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Tranquil Waters: The Lead Crown Ch 4-1, Your Highness

Aodhan had often heard stories told around the campfire of groups that included injured hunters far from home and trying to return. The men in the stories did not often manage to get back to their tribes before the damage done had overtaken them. If they were lucky enough to be traveling with others their bodies were brought back and given their final rights... if not, then their remains were found later and blessed... or, sometimes, not found at all.

The wolf hated the quiet-time of the night when he could do little but think... especially when he had such dark thoughts to consider. The majority of his traveling party was injured-- two critically so. Regardless, they had a destination to reach. It wasn't a home to return to, per se, but it would hopefully be the salvation for Cruff and the antelope man, Tobias. While Aodhan did not know the injured scholar well, he and his friends had come to the rescue of the Yew Tribe, and for that, he deserved as much aid as the rest.

The going had been slow due to the wounds everyone had sustained. Despite the fact that the majority of the group should have been staying in one place to heal, they all knew that two of their number would die without proper aid... aid that the healers of the tribe lands simply couldn't manage. That meant that their only chance for survival would be obtaining the help of a Stone Tribe healer... a doctor... and that meant that they would have to travel to the closest city available: Vallara.

From the Yew Tribe village, the trip itself should have taken most of a day... but that was for healthy travelers. As it was, Aodhan estimated that they were more than half way; if they had any luck at all then they would arrive by the next afternoon and hopefully, just hopefully, neither of their most critically wounded would give themselves over to the spirits during the night. As it was, Aodhan didn't eliminate that as a possibility.

The wolf snorted, shaking his head against the thought-- no... they were going to Vallara so that EVERYONE could survive... and they were doing everything they could to make that happen. Friar Arlowe's full attention was taken up by his son, Cruff. The younger Raccoon Dog had not regained consciousness since falling in battle that morning but, according to the little Aodhan had learned of healing, that was not entirely a bad thing; sleep, at least, gave the body a chance to heal. The one thing the wolf DID know for certain was that if there was healing power in prayer, the monk had that completely covered.

Like Friar Arlowe Sister Aurelie has prayed for Cruff, but the cat took things a step further and provided what healing was possible. The moment the party had set camp Aodhan had combed the nearby area for any herbs that could be used to provide relief and healing while his Eyara had put them to good use. Tobias had taken to fever and his breathing was far from normal, but within an hour, after the benefit of an herbal chest rub, the prong horn was decidedly improved-- not well... but improved. Cruff, however, had already begun to suffer from infection, and so the majority of Sister Aurelie's time had to be spent on him.

Once the general needs of camp were seen to, Brother Rhys was quick to join in helping how he could. Even less experienced in the ways of healing than Aodhan, the rat was still instrumental with gathering moss and bark that could be used for poultices and to ease the pain of those members of the party who were part of the mobile injured. He brewed teas for everyone who was conscious but still had to work despite their wounds.

By the time the sun had set, Tobias' injuries had mostly recovered from the damage done to them by the travel, but he was still no closer to being healed. Cruff, on the other paw, was still hit-and-miss, and Aodhan had no doubt that Sister Aurelie would be up most of the night trying to keep him alive... and Friar Arlowe, still beside himself with worry, would probably not sleep at all. Aodhan had no children and he had no doubt that he knew nothing of what the monk was feeling, but he silently offered the old Raccoon Dog all of his sympathy.

Runs-on-Air had returned after dusk, having caught several small game animals with snares. The party had eaten relatively well despite not having packed many supplies, but after their dinner was eaten and after the fire had begun to burn low, full bellies didn't really leave the mood much improved. It was the buck ultimately who broke the wolf's isolation, joining him at the edge of camp and holding out a clay mug, speaking up in the tribal tongue, "Willowbark tea, Friend Aodhan... for your pain."

The wolf nodded in thanks and accepted it, cupping the mug in his paws, "I had thought Brother Rhys used it all."

The young buck stared off toward the horizon in roughly the same direction Aodhan had been looking, "No... Rhys is a caring man... he knew you went without and set some aside so you could."

Aodhan took a sip of the hot, bitter liquid, "He has a lot more pressing things to deal with than my aches and pains... it makes sense that he handle those first."

Runs-on-Air smiled, though continued gazing out over the break in the trees, "You have traveled with him for long?"

The wolf's eyes joined the buck's as they scanned the horizon, taking another sip of the tea, "Long enough to know he is, as you say, a good man."

The comment must have been precisely what the young buck had been looking for to get straight to the point, "He wears a symbol."

Aodhan pulled the mug from his muzzle and cradled it again in his paws, still eying the distance, "As well he should... he is a Man of Symbol... a Priest."

Runs-on-Air_fidgeted at that, murmuring the Stone Tribe word "Priest..." before adding "..._and... the father and son?"

The wolf nodded, "Men of Symbol."

"... and... Aurelie... the cat?"

Aodhan finally turned to regard the buck, "My Eyara..."

Runs-on-Air likewise turned to face him, though he respectfully avoided direct eye contact, "You have been traveling with the Men of Symbol, and they have not turned you against The People? One of them is your Eyara? These people do not seem like Men of Symbol... just like you they helped my tribe when--"

The wolf raised a paw to silence him, "The Fang Tribe will raid others from time to time, and the Bone Tribe will take slaves... but this is not the way with most of The People. What we see most of the Men of Symbol are those who wish to raid our lands or make slaves of our souls... but not all are this way."

The buck nodded thoughtfully, glancing back toward the camp, "Rhys of the Symbol does not seem like the others I have seen."

Aodhan smiled slightly, "The title they use is 'Brother Rhys'."

Runs-on-Air returned the smile but the expression left his muzzle quickly, "But... isn't that their word for a brother?"

The wolf nodded, "Yes. They believe that we are all sons and daughters of their one god... and so those who are closest to their god are all brothers and sisters in his service."

The buck remained quiet, thoughtful for many long moments. Aodhan looked back to the horizon, waiting patiently for Runs-on-Air to puzzle through the thoughts going through his mind. When he finally spoke up it was not in a direction the wolf had expected, "Friend Aodhan... I know you are of the Oak, but do you know of the Yew Tribe's water ritual?"

Aodhan ran a finger along the fluff of one of his cheeks as he thought, "Bathing in the sacred waters of the Moonlight Fall... I have heard of it... and seen the Moonlight Fall once when I came here with the Oak Tribe Shaman two summers ago... I have heard of the ritual bathing ceremony but..."

Runs-on-Air flicked an ear, "He joined me in the waters."

The wolf raised an eyebrow at the reveal, "I understood that it was seen as disrespectful to enter the sacred waters with clothing."

The buck nodded, "He joined me without them... I had heard that the Men of Symbol have their clothing on always... even when sleeping."

Aodhan was surprised by that, but shrugged the issue aside, "As you said, Brother Rhys is a good man. I am certain he was being respectful of the spirits and--"

"... he did not seem uninterested in me."

The wolf honestly had no idea how he always seemed to end up at the crux of any forming or disintegrating relationship-- the Shaman of the Oak Tribe called him a Servant of Unity, but, in truth, Aodhan simply considered it 'just his luck'. "I see... So did you approach him about it? Among the Men of Symbol there is a--"

Runs-on-Air interrupted him, "I have heard... Men do not share themselves with other men, and women do not share themselves with other women. No... I swam with him, and we talked, but I did not let him know that his interest was not unappreciated... and... I hoped that he did not realize I admired him as well." The young buck paused for many long moments before speaking again, "Are you certain these people are really Men of Symbol?"

The genuine uncertainty of Runs-on-Air made Aodhan smile, and he took another sip to hide the expression that had been earned by the poor buck's confusion. Once he had composed himself he lowered the mug and gave a single, succinct nod, "Yes, Friend Runs-on-Air... our companions are very much Men of Symbol... though they are more like what they SHOULD be... and much less like the ones who attacked your village."

There was another long pause, followed by the audible sound of Runs-on-Air clearing his throat before hesitantly asking "And... about the cat?"

"My Eyara."

Runs-on-Air fidgeted, "I had heard that women among the Stone Tribe wear scents..."

The wolf nodded, "They do. It is called 'perfume'."

The buck cleared his throat a second time, "Why does.. Brother Aurelie?"

Aodhan flicked an ear, "Sister Aurelie."

Runs-on-Air seemed taken aback by the correction, "But... isn't 'Sister' the Stone Tribe term for--"

"Yes it is."

The young tribesman seemed uncertain at how to proceed, "I am sorry, Friend-Aodhan... I am afraid I do not understand..."

The wolf finally reached out to rest a paw on the buck's shoulder, "It is not something easy to understand completely... but you can think of Sister Aurelie as a Bond-Maker, and hopefully that can help put your mind at ease."

A smile slowly spread across the buck's muzzle, "Ahh... that does explain... well... as you say... it explains enough." he paused for a moment before asking, "Would it be acceptable for me to talk to Sister Aurelie about it?"

Aodhan shook his head, "It is not the same as a Bond-Maker, Friend Runs-on-Air, and no... I cannot say it would be something you can discuss."

The buck seemed taken aback, but quickly recovered, "Another difference between The People and The Stone Tribe."

The wolf nodded, "Yes... another difference."

Runs-on-Air moved his weight from one hoof to the other, then back again, "But everyone you travel with knows that Sister Aurelie is a Bond-Maker?"

It was Aodhan's turn to shift uncomfortably from paw to paw, "No."

The young warrior blinked, "They can't smell--"

"The Stone Tribe does not smell deeply... they scent the perfume and leave it at that."

Runs-on-Air nodded after a moment, "That must be true of all of their senses... if they never seek the truth beyond what they first see then it is little wonder that they our people do not understand one another better."

Aodhan glanced back toward the tents where the injured members of the party lay fighting for their lives. The wolf simply nodded sadly in agreement, "I could not have said it better, Friend Runs-on-Air."