[Endrykas] Cleanliness (Aiken)

[Denen Sunsinger]

33rd Fall, 510 A.V. The boy was currently occupied sorting herbs. It was a busy work, but he didn't mind. It gave him something to occupy his time when he wasn't helping the others. Right now was a little slow, and the young healer wanted to get the herbs dried and prepared for use. He liked having them ready before they were actually needed. His brows furrowed in thought as he looked through the herbs before him. He listed them off to himself in his quiet, somewhat awkward voice. "Chamomile, fennel, field balm, garlic, coriander, and caraway. Hmm...M-Maybe I should gather more than this." He needed to be sure he had more for treating wounds, though he knew he had pouches of crushed herbs somewhere in his pack, along with his bandages and salves. He pushed his dark hair out of his face, before he leaned over to fetch his brown scarf. As he was winding the fabric about his head, he caught sight of his clothing, realizing it was covered in little leaves from his work. He sighed, tied the scarf, and stood, dusting himself off. It was easier now, being away from home. He had made friends, and found himself rather happy to be helping someone. Now, if only someone would get pregnant, he would be set. He caught himself yawning, and he stretched out his thin frame. A nap sounded nice...but there was so much to do...Perhaps a short stroll outside... He rubbed his eyes and peeked his head out the front of the tent, wondering who would be out and about.

[Aiken]

Aiken was trotting around, having found some time alone. His back was working again, but his muscles still didn't want to let him run full. The best he could do for now was a pathetic half-canter that left him feeling like an old wolf. But the ability to walk was a godsend anyway, so he didn't mind really. He couldn't go far, or long, but he could enjoy the breeze and fresh grassy scents. He was a grassland wolf now; the forest was but a distant, loving memory.

A sweet mixture of scents caught in his nostrils. It was herby, delicious, and smelled of life. How Endrykas was different from his old home. There were so many cooks, hunters, warriors, it was astounding to see so many skilled people in such a temporary place. Aiken followed the scent to Denen's tent, sniffing the air curiously with his limped form. It didn't smell like food at all here, even with all the fresh plants for cooking a fine meal. Aiken walked closer, his head tilted in investigation.

He looked down to his right paw, making sure the loincloth was still attached- if someone was inside, he would have liked to talk to them, anyway. While he couldn't shift immediately, he was able to tug at the knotstring and pull it off - the trouble came in getting someone to tie it back on for him. Surprise came when a boy, surely not out of his teen years, poked his head from withing the tent folds. Aiken sat, a curious look in his eyes, while he tried to decide whether or not to shift right away.

[Denen Sunsinger]

Denen was accustomed to spending time by himself, but the concept of being alone was a difficult one for him to accept and grow used to. He was glad that he had found friends. It was better than being without company for months on end. He furrowed his brows as he began to shave the leaves off of several plants, placing them each in little pouches. Each was marked by a knowledge of how the plants smelled, though he hoped to eventually have each herb color coded. He scratched his cheek as he studied his work, smearing green across his pretty skin. He knew very well that he'd need a bath later, but he couldn't be bothered at the moment. If he didn't get organized now, he never would. He knew his propensity to fall behind in his work when he didn't keep fire under himself. He knew he had to keep himself on a schedule or he'd get distracted with something else entirely. It was as Denen was peeking out of his tent that he saw the wolf, which seemed quite tame. Denen, immediately felt his soft heart melt, and he stepped out of the tent, crouching down before the wolf. He extended a long, slender hand, speaking, as he didn't feel embarrassment at a wolf hearing his voice. "H-Hello, handsome boy. What are you about? You w-want something to eat? I th-think I have some j-j-jerky in my-my tent." He would, too, gladly share it.

[Aiken]

Aiken nodded his head to say that yes, he would enjoy some jerky. But before he would stand or look away, Aiken put his paw in his hand. If Denen were to look carefully, he could almost make out markings on the loincloth, suspicious in their existence.

Aiken wasn't above nudism at all, especially since clothing kept him quite confined to the human form. However, if he was going to be decent, he might as well get a laugh out of it, right?

If natural human curiosity did happen to take Denen by the short hairs to make him untie and read the cloth, he would likely know that it said, "Close your eyes," in common and Pavi. Aiken sat and waited, tongue hanging out, for him to take the bait.

[Denen Sunsinger]

Denen's brows shot up, seeing the nod. He took the paw that was offered to him, and wondered momentarily what the scrap of fabric was. It seemed...like clothing. But wolves didn't wear clothing, did they? He tucked a loose strand of hair behind his ear. He didn't mind seeing others naked when it was a medical situation, but he was shy when it came to anything outside of that. Denen was incredibly inexperienced, and more than a little shy, especially about his own, thin frame. He lifted the bit of cloth, and his eyes went wide at what he read there. He looked into the wolf's eyes, and slowly began to untie the cloth from around his paw. "I'm...g-going to assume that y-you want to wear this...Gods help me, I h-hope I'm not going crazy." Saying this, he moved to place the loincloth around Aiken's hips, before he rose and stepped back. "Your limp...I could help you with that."

[Aiken]

Aiken rolled his eyes and stepped back a foot or so, quickly shifting to human form. He let out a yelp as he loosened the loincloth, too tight after his form's hips and waist widened. "You know, its not good for laughs if you ruin the surprise."

He chuckled a little, turning his body to show Denen the extent to which he was still wounded. "It would be nice, if you could help these heal. I think the damn glassbeak cut the muscles up. Some healer had his way with me, but it still doesn't feel right."

He pointed out a rather jagged line that ran the length of his back, just as neatly faded as the other scars. "This one is the worst. Its the one that still hurts."

Aiken looked back, an attempt to judge the boy. He was lanky and thin, but attractively so. His hair was full and dark, and he seemed so innocent...

[Denen Sunsinger]

Denen had just finished tying the cloth in place when the wolf began to change forms. He squeaked in surprise and scrambled back on his hands and knees. His wide, blue eyes turned up to the other, jaw slackened slightly. He watched his mouth, taking in what he said, and his cheeks went red. "I don't...think it would h-have been seemly for me to h-have gone without putting it on you." When Aiken turned, Denen moved to gently run his fingers along the scars that had formed. His fingers were as light as air on the old wounds, and his dark brows furrowed in concentration. "W-Was it an Opal clan healer that tended...these?" He asked curiously. Surely, they would have taken better care of such injuries. He had new supplies, gathered from his short trip home to get his things. He was sure he'd have something to help the other. He touched the scar that Aiken had pointed to, and murmured quietly under his breath. "I can fix that." He offered the other a smile as he looked back to him, still kneeling as he examined the scars. "C-Come into my tent, and I...I c-can try and find something...And give y-you that jerky if you still...want it."

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

"Ho, Denen!" Sam called when he saw his tent pitched near Sam's own. It didn't matter that he couldn't hear, though. The shout was more an expression of excitement than anything else. "Oh, and you've met Aiken..." He grinned at the two of them and then signed to Denen in grassland sign, "Welcome to my humble pavilion!" Of course, it wasn't a proper pavilion at all, but a tent he shared with Aiken when the wolf kelvic and his pups weren't sleeping outside while the heat remained. The loincloth amused him still. He didn't have any problem with naked human bodies and he knew Aiken didn't either, but some people could be so prudish. He hadn't expected it from his own people, but there it was.

[Aiken]

Aiken sighed. He tried remembering the incident, but he couldn't tell the difference between who was what clan yet. "I'm not sure if it was, but he was rather hasty about it. I guess he was more worried about the blood than the injury.." Thinking about what happened always made Aiken feel weak, but he was trying to shake that now. An injury didn't make him weaker, and he knew Sam thought no less of him.

"I would like that, yes. Jerky included. Hi Sam. His tent smelled good, and I wanted to see why." Aiken looked back to Sam with a grin and a look of mischief on his face.

[Denen Sunsinger]

Denen didn't hear the initial declaration of his name, but he felt someone approaching, kneeling as he was, and turned to see Sam coming. Immediately, a wide smile crossed his features, and he clasped his hands in excitement. "Sam!" He declared. And he slowly rose to his feet. He couldn't help but giggle when he was welcomed to the pavilion, replied rapidly in sign, "No matter how humble, it is a home." He furrowed his brows a little, and attempted to sound out the way the name looked. "Ay...ken?" He asked. "D-Did I say that right?" He motioned to the others. "P-Please, come in. You...c-can have some j-jerky too, if you want, Sam." His slender hips swayed slightly as he entered the tent, going immediately for the jerky and bringing it out, offering some to Aiken and Sam. "M-My b-big sister...made it. She's...the best cook I know." He smiled prettily to the others, and stuck the jerky in his mouth, before sitting down in front of the rows of spices again. He crossed his legs and rocked slightly. "C-C-Come sit...by me, Aiken," he said softly. "I will see w-what I have."