[she doesn't know that the world is turning just for her]

skill: [none]

---

Euphemia rested in her eternal boredom. The weather changed as quickly as the wind swept through the valley, and she felt that time was moving too quickly – and she worried that she couldn’t keep up with it, that she was already behind.

But the Vale was beautiful these days. She had always known it as home, but recently she had begun to see it as a true aegis, shielding her against whatever disease plagued these lands. It was difficult for her to give the dreams credence, but now it seemed that the entire world had been wrapped up in runes and ruin.

At least, here, she was untouched. Not all her neighbors could say the same. The woman raised her snout to the air and surrendered her breath to the great expanse – and her eyes slipped closed, and the faces of both mother and father passed before her awareness, Genghis too, and she couldn’t help but feel as though life was better when they were all alive.

It had been painful, but it had been deep and sweet.

Perhaps Euphemia felt empty because she was constantly seeking meaning; and in her perspective, was continually failing at realising her desires. She wanted for friendship, lusted for guidance, which usually might be qualities that made for a better and more effective persona. But whatever tried to manifest within her rotted when it could bloom.

The worst part was that Euphemia was forced to see it ; to know it, and forced to accept it.

At least she had these mountains and this sweet, sweet air to assuage the keening sense of bondage she felt within.

---

Euphemia wasn't the only one struggling to find her place among her pack members and family. A lonely and isolated blond wolf was taking time to enjoy the peaceful quiet of their home, following one of the trails he used to explore when he was a pup. Leaves began to fall around him as Autumn started to appear, a cold snap coming into the air that was quite refreshing. But also brought back memories that he dared not remain in for too long. Much like his sisters and brothers, he wished that his parents were still alive.

Things seemed to be much better when they were around. They seemed to be much more stable, where everyone knew their place and had a purpose. Mother and Father kept the family and pack together. Now there were so many new faces and names, so many new things to get used to that it made his head spin. Along with all of it, the feeling like he no longer cared for his place as a healer any longer. Was it just a negative intrusive thought in his head? Or did he really feel these things?

Cassius had gotten so caught up in his own head that he hadn't realized that he was getting close to where Euphemia was residing. Her scent came into his nose suddenly, making him stop in his tracks as blue eyes looked around for her pretty gaze of sunset gold. Euphemia? You there? A soft and timid voice called out to her, wondering if she would respond, and if she would want any company. Cassius remained distant otherwise, not too sure how to pull himself out of the funk that he had been feeling up till now.

But maybe his sister would know what to do. It always seemed that way, that his sisters and brothers always knew what to do. Was that still holding true? Or was it never true at all? Just another trickery of his mind that plagued him, to keep him safe from the possible realities that might be harboring his life. He hoped that wasn't the case. Hoped with all his mind and heart that the reality was far better then what he had been led to believe. For that was all he had left.

[she doesn't know that the world is turning just for her]

skill: [none]

---

Euphemia sighed. There was no hope in pining for souls already lost.

The maiden supposed that it wasn’t really anyone or anything in particular that she sought. Nothing that she could pinpoint specifically that she lacked. It was mind boggling, to feel such loneliness and have close to no empirical data that would support it. Who was she to feel lonely? She, who has never been an outcast in her life, never not once surrounded by the closest of family?

And still, she yearned for closeness with another. For intimacy; whatever made up that bond that existed between two souls, whether it be romantic or friendship or more platonic or whatever it was! She wasn’t picky, Euphemia silently cried unto the winds, she just wanted someone.

With that, Cassius answered her silent call. Brother, hail! she greeted with a perkiness that did not match the dourness that consumed her insides, and she found it a bit strange to realize that both aspects of herself were inherently truthful. She smiled, then the smile grew into a grin, and the silver maiden trotted forward to greet her siblings with a bunting of her velveteen forehead.

Have you been well? No… nothing? Nothing weird? suddenly she knitted her brow, and perused his pale gold coat for malaise or imperfections. The wolves of Dawnbreak had been lucky so far, but Euphemia feared for the day that they might not be so safe (and bored) all the time.

---

The sadness in her voice was not missed by the golden brother, his eyes growing softer as she approached him with a grin on her face. Was Euphemia hiding something from him? Cassius accepted the loving headbutt from his sister, moving to embrace her shortly before stepping back again. She hit him nearly immediately with a fond hello. then with questions. Hello my lovely sister. I'm doing alright. Don't you fret. Blue eyes looked upon her with a softness in his eyes and facial expression. Ever the lover, not the fighter. I was wondering though if you would like some company. Maybe we can take a walk together? Anything to distract the pair of them from the machinations of their minds. Maybe it would even lead them to brighter and happier things in their sunny afternoon.

[she doesn't know that the world is turning just for her]

skill: [none]

---

Euphemia hauled a deep breath, as if Cassius had asked her some big existential question and she must prepare a response. Still, her face was light and did not hold any semblance of any emotion other than pleasure. A walk, yes. That sounds great. The woman made to follow his direction, matching his step, and when she turned her head, she was surprised at what she saw.

Sometimes, it was hard to think about her brothers. Unlike the four sisters of the first litter, the litter of boys had fractured down the middle; two were dearly departed, yet two remained. It did not slip past her that the two who had been lost to Dawnbreak were the two rambunctious brothers, full of piss and vinegar. Euphemia wondered if she had that streak in her as well, which would one day lead to her own untimely demise because she followed the wrong path.

But Cassius was sweet and soft. When she saw her brothers, she witnessed a blending of mother and father that was mostly absent from the way she related to Tiberii, Aurelia and Dalmatia. Those three were were her, as much as her own bones and viscera were her. Her brothers were a world a part, yet they came from the same lineage, and that bound them together as much as litterhood did.

Looking at Cassius was like looking into a mirror, but instead of a reflection, it showed her the breadth of possibility in this life. Opportunities, and possibilities, were truly endless.

Well, go ahead, spill it. Euphemia chimed laughingly, assuming this was a ‘walk’ like Dalmatia had wanted to take her for a ‘walk,’ when really, all she wanted to do was talk about Nottin. What do you want to talk about?

---

It was almost impossible to stop himself from going wide eyed as she took a deep inhale. Was there something wrong? Was she going to say something that would completely throw him off? It felt as though for a split second, that he might have a heart attack. But when Euphemia softly agreed to come with him, he did his own mental sigh of relief. The pair were now walking side by side through their forest home, enjoying in each other's company as brother and sister. He had little to suspect the inner workings of her mind, though become a little hesitant when she popped a question of her own.

Spill it? You seem to think that I have a hidden dark secret. Cassius let out a soft light hearted laugh. Can't I simply wish to see my sister this afternoon? A playful smile stretched across his face, blue eyes softened even further by the presence of his loved one. I was just contemplating my own place here in the pack. I was wondering if I still even wanted to be a healer, since I never really got to finish my teachings with.....with Mother. Cassius was hesitant now, instantly regretting bringing Mother into this. But it was something that couldn't be helped. It was bound to happen eventually. Might as well get over it before he dug himself further into a deep and dark hole.

[she doesn't know that the world is turning just for her]

skill: [none]

---

Euphemia laughed a hearty chuckle at his joke, the disbelief behind a potential ulterior motive. To the shewolf, it was not a joke at all. Almost any time one of her siblings sought her out on purpose, she easily assumed someone had either disappeared, died, or – in the best case – was simply wounded. His smile immediately told her there was nothing to worry about, in ways that his words could not.

He seemed nonchalant enough about the topic at hand, more than Euphemia wished she could be. Instead, his proclamation startled her. What do you mean, not be a healer? the fae chimed, certainly he was making a jest. Don’t be silly. In Dawnbreak, it seemed that their path was born in them, and there was no changing it. Look at any of their sisters, and it was obvious.

You’re either a fighter like Father, or a healer like Mother.

Tiberii was meant to use her body, Dalmatia was meant to use her mind. It could be argued that Aurelia was both, dedicating herself to something that existed outside of Aurelia proper – leading others, democracy, all that. Eupehmia wondered silently if that was why Aurelia seemed to be constantly frustrated – because she was split down the middle, unable to fully occupy either space.

The maiden did not wish that for her sweet, tender brother. Phia laughed again, though her stomach gripped when he mentioned mother. They both had experienced the same loss, but the maiden had never wavered in her commitment to her studies. It was mother’s legacy, after all. We’re the healers. she said it as if it was obvious.

– and, was it not?

---

Cassius had always been in awe of his sisters, even Dalmatia. They all seemed so certain and strong in their abilities, so certain of their gifts and talents. But he wasn't so certain, nearly crippled in his self confidence since Mother had died. I guess that I just wasn't feeling the motivation to learn. I want to feel like I still am useful and want to learn all that I can. Maybe I just haven't been able to move past all the grief and changes yet. He leaned against his sister for support and comfort, letting those baby blues land on her own sunset eyes, as if searching for some hidden answers she might have up her sleeve. How do you keep on with your craft? What makes you want to keep going? If anyone could help get him out of this funk, it was Euphemia.

[she doesn't know that the world is turning just for her]

skill: herbalist

---

Thankfully, Cassius hadn’t taken offence to her somewhat brash handling of his admission. It did take a lot of guts to say what he had, especially to she, one who struggled so deeply with the herbal path but could not be more dedicated to it. It felt bred into her, woven into her very soul. Such a calling was her lone connection to Mother.

At that moment, Euphemia’s resolve to be aghast broke when she thought of how alone that experience must be. To be surrounded by others who felt it was their god-given right to lead, or defend, or to heal – but to not share in on such splendor. It must be painful.

and this was her brother. There was no room for a member of her blooded family to feel this way, except herself.

Cassssss, the maiden whined ironically, as if begging him not to prove her wrong so plainly and easily. She, too, took a long time to get over her grief. In many ways, she still hadn’t. She saw father in every shadow; every rock on every mountainside looked like Genghis from afar. Every loss the Dawnbreak experience dragged Euphemia out of her flow and it always took her a while to find it again, feeling as if she was swimming against the current.

When he put it that way, Euphemia realized that the two siblings were having very similar lived experiences; and she could not deny her own grief and professional mismanagement, which she was only just now starting to overcome. To do so, would be to deny herself as a living creature with breath in her lungs and thoughts in her mind. I don’t know, she admitted at long last. That bought her a few more seconds to think of a proper response to the depth of his question.

What she finally decided was: It never hurts to love plants. and yes, it did hurt to love most other things. She never feared her herbs would leave her, for she expected them to, every autumn and winter. She also expected them to return every spring.Spending time with plants never ends in heartbreak.

It was never about the plants, Euphemia realized – and that was why it was so difficult for her to heal and use her knowledge as applied medicine. She had found a comfort zone, a non-threatening place where she could funnel her energy and love and focus, and did not want to leave it.

It’s simple. It’s… A plant either was, or it wasn’t. A wolf could be anything in between.

It’s better than learning anything else.

---

Her words hit him hard, taking them all in as if his very soul depended on it. The thing that he realized the most was that she was most certainly right. Plants couldn't hurt you, couldn't cause you pain in the heart. Not the way other wolves could if they decided to leave you, or if they were taken from you. Plants came and went of course, but that was the natural way of things. Nature at least was predictable. Not like this unknown force they had to contend with year after year since their birth, even before then. I guess you are right. Would you want to be my mentor? Could you teach me more of what Mother had? It was a heartfelt request, one that he couldn't trust to just anyone. Euphemia was blood, his beloved sister. No one else could be trusted with such a precious task. AT least that was how it was in his mind, in his heart.