Mind if I pop in? :3 (Nootau's State: Visible)

A good, long night's rest had done Ralla some good, and she had awaken the next morning in her hut--loving to be back in it, although she had forgone the hammock instead to sleep with Kemo on a mound of cushions and blankets--to find herself wanting to return to the groove of pack life. While she was gone, so much had happened, including the fact that she was no longer alone in her tier. It did not bother her, but instead made her proud that J'adore had advanced enough and been recognized. Stretching, she ran her fingers through Kemo's hair once and then went out to do her duties, which she was sure he would understand. The crisp morning air did wonders to perk her up, so much so that she felt like a new woman. Spring is wonderful! Along side her flew Nootau, flitting from perch to perch when necessary. The barn owl was welcome company wherever Ralla went, even if he was a bit blunt whenever he deigned to speak.

Before they had gone back to the hut last night Ralla had seen Sugar and greeted him, happy to reunite with her horse friend. Liliana had taken good care of him--she expected nothing less--and he was happy to see her as well. But instead, Nootau seemed to have other plans. He had stopped following Ralla and instead looked off to the distance, where the hills of the small valley were. Well, maybe not a valley, but there was certainly a ridge that turned into a field just that way. "Nootau?" she said softly. Even from their short time being together, Ralla felt like she knew the barn owl so well. Although I suppose that's why he's my spirit guide... And right now, there was something that way. Never one to ignore something a spirit says or does, Ralla followed Nootau's gaze and he resumed keeping up with her, satisfied that he had made her go in the particular direction.

The small stretch of forest that led to the hills felt much like it had in autumn, nay--better, because the soft feel of moss and grass was fresh beneath her feet. The white wolfess continued on until the trees gave way to the spotted hills, and there she saw none other than a tribe mate, Sakari. Ralla smiled and waved while calling out her name, walking down slowly. She was aware of her pregnancy, and even if she was not completely bloated with the pups inside her, there was the hint of a baby bump, and she did not feel the need to run at that particular point in time. But there was Sakari--in optime form--just over there, nestled among the green, doing...well, Ralla didn't know what. But had a month really passed so quickly that the girl Ralla had met crying over a friend become able to shift? It made Ralla feel old and happy at the same time, even if she was barely over two herself. "What're you doing?" she asked as she came closer to the red wolf girl.

Moon walks. "Moon talks." Moon thinks.

Well alrighty then :3

Ralla smiled as she bent at the waist, her hands resting on her knees, to closer inspect the chain of clovers. How sweet, she thought, referring to Sakari's concern for her uncle. "That is very kind, Sakari. Clovers are supposedly lucky." Which was about all she could say, because Ralla couldn't remember herself if there were even medicinal properties to the plant. She just could never seem to retain horticulture... "Would you mind if I joined?" She felt like she wanted to spend time with the girl, seeing as their contact had been limited, and the task seemed like fun in itself.

Kneeling next to Sakari, Ralla began to daintily pull clovers from the bases of their stems and create a small pile for Sakari to do as she would. She noticed how much the girl had grown, how much more mature she looked from before. She also seemed much happier than before, which soothed Ralla's disposition a little more. "Oh, that reminds me," Ralla said, turning towards the young girl again. "Remember when we were discussing spirit guides?" she didn't know if the subject was still a touchy one, but she wanted to share it with Sakari, so she approached it gently and delicately. She looked off to where Nootau was still perched in the trees and, being her spirit guide, could sense her wishes. He flew over complacently, landing on an outstretched arm. The owl was fair in size and had feathers like a golden sun and eyes blacker than a raven's plumage. "Sakari, this is Nootau." Absently, the barn owl nibbled on Ralla's fur, as if preening her as he preened himself. Ralla hoped that if he decided to speak he would not be rude to Sakari; how well would that go over?

Moon walks. "Moon talks." Moon thinks.

Ralla, stop mumbling to yourself >.>

"I remember knowing a young wolf--about your age when I met him," she began, fondly remembering Frodo Silvertongue, who was the son of some of the luperci she had traveled up to Nova Scotia with. "Gypsy luperci are just as superstitious as us, even if our beliefs differ. But it's an ancient legend that the clover protected a nomad clan from a land far across the water from a plague of snakes. Ah, that's what they're for," she murmured while crinkling her nose, suddenly remembering the use of the small leaf; warding off the poisons of the inner and outer self. Perhaps that was the only way she could ever remember the properties of fauna; through story.

At first Ralla had assumed that the girl had only wanted to make her own chain, and so Ralla had gone along with that idea with the intention of not stealing her thunder. But with a kind voice she offered to show the white wolfess, and so Ralla nodded happily, taking up two clovers to mimic however Sakari would show her. She felt like a young girl again--Listen to me; you'd think I was an old woman!--in the fields, picking flowers. Thereof there had been no one who would play with her or accept her flower gifts, but it had made her feel happier than always sitting beneath the stars. With a thought she came to the conclusion that she would prefer the stars anyway, only that she could not always be cooped up in a cave. "Ah, that's right," she said, as if she just remembered, "it's spring." Which meant a new set of traditions. Granted she had never experienced an AniWayan spring, but she had been given an overview of the traditions practiced by the tribe since she had asked and was so intent on chronicling everything. But chronicling would include script, which she would have to remind J'adore to teach her.

Immediately she regretted calling Nootau over so crassly, but it didn't appear as if Sakari were hurt by a reminder or that she had perceived the gesture as bragging, so she followed through on her actions. With respect Sakari had lowered her head to the animal, and obligingly Nootau had done the same, which was something Ralla had not expected from the stoic bird. Jumping down, the barn owl pecked once at the pile of clovers that Ralla had made and went to perch on a nearby rock, munching contentedly on the grass. "You know...I could've sworn that owls didn't eat clovers," she said in jest, half to Nootau in scolding and half to Sakari in puzzlement. Sighing she continued to make a chain of clovers as Sakari had shown her, a smile returning to her face as she got further into her work. "Never mind him, Sakari. Besides, you'll have yours soon enough. You must be old enough to be a Sedali, yes?" The work was calming, making the chain. It had the same methodic rythmn as reciting a song or painting a star chart, bringing Ralla to hum a tune in her own satisfaction of peace the further that they got into the clover threading.

Moon walks. "Moon talks." Moon thinks.