Sage

Theme song : Comin' Thro' The Rye

Æstrid guides you down a winding footpath, the cool air thick with the scent of fresh herbs and blooming flowers. Soon, you arrive at a rock dome covered in verdant greenery. The herbalist's drying rack hung on one wall, heavy with all manner of twisted plants and roots. The air is full of earthy smells, an aromatic mix of dried leaves and flowers that tickle the nostrils. You notice several rabbit's feet that had been preserved in salt, still soft to the touch. As you stand there, your gaze drifts towards Æstrid. You have only banged your snout on a rock you hadn't seen, and yet she is still making such a fuss about it! You're fine, you keep repeating her. You'll survive.

But just as you are about to insist on leaving, a shimmering white figure appears from behind the vines.

"Good evening, Æstrid," Sage welcomes, her voice melodic and soothing. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"

"I brought someone who needs your help," Æstrid says, nodding towards you.

Sage takes a step forward and appraises you with a keen eye. "What happened?" she asks.

"I just banged my snout on a rock," you replie, feeling foolish for being here.

Sage chuckles softly. "Well then, let's have a look."

You lean down as Sage examines your snout. With gentle paws, she probs around the sore area as you wince in pain.

"It's nothing serious," she declares at last. "Just a bruise. But let me apply some salve to reduce the swelling and alleviate the pain."

Sage gracefully turns to her drying rack and selects a leaf from a nearby plant. She chews it thoughtfully for a moment before spitting it out into her paw and then applying the resulting paste to your snout. The smell is pungent, but the cooling sensation is a welcome relief.

She steps back and regards her work with satisfaction. "There," she says, "that should do it."

You thank her gratefully and prepare to leave when Æstrid speaks up. "Actually, Sage," she says, "I need to talk to you..."

How she glances at you when she finishes talking conveys the message that it is time for you to leave them alone. You nod in acknowledgment and thank the herbalist, promptly exiting the den.

Birth Pack: Ravengarde Tribe
Father: Tirian
Role: Herbalist
Relationships: ; Octavia (mother ✝) ; Lýra (older sister) Phyre (grand-mother ✝) ; Aleksei (uncle ✝) ; Davios (uncle ✝)

*The Herbalist is an important part of the tribe as they are the experts on plants and herbs used for medicinal purposes. They travel far and wide to collect new ingredients needed by the tribe in order to keep their stores of healing herbs stocked. The Herbalist is responsible for identifying healing plants and herbs, preparing them correctly and combining them to create remedies for various ailments.
The Herbalist is often accompanied by a group of healers, who help prepare the herbs and administer them to the injured or ill. These healers are often apprentices, learning from the Herbalist and preparing for their future role as herbalists. The Herbalist is respected by both young and old members of the pack, as their guidance has saved many lives over time.

Sage is the last direct descendant of Phyre's lineage living in the pack. She knows she has some cousins scattered across the lands, but they are far removed from each other both in proximity and in relationship.

She had always been something of an oddity among the wolves of her pack. While most female wolves eagerly anticipated the opportunity to have their own pups, Sage shows no interest in such matters. She is content with her role as Herbalist and has no desire to take on the added responsibilities of motherhood.

Many wolves were surprised by this, often questioning Sage about why she didn't want pups of her own. She would always brush off their inquiries, citing her busy schedule as Herbalist and claiming that she simply didn't have time to devote to raising a litter of pups.

But the truth was, Sage had never met the right wolf.

Living in relative isolation, the females of the pack often took advantage of travelers' visits to frolic and diversify the pack's genetics. Sage didn't want to settle for a meaningless romance only to raise fatherless puppies. Many here had never even met their sires, and she was no exception.

Despite this, Sage couldn't help but feel a twinge of loneliness at times. She longed for companionship and someone who understood her passion for plants and healing. But she knew that finding a mate for life was not something that could be forced or rushed.

So she continued on with her duties as Herbalist, tending to the needs of the pack and using her knowledge of plants and herbs to heal their ailments. And deep down, she held onto the hope that one day she would meet someone who would stay by her side - pups or not pups.