Once more I would like to state that Ralla's 'visions' are not actual visions; just very strong belief mixed with maybe-schizophrenia >.> Gotta restate every now and then

That morning had brought the first cold signs of snow. Like hidden crystals they fell mixed with a seemingly slow rain, and like feathers they drifted, not yet heavy enough to create ice nor cause chill. The rain would have ruined the dried firewood under the tarp had not said tarp been present, and Ralla secured it tightly as she left her large red oak tower. The fire at the base was well put out by her own hand, and the hut above secured from any predators or scavengers. Instead of worrying about her duties on such a day, she instead decided to have a day for Sugar. The quarter unicorn was well cared for by the Adeloquasdi Nata, Liliana, but Ralla felt responsibility to the gelding for all his hard work. I wonder... If I asked Liliana... Maybe...? Asking for posession of the unicorn was asking a lot, and Ralla knew that her tribe wizard worked hard for the horses. In her own corner, Ralla really did not have much to offer in exchange, let alone something of equal value to a unicorn.

She skedaddled to the stables, trying to avoid the slurry of ice and water, and shook herself off when she crossed the threshhold of the doors. Momentarilly she was bothered by her fur fluffing outwards like a puff ball, the white wolfess used to thick snow and ice instead of pelting water. Inside were the stalls, and inside those the noble beasts. But amongst the wickering of the steadily growing herd, she heard a voice. Training her ears to the sound, Ralla ventured further into the structure and found Liliana herself, face in palms, as she exuded a peeved presence. Ralla tensed from the feeling in the room, and was at first reluctant to disturb the wolfess's peace...if it were that.

"Liliana?" she tried furtivly. She did not yet know the wolfess she saw as strong and sure on a personal level, but such an obvious body posture of sadness or frustration concerned Ralla. Only once--the night Ralla had gone to Liliana for assistance--had Ralla seen the other in a state of annoyance. "Is...something wrong?" Barging straight into what might have been personal business might not have been the best move, and Ralla wondered just what the somewhat mangled piece of leather was in the other's hand. She could've always tried a vision later in the night or used the fire, but not only would that lead Ralla in a roundabout and vague way to see a problem, but that would be unlawful invasion of Liliana's privacy, if she chose to keep it so.

Moon walks. "Moon talks." Moon thinks.

Sorry this was delayed And short >.>

The tone that Liliana had struck Ralla, and that persistant feeling that she had in her chest whenever someone asked for help promptly began its pushing. Looking at the bit of leather, Ralla knelt and reached out to finger the piece. "I know some... All women in my previous tribe were taught some curing to help out." Although this was slightly misleading... Given her birth, Ralla had not been allowed to learn such 'mundane practices'; the elders had intoned that her other duties were far more important. But nonetheless, she had learned some of the craft from quiet observance, watching from afar, making small trinkets for amusement on long, starless nights when there was nothing to be seen. It doesn't seem so hard, and the solution that the other tribes members had used for the leather had been somewhat the same as the tallow I make here, she told herself. "I know how to harden and bind leather, but I'm afraid I've only ever done amateur work. Tell me, what were you trying to make?" Hearing Liliana say that it had been meant as a surprise for the white warrior interested Ralla much in that it was confirming her earlier suspicions. It was not as if she were unhappy about it; quite the contrary. Perhaps she could repay the other wolfess by helping her with the leather project.

Moon walks. "Moon talks." Moon thinks.

Meh, sometimes short-posting is all you can do :3 Hakuna matata~

"A guard for archery?" The white wolfess pondered the thought before her ears shot up in realization. "Oh! You mean a gauntlet! Some warriors in my old tribe used to wear them on the arm they held their bows with," she said as she pantomimed the action of drawing the bow, her animated habits unbiddingly called. "I think I can remember the design. Let's see..." Then, like she would trace and map the stars and their cycles in the sand and earth, Ralla drew with her finger a rough picture of what she hoped Liliana was referring to. There were several kinds of gauntlets, she knew, but the one she was thinking of had three bands that wrapped around the arm, and attached to the inner-arm part was the hardened leather.

"Leather shrinks when it's hardened, so whatever shape you want to do, you'll have to make it as if it's two sizes too big," she explained, having learned so after her first secret attempt at the craft. "We're going to need to tie the leather strings here," she motioned to the holes that attached the leather guard to the bands, "before you put the gauntlet in the hot water, so they will harden and set with the guard. Umm...." Then she came to a problem. "Buckles..." was all she could say. All of the gauntlets in the Crescent Moon Pack had either been tie-ons--tedious to take on and off and easily worn out--, slip-ons--easy, but made for the one user only--or had buckles filched from the homes of Long Gones. The buckles had been glued to the ends of the straps, and further use had been self-explanatory, but...did they have buckles in AniWaya?

"Sorry, Liliana, but, uh... Unless you have buckles somewhere, the only good gauntlet I can think of would be one that he could just slip on, and, uh... For that, we would need his arm measurements..." Ralla knew that Liliana wanted this gift to be a surprise, so she was counting oh-so-greatly that the moon would allow for there to be buckles nearby...! Funny... Usually one prays to the moon for fortune and blessings... Not buckles...

Moon walks. "Moon talks." Moon thinks.

Short >.>

Ralla's posture slumped as Liliana let the leather slide from her fingers. It was disconcerting to see the other woman seem so defeated, and Ralla was disappointed that she had not indeed had a solution to the woman's problem. She quirked her head to the side when the other woman asked if Ralla knew any other good gifts, and Ralla had to think back on what she knew of gift-giving in the first place. Gift-giving is a special thing, surprising another with a present full of one's thoughts. They have meaning, and every effort counts... Ralla was not herself made for the craftsman post, although she knew the simple basics. If they had been back in the Moon Tribe, she would've suggested a body adornment or jewelry, since most of their tribe enjoyed decorating themselves and showing beauty.

"You could make him a necklace or bracelet," she tried. "Maybe something else that will help him...? A blanket for the winter? A carving? A knife made from a bone or antler...?" In Ralla's mind, some of that was simple... Some. Weaving she knew not how to do, but carving seemed easy. She had seen Ember sharpen Ralla's Gata Hineyu axes before, and although the process looked tedious, it was fairly straightforward. And if Liliana thought Nayati partial toward a necklace, that was something she could teach the other with great ease. "I mean, is there anything that has particular meaning to him? An object of symbolism?" And then her mind snapped to a very odd notion. "Say, have you heard of Dream-Catchers?"

Moon walks. "Moon talks." Moon thinks.

Note to self: get a planner for this site specifically >.>

Ralla noticed that the offer of making a Dream-Catcher caught Liliana's attention most, and it eased her own tensions. She had seen some within the AniWayan territory, but their design was slightly different than how she was taught. "In my old tribe, Dream-Catchers were made to purify evil spirits and bad omens from a person. They were shaped in circles like the moon and had the five colors of the elements; blue for water, red for fire, green for earth, silver for wind, and white for soul. They're very easy to make, and many of the warriors had them to ward against malicious spirits that may have followed them from the battlefield." Ralla rememberd those Dream-Catchers vividly, many having been hung in front of the Shaman's cave. "You're supposed to decorate them with three objects of value to the user, although the items could also be universal," Ralla said while fingering a tooth necklace. "We used twigs for the base, soft leather or string to bind the twigs into a circle, and more string to create the web within." Explaining the exact pattern was hard for Ralla because, in all honesty, there was never a set pattern. Each and every web within a Dream-Catcher was unique, and it was said that each unique weave brought good fortune.

"I have many beads and objects in my hut that you could use. I found a lot while I was on my journey, so whatever you may need, I could search around for it." Ralla smiled brightly, convinced that Liliana would feel less troubled with this. She would help the other wolfess with the base if need be, explain the inner webbing, but she would let Liliana do the major construction herself. She did, after all, want the gift to be from Liliana to Nayati only. "Besides... Giving one in my old tribe was a very special occasion. Only family and very close friends exchanged them," Ralla said while leaning forward on her knees.

Moon walks. "Moon talks." Moon thinks.

Waaa, short post ;-;

"It's more like something to hang outside of one's hut or home for luck," she said with a bemused expression. "Although I suppose, if we made a small one, he could decorate his spear with it...? Or maybe you could make it into a necklace." It wasn't a completely foreign idea, but Ralla wondered if Liliana would pass it.

Nodding, Ralla took a look at the nail. "I could dull it with the stone I use to sharpen my axes. If I just change the angle, the point should become rounded." Happy that Liliana had come to an agreement within herself, Ralla nodded and stood. "If you could wait here a moment, I'll be right back with the supplies." As swiftly as she could, the white wolf began her run to the red oak that she called home. Climbing--more like jumping--the trunk, she hastily rooted through her things and chose some beads, feathers, string made from animal sinew, and some of her own leather that had been left over from making axe grips. Walking outside the hut, she broke off some small twigs from the red oak, thanking it for its patronage to her friend while doing so. Instead of shimmying down the trunk, she flat out jumped down with a 'thump' and hit the ground running for fear of making Liliana wait too long.

She arrived back in the stables, slightly out of breath but fine since the run had been short, and laid out the supplies for them. "Did you want to do the construction? I could talk you through it." Ralla wondered if the gift wouldn't satisfy Liliana if she didn't make it herself, but Ralla was confident that the brown hybrid could do it easily with little instruction.

Moon walks. "Moon talks." Moon thinks.

Hoorayz for happy endings <3

The woman's amazement at what she had done reminded Ralla of the first time she had correctly deciphered the stars. It was a similar feeling of accomplishment and pride, and when Liliana gave Ralla that comment, she blushed. "I'm sure you could've. And thank you," she replied. The small Dream-Catcher was cradled in Liliana's hands, and Ralla wished Liliana and Nayati the best of happiness. She blushed again when Liliana continued thanking her, unused to such praise.

"You've done a lot for me already. Sugar's been a huge help with my duties and a faithful companion, and we're tribesmates; we're supposed to help each other." Ralla genuinly liked the wolfdog Adeloquasdi Nata; she was honest, responsible, and a pleasure to talk to. Not to mention she still had the patience to deal with Ralla after their brusque meeting. Ralla didn't know if she was too eager to please her tribesmates or not, but she would continue on as she always did, regardless. She loved it in her tribe, and the least she could do was help her family--for that was how she saw them all--in whatever way she could.

Moon walks. "Moon talks." Moon thinks.