@Elswyth has a penchant for exploration, the ethereal woman delightedly exclaiming that she too, loved seeing all the sights that there may be to see. He marvels at her enthusiasm then, wondering just how she mustered the energy to take on life with such enthusiasm. As he asks for her to cease itching, she does so with an apology and an abrupt drop of her limb.

He looms forward then, mismatched gaze surveying the area with a narrowed gaze, spying a slight abrasion in the area that the woman had been incessantly scratching. With calculated claw, the Miroslav carefully attempts to retrieve the prickle under her skin, hoping not to hurt her but knowing what needed to be done regardless.

Finally, the prickle slips out from under skin, deposited along Leander's claw as he raises it towards the woman's nose for inspection. "This would have caused infection if not removed," he explains after the fact.

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@leader moves closer and it is all she can do to be still. for as cheerful as she was the girl had her own issues, and looming men was definitely one of the things that made her uneasy. it is quickly shoved aside, though, with the mental reminder that this was not willowbrook and he was not brecc.

one day, perhaps, her easy trust would be broken by some unsavoury rogue, but for now the girl was willing to give it out easily. leader did not seem threatening and so she forced her muscles to untense, watching him with wide, mis-matched eyes.

there is a poke and a prod but she does not wince or pull away, instead watching carefully as he raises the offending needle and shows her. elsie focuses on it, amazed that such a little thing could be so annoying, and then looks to him as he mentions infection. "oh!" surprise, almost as if she is offended that the cactus' she enjoyed could try to hurt her. "you saved me, then!" a bright grin as she stares up at the man, practically beaming as she labels him her hero.

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And for the first time since Leander had met @Elswyth, she is quiet.

Though focused on the task at hand, he notes that the lavender figurine holds her breath as she watches him draw close. He wonders if he has pushed the boundaries of her comfort but knowing it was for a good cause, Leander persists. It takes his counterpart a moment to process what he had done before she enthusiastically declares him a hero -- an odd title for someone who considered himself anything but. "Consider us even," he declares simply, knowing that she had done him a huge favour by leading him out of the Cactus Farm, "next one will cost you." Lumbering male pauses then, giving a firm shake of his gargantuan frame, hoping to dislodge some of the damned prickles from his fiery mane.

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clearly elswyth wasn't the best at the subtle nuances of conversation, because she tips her head -- "cost me what?" what on earth could she possibly give him that he did not already have. "i have some pretty neat trinkets, i could always share one of those!" gadgets and gizmos a plenty...

the shake of his head pulls her attention to the prickles stuck in his mane, and she wonders immediately if he needs the same kind of help. "here, i can help!" a dainty paw reached towards the thick mane of the larger male, balancing on her back legs to ensure she got the ones stuck even near the top. she pulled them one by one, carefully, if he would allow her, trying to be cautious of the ones that were stuck hard.

@Leander

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He had been joking of course when he had referred to payment but @Elswyth takes it quite literally, mentioning trinkets that does pique his interest. "Very well - I will take one of those," Leander affirms with a nod of his head, wondering what the lavender-tinted woman might have in her stash. He does not wish to judge but the Miroslav can only assume that the items she speaks of is of great personal value to her.

And then she looms close -- very close. Using her paws to remove the thorns from his fiery mane, some rather tangled amongst the hairs and drawing small snarls of pain as she works. "Are you trying to pull out all my mane?" he grumbles as he glances at Elswyth out of the corner of his eye, inwardly enjoying their close proximity though he could do without the stinging pain as she worked.

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she grinned and threw a teasing wink his way. "you'll have to come visit me then!" a smug look crossed her face and she tipped her chin up, as if to say 'hah, got you!' "i live in vermeda brook! it's the prettiest place. you could come visit and i can show you around!" because, of course, the idea of having a friend come visit was just the most exciting thing ever!

elswyth isn't exactly gentle, but she is efficient. "oh hush," she touted back at him, "you're not telling me you can't handle a few missing hairs, are you?" clearly she was in a teasing mood, as a sparkle of mischief glimmered in her mis-matched eyes.

@Leander

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He learns some interesting information about @Elswyth then, learns that the scent of the pride on her hide is that of Vermeda Brook. He hasn't heard much about it but he supposed it was a good time to learn about it, though he wasn't too sure if the pride leaders would appreciate having a random male drift through their borders. "Does your leader look kindly upon trespassers, Elswyth?" Leander quirks a dark brow, inwardly preempting what the lavender figurine might answer.

She silences his whining and in reply, the Miroslav gives an irritated huff, wrinkling his nose as he waits for Elswyth to finish up removing the troublesome cacti thorns from his mane.

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elswyth does try to be more gentle, pulling at the prickles with a little more care. Some of them were barbed things and snag too easily in his mane and she takes her time with them, doing her best to unravel them bit by bit. As gently as her paws could manage.

"Weelllll," she began, as if she was really thinking about his question, "I don't suppose they would. But if you call for me I can come, and if you're with me it definitely won't be a problem!" Right? Surely she was allowed to have guests in her home? Maybe that was a question she should have asked beforehand, but she didn't think Aquila would be the type to get angry at her if she made a mistake.

@Leander

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"Sound like a bombproof plan," Leander remarks though inwardly he wonders if it would be possible at all. He is curious to find out more about the Brook and thus decides that it would be worth a visit at some point in time. With the brunt of the prickles removed from his mane, the Miroslav gathers to his feet and gives another shake of his gargantuan frame.

"Care to show me the way out?" Leander request as he gathers to his feet, beginning to head back on the path that they had come. It would not be a pleasant exit but the patched male was eager to be free from the Cactus Farm.

Exit Leander, following @Elswyth

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elswyth had another bright smile for the miroslav, hoping that he really would come visit. "it is! it'll be really fun. i bet you'll like it there!" probably not more than wherever he was from, but how could anybody see the brook and not like it? it was a pretty place, and elsie thought that it was rather impossible to dislike.

bouncing to her feet after him she nodded -- "of course! this way!" -- and then set off along a seemingly random path. it would perhaps be slow going for the giant male, but she was patient and did her best to pick the widest paths to lead him out.

-exit-

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