Intro to the Stedding: Skylar Rayne - Attention Sage

[Guest Allisa]

Like an omen the skies had been bleak and gray for days, making traveling monotonous. Sky, landscape, rivers and streams all seemed dull and shadowed and the mood seemed to rub off on Janna and her charge. They spoke little as they plodded closer and closer to the Mountains of Mist and the usual thrill Janna received on sighting them again was absent. They stopped only briefly in Baerlon for the Tracker was hesitant to leave the cubs in the woods on their own. And so despite the protests of her good friend and favorite trader, Mistress Hodge, they left the city the same day, well fed and re-supplied for their trek into the mountains.

 

Even their beauty seemed dimmed by the gloomy weather and Janna’s depression deepened. It was a shame their newest Sister’s first impression of her new home would be so overshadowed. Janna yearned to show her the golden meadows scattered with wildflowers, the mighty leatherleafs and their green canopy and the hidden places in the mountains, spring fed waterfalls and hidden caves. She did point out several landmarks to Skylar – the rock face high overhead that looked vaguely like a man in profile, smoke from the miner’s camp several miles east, a high overhanging rock that looked ready to plunge into the ravine below it. All signs they were nearing their destination.

 

The skies finally opened as they started up the trail that led into the Stedding. Rain poured down in sheets, instantly soaking all four of the weary travelers. Janna barely noticed the Ranger who signaled her from his post and her half hearted wave in return was stiff with cold.

 

They hurried towards the Stedding, the village square empty in the rain. Houses were shut up tight against the storm with only the rims of the windows glowing with the warmth and light within. Though she wished she could dart to the nearest house and dry off a bit, it was strictly forbidden for any Wanderer to interact with the rest of the Stedding until they had been examined by a Sage. So instead she led Skylar across the square towards the Infirmary ducking inside the nearly empty building.

 

Miryana sat next to the fire in the first room, stirring a pot of something that smelled of herbs and apples. Janna’s nose twitched as the Sage stood and hurried towards them.

 

“Miryana, this is Skylar Rayne, our newest Wanderer.” Janna grinned as the two wet wolves bounded toward the fire, “And this is our newest brother, Cloud.”

 

Janna Telenvar

Twisted Chime

Head Tracker ~ Wolfsister

Companion to Silver

[Christine]

Dull and dreary... Skylar hated it. Everything was all cloudy and ugly and stuff like that. Her bum was always wet when they sat on the ground, and she didnt like the ickly smell of Cloud when he was wet. After the first two days, she gave up on staying dry. The only thing perhaps dry on her entire person was the basket, and that was such a pain in the you-know-where to keep from getting soaked. Her hair wouldnt stay straight and soft- just a big tangly mess, and she knew someone would make her yank a comb through it in a day or so. Her clothes were soaked through, making walking uncomfy. She was also worried of infection on Cloud's sore paw, however, he seemed to enjoy the rain and mud puddes, as well as Silver.

 

Skylar had to admit, the mud puddles were fun. After giving up staying dry, she had tried to jump in a few of them, which resulted in splashing Janna with icky brown goopy stuff. After one mean look, that was the end of mud puddles. Why were grown ups always so mean? They needed to play again and dance and sing and get dirty. Dirty was fun- you didnt have to worry about ruining your clothes if you were already dirty. Silly grownups. And great, she was gonna get to live with loads of them. Fun was going out the door.

 

Finally going up a trail after what seemed like AGES, Skylar saw buildings ahead. She was ready to get warm, but instead, had to follow Janna. Where were they going, what were they doing, and why couldnt she just get warm? Her toes were about to fall off from being cold and her nose felt all puffy and goopy boogies were falling out of it. She needed some warmth... and a bath. A bath would be yummy. And some tea... and cookies! Cookies were always yummy in her tummy.

 

They went into some buildin and there was a woman sitting beside a fire. She was stirring some pot and Sky felt a rumbling that made her face bright pink. She was hungry! Cloud jumped up into her arms as they shook the rain off and Sky almost gagged from the yucky smell that was al over her face from the wet fur. "Miryana, this is Skylar Rayne, our newest Wanderer.” Cloud jumped when he saw the fire and dashed away from her, making her glare at him for a moment. “And this is our newest brother, Cloud.”

 

Skylar looked up at the woman and did an attempted curtsy, almost falling on her face. "Pleased to meet you!" She offered her hand but instead sneezed, almost falling forwards. She whiped her hand across her nose and squinched it, trying to keep from stuff running down her face. Icky. "Can I get warm now?" Skylar turned to look at Janna, but suddenly Janna and Silver werent there. She was being left alone with this wierd woman? Eekage...

 

 

Skylar and Cloud

[Andular]

As the new Wanderer was introduced Miryana stood and studied the child with her burnished gold eyes. The pot she had been tending smelled of herbs that she had been blending for her poultices. “Be welcome Skylar Rayne.” She smiled walking forward and taking the young woman’s hand. Skylar looked tired, hungry, cold and a little nervous but smiled back none the less.

 

Leading her over to an examination table Miryana patted it and Skylar sat down with her arms folded.

 

“Don’t worry child I won’t bite.” Janna chuckled at that and Miryana sent her to the kitchen to fetch the teapot and some cups. “We will see that you have a hot bath and a nice meal soon child. I am sure a good nights sleep in a proper bed will do wonders for you as well. The sages long bright red hair had been left down today and she had to brush it behind her ears before continuing. Reaching out with her senses she put her hands on Skylar’s cheeks and probed her for any sign of damage or infection.

 

Long moments past and Janna had returned with the tea before the Sage was done. Taking a deep breath she lowered hands and patted Skylar’s knee affectionately. “You seem well young one though I imagine your journey to us was not without incident.”

 

Pulling up a chair Miryana thanked Janna as she handed them each a cup of tea. “I am sure Janna has told you much about what you are going through child. If there are other questions that trouble you I would be glad to answer them for you. After we are done here I will see you have a hot meal and a bath to wash the weariness off of you.”

[Christine]

Miryana stood up and stared at her for a moment. Skylar tried to look for somewhere to hide or shrink behind, but she was stuck before the woman that looked on her like a child. “Be welcome Skylar Rayne.” The smile that Sky was given was one to chill, and she felt her cold little hand between two warm ones. Skylar glanced around for someone to save her. Cloud was yipping in the corner at all the new sites and even ran over to the poultice that was now ready, sniffing at it. `Silly old two-leggers.` This got Skylar smiling, but Miryana seemed to think it for her.

 

The old two-legger, no, older woman, led Sky to a table and patted for her to sit down. Jumping up on it she crossed her arms and legs and glared at the adult. ‘I wont give in so easy.’ This got Cloud laughing, and Skylar gave her attention back to Miryana, who hadn’t seemed to notice the connection between Cloud and Sky. “Don’t worry child I won’t bite.”

 

An apprentice appeared and Miryana sent her off to fetch tea and cups. “We will see that you have a hot bath and a nice meal soon child. I am sure a good nights sleep in a proper bed will do wonders for you as well.” A bath and food… just what Skylar wanted. And real sleep in a real bed… could Cloud stay with her? She must remember to ask that. Warmth enveloped Skylar’s face as she felt two warm hands on either side of her face. What was this woman doing to her?

 

The apprentice returned with tea and she finally felt Miryana let go of her. She even patted her knee… motherly. This woman was not her mother! “You seem well young one though I imagine your journey to us was not without incident.”

 

Miryana pulled up a chair and thanked for the tea. “I am sure Janna has told you much about what you are going through child. If there are other questions that trouble you I would be glad to answer them for you. After we are done here I will see you have a hot meal and a bath to wash the weariness off of you.”

 

This was the time to ask about Cloud. “Ma’am… will you look at Cloud? He had injured his paw, and I fixed it as best I could before we ran away, and then Janna tried to fix it, but it is still tender for him. And can he sleep in my bed? And I am only 12, so do I have to have a mom or something? And there isn’t any school or lessons or nothing, right? What do I have to do around here? Can I just stay and play? And I used to live with a wisdom, so-“

 

Miryana stopped her with a glance and Skylar looked into her lap. Cloud burst up beside her, rubbing his nose against her shoe, which was falling off. It fell of there and he rubbed up against her muddy toe, trying to comfort her. She leaned down to pick him up and he plopped down onto her lap, twisting three times before nestling between her now crossed legs. “We just wanna stay together.”

 

 

Skylar and Cloud

[Andular]

Chuckling Miryana set her tea cup down. “No one is going to try and separate you and Cloud dear, you two can spend as much time as you like together.”

 

Leaning forward she gently took Clouds paw and examined it. “I am going to give you a salve to put on his injury three times a day.” Skylar nodded as the Sage rose and went to her medicine cupboard. Taking a vial she turned back to cloud and gently rubbed some on the wolves paw before giving it to Skylar.

 

“Remember it is very important you keep this on his injury.” Sitting back down the Sage sipped her tea and regarded the young woman for a moment.

 

“As for no school or lessons well I am afraid that is incorrect child.” Skylar frowned as Cloud licked her ear.

 

“You will be taught in the ways of the Wolfkin and your lessons well teach you to use your new gifts. You say you studied with a wisdom before the change. Do you still wish to follow that path and study with me? Also you can choose where you stay. The barracks or I can find you a unused room here in the infirmary if it makes you feel more at ease.”

[Christine]

Running her fingers over Clouds now slightly dry fur, she looked up at the chuckling Sage.  “No one is going to try and separate you and Cloud dear, you two can spend as much time as you like together.”  Giggling, Sky jumped up and twirled with Cloud in her arms.  `Dizzy.` Double-vision appeared in her mind and she giggled, kissing Cloud on the nose, who could not handle the twirl like she could.

 

Miryana walked over and gently took Cloud’s paw while she held him.  It only took her a moment before she knew just what to do!  “I am going to give you a salve to put on his injury three times a day.”  Hmmm, what would she put in it?  Already, Sky was anxious to learn more.  Miryana walked to a medicine cupboard and took down a vial.  It was a pretty thing, a soft red with a crystal top.  It was beautiful!  `Sparkly`

 

`OUCH!` The woman was rubbing some of the salve onto Cloud’s paw and Skylar hugged him tight as he winced up against her, burying his little nose into her chest.  “Remember it is very important you keep this on his injury.”  Miryana returned to her chair and Sky sat down in hers, letting Cloud lay curled up against her like he was a baby doll.  He was still in a little pain, holding his paw on her chest and resting his face in the crook of her elbow.

 

“As for no school or lessons well I am afraid that is incorrect child.”  `No Play!`  Cloud seemed unhappy as he saw this, but still licked her ear to make her feel better.  “You will be taught in the ways of the Wolfkin and your lessons well teach you to use your new gifts.  You say you studied with a wisdom before the change.  Do you still wish to follow that path and study with me?  Also you can choose where you stay.  The barracks or I can find you a unused room here in the infirmary if it makes you feel more at ease.”

 

“You mean, study under you to be a Healer?”  Miryana nodded.  “That would be wonderful!  I would love to!  Wouldn’t we Cloud?” she asked the puppy as he yapped a happy glee.  Giggling, she petted him gently as her tummy began to rumble.  How long had it been since she had tasted meat?  She was so hungry for anything, but expecially a piece of nice tender meat. 

 

“Ma’am, I hate to be a bother, but can we eat?  We are soooo hungry!  I don’t think we have eaten in days!”  Miryana chuckled and nodded, going to a cabinet and bringing out a cup and a bowl.  She poured what smelled like milk into the cup and then water into the bowl.  Handing both to Sky, she then went to the pot over top of the fireplace with a big bowl and filled it halfway full.  Then, she went to another cupboard and pulled out what smelled like rabbit.

 

At this moment, Sky got a little nervous.  The red, bloody meat worried her.  She almost rather have that than the soup.  What was wrong with her?  Cloud perked up and got anxious, hungry for meat, and Sky set him on the table gently, and pushed the bowl of water towards him.  He licked at it a few times then dug into the meat as it was placed before him.

 

Miryana could see the anxious look in Sky’s face.  “Do not worry child, it is the Howling.  Take the bowl I have for you and enjoy the meat – it is not cooked too much.  And drink all your milk – it will make you strong.”   Nodding, Sky drank all her milk and enjoyed every last bite of the soup.  Cloud also made fast work of his meat and water.

 

Full to the brim, she looked around.  “Can we both get a bath in the morning.  I am so-” Sky yawned, worn out.  Miryana nodded and picked up the basked that Sky had brought with her.  Picking up cloud in her arms, Sky followed as she led her through an infirmary and down into a hallway.

 

Miryana pointed to a door at the end of the hallway.  “My room is there.  If you need me at all, I shall be in there.”   Sky nodded, and Miryana led her into a small but comfortable room.  It looked far too grown up for her though.  There were desks and shelves and wardrobes.  There was also a large window that almost looked like a door.  Almost knowing her thoughts, Miryana told her that should Cloud need out during the night, he could easily push his way in and out without disturbing Sky.

 

Nodding, Sky looked around for a moment, then glanced at the bed.  Without even letting Miryana leave, Sky pulled off the slippers on her feet and threw the cloak she wore on her back on the floor.  She rung her hair out from what was still dripping and then unbuttoned the dress, with the help of the Sage, and kicked that onto the floor too.  Her slip and under-things then followed and she crawled under the blankets, still dirty, and Cloud jumped up and cuddled on top of the blankets.

 

She passed out, tired and worn from the trip.  Miryana picked up the dirty things off the floor and gently folded them, setting them on the desk chair.  She shut the door gently, and Sky was left to sleep, in peace and at home.

 

OOC: Don’t really know where Steve (Andular) is these days so I decided to kind of finish this thread up on my own.