Eris is by Alaine! Note: witchy get-up worn only when specified.

The dark hybrid leaned in with curiosity when the journal was flipped to her view; chartreuse eyes scanned the pages curiously, taking in the detailed drawings and the notes. The letters and printing were far superior to anything she had ever scribbled in her life, and the information was probably a lot more useful than anything she'd copied down. Eris had never seen much value in recording her own thoughts, but surely -- these notes were beyond value. Her gaze shifted casually back to Odessa, though a sparkle of excitement crackled through her, too.

Your work impresses, the woman said. Though it was a coolly-delivered compliment of extreme brevity, there was very genuine pleasure in her dark features, and the tip of her tail wavered slowly back and forth. A knowledge book such as that has more value than half of Salsola's horses put together, I wager, she added, nodding as if to emphasize the statement. The book would be worth a great many things in Freetown, but its informational value was far too high to allow it to head south.

I know little of plants and healing -- perhaps I will pick up your work when it's finished, if you'll allow, the woman said, asking without truly asking. She might have ordered Odessa to hand over the journal then and there, true enough, but Eris truly did not believe in abuses of power.

(324)
Oh god I have no idea if the word for the Eternian bible is right; I can't double-check on the wiki. ;~~~~~~~~~~~;

Eris is by Kiri!

The hybrid woman had learned to read during her time in Eterne. It hadn't been required of her, but Baphomet had insisted upon it. The Quahitl needed to be read -- it would not suffice to simply hear it from another's mouth. Eris had needed to read the words for herself. The sable-shaded hybrid had rarely practiced the skill after learning it, and so the skill had atrophied considerably. She had attempted to rekindle her skills while within Anathema, but the dark woman had abandoned such pursuits with the pack. Now, her eyes flicked along the page with a jagged sort of glance, hesitating on some words. She did not need to read each word to know the omnibus book contained invaluable information.

The coyote gave a sidelong glance to Odessa, a sly smile creeping across her face. Information can be more valuable than physical strength, sometimes, she quipped, lowering her voice as she said this. It was hardly a secret, but she spoke softly anyhow. I can try to help you, perhaps. I knew how to read, once upon a time. I never learned writing, but perhaps I can select a few passages from some books, if you'd tell me what to look for, Eris offered. It was always good to brush up on personal skill, and she would take take any opportunity to assist Salsola.

The coyote's smile widened,and she nodded. The pack will make great use of this contribution, I'm sure. Perhaps if we trek southward to Freetown again, I will tell our scouts to find another book for you to write in, she said, thinking this was a good plan. Freetown would have the sort of thing Odessa required, and it would come cheaply, too -- cheaper than if they were to trade locally, anyway. Paper was a rare commodity, and markets with European traffic were more likely to have paper at a better price.

Eris is by me!

The dark hybrid understood all too well what Odessa meant, and nodded gravely, frowning. She leaned close to divulge her own secret, though what she told The Associate was only a part of the truth. I'm much in the same way as you. But that's why we women have to rely on our wiles, after all, she said, grinning. Now, she settled to the ground beside her dark-furred companion, wrapping her tail about her thigh. She selected the top book from the pile and opened it gingerly, thumbing through the pages with care. She did not want them to tear or rip, after all.

Ah, yes -- I feel the same. I've never been, but I do want to go, the coyote added frowning. We'll arrange another trip, I'm sure, the hybrid added, wistfully dreaming of the marketplace streets. It was probably a lot less fancy than the sable canine imagined, but it was pointless to reign her imagination in. Though, I think you can make the journey on your lonesome. Sirius says it's not so far. I wouldn't want to go by myself, though. We're women, after all, the coyote said, speaking this last sentence with a hint of distaste. They were women, and they had more to worry about in the world. Eris, for one, did not plan on allowing herself to be violated by anyone, and she thought she would fight back in earnest if anyone tried.

Her eyes flicked down to the pages below, and she hunched closer to the book, browsing the pages absently. Most of the plants in this section were completely foreign to her, and they looked utterly exotic -- humongous flowers of massive proportion, trees with impossibly long and skinny trunks, and thick, snaking vines. None of these were things one would find in Nova Scotia; this fauna would have been more at home around Eterne. It was unlikely they would find any of these plants to import, even in such a worldly place as Freetown.

Eris is by me!

A faint smile crossed the dark hybrid's face at Odessa's clarification regarding Sirius's manliness and righteousness. Eris felt much the same; there was no doubting Sirius. The Boss was their leader, and Eris, though the only one amongst them capable of speaking out against him if she so desired, simply respected him too much to disagree with him, much less speak ill of the man behind his back. Part of her was glad Odessa realized the added dangers they faced as women; part of her lamented that the girl even needed to come to such a realization. It was the world they lived in, though, and Eris was powerless to change it.

Yes. If only I had the foresight to bring such plants north from Eterne... though, when I left that place, I did not know as much as I know now. I might not have taken anything useful, she said, dismissing Eterne and its exotic plants with a shrug. The sable hybrid's smile was still present, though more distant now as she listened to the woman. Eris had seen the lynx, but she had yet to discuss the feline's instruction and training with Salvia. Her daughter was a smart girl, though, and Eris did not doubt that Salvia would raise the cub to be as docile and tame as Itzcitla. I love cats. You should get one -- they are wonderful companions, the coyote said, trying not to think of the cat that had killed her daughter.

She listened to the darker canine's instructions carefully, nodding at a few intervals to show she understood. This work was easier than physical labor, at least -- Eris might not be the speediest reader, but it was better than struggling with building materials, or hunting in front of everyone else. Eris had improved by leaps and bounds since the last winter, but her hunting skills still left something to be desired. When the woman had seemed to cease her instruction, the hybrid nodded a final time, and flipped through the book, seeking the section on plants native to this part of the world.

(532)
Rambled at you, sorry. :c First two paragraphs = skip~

Eris is by Poppz!

She wished she had stripped everything of value from her Eternian family. It would have disadvantaged Tlantli, Xochime, Miqui, and their yet-unknown brother, Imacai, certainly -- but Eris hadn't known of Xochime and her siblings back then. She would not have cared, and she would have robbed the rest of them blind. Dieriel's kindness was nothing to her, either -- it was Dieriel who had stood to the side while Eris had been imprisoned and enslaved, after all. That the woman had later made amends was meaningless to the dark hybrid.

Clearly, there was not an ounce of altruism within the dark hybrid; Eris cared for herself, first and foremost. Salsola received her care because it was her solace, in a very real and literal sense. She had burned her bridges in Anathema and Inferni, and the dark woman could not imagine returning to the life of a lowly peon. She would have been doomed to the life of a loner if she lost her place within Salsola, and such a life eventually led to death, she was sure. Eris Eternity was not fit for such a life; she required a robust network of support, which she received and cultivated in Salsola.

The coyote's ear flicked at the woman's question, and she tilted her head back from the book a moment, closing her eyes to grant them brief respite. A faint headache had started just behind her eyes, and the coyote would not be able to continue reading for long. The strain was too much on her vision, and it was starting to let her know with that dull ache thudding in her skull. I can't compare them with other creatures. If your feline is small, they are easy to bond with. If they are large... well, they become dangerous, unfortunately, the coyote said, leveling her gaze with Odessa once again. There was a hint of remorse as she spoke, though it was distant and faraway. Ouija gave me the gift of a child cougar once. It grew too large and unpredictable, and despite my efforts, would not accept command.

The dark coyote had offered no explanation for Ouija -- all were inadequate or otherwise inappropriate. She might have said her packmate from Anathema, but he was much more than this. She might have said her soulmate, but that might have raised questions about her and this Ouija. The dark hybrid saw no more of him, however, and pushed him from her mind, not without difficulty and not without regret. I had to rid myself of him, sadly, she explained, her focus returning to the book. Now, her gaze was lazy, and she did not mark many passages for transcription. When Odessa announced their completion, it was with relief that the sable hybrid closed her book, immediately setting to rubbing just above her eyes. The chartreuse things were half-lidded, and she murmured a soft curse. Shit. Turning back toward The Associate, she offered a feeble grin. Would any of your plants rid me of an ache in the head? Reading too long does that to me, she admitted, hopeful that the silver-tinged woman might offer a remedy.

(359)

Eris is by Kiri!

The dark hybrid had pitifully little knowledge of the wide world beyond what she was familiar with. She did not know anything at all about these exotic places; the extent of her knowledge was that things came over to Freetown via ships and boats from these foreign places. The dark hybrid listened with interest to her silver-tipped packmate, nodding her agreement as the woman spoke. Eris had nearly discovered the hard way just how dangerous an untamed cougar could be: the thing had snapped at her a few times, and that was all. She would not have such a creature around her children, and she was certain Ouija would agree and understand.

Yes. I would not want anything much larger than my Itzcitla, personally. It is a smart decision to avoid those larger, dangerous creatures, the coyote said, shaking her head. She picked at the frondescence of a small weed by her feet, twirling the single leaf she had plucked from the weed between her fingers as she spoke. Whatever assistance you need with this new pet -- do let me know, the hybrid purred, happy to help a fellow Salsola member in his or her pursuits. The dark-hued canine watched her packmate with shining chartreuse eyes, eager to see what herbal magic Odessa would provide. Eris knew pitiably little about any concoctions, mixtures, or anything so much as tangentially related to such things.

The younger Associate returned in short order, handing Eris a tub of a strange substance. It was pale in coloration, appearing to be a root of some kind. Eris unscrewed the lid of the jar and inhaled a little, tilting her head at the strange spice that wafted up from the jar. The coyote took the thing up in her hands and nibbled a small bite of it, surprised to find the taste overpoweringly strong but not entirely unpleasant. Thank you, my dear, the coyote said, grinning broadly. Her dark tail wavered behind her happily, expressing as much contentment as the smile across her muzzle. How good it is to have one with such knowledge in Salsola, she praised, meaning every word whole-heartedly.

Eris is by Alaine!

Cats were creatures Eris Eternity greatly enjoyed as companions. Itzcitla was just balanced between independent and friendly, and she owed her life to the spotted feline's dedication, certainly. She would never seek to replace the ocelot, though she had considered augmenting his presence with that of another feline before, and was likely to do the same again at some point. She still dreamed of breeding her own litter one day, but she did not know if ocelots could breed with members of other species, as wolf and coyote did.

The hybrid nodded and smiled, glad to hear one of her clan possessing such views. Her bright jade eyes grew ever brighter as the silver-hinted woman spoke of a co-rank, and Curandero, at that. The dark hybrid's smile remained, and she agreed wholeheartedly with The Associate's statements. They were in need of one with such skills, and Odessa was just the one to do it. She was studying, first and foremost, and secondly, her demeanor matched the rank perfectly. She had been sweet and laid-back, yet business-like and brisk in her dealings with the work of the books. The dark hybrid did not, of course, consider that the silvery-hued woman could be more sour than sweet when dealing with one of less prestigious rank thank herself.

You speak true, yes. All of us are important, but all packs suffer greatly at the traumatic loss of a leader, and I fear even Salsola is not immune to such . But, she said, leaving off on a meaningful pause. Her gaze drifted away from Odessa and toward a boscage of shrubbery jutting out from between two ancient,crumbling stone pillars. The Kimaris household had fallen into utter disarray at Mantus's illness and death; they would have perished, had it not been for Metetzli's quick thinking. She did not want the same for Salsola. You must know -- to serve as our Curandero, you must engage in ritual and spiritual medicine? the coyote asked, her tone rather grave. She was capable of teaching, but not even the best educator could instruct those unwilling to learn.