i've got to make this life make sense

@Iofiel

she had near stumbled onto the borders, hadn't expected to find an oasis among the desert that wasn't as angry during the coolness of winter- and not so irritating to explore, and yet at the harsh scent of a pride's marking, she had halted abruptly, not wanting to cause problems or error by crossing them, but she could see some herbs just on the other side of the scent marker, and frustration ticked under her fur at the feeling of not being able to simply reach them.

It was simply the first gambier she had seen that hadn't been eaten down by herbivores and or ruined by frost that had crept in from the chilly nights- and she needed some for her stores. A huff of frustration left her, as she stared at the herb, and then sighed, ready to turn away- to accept the loss, that she wouldn't be collecting any of it today. It wasn't like she knew who this pride was, let alone any lions within it.

How bothersome. Being a traveling medic, had- had it's perks, truly... she hadn't worried so much about pride borders and politics but she really didn't want to bring trouble to the Rainforest's borders or to Maia, and so, it was better- if she were being honest to walk away, to go on about her day... not to linger like she was with a despondent sort of look at the border and the herbs, just out of her reach.

ansella belmont

code by corvus

Iofiel had thought to head out to see what the land had to offer him. He didn't hold out hope to find too much given the time of year but sometimes he got lucky yet. Maybe this would be one of those times. If not then at least he could do with some more exploring. He did need to learn more about the other areas. Sometimes he could figure out what sort of growth to expect come the change in the seasons just by looking at the landscape and the shriveled remains of what plants had been there.

When he got to the borders he did not expect to find someone waiting there. Had a call been sent up? He didn't remember hearing one. "Have you come to speak with Ryker?" For what other reason would someone wait so forlornly upon the borders of the pride?

@Ansella

She had almost turned to leave, but she was just captivated by the scent of the herb- staring at the plants, when a voice spoke. Startled, she spun around to see a male standing there, and it took a moment for his question to register and even then... it made no sense... "Ryker?" she echoed. "Oh... no I'm not meeting anyone.. I... was... Gambier." She indicated with her paw, with a shrug.

"I was exploring, and I scented it... and then the border and I just..." She trailed off. "I was leaving. I wasn't going to take any, but I... it's a nice bushel. The best I've seen in a while." She said wistfully.

"Oh, I'm Ansella, Ansella Belmont. Sorry, I didn't introduce myself." She said, almost sheepishly- her gaze focusing a bit as she stopped daydreaming and staring at the plant.

@Iofiel

ART BY IRISH / CODING BY SENTINEL

So it wasn't Ryker that she was after but had found a plant that had interested her instead. He wasn't used to others knowing anything about the desert, let alone taking any interest in it.

So when the lioness named off a plant that had caught her attention he glanced over to it and then looked back to her with a rare smile upon his lips. "I am Iofiel Nimri, Lead Medic of the Oasis. Are you a medic as well?" Why else would she be so interested in plants? He had thought that was only a passion that belonged to him as no one else seemed to care about them. "Also, how do you know of Gambier?" Had she been a desert dweller herself once upon a time.

"Come." The large male stepped aside so that Ansella could reach the plant. "Take what it is that you require." He wasn't stingy with his aide, whether it be his stores, his knowledge, or his services. Politics held no meaning to him at all.

@Ansella

i've got to make this life make sense

She isn’t sure what she expects, but a kind smile isn’t it. When he smiles at her, and introduces himself as Iofiel Nimri, she smiles in return- and he was the lead medic of this pride! “My name is Ansella Belmount.I’m the Lead Medic of Firnen Rainforest.” She said, introducing herself and her rank as he had- it definitely didn’t hurt to get to know the others that shared her rank- and perhaps some of the similar knowledge.

She smiles, though it fades to something small. “My father was a traveling healer, and I was with him on a few desert style prides in our travels- the Gambier was a favorite of some of the desert medics.” A simple introduction, but not too much detail about her dad- thankful to him, as always, of his constant travels- and all that she had learned.

He offers her, to take what she needs and her eyes widen. “I… don’t have anything with me to exchange. I can bring some stuff from the jungle, though?” She offers, kindly- but quick to accept such a chance to get some of the gambier. She moved quietly, closer to him. “Your… leader won’t mind?” She really didn’t want to get someone who was being so kind in trouble.

thread notes: location: andal oasis borders, meeting @Iofiel , collecting gambier, discussing herbs

ansella belmont

code by corvus

Her story reminds him much of his own. It made him wonder if, perhaps, he knew any of her kin. Had he perhaps met with them upon past travels? It really was an interesting concept. He wasn't certain that it was proper to request more about her personal affairs though.

"My own birth pride is nomadic and we lived in the desert. I would go with our medic to meet with traders. It is how I learned Common Tongue." Of course he had been shunned from that pride at only a year of age and ended up striking up a familiarity with a trader that allowed him to hang around.

"Aloe has always been my personal favorite. It was always abundant wherever we went and is able to used for many purposes." It had prevented dehydration on more than a few occasions when water sources were few and far in between. It had saved his own life more than once and so he would always be grateful to it.

Would Ryker mind? He wasn't exactly certain as he didn't know the man that well. "If he does then I will take the blame for it. Very little grows here naturally so perhaps he will see the benefit of trading what is produced here for something from a place that produces in abundance. And if not, I am willing to make the trade personally." Either way he would make certain that this lioness got her gambier.

@Ansella

Ansella listens, as he explains his own nomadic life, and that they'd lived in the desert. Takes a lot of strength to reside in a place such as this, she thought, considering the male, and the harsh landscape around them. "Did you speak another language before?" A curious question, nosy possibly- but she thinks other languages were so... interesting. She listened as he went on to speak of Aloe, and she found herself nodding. "I think it's often underestimated by most, because it's just a plant- but it has so many uses." She agrees.

"I definitely think there has to be an advantage to trading herbs with the more plentiful places. Are there any you need in particular? I can track them down and bring them." She says with a smile, as she approaches the gambier. "I really think this may be the only gambier in the entire desert." She adds with a small chuckle.

@Iofiel

ART BY IRISH / CODING BY SENTINEL

"I do. Common Tongue was never used in my birth pride. I only picked Common Tongue up through travels and traders. Don't know anyone whom speaks my birth tongue." He doesn't even have a word for what others would call the language. He didn't know it as Arabic but only as the language of his birth.

"It is. It isn't fancy to look at and so is often overlooked. It also keeps itself in continuous supply as it grows more leaves even after being cut. Other plants you pick them and they don't come back." He would always stand by his love for aloe and speak of its virtues. It really was an underestimated plant but Iofiel would be certain to correct anyone on just how useful it could be.

The pale medic took his time in thinking over what it was that he could possibly use the most. "Most here seem to enjoy fighting so I would say something in regards to wound treatment would be the most beneficial." He couldn't say that he knew exactly what sort of plants grew where the lioness lived. That meant he would trust her suggestions. "Then you know exactly where to come to find it should you be in need of more."

@Ansella