Thistle

Thistle was an oddly wise and somehow fey young wolf. Wraith found her wandering near the pack lands one day and brought her in.

Nettle took over her instruction, made her an apprentice, and planned for early retirement.

Thistle was happy and proud when she was named Herbalist and took special delight in foraging. She had learned several medicine recipes during her apprenticeship so she was confident in her new role.

Her career was long and successful. When winter touched her bones for the last time she felt herself slowing down. Even as she grew thin and weak, she continued foraging, also mixing several extra doses of each type of medicine for the day when her successor would take over.

Rather than announcing her own impending demise, she started taking longer and longer foraging trips. She wanted to lie down under the sky, among the herbs she so loved. When her still, unmoving form was found on the top of a mesa by her apprentice, a soft smile was on her muzzle.