@Kireena ♞'s apology is well-received, but ultimately unnecessary. Faolán's head tilts in understanding, wavering smile turned fragile at the edges. They will be with you when you need them, the little wolf says, and hopes that helps. She likes to think it did -- even if the loneliness, and the quiet, was oft too hard to bear. Just like my sister. Of course, she had yet to feel sheol near her -- but the bjorn brothers had been keeping their distance. Perhaps that was the price her sister had paid; perhaps her ghost was a protector, even now.

She wasn't expecting the responding chuckle, but the sound of it fills her with quiet delight. Laughter was always such a good sound; it warmed her heart to hear it. Her lips quirk up in a small smile -- that wolfish smile melting into something more shy, almost sheepish. Her words, when she speaks, is tinged with that brightness -- even if the words are.... less than innocent. Not everyone has the needs that we do. Life would be much easier if she only had to focus on patching others up, rather than protecting herself. But life was never easy, nor fair.

I could teach you, the little wolf offers easily, an ear tilting in KIREENA's direction. If you wanted to learn. Women needed to look out for other women, and there was kinship in learning together. And whatever faolán did not know, then certainly arcania would.

Together, they could leaen how to be dangerous.

BG — ART — CODE

@Faolán spoke, and the red giant watched her with curiosity. She was glad that the other had found some semblance of peace with her own sisters passing. Though she would always remember sweet Irena - she knew that the memory of the pale female would forever be carried in her heart. The words uttered gave Kireena pause - glad she had deciphered the subtle nuances of the current discussion well enough.

When the other female spoke of teaching her - it had the ears of the red woman tilting forward in interest. A smile tilting her lips before she gave the pale female a nod. "I would.. appreciate the assistance.. My sisters passing started this journey and.. I've spent much of my time testing things myself. I'm sure someday I'll end up inadvertently making myself ill.." Or worse. "So some outside assistance from someone who knows more would be welcome.."

If nothing more than to prevent herself from keeling over somewhere after chewing on something she shouldn't. A thought struck the Andallan and she flicked an ear in debate before she looked towards the other. "Perhaps I should be open - if you're going to be teaching me... I ...do have a pride I belong to." Though she smelled of a rogue - carefully ensuring her scent had been hidden for her own protection, she didn't want to start off on the wrong foot - especially if the other was to trust her enough with secrets she had learned.

"In.. case that changes your mind." Kireena was calm - and though she didn't scent a pride on the pale lioness - it didn't mean she hadn't done the same as Kireena.. washed the scent away and ensured that she wouldn't be tagged back to her own home. But still - trust between those practicing such a skill would be needed - and she wanted to ensure that Faolan had all the facts before leaping into showing a stranger things, some of which many would find... distasteful.

Ooc: Her joining thread is still in progress, so just being vague for now!

if there was no kinship before, there certainly is now. when the red-pelted woman mentions that it was her sister's death that made her want to learn all of this... the she-wolf feels her heart lurch in her chest, a teetering feeling caught between grief and hope. between the trinkets the woman wore and the pursuit of knowledge... it was clear that her sister ( and, presumably, the rest of her family ) lived on. a living memory; a ghost.

isn't that exactly what she wants, for sheol?

It doesn't, she says softly, pausing for a moment before adding: should it? The idea of prides was still new to her, and the idea of pledging allegiance even more so. Some might call her naive, or inexperienced -- but there was little to learn in chains. Clearly she's still happy to teach, and learn, with @Kireena ♞ no matter where she lay her head at night..... just as long as it isn't in the tundra.

and faolán likes to think she'd be able to recognize the stink of bjorn on another.

i would like to teach you, she says with a small little nod, the turn of her head dainty in comparison to what they speak of. healing and other things, darker and deadlier. it is the least she can do, she thinks; this woman is not her sister, and she could never be. neither of them are stand-ins for the ones they've lost, but... there is power in grief, and there is unity to be found within. for them. she adds, a small little sad smile turning her lips. for their sisters, gone but certainly never forgotten.

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"I think that there are some that put more faith in the ties of their allegiance than getting to know those theyve met..". Snap judgments and half truths and all that. Little did she know that she herself would fall prey to that very thing mere weeks later. A lesson to earn to be sure. "I would... appreciate your help.". The red giant smiled at @Faolán and her grin grew to expose her fangs as the other spoke of being 'for them'. "Always.". She would always keep her sister and family in her heart.. and it was for them that she loved so vicariously. It was for those that were gone that she would fight to survive. "Is there a place in particular we should set aside to meet?" A place.. and a time. Kireena knew she couldn't just waltz up to the others pride and expect entry. Just as she knew the other wouldn't expect the same of hers.

code by koi

@Kireena ♞'s words prompt a thoughtful hum, giving a heavy weight to her thoughts. The idea of pride politics was still beyond her; the idea of a pride itself was still too new. She would give her knowledge freely, no matter where this woman laid her head. Because... What was a home without family? What was a place without kin? And, besides -- there were monsters, lurking. Faolán had no doubt that the larger woman could handle herself, but any advantage would surely be welcome.

At the suggestion of how and where they might find each other later for their lessons.... well. A pause as the she-wolf grows terribly serious. Anywhere but the tundra. Her voice, still velvet-soft, finally belays the steel within -- a note of sharp strength. A threat, a plea. outside of the tundra, though... here? She asks, head tilting. This place was plentiful -- they wouldn't have to bring many supplies to their future lessons.

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Kireena would nod towards @Faolán when she spoke of meeting here. "Two weeks?" She knew she could come back in a few weeks - to continue their discussions. Perhaps it was best that they parted ways soon so no one happened upon them in such a sensitive conversation. After all - how many would like to know those that could just as easily be kind could turn around and poison you?

The red giant grinned, tilting her skull towards the pale silver woman, bi-colored gaze tilting up towards the woman she hoped to soon look to as a mentor. "Is there anything in particular you'd like me to do before then?" Kireena was sure she'd keep working in the interim to learn.

ART BY VASILIA, CODE BY LARS

two weeks? she considers it for a moment, before nodding. surely that would give each woman plenty of time to settle, to carve out room for such a meeting. but it's @Kireena ♞'s second question that gives the she-wolf pause. a smile curls her lips, soft and fleeting -- soft like she didn't expect it. think about if there's anything specific you'd like to learn. the world of poison was as vast as the plants that surrounded them; Faolán could give the maned woman a good introduction to it all, but if there were any specifics... she could better tailor a lesson around it. did kireena want to learn how to defend herself? or was it more of an offensive sort of knowledge? her smile holds tight as she gives a small nod, curt and understanding as their meeting settles into an end. i will see you soon, she says, pausing beore adding: be well. she is tired of losing friends.

exit

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A nod towards @Faolán as the woman smiled at her, and the red giant let herself think about what it was she would like to learn. There were many things she would need to do - and the budding medic was interested in as much as she could. Slowly, Kireena made her way away from her new found friend and towards the path leading to the Oasis.

Hopefully as the future progressed, they would find themselves meeting again. The red lioness of course was looking forward to it. Though the 'be well' was somewhat ominous and she found herself wondering what that meant Still - she supposed she would find out later.

//Exit//

ART BY VASILIA, CODE BY LARS