all fall out, and be replaced by the summer fur that you already know of."
Konachi nods, listening to Niabi's story, and not talking to allow her to work.
Tehya looks around the place and wonders what other kind of plants are in the area that have healing properties. Then looks over at Leilani and misunderstands her a little bit. "So you mean I will be getting my spots back in the spring time?" As she then grazes on some grass. Then looks back at Leilani. "So anyways how have you been?"
Leilani shakes her head at Tehya. "Oh, no. Your spots will continue to fade till they disappear completely. Your summer fur will be the same color as the fur you had when you were born however, just without the spots... and I have been doing well, thank you. I think I'm finally settling in and learning my way around the lands here."
Tehya is still confused some. As she then looks over at Leilani. "So am I getting this right? So you said I would have my original coat at first and now you say I will not have my original coat now. So is that right? I sure hope I did not confuse you."
Leilani shakes her head, realizing that she should have worded her original statement differently. "Sorry if I confused you, but I only meant that your summer coat will be the same base color as your original one, as opposed to the grey one you are getting now. Does that make sense now Tehya?"
Konachi sits listening to the two talk.
Once she can't find any more wounds to put the yarrow leaves on, aside from anything small or too awkward to reach, Niabi nods in satisfaction and says, "You'll want to rest here for awhile; the longer they stay on the better, and they'll stay longer if you let them sit for awhile." Turning her attention to the what the other two deer are talking about, Niabi smiles and nods in agreement with Leilani, "Yes, the mother will give you brown fur without spots, just like a grown-up next summer. Spots are for babies."
Tehya grins some as she looks over at Leilani. "I guess I did confuse you. Well my original coat has white in from the spots. That you say will vanish when winter gets her. So will I have my original coat or a new coat in the spring time." Then looks over at Niabi and chuckles some. Then looks back over at Leilani. "Never mind Niabi answered the question for me."
Leilani smiles as Tehya says that Niabi's explanation clarified it for her. "Glad to have that confusion cleared up." She says with a light laugh, then turns to look over at Konachi. "How are you feeling now?"
Konachi nods slowly, "I'll lay here then I'll suppose." he says, slowly laying down. "Yes I feel better, and I'll probably be healed in no time thanks to Niabi."
Nodding her head, Niabi adds, "Yarrow generally works very well." But aside from that, she doesn't know what to say. Helping heal a predator of her kind goes against most of what Niabi believes about the world, but then again so is the fact that she wasn't killed by Konachi the other day. To say that she's a little confused is an understatement. Instead she goes for something she does understand; inflating a young deer's ego: "Hmm, you're already looking very grown up, Tehya," she compliments with a smile.
Tehya looks over at Niabi and smiles some at her. As she tilts her head and blinks. "You really thing so?" Then looks over at Leilani and grins some at her. "So what do you think?"
Leilani smiles to Konachi, glad to hear he was going to be all better soon. This made no sense to her either, but she had decided to just roll with it more or less. "Good to hear." She then turns to Tehya, hearing the young deer ask for her opinion on the matter of how grown up she looks. "I agree. Just think, before you know it, spring will be here, and you will be a year old. That's a big step!"
Konachi smiles listening to the hoofed prey animals talk.
Laughing quietly at Leilani's words, Niabi turns back to Konachi, her expression gradually turning serious. "I should warn you that this young doe's father is the lead buck, and if he turns up he won't be happy to see you here. That you don't intend any harm may not matter to him, but with me around that won't be a problem for you so I'll wait with you until you want to leave. But after that you shouldn't expect to be treated kindly if you return to this particular area." While Niabi may decide how welcome Konachi is around the elk, she has little power of what the whitetails do.
Tehya looks around the place and smiles at Leilani and Niabi. As her ears twitch some as they pick up some rustling in the leaves. "Well thanks you two. I sure hope I do look more like an adult." As she then stretches some more.
Leilani nods gravely at Niabi's warning to Konachi. She had yet to meet Tehya's father, but she could imagine that if he was the lead buck of the herd that he would certainly be a whitetail one would not want to mess with. She kept her attention mostly on Tehya though now. "You will really look just like a small adult after you lose your winter coat, and by this time next year, you will be almost done growing." She said warmly, looking back at Niabi for a moment, smiling a bit.
Konachi nods, "Okay I understand." he says listening to them talking. "Yes, its interesting to watch your kind grow up." he says.adding in his two since.
Nodding at Konachi's words, Niabi adds, "Yes. Fawns, and calves for that matter, grow up so quickly. Why, by this time next year Tehya could be in your position, Leilani." By which she means pregnant for the first time. Whitetails grow up a bit faster than elk, after all, since they have less growing to do. Niabi just hopes that Aylen isn't pregnant this time next year...
Tehya looks around the place and then to Niabi as she wonders what in the world she means. As she tilts her head some. As she now misunderstands Niabi. "There is no way I can be as tall as Leilani. I am not an elk." As she then lets out a yawn.
Leilani can't help but have a hearty laugh at Tehya's interpretation of Niabi's statement, eventually shaking her head and deciding to explain a bit further. "No, that is not what she means. Niabi is saying that it's possible that the spring after next, you could be raising a fawn of your own, your very first. Just as right now, I am pregnant with my first calf."
Konachi chuckles a bit listening to the fawn's reaction.
Listening to Tehya and Leilani talk, Niabi can't help but think about how very old she's getting, "For me that would have been... 7 years ago?" Wow, is she really that old? Of course, Niabi was a little young at the time... Good thing nobody ever asks her about her rebellious adolescence! It would be such a bad example to the younger elk.
Tehya looks over at Niabi and Leilani and smiles some at them. "You think I will be ready to do that when autumn gets here again." As she looks around the place some more. "I guess I have a lot more exploring to do then."
Leilani nods softly to Tehya. "Only you will be able to say if you are really ready for that next autumn, but you will be physically capable, yes." She looks up at Niabi for a moment, wondering if she agrees, then looks back at Konachi for a moment.
Nodding in agreement with Leilani, Niabi adds, "Only you can decide when you're ready. But keep in mind a year is a long time - it's longer than you've lived so far. You'll grow up a lot more before then." At her age, a year doesn't actually seem that long, but she does remember thinking differently when she was younger. A moon used to seem like a very long time, even. But now it's not.
Tehya looks over at the other too as she wonders if they could be right. As she then stretches some more. Then looks around the place. "Hmm I wonder when my mother first had fawns."
Leilani has no answer to that question, being the new elk in the woods, but she looks up at Niabi, wondering if she could answer the young doe, figuring she surely has been around long enough to know.
Actually, Niabi is a little hit or miss when it comes to the whitetails. Actually, she doesn't poke into the histories of the other elk all that much either. But, as it happens, Niabi knows Tix very well; or at least she did about a year ago - a lot has happened since then. "Why, you were her first," Niabi says with a smile, "Didn't you know?"
Tehya blinks over at Niabi as she tilts her head some at her. "Really? I had no idea at all. I wonder how old she is. But I would not ask her though." As she then stretches again and lets out a small yawn
Leilani follows suit with Tehya and yawns right after her, then stretches as well. "Hmm, seems your yawns are contagious Tehya." She teases playfully.
Laughing again, Niabi happens to know that answer too: "She's three, I believe. She never told me her age, but I don't believe she was fully grown when we met, so that'd have to be it." As first one then the other yawns, Niabi waits for a moment. And then for a moment more. "Hmm, nope, I didn't catch it," she says with a laugh.
Tehya looks over at Niabi and giggles some. Then looks over at Leilani and smiles some at her. "I guess she is immune to it. So do you think so too?" AS she then grabs a few leaves off a branch right by her head,
Leilani laughs at Tehya, then nods. "I guess she is. Maybe if we both look right at her and yawn at the same time?" She muses. "But seriously, I am starting to get sleepy."
"Hmm, I think I'm just too old to get tired this early," Niabi says with a smile. She only sleeps for a few hours during the dead of night, and then only when she feels safe; just like a good deer. Not that she doesn't dose on her feet a little during the day on occasion - but that's just resting her eyes, really! "If you'd like to go take a rest, that's fine. I should stay here with Konachi though," Niabi suggests.
Konachi looks over at Niabi "Is it okay for me to move? Or do I need to stay put?" he asks, speaking up after a long silence.
Tehya looks over at Niabi and smiles as she yawns again. "oops sorry there. But I am sleepy though." As she then looks over at Leilani and smiles some. "Well I think I am going to go and get some rest." As she then heads over to the bed she had made before the night. Then looks back over at the other two. "It was nice seeing both of you again." As she then heads to the bed hidden behind some leafy foliage. "Night you two err three." As she had forgotten about the wolf.
Leilani nods to Niabi, then smiles to Tehya. "Yeah, I think I'll do the same. Have a good night you three." She says as she turns to Konachi and gives him a smile before turning and walking off into the woods, ending up deciding to find a place to bed down in the glade as she doesn't wish to walk all the way back to the copse tonight.
"Nice to see you too, Tehya," Niabi says with a nod. Hearing Tehya's forgetfulness about the wolf causes a smile; odd thing to forget. "See you later, Leilani," she adds when her herdmate takes her leave. Then she turns her attention to Konachi, "Well, some of it will probably come off, but we've probably tempted fate long enough. We should find a better place for you to rest some more I think."
Konachi nods "I guess I'll follow you, as you I don't know where the whitetail herd lands end, and I don't want to wake to hooves coming at me."
Smiling a little at that, Niabi nods and leads the way to the nearest border. The only really dicey thing is if they happen to run into one of the bucks doing a patrol on their way out and, though she's sure that things would turn out well either way, it'd certainly be much easier if they remain unnoticed. Answering questions after the fact would be so much easier.
Konachi follows you out. "Thanks again for your help" he say, i can tell its starting to help already."
The thanks causes another frown to form on Niabi's face, but as she's leading Konachi he probably can't see that too well. "Well, I think the mother wanted me to help you," she says after a moment, hesitating to give that reason for it. She doubts that Konachi would really understand it, as most predators she's met that believe in something believe in Luna and not the mother.
Konachi hmms "The mother ehh.. my parents tried to get me to believe in both Luna, and the mother... I really didn't see the point or need. But I respect those that believe in something."
An ear twisting back at Konachi in surprise, Niabi says, "You've heard of the mother? Oh yeah, the deer you were raised with must have..." She laughs at herself a little; there she goes again, assuming that Konachi is normal, "I'm not sure what I'd do if I didn't have something to believe in. My life would seem so senseless otherwise."
Konachi nods "Yes I heard of it from my deer friends.. my best friend was quite a devout follower. I just.. can't see the point.. I get along just fine on my own with what I know and can do."
Nodding a little at that, Niabi is silent for a moment as she considers that idea. She's quite nimble as she picks a path through the trees, hooves finding a clear path seemingly without conscious thought. "I've borne five calves in my life," Niabi suddenly says, "Four of them are dead. If I didn't believe in something, I think I'd find life rather unfair, and perhaps not worth living." Even /with/ her beliefs she's had a rather hard time coming to grips with a few things.
Konachi nods, following you with ease despite. "I can understand." he says despite being on three paws, he is keeping up fairly well.
If Niabi wasn't well aware of of Konachi's condition, she'd be quite difficult to follow, given that she knows this area fairly well. If they were in the copse, which she knows like the back of her hoof, it'd be nearly impossible. "But because I know the mother, I know there's a purpose behind it all, even if it's one I can't see," she continues, "Like helping you, for example. I don't know what the purpose of that was, but I do believe it's what the mother wanted."
Konachi nods slowly "Like I said, i respect your beliefs and it makes sense. I just can't find a reason to believe."
The wolf's reply actually brings a laugh from Niabi. "Well, have you ever found a reason NOT to believe?" she asks, "I'll admit that my reasons to believe are... well, they'd be unremarkable if you look at them when you don't believe already."
Konachi shrugs "I just felt I should trust in only what I can do and see. My family and friends being murdered for no reason makes no sense." he says "I'm willing to hear your reasons."
Nodding her understanding to that thought, Niabi says, "Like I said, I can't always she the purpose. That there is one is something that often needs to be taken on faith. But if you know of the mother, then you know that what she chooses will do more good then harm in the end. Perhaps you were meant to learn something from it; but that is only a guess. It could be many things, or perhaps all of them."
Konachi nods, he is still keeping up, but though he doesn't say anything, and tries not to show it, he is starting to get a bit tired.
Tehya - Female Juvenile Whitetail Deer
Niabi - Female Elk
Leilani - Female Elk
Konachi - Male Wolf
Setting:
Maple Glade
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Tehya comes walking back in from the south after exploring that area. She looks around the place and it seems empty to her right now. As her spots on her coat seem to be getting grayer and the coat around the spots also seem to be turning grey as she gets her winter coat. She then walks over to some grass and starts to graze for a little bit.
Niabi is nervous. But not, surprisingly, because there's a wolf following her. No, it's because she's bringing said wolf near the center of where the whitetail half of the herd is based. Roscoe would have a fit if he knew, so hopefully they don't run into him. She hasn't said much to Leilani and Konachi about exactly where they're going, only that she needs them to follow, but after reflecting back on recent events she's decided a few things. And as alarming as those decisions are to her, she thinks that they're right. Worried about running into others, she notices Tehya pretty quickly, but she knows that the fawn is probably one of the better deer to run into. "Hello, Tehya! Don't worry, he's okay," she says quickly, glancing from fawn to wolf.
Leilani is walking along at Niabi's side, glancing around the forest. The idea of there being consequences for bringing a wolf over to these woods did not occur to her, as she is not aware that they are heading into the area of the woods where the whitetail part of the herd is based, having only been here one time before. She also spots Tehya and smiles to the fawn. "Well hello there! We meet again."
Konachi is limping along on three paws behind the two elk. The wounds on his muzzle and flanks seem to slowly be healing. He knew he had gotten through Niabi's instincts, and was quite curious as to where they were going. He sees they deer they are walking toward and does a double take.... she looks almost exactly like one of the deer he knew at his old home. He smiles, continuing to occasionally look over at the deer. "Hello Tehya, I'm Konachi." he says, with a friendly smile.
Tehya looks over at the others and blinks some as she starts to back away. Then looks over at the Elk. "Did you two know you had a wolf following you?" Then blinks as she hears the wolf talking to her. Then looks over at the wolf. "Are you really talking to me?"
Having worked with Roscoe for so long, Niabi couldn't avoid thinking about what might happen if she brought a wolf here if she tried. At the very least she expects him to run across the scents later and start asking questions. But she'll cross that bridge when she comes to it; for now she's on a mission. Laughing a little at Tehya's question, she says, "I sure do! And normally you should run away from wolves, but this one's okay. Alright?" Having said that, she'll let Konachi answer whether or not he's talking to her. Instead Niabi's focus returns to the surrounding plantlife. Now let's see... it was somewhere around here... she pauses as consults her mental map of the area; it looks so different than it did in summer.
Leilani looks between Tehya and Konachi as they talk to each other, thinking that the young deer is pretty brave that she didn't run before Niabi even had a chance to tell her that he was safe. She then looks back at Niabi as she catches the cow looking around. "What are we looking for Niabi?"
Konachi smiles to Tehya "Yes I am talking to you. And I can't help but notice that you look alot like one of my best friends from when I was your age." he says as he sits down to rest as it seems they have reached there destination.
Tehya looks over at the two elk for a little bit. "So anyways what in the world are you two looking for." Then blinks in surprise again as she hears the wolf say he had a friend like herself. "She looks over at the wolf. "You had a deer friend? That is very strange. I wonder if the other deer and wolves told both of you that was wrong."
"Yarrow," Niabi says to answer Leilani's question, though she's guessing the word is meaningless to everyone else present. But after just a moment of confusion her brow lifts in realization, and she pushes at a bush. Tucked among its branches is another plant; sick-looking thanks to the time of year, but still alive. "Ah-ha!" she says triumphantly as she pulls the whole thing out of the ground. Normally she'd just trim off the feather-like leaves, but since it's dying anyway she might as well put it in easier reach. "This, is yarrow," she explains as she starts to strip off the leaves with her teeth and put them in a small pile.
Leilani laughs a bit at Tehya's response to Konachi having a deer as a friend when he was younger. Though her attention is quickly drawn to Niabi as she watches her pull out a plant and begin stripping the leaves from it. "What are you doing Niabi?"
Konachi maintains his smile "Well the valley I lived in we wolves and deer got along well, it was nothing like the real world." he replies, glancing briefly at the two elk before he continues. "You would have seen the antics we got into... like when we pretended to hunt and I was the prey. All of the adults were close to rolling on the ground laughing."
Tehya blinks as she listens and chuckles some. "That does sound funny." Then looks as she was about to ask a question and hears Leilani ask it. As she is waiting for the answer. She looks over at Leilani and smiles. "So I had wondered where you went too." As she then stretches some.
As her mouth is occupied with the task at hand, Niabi doesn't answer Leilani until she's decided that she has enough. "Yarrow is a good herb to know; its flowers are good for any kind of cough when they bloom in spring, but the leaves are more important. When placed on open wounds they speed healing and make it more likely that they'll heal well," she explains, her eyes drift to Konachi and an ear twists oddly as she watches him talking to Tehya.
"Hmm, I'll have to remember that. Looks kinda sickly though. Is it ill? Or is it just the cold weather?" She asks, wondering how different the plant looked during the spring and summer. She turns to Konachi now though. "Sounds like your going to get some medicine for your wounds now." She says brightly with a warm smile.
Konachi blinks looking a bit surprised. "Thanks Niabi." he says, smiling as he stands to pad over closer before sitting back down.
Tehya still stays where she is at. As she then looks over at the two elk and smiles. "Hmm so I am guessing Niabi is the healer of the herd." As she then wonders if they notice she looks different now.
Glancing at the plant Niabi answers Leilani with, "I'm not sure, actually. Could be the weather, could be that the bush grew too close. But it should still work just fine." Nodding to Konachi at the thanks, she warns, "This will sting a bit." Picking up the first leaf, she gently lays in on one of the wounds on Konachi's leg, nudging it as gently as possible to make sure it's completely covered, before she goes back for another one in order to repeat the process. While Niabi's noticed the difference in Tehya's appearance, she doesn't remark on it; she's has so many other things on her mind.
Leilani watches Niabi treat Konachi's wounds with the leaves for a while, but eventually looks back at Tehya and walks closer to the fawn. "Looks like your winter fur is growing in nicely, and none too soon I think." She says with a friendly smile.
Tehya blinks some as she looks at herself and then back to Leilani. "I was wondering about that since some of the other deer around here were changing. I was wondering if I was changing too." Then looks at Leilani. "Is it my imagination or is your coat changing too?"
Konachi grits his teeth at the stinging, and closes his right eye as you put the leaves on the wounds on his muzzle. "You seem to be a good healer as well as a fighter." he says
Smiling slightly at Konachi's comment, Niabi says, "Well, like any good mother, mine taught me everything she possibly could. And she knew a lot." She certainly doesn't think that she's anything special. It was her mother that knew everything and was always better at it than she was. It's like walking somewhere in winter; it's easier if you have someone else's hoofprints to step into. Her ears twist to listen to Leilani and Tehya, but she keeps most of her focus on her work, and its difficult to talk when you can only carry things with your mouth.
Leilani nods and chuckles a bit at Tehya. "Yes, all deer get new fur in the winter. It is thicker, and better at keeping you warm in the cold of winter. We all keep this special winter fur until the late springtime, when it will all fall out, and be replaced by the summer fur that you already know of."
Konachi nods, listening to Niabi's story, and not talking to allow her to work.
Tehya looks around the place and wonders what other kind of plants are in the area that have healing properties. Then looks over at Leilani and misunderstands her a little bit. "So you mean I will be getting my spots back in the spring time?" As she then grazes on some grass. Then looks back at Leilani. "So anyways how have you been?"
Leilani shakes her head at Tehya. "Oh, no. Your spots will continue to fade till they disappear completely. Your summer fur will be the same color as the fur you had when you were born however, just without the spots... and I have been doing well, thank you. I think I'm finally settling in and learning my way around the lands here."
Tehya is still confused some. As she then looks over at Leilani. "So am I getting this right? So you said I would have my original coat at first and now you say I will not have my original coat now. So is that right? I sure hope I did not confuse you."
Leilani shakes her head, realizing that she should have worded her original statement differently. "Sorry if I confused you, but I only meant that your summer coat will be the same base color as your original one, as opposed to the grey one you are getting now. Does that make sense now Tehya?"
Konachi sits listening to the two talk.
Once she can't find any more wounds to put the yarrow leaves on, aside from anything small or too awkward to reach, Niabi nods in satisfaction and says, "You'll want to rest here for awhile; the longer they stay on the better, and they'll stay longer if you let them sit for awhile." Turning her attention to the what the other two deer are talking about, Niabi smiles and nods in agreement with Leilani, "Yes, the mother will give you brown fur without spots, just like a grown-up next summer. Spots are for babies."
Tehya grins some as she looks over at Leilani. "I guess I did confuse you. Well my original coat has white in from the spots. That you say will vanish when winter gets her. So will I have my original coat or a new coat in the spring time." Then looks over at Niabi and chuckles some. Then looks back over at Leilani. "Never mind Niabi answered the question for me."
Leilani smiles as Tehya says that Niabi's explanation clarified it for her. "Glad to have that confusion cleared up." She says with a light laugh, then turns to look over at Konachi. "How are you feeling now?"
Konachi nods slowly, "I'll lay here then I'll suppose." he says, slowly laying down. "Yes I feel better, and I'll probably be healed in no time thanks to Niabi."
Nodding her head, Niabi adds, "Yarrow generally works very well." But aside from that, she doesn't know what to say. Helping heal a predator of her kind goes against most of what Niabi believes about the world, but then again so is the fact that she wasn't killed by Konachi the other day. To say that she's a little confused is an understatement. Instead she goes for something she does understand; inflating a young deer's ego: "Hmm, you're already looking very grown up, Tehya," she compliments with a smile.
Tehya looks over at Niabi and smiles some at her. As she tilts her head and blinks. "You really thing so?" Then looks over at Leilani and grins some at her. "So what do you think?"
Leilani smiles to Konachi, glad to hear he was going to be all better soon. This made no sense to her either, but she had decided to just roll with it more or less. "Good to hear." She then turns to Tehya, hearing the young deer ask for her opinion on the matter of how grown up she looks. "I agree. Just think, before you know it, spring will be here, and you will be a year old. That's a big step!"
Konachi smiles listening to the hoofed prey animals talk.
Laughing quietly at Leilani's words, Niabi turns back to Konachi, her expression gradually turning serious. "I should warn you that this young doe's father is the lead buck, and if he turns up he won't be happy to see you here. That you don't intend any harm may not matter to him, but with me around that won't be a problem for you so I'll wait with you until you want to leave. But after that you shouldn't expect to be treated kindly if you return to this particular area." While Niabi may decide how welcome Konachi is around the elk, she has little power of what the whitetails do.
Tehya looks around the place and smiles at Leilani and Niabi. As her ears twitch some as they pick up some rustling in the leaves. "Well thanks you two. I sure hope I do look more like an adult." As she then stretches some more.
Leilani nods gravely at Niabi's warning to Konachi. She had yet to meet Tehya's father, but she could imagine that if he was the lead buck of the herd that he would certainly be a whitetail one would not want to mess with. She kept her attention mostly on Tehya though now. "You will really look just like a small adult after you lose your winter coat, and by this time next year, you will be almost done growing." She said warmly, looking back at Niabi for a moment, smiling a bit.
Konachi nods, "Okay I understand." he says listening to them talking. "Yes, its interesting to watch your kind grow up." he says.adding in his two since.
Nodding at Konachi's words, Niabi adds, "Yes. Fawns, and calves for that matter, grow up so quickly. Why, by this time next year Tehya could be in your position, Leilani." By which she means pregnant for the first time. Whitetails grow up a bit faster than elk, after all, since they have less growing to do. Niabi just hopes that Aylen isn't pregnant this time next year...
Tehya looks around the place and then to Niabi as she wonders what in the world she means. As she tilts her head some. As she now misunderstands Niabi. "There is no way I can be as tall as Leilani. I am not an elk." As she then lets out a yawn.
Leilani can't help but have a hearty laugh at Tehya's interpretation of Niabi's statement, eventually shaking her head and deciding to explain a bit further. "No, that is not what she means. Niabi is saying that it's possible that the spring after next, you could be raising a fawn of your own, your very first. Just as right now, I am pregnant with my first calf."
Konachi chuckles a bit listening to the fawn's reaction.
Listening to Tehya and Leilani talk, Niabi can't help but think about how very old she's getting, "For me that would have been... 7 years ago?" Wow, is she really that old? Of course, Niabi was a little young at the time... Good thing nobody ever asks her about her rebellious adolescence! It would be such a bad example to the younger elk.
Tehya looks over at Niabi and Leilani and smiles some at them. "You think I will be ready to do that when autumn gets here again." As she looks around the place some more. "I guess I have a lot more exploring to do then."
Leilani nods softly to Tehya. "Only you will be able to say if you are really ready for that next autumn, but you will be physically capable, yes." She looks up at Niabi for a moment, wondering if she agrees, then looks back at Konachi for a moment.
Nodding in agreement with Leilani, Niabi adds, "Only you can decide when you're ready. But keep in mind a year is a long time - it's longer than you've lived so far. You'll grow up a lot more before then." At her age, a year doesn't actually seem that long, but she does remember thinking differently when she was younger. A moon used to seem like a very long time, even. But now it's not.
Tehya looks over at the other too as she wonders if they could be right. As she then stretches some more. Then looks around the place. "Hmm I wonder when my mother first had fawns."
Leilani has no answer to that question, being the new elk in the woods, but she looks up at Niabi, wondering if she could answer the young doe, figuring she surely has been around long enough to know.
Actually, Niabi is a little hit or miss when it comes to the whitetails. Actually, she doesn't poke into the histories of the other elk all that much either. But, as it happens, Niabi knows Tix very well; or at least she did about a year ago - a lot has happened since then. "Why, you were her first," Niabi says with a smile, "Didn't you know?"
Tehya blinks over at Niabi as she tilts her head some at her. "Really? I had no idea at all. I wonder how old she is. But I would not ask her though." As she then stretches again and lets out a small yawn
Leilani follows suit with Tehya and yawns right after her, then stretches as well. "Hmm, seems your yawns are contagious Tehya." She teases playfully.
Laughing again, Niabi happens to know that answer too: "She's three, I believe. She never told me her age, but I don't believe she was fully grown when we met, so that'd have to be it." As first one then the other yawns, Niabi waits for a moment. And then for a moment more. "Hmm, nope, I didn't catch it," she says with a laugh.
Tehya looks over at Niabi and giggles some. Then looks over at Leilani and smiles some at her. "I guess she is immune to it. So do you think so too?" AS she then grabs a few leaves off a branch right by her head,
Leilani laughs at Tehya, then nods. "I guess she is. Maybe if we both look right at her and yawn at the same time?" She muses. "But seriously, I am starting to get sleepy."
"Hmm, I think I'm just too old to get tired this early," Niabi says with a smile. She only sleeps for a few hours during the dead of night, and then only when she feels safe; just like a good deer. Not that she doesn't dose on her feet a little during the day on occasion - but that's just resting her eyes, really! "If you'd like to go take a rest, that's fine. I should stay here with Konachi though," Niabi suggests.
Konachi looks over at Niabi "Is it okay for me to move? Or do I need to stay put?" he asks, speaking up after a long silence.
Tehya looks over at Niabi and smiles as she yawns again. "oops sorry there. But I am sleepy though." As she then looks over at Leilani and smiles some. "Well I think I am going to go and get some rest." As she then heads over to the bed she had made before the night. Then looks back over at the other two. "It was nice seeing both of you again." As she then heads to the bed hidden behind some leafy foliage. "Night you two err three." As she had forgotten about the wolf.
Leilani nods to Niabi, then smiles to Tehya. "Yeah, I think I'll do the same. Have a good night you three." She says as she turns to Konachi and gives him a smile before turning and walking off into the woods, ending up deciding to find a place to bed down in the glade as she doesn't wish to walk all the way back to the copse tonight.
"Nice to see you too, Tehya," Niabi says with a nod. Hearing Tehya's forgetfulness about the wolf causes a smile; odd thing to forget. "See you later, Leilani," she adds when her herdmate takes her leave. Then she turns her attention to Konachi, "Well, some of it will probably come off, but we've probably tempted fate long enough. We should find a better place for you to rest some more I think."
Konachi nods "I guess I'll follow you, as you I don't know where the whitetail herd lands end, and I don't want to wake to hooves coming at me."
Smiling a little at that, Niabi nods and leads the way to the nearest border. The only really dicey thing is if they happen to run into one of the bucks doing a patrol on their way out and, though she's sure that things would turn out well either way, it'd certainly be much easier if they remain unnoticed. Answering questions after the fact would be so much easier.
Konachi follows you out. "Thanks again for your help" he say, i can tell its starting to help already."
The thanks causes another frown to form on Niabi's face, but as she's leading Konachi he probably can't see that too well. "Well, I think the mother wanted me to help you," she says after a moment, hesitating to give that reason for it. She doubts that Konachi would really understand it, as most predators she's met that believe in something believe in Luna and not the mother.
Konachi hmms "The mother ehh.. my parents tried to get me to believe in both Luna, and the mother... I really didn't see the point or need. But I respect those that believe in something."
An ear twisting back at Konachi in surprise, Niabi says, "You've heard of the mother? Oh yeah, the deer you were raised with must have..." She laughs at herself a little; there she goes again, assuming that Konachi is normal, "I'm not sure what I'd do if I didn't have something to believe in. My life would seem so senseless otherwise."
Konachi nods "Yes I heard of it from my deer friends.. my best friend was quite a devout follower. I just.. can't see the point.. I get along just fine on my own with what I know and can do."
Nodding a little at that, Niabi is silent for a moment as she considers that idea. She's quite nimble as she picks a path through the trees, hooves finding a clear path seemingly without conscious thought. "I've borne five calves in my life," Niabi suddenly says, "Four of them are dead. If I didn't believe in something, I think I'd find life rather unfair, and perhaps not worth living." Even /with/ her beliefs she's had a rather hard time coming to grips with a few things.
Konachi nods, following you with ease despite. "I can understand." he says despite being on three paws, he is keeping up fairly well.
If Niabi wasn't well aware of of Konachi's condition, she'd be quite difficult to follow, given that she knows this area fairly well. If they were in the copse, which she knows like the back of her hoof, it'd be nearly impossible. "But because I know the mother, I know there's a purpose behind it all, even if it's one I can't see," she continues, "Like helping you, for example. I don't know what the purpose of that was, but I do believe it's what the mother wanted."
Konachi nods slowly "Like I said, i respect your beliefs and it makes sense. I just can't find a reason to believe."
The wolf's reply actually brings a laugh from Niabi. "Well, have you ever found a reason NOT to believe?" she asks, "I'll admit that my reasons to believe are... well, they'd be unremarkable if you look at them when you don't believe already."
Konachi shrugs "I just felt I should trust in only what I can do and see. My family and friends being murdered for no reason makes no sense." he says "I'm willing to hear your reasons."
Nodding her understanding to that thought, Niabi says, "Like I said, I can't always she the purpose. That there is one is something that often needs to be taken on faith. But if you know of the mother, then you know that what she chooses will do more good then harm in the end. Perhaps you were meant to learn something from it; but that is only a guess. It could be many things, or perhaps all of them."
Konachi nods, he is still keeping up, but though he doesn't say anything, and tries not to show it, he is starting to get a bit tired.