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Tiny Sanctuary, mostly called Tiny by her father and clan continued to walk, leaving her group behind to set up camp for the day. They could go father but her daughter had tired and Tracks and Blood were content to take a rest.
Tale would be safe with the bucks. Blood was dangerous but better around his partner, and Tracks had a flox, a creature of sharp teeth and a temper that of much larger creatures. Blood's otter had remained with the main body of the clan on the shores of the sea.
But she came because she had heard rumors of a new tribe, faint snatches of legends. Perhaps also because of an urge to learn more of the medical plants, Corrosive knew much and told little, the sharp eyed doe immersed in poisons and venoms, and her own thoughts. So she came to see and perhaps learn.
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The sun had just begun its descent beyond the tallest of the trees which shelter the sanctuary of the White Crane Tree Tribe when Born Again began to make his way out to the northern end of his route on his second round of patrols.
Most nights, things tended to be quiet. The occasional lynx or caiman might cause some mischief, but nothing too major. There was always the chance of new travelers though, as well, and the tall buck had found himself escorting them to the heart of the tribe more often than not, particularly at night.
As the last of the light faded from the sky, something caught his eye. Movement near a cluster of trees. He made his way closer with careful steps, wary of any possible attack, his green eyes casting an unearthly glow about his face as he approached.
A doe stood before him -- an acha, to be precise -- and Born Again let out a small as a friendly smile warmed his previously-stoic expression. "Ah -- I almost mistook you for a lynx! Are you perhaps looking for the tribe? If so, you've found it," a brief pause, and then, "My name is Born Again. I can lead you back, if you'd like. Or point you in the right direction if there was somewhere else you were heading...?"
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She skittered back, tail flashing in alarm before settling. "Ooh, ooh, certainly not a lynx." She said, breathy and gave a full body shake, calming down. "I was looking," she admitted, looking at the large buck.
"I am Tiny Sanctuary, I was hoping to talk to some of your healers, but I think it is a bit late for that," the sun had faded and certainly it was much to late for her to turn back.
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Born laughed softly, nodding.
"Yes... or at least it will be, by the time we get there. Of course, you're more than welcome to spend the night with us. We welcome those who require rest, and those seeking aid are never turned down." Which made him wonder if perhaps the reason she needed a healer was more dire?
"Of course, if you or someone else needs immediate aid we'll do all we can," that time, his tone seemed a little more serious as he peered at her intently.
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"ehh wh.. ooh, ooh! No, I am fine, the whole group is well, one of our members has eggs to care for now," and she was excited with the coming foals, "but no one needs to be treated. I had hoped to learn, our healer is more of a herbalist and even then, she is more intrigued with venom and poisons then healing," Tiny babbled and stopped, scuffing her high feet, embarrassed.
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"Ahhh... I see. Well, that is good, then!" The buck relaxed once more, and then shifted a little to peer around, but he couldn't make out any other kin nearby. Perhaps they'd settled elsewhere?
"Knowing about poisons can be useful, I suppose, but I understand what you mean. I'm no healer, myself, but my brother is a maker of tonics and the like and my mother is our Lead Healer," his voice is not without some bit of pride, as he said this, and a soft smile tugged the corners of his mouth. "I'm sure both of them would be happy to speak to an aspiring healer. It's a worthy endeavor, to be sure."
Born Again thought Tiny Sanctuary seemed sweet, and earnest, and couldn't help but want to help her. Of course, he has a rather big heart for others, anyway, despite his sometimes stern demeanor. He is his mother's son, after all.
"Why don't we gather up the rest of your group and I'll lead you to someplace you can all rest?"
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"Ooh! That would be nice," she said, switching her tail slightly at the thought of talking to more like minded kin about tonics and healing. "It really is a worthy endeavor and it is just what I am meant to do." She had tried hunting with the hunters. She just couldn't keep up or finish a kill. It wasn't in her nature.
"I... don't think that would be a good idea," she hedged, wincing slightly at the idea of Born Again meeting with Blood. "And I doubt we would be able to get to them before it became to dark to see."
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"Oh?" Born Again arched a brow at the remark, and wondered why it might not be a good idea.
"Well -- I know these woods like the back of my own hoof, and I have good night vision. I'm sure we could find them. Won't your tribe be worried if you don't return to them tonight?"
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"We're not a tribe, and we live by the shore line mostly, so the main body not going to worry overly much," Tiny admitted as they walked. "They knew it would be a while till we returned."
"I would be worried about my daughter, but Tale is safe with the bucks and well... Blood is a major.." She trailed of trying to find a polite way of saying what she wanted. "... He just won't respond well if I bring back a stranger ... or is likely to listen all that much."
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"Ahh.. I see," he paused, though, and gave her a slightly troubled look, as if something about the situation still bothered him. "It's only that it seems a bit... odd to leave them if you traveled with them here? I think I would be worried if I went with others and found one of them suddenly missing in the morning -- unless, of course, that's a common occurrence?"
Well, it wasn't like he had much business prying, anyway. "Well... I suppose it's alright, anyway, if you say so. Follow me, and I'll take you safely to our inner sanctuary." With that, the tall buck turned back the way he'd come, and shortened his stride so that the acha might keep pace easily and without strain.
"So tell me -- I've never been to the ocean, what's it like?"
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"Perhaps," she shrugged walking alongside the buck. "They knew I left to go ahead, and when I didn't show up, they would trust I found a place for the night instead of wandering about." It was a bit sweet he was concern.
"Very wet," She replied, seriously. "But, it smells and tastes of salt and fish and seaweed in various stages of rot or fresh at times. It can be loud of melodious, because the waves always come in and out against the shore line. You have to watch the water and the times because what is dry land doesn't stay dry."
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Born Again laughed a little at the description of the ocean, but even so he had a hard time imagining such a thing. "Well.. it sounds like it must be a somewhat chaotic place. I'm not sure how well I'd like it." He couldn't imagine enjoying the smell of rotting fish, after all... "Still, it must not be so bad if you make your home near there. Maybe one day I will have a chance to explore that way. Who knows?"
Though, he very much doubted it. His place, after all, was with the tribe -- protecting the border and offering shelter to those within. Maybe one day he would have the urge to travel beyond the borders he's always known but, if so, it wouldn't be for awhile to come.
"The sanctuary is nothing like that. There is a huge tree at the center.. its trunk is so wide no kin could measure it, and its branches and leaves soar up into the sky and blanket us with its shade. There is soft, sweet, grass beneath the tree for most of the year, and in the winter we have plenty of food stores to see us through. It's a wonderful place to live, and for healing. You'll see -- though I suppose the tour will have to wait until morning," he amended the last part with a small, wry, smile.
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"We den farther in, but it is very chaotic and wondrous, sublime." She said, eyes half closed. "We go down to daily to see what the waves have bough to shore," and there was always something different.
"We travel, if what we do, how we find things," she said softly and listened intently as he spoke. "It sounds wonderful and yes, I think it will... it is a bit late to be going about in the dark."
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Born Again smiled at the tone in the little doe's voice as she spoke of her home. "Well, why don't we rest for the night. I know a small overhang we can use until morning. It's not far from here," in fact, he had used it himself many times to rest between shifts while patrolling the borders.
He leads her there, always wary of the night creatures, but the evening is peaceful enough. The small den itself is at the edge of a small clearing, and the light of the stars is enough to see by. "Here we are," it wasn't the most grand of places, but then it wasn't made for that purpose. Even so, the earth inside is clean and dry, and the overhang is large enough to protect from any possible rain.
The buck lies down and closes his eyes for a moment in a sigh of relief, and casts a small smile at Tiny Sanctuary. "Oh--" he shifts, reaching behind and pulls something out of the corner. It's a stash of dried fruit!
"In case you're hungry. I'm not sure how long it's been since you've last eaten, so ah...." he chuckles softly. "Well, feel free."
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"That sounds charming," Tiny replied, keeping in step with the larger kimeti buck. "Though I still feel like I should some what apologize for just showing up." She twitched an ear, more relaxed then overly wary as she followed. It was a pleasant night, warm, and clear.
"Ooh, that is nice," she murmured and shifted inside, cuddling up against the bucks side and sighed softly. "Very, very pretty.. and ooh, thank you." She shifted, pulling the dried fruit closer before picking up one and crunched it in her teeth, chewing.
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Born Again feels a small blossom of warmth as the doe settles in against his side and seems to enjoy the view, and the food he's provided. There's always a bit of pride where it comes to helping others. It just feels good, and though he's sure the doe would have been fine without him, it doesn't mean he's not happy to help.
"I'm glad you like it. This is actually one of my favorite spots in our territory.... When the sky is clear, like it is tonight, you can see every star shining down on us. On nights like this, it feels like the MotherFather is really watching -- don't you think?" He turns to her with a smile, his glowing eyes giving off a gentle light.
"The night's darkness doesn't frighten me, but... Well. The stars speak for themselves," he glances up toward the sky, then, his expression clear and calm.
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Tiny listened as she picked through the fruit, choosing some of the best pieces to eat as she just snuggled into the warmth of the bucks side, relaxed on the dry sheltered dirt.
"It is a very, very lovely spot. And the stars are nice and clear." She looked up, relaxed to watch them glow serenely. "I once was, then I spent some time with the Zikwa, some who travel around blind to the world and suddenly the night seems much more friendly."
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"Really? That must have been quite an experience...." Born Again trails off, and then says after a moment,
"I was born in the darkness. Then, when I became the Lead Sight of our tribe, I was tried in darkness as well. Since then, I've never been afraid of it. That doesn't mean it can't be dangerous but... as long as we're aware of our surroundings, there's nothing to really fear."
He presses closer to the doe, and lies his head down. "Goodnight, Tiny. May you have pleasant dreams," he smiles a little, and yawns, nudging his nose against her withers, "See you in the morning."
Fin
