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Post by Nyte on Mar 20, 2021 11:39:23 GMT -5
Willow knew why Armin would be hesitant to go out into the forest. They had just been attacked but it would be at least a full day before Ignatius realized Remus had failed in his task. So if they were going to go now was the time. "The Silverfang pack thrives on how much pain and misery than can inflict. Even on each other when no one else is around." They were like an aggressive bunch of beasts. If there wasn't bloodshed on a daily basis everyone got ancey.
As Armin went to inform Rhett of their whereabouts Willow walked with Kai, holding her arm firmly as they did, and blinked as they walked into the bright sunlight. It was a nice day outside but it didn't energize Willow like the moon had the night before. "Yes, I um.." she felt her cheeks grow warm once more. "I didn't realize it though until I woke up this morning." She looked down to fiddle with her fingers for a moment as they waited for Armin to join them. She even cast a glance over her shoulder to see if he was coming. "Does.. does he have a mate? Or someone he's interested in?" She asked sheepishly. "Just purely out of curiosity." She was obviously embarrassed but tried to cover it as best she could, even if it wasn't very well.
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Post by Blindside Tex on Mar 20, 2021 12:20:44 GMT -5
Kai’s grin only widened as she looked to the fae. She giggled slightly as she saw the woman’s cheeks flush pink. As the next question came from Willow Kai’s playful grin turned into an adoring smile. “Well…” She spoke as she looked into Willow’s eyes. “He doesn’t, actually.” She smirked slightly. “The silly boy can’t seem to make up his mind. He’s been offered many different options. He’s never interested.” She shrugged slightly. Kai then smiled once again. “Why are you so embarrassed to ask such a question, Willow?” She giggled slightly as she released Willow’s arm and stepped forward. She turned and looked back to the home as she walked backward. “You shouldn’t feel embarrassed…you know?” She winked slightly as she gazed up to the clear blue sky. She closed her eyes as she basked in the sun a moment.
The sound of footsteps approaching from behind them clicked upon the stone driveway. Armin had changed into his attire for the day and quickly brushed through his hair. He looked to the two and then raised his brow. “Are you sun bathing?” He questioned his sister and then chuckled. “If you follow Kai around she’ll teach you to enjoy all the minor things of life.” He winked to Willow. “Believe me, she can enjoy a speck of dirt if you let her.” He chuckled as he took in a long breath of the fresh fall air. He gazed in the distance and took note of the darkened clouds that lingered. It was possible that rain would come by the early afternoon. “This way.” He led the two up a trail that led behind the home and into the forest. Kai poked at Willow a few times with a grin upon her lips as she hiked along. As they came to a crest of a hill Armin glanced to Willow. “So…where might we find this herb?” He questioned. They were overlooking a beautiful lake with a cliff backdrop.
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Post by Nyte on Mar 20, 2021 12:45:19 GMT -5
Willow began to twirl a lock of her long hair around her index finger as Kai told her that Armin did not have anyone he was interested in. This was new territory for her. Growing up a servant having a love interest wasn't something she would ever experience. If she ever was paired with someone it most likely would have simply been Ignatius demanding she have children to serve him as well. "I can't help it." She told Kai just before she heard the sound of footsteps from behind them.
Releasing the curl wrapped around her finger Willow turned to greet Armin and smiled as she saw that he had changed clothes from his sleepwear. "Nothing wrong with enjoying your surroundings." She commented and followed Armin to the trail behind the house. As Kai continued to poke Willow as they walked along the path she would cast a glance back at the woman. There was no way she was going to say something while around Armin. That was just an awkward situation waiting to happen.
"There's three we need." She explained as she looked out over the beautiful lake nestled in the trees. "One is a small plant with blue and white flowers. Just need the leaves from that one. Another is a redish-brown moss that grows on fallen trees and the last one looks almost like hollie that grows in the branches of trees." She turned to the two siblings. "Divide and conquer?" She offered. "Or should we stick together?"
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Post by Blindside Tex on Mar 20, 2021 13:04:26 GMT -5
Kai chuckled a few times to the glances. Armin would look over his shoulder to the two with a bit of a raised brow. When they made it to the lake he looked to Willow as she explained the three items that they were in need of. “Together.” He spoke and gave a nod. “No sense in splitting up when we know that Ignatius was already arrogant enough to send Remus after you.” He explained as he walked forward. “Fallen trees hm?” He questioned as he glanced about. “I think there’s one over this way.”
Kai smirked slightly as her brother walked ahead. “He doesn’t want to risk anything.” She smiled to Willow as she walked ahead. She sighed after a moment and she slipped behind a small grove of trees. “Don’t be afraid, Willow.” She spoke. There was a flash of light from behind the trees. A beautiful red timber wolf stepped out. This was Kai’s wolf form. She leaped forward, bouncing about. Her head nudged against Willow’s side as she ran passed her and she leaped up upon a fallen tree.
Armin chuckled as he watched his sister. It had been a few days since she had run in her wolf form. It had been a few days for him as well. He glanced to Willow with curious eyes. “Are you afraid of our wolf form?” He asked. He wasn’t certain how she felt about it. He knew that the Blackridge pack had some of the more beautiful wolf forms due to their ancient bloodline. Some of the other packs looks mangy and dirty in their wolf form. Much like the humans thought of the lycans.
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Post by Nyte on Mar 20, 2021 13:22:25 GMT -5
Willow nodded when Armin wanted to stay together. It was the better idea anyway. Then as Armin started to lead them towards a fallen tree she began to scan the ground and trees for any of the other two plants they would need. The one in the tree branches would be the most difficult to find.
Willow hadn't even noticed that Kai stepped away until she told her not to be afraid. She looked up with a bit of confusion but as she saw the flash of light and then the red wolf emerge she felt her muslces reflexively tense. It only took her a moment to realize what had happened and she gave a small sigh of relief and scratched Kai's head as she brushed against her. "No, I'm not afraid of you. Besides wolf or not you're still the same people, right?" She told Armin with a small shrug as she smiled up at him.
Looking up at Armin she noticed that one of the plants they were looking for, the more illusive of the three, was hanging from a branch a little ways up in a tree behind him. "Well there's one." She stated and moved to stand under the tree. This was by far the most difficult to get too. It was several feet above Willow's head but she wasn't deterred.
Hiking up her skirt she jumped up and caught a low hanging branch and pulled herself up easily as she used her feet to push herself up at the same time. She came to rest on a branch next to the plant and gently worked a large portion of the plant free from the branch. "Kai, catch." She stated and tossed the branch down to the ground before beginning her decent back to the ground.
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Post by Blindside Tex on Mar 20, 2021 13:41:43 GMT -5
Armin chuckled and offered a nod. “Yes we are still the same people, just with a different coat.” He winked as he looked to his sister whom was romping around playfully. The lycan lifted his eyes to look to the tree as Willow pointed out the flower. He was calculating the climb up the tree when Willow jumped up and began to climb the tree. His eyes widened slightly as he stepped closer, almost anticipating for her to fall. To his surprise she climbed right up the tree with what looked like ease. He stood in silence with his arms crossed over his chest, a look of amusement on his expression. As Willow called out to Kai the lycan came rushing forward and leaped into the air to catch the branch with ease. She spun around and spit the branch out before she offered a friendly growl to her brother.
Armin looked to her as if she had said something of interest to him. His brows furrowed slightly. He then returned his attention to Willow. He offered up a hand as she came down the tree. “You. Are full of surprises.” He chuckled as he looked her over. “You know, a lady need not climb a tree.” He chuckled lightly. “I can’t imagine climbing in a dress was the most comfortable thing.” Another grumble from Kai and her brother’s cheeks turned pink. He shook his head and walked forward toward the fallen tree. “Is this the moss?” He asked and looked to Willow.
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Post by Nyte on Mar 20, 2021 14:00:53 GMT -5
Willow had no idea what Kai could have said to Armin but she had a sneaking suspicion she was using her lack of ability to understand to be able to say things that would have embarrassed Willow in some form or fashion. She gave Kai a hard look for a moment as she dusted off her skirt. "It's not the best but it's manageable." She told Armin. "Perhaps we can get some bolts of cloth for me to make some clothes better suited for working?" He had called her a lady but she didn't see herself as such. She was simply.. Willow. Even with her recent discovery concerning her origin she didn't consider herself to be noble.
"Yes, I believe that is it!" She told Armin as he pointed out some moss. "That leaves on one more." She leaned down to pick up the branch she had retrieved from the tree and began to pick off the dead leaves from it and dropping them to the ground.
Walking closer to Kai she lowered her voice as she spoke to her. "You're not telling him what we talked about are you?" She whispered.
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Post by Blindside Tex on Mar 20, 2021 14:26:18 GMT -5
“Perfect.” Armin spoke as he broke off a piece of the bark that held the moss on it with ease. “Just one more then…” He repeated what she’d said with a smirk upon his lips. “Now where do you find that sort of flower?” He questioned as he walked along. “You know, Kai has some clothing that she never wears that might suit this sort of occasion. Don’t you Kai?” He glanced to his sister before he jumped down a small embankment to the beachy shore of the lake as he continued to look for the flower.
Kai’s bright honey eyes looked to Willow as she questioned her. She ran a few circles around Willow before she took off in a sprint. Kai leaped into the air and landed in the water of the lake with a splash. This caused water to splash up on her brother. “Hey!!” He called out as he jumped to the side quickly. Kai swam around for a bit before she came from the lake water and shook herself off, splattering Armin with more water. A growl came from the lycan as he looked to his sister. His clothing was spattered with water. “Willow, where would we find this last flower?” He questioned as he glanced over his shoulder to her. His eyes looked up to the sky and he frowned slightly. The storm was moving in faster than expected. A bit of wind began to pick up as the dark clouds edged closer.
Kai had taken off toward the tree grove and a few minutes later she came back to the two as she wrung her hair of the water from the crystal clear lake. “That storm looks like it’s going to be a doozy…” She noted as she looked to the sharp difference in the cloud coloration.
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Post by Nyte on Mar 20, 2021 14:50:37 GMT -5
Kai had other types of clothes? Of course she did. She was starting to get a feeling that Kai was the michevious "life of the party" when it came to the various members of the party. Kai jumping in the water to splash Armin only heightened that suspicion and she couldn't help but laugh as she saw the displeased look on Armin's expression as his clothes got wet.
"The last plant is just going to be on the ground somewhere. It usually grows best in shade but these trees give plenty of it so im not sure exactly where to look." She told Armin. As the sound of thunder crackled across the sky Willow ducked a bit. She had a love-hate relationship with storms. Thunder scared her but she loved the way the rain smelled and the gentle sound of rain upon a rooftop. "Well, let's find this last plant and head back then." She offered as Kai returned, once again standing on two legs.
She hadn't climbed down the embankment to the lake and stayed up on the ridge to continue looking for the last plant they needed. After a couple of minutes she saw the small blue flowers sticking out from behind a tree and smiled. "Found it!" She walked around and knelt down by the bush to begin plucking a few sprigs of from the bush and placed them with her other ingredient. As another crack of thunder echoed through the forest Willow jumped again and gave a yelp of surprise. She quickly finished gathering the necessary sprigs and carried her collection back to Armin and Kai. "OK, lets go home." She stated.
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Post by Blindside Tex on Mar 20, 2021 15:05:33 GMT -5
Armin drew in a breath, “I’m not the best at scavenging for flowers.” He smirked to her playfully. He watched as she ducked to the sound of the thunder. “Are you alright?” He asked his eyes curious until he realized she was frightened by the storm. “No need to worry, we will find the flower and get home soon.” He called to her as he made his way up the beach looking in the shadows for the flower. When Willow called out that she’d found it he honed in on her and was standing just a few feet from her when she yelped from the second crash of thunder. His eyes looked to the skies as lightening crackled across the dark clouds. He narrowed his brows slightly as the wind pushed against his hair.
“We aren’t going to make it back to the house before the storm hits, Armin.” Kai spoke as droplets of rain began to fall. The sight of the rain droplets bouncing upon the top of the lake was beautiful.
The lycan drew in a breath as he looked up to the menacing looking skies. “Sure we will, Kai.” He had a grin upon his lips which was only met by a playful smile from his sister. “Hold on tight.” She giggled as she looked to Willow.
Armin turned his gaze to Willow and nodded. “Yes, hold on tight.” He winked. “Up you go.” He scooped her into his arms and with that he took off in a sprint. Armin gazed forward, Kai was just ahead of him as they raced through the forest off of the trail that they had taken to the lake. He leaped over fallen trees with ease as he held Willow close to his body. He zig zagged around larger oak trees and soon enough the trio came into the courtyard of the mansion. Armin took in slightly faster breaths as he carried Willow into the foyer and set her down just as lightening crackled across the skies once more. He offered a grin to her, “Don’t worry, we’re perfectly fine inside the house.” He chuckled lightly. “Now…what exactly do you do with those herbs?” He asked with a raised brow.
Kai chuckled as she put her heels back onto her feet and she stepped forward. “I’m sure you grind them up silly.” She spoke to her brother. “Come on.” She grasped Willow’s hand and pulled her down the hall and into a small office type room where it looked as though someone used to study chemical compositions. “This used to be father’s office.” She spoke as she blew a bit of dust from one of the flasks. “It should have everything we need, hm?” She smiled as she pulled out an herb grinder. “What else do you need?” She asked softly as she opened up an old cabinet.
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Post by Nyte on Mar 20, 2021 15:40:56 GMT -5
Willow raised an eyebrow at the pair as they seemed rather confident they would make it back before it began to pour down. There was no way. When Armin picked her up though she used one hand to hold the plants and the other to grip Armin's shirt. The speed at which they ran was incredible. Even if Willow were running for her life she would never be able to match their speed. She also took the opportunity to glance up at Armin as he carried her, with his eyes focused ahead of him. She could feel the power behind his muslces as his body moved and yet he was extremely gentle with how he held her against him. Even as the thunder continued to crackle above them she didn't feel any fear as he carried her.
When they finally reached the manor and Armin had put her back down on her own two feet she steadied herself. "I knew you guys were fast but that was amazing." She told them and nodded her head at Kai's statement. "Yes, I will need to grind them." She replied and turned to Armin. "Can you get me a hot tea kettle with water and whatever tea Rose likes best?" She asked. "Dont put the tea in yet though. Oh, and a bit of honey."
Once in the room she moved to light a fire in the hearth and hung the flowered plant upside down a short distance from the flames to dry it out a bit. The other two she threw into a morter and pestle and began to grind them into a paste. When the tea kettle was brought in she pulled the drier leaves from the plant hanging by the fire and crushed them to add them to the normal tea leaves before pouring the cup. "Once this is done steeping add some honey to it. Helps with the butter flavor." She explained. "The tea will help her sore muslces and any open wounds she has left need to be covered with this paste and then wrapped until healed."
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Post by Blindside Tex on Mar 21, 2021 9:10:12 GMT -5
Armin had chuckled to Willow about her comment on how fast he and his sister were. “We weren’t even showing off.” He had spoken as he stepped to the kitchen to grab the tea and kettle as requested from the fae.
Kai sat down on a stool and spun from left to right slightly as she watched Willow work. “You know how to do a lot of interesting things.” She spoke with a smile upon her lips. “Armin seems quite impressed.” A smirk then from the lycan as she flattened the front of her dress a bit. “If you’re wondering, I told Armin you were beautiful. That’s why he blushed.” She glanced over her shoulder and then held a finger to her lips as she heard the footsteps of her brother approaching.
Armin stepped into the room with the hot kettle of water and a metal ball that was filled with dried tea leaves. He looked about the room and stepped over to a shelf with several flasks and bottles. He ran his fingertips along one, his expression solemn. He turned his attention to Willow as she began her instructions. A soft smile curved up his lips. “Of course. I wasn’t aware we had an apothecary in our home.” He mixed in the small bit of honey that he had brought into the room. “I’ll take this up to Rhett. Hopefully it helps.” He spoke as he slipped from the room.
Kai grinned to Willow as she slipped from the stool. A loud crash of thunder shook the house. She lifted her eyes slightly to look at the ceiling. “That is a wicked storm.” She spoke and then looked back to Willow. “Come on.” She spoke as she walked down the hallway in a direction that Willow hadn’t been taken quite yet. “We have a lovely hortus conclusus that I think you might enjoy in the evenings.” She smiled over her shoulder as she pushed a door open. It was a beautiful arboretum with glass walls and a curved roof. Kai walked up to a beautiful purple and white orchid and placed a gentle hand beneath the pedal and sniffed gently. “What do you think?” She asked as she looked to the rain as it cascaded down upon the room.
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Post by Nyte on Mar 21, 2021 10:53:13 GMT -5
Willow shrugged to Kai's praise of her skills. "I know how to cook, clean, sew, and prepare some herbs to help heal the injured." She gave a small smile. "Trades of a servant." She didn't think anything she did was that impressive. Her healing was a new discovery and she was still learning about that. Her skills simply reminded her of what she had been before coming to the Blackridge pack.
When Kai revealed that she had simply complimented Willow and not revealed their conversation to Armin she was relieved. Though Armin's reaction to the comment was enough to make her blush as well. It didn't last long before the house shook from thunder and Willow ducked as if she were going to be hit with the sound. Afterwards she grumbled at herself to get a grip but thunder was simply not something she enjoyed.
Following Kai down the hall she titled her head when the wolf mentioned she might enjoy the space in the evenings. Though as the doors opened ad she saw the arboretum her expression lit up with a bright smile. It was like a garden within the house and with the windows she would be able to see the moon and stars easily without the danger of one of the Silverfang pack attacking her. "This is amazing." She began to walk around through the aisles of plants and took note of each one. When she saw the flash of lightening she quickly reached up and covered her ears as thunder shook the house once more.
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Post by Blindside Tex on Mar 21, 2021 11:32:42 GMT -5
Kai smiled brightly as Willow walked around through the beautiful plants. “I take care of them.” She spoke, quite proud of the feat. She couldn’t cook, but she could certainly grow plants. She winced as she watched Kai flinch to the thunder once more. “We’ve got to get you some courage darling. It’s just a storm.” She walked over to another beautiful display of flowers and she looked over the plant a moment. Another scatter of lightening across the sky caused a loud boom of thunder. Kai frowned slightly as she looked up to the rain as it fell over the glass panes. “Why don’t we go inside hm?” She led Willow back into the home and to the foyer just as Armin and Rhett walked down the stairs.
“Ah, Willow.” Rhett spoke as he stepped to her, “Thank you for the tea and the salve. Rose is sleeping quite well now.” He placed a hand upon her shoulder as he gazed into her eyes a long moment. The alpha seemed to be thinking deeply. It was a wonder what was going through his mind. He let his hand fall away from her shoulder and then he glanced to Armin. “Are we ready?” He asked and gave a nod. He stepped over to the basement door and unlocked it before he led the way down the stairs.
The basement was well kept. The first room was furnished nicely and open. Though Rhett headed down a hallway a few splotches of blood stained the carpet here and there. He pushed open a heavy metal door and they walked into a cold concrete space. Remus was chained to the wall, a clasp on each wrist and each ankle. “Wake up asshole.” Rhett kicked the lycan’s leg harshly.
Armin stood with his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes had melted to the honey color. Kai on the other hand seemed to be much more calm than her brothers. She stepped forward and kneeled down before him. An almost wicked smile came over her lips as she tilted his head up. “Don’t mind my brother.” She spoke as she gazed into his eyes. “Why don’t you tell us what happened when you went back to your alpha without his servant? Looks like he wasn’t too happy.” She gripped his chin to inspect the cuts on the side of his face. “How about we talk about it, hm?” Her voice was silky sweet. Perhaps this is where Rose had gotten calling her names such as temptress.
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Post by Nyte on Mar 21, 2021 12:05:53 GMT -5
"Very impressive." Willow had complimented Kai on the arboretum. Plants could be quite finicky and all of these looked absolutely gorgeous. Though as much as she enjoyed the garden she was glad to head back inside. When she saw the men coming back downstairs she smiled at him, a bit more brave to meet Rhett's gaze than she had been when she first arrived. "You're welcome. I'm glad it's helping."
Her smile fell slightly as Rhett brought up the interrogation of Remus and she felt her chest grow tight with anxiety. She had to help them get information from him and she wanted to make sure he wouldn't outright lie to them. As they headed down to the basement she followed after Armin down the steps and clinched her fists as she saw the splotches of blood upon the carpet. This wasn't going to be pleasant but she was willing to try and hold in her fear for her new friends.
When they came to Remus and she saw the way he was chained to the wall she reached up and gripped the back of Armin's shirt gently as she stood slightly behind him.
Remus groaned as he returned to consciousness when Rhett kicked his leg and lifted his head as Kai knelt down in front of him and touched his chin. He looked at the beautiful woman before him and gave a cocky grin. "He wasn't happy, but I'm sure I could make it up to him by bringing her back as well as you. You'd make a nice toy for him."
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