As the wisest wolf in the pack, the herbalist role clearly fell to Bird. She was very young, new to the world and to the pack. Eager to prove herself but nervous without years of experience to build confidence. While most wolves would be startled to find out their mentor would be a grizzly bear, Bird was delighted to have some guidance in her responsibilities. Wildfire was pleased with her easy transition. Her hunting skills had been.. okay, but she slid into the role of herbalist as only a wolf with natural talent could. For many moons she carefully treated the pack, gathering knowledge and remedies. Herbert would work with no more than one wolf at a time - he was a solitary creature after all. However Bird had become quite the proficient healer in her own right, and with Wildfire’s approval began searching for an apprentice. She scoured the land for signs and watched her dreams carefully - both natural and induced - until they could only point to one wolf. Sun Bleached Bones. Bird found them everywhere she went for a moon and half. When she awoke with a perfect bleached bird skeleton in her nest one more, the aging herbalist had had enough. She stalked into the nursery to pull Tide aside and inform her of the signs and the conclusion she had come to. Tide was more than pleased with the information, though the decision was ultimately up to Bones. Herbalist was a revered role in the pack but it was not an easy one. When Bird pulled the young pup aside to present the apprenticeship, Bones watched the old medicine wolf with an intensity and furtiveness that was uncanny for a pup of her age. By the end of the exchange, Bird’s thick white coat was standing on end, but it was decided - when Bones was weaned she would join Bird as her apprentice.
By the time the sage young runt had grown strong enough to leave the nursery Bird was feeling the tell tail signs of her old age setting in. Bones had come into the world just in time. Feeling her time was short Bird set about teaching the pup every thing she could. At first she was worried she was going to over whelm the small bundle of fur that had found itself in her care, but Bones dived muzzle first into the craft. She seemed to have a special connection with the spirits of the land. Herbs were more difficult to teach the pup. Granted it was a lot to identify by scent and sight, and knowing what herbs to mix with what for which effect took a studied eye. Herbert refused to work with more than one wolf, so Bird could only pass on what she knew and tell Herbert of the next goose pup pack shaman coming his way.
