She wasn't sure why she tended to spend the evening hours gathering plants, but she often found it was much easier than doing so during the day. Less to do during the evening hours. The red woman was on her way towards Grimoires Labyrinth to try to find some things to bring home to replenish her own garden and herb supply.

She was careful as her paws carried her closer towards where Obsidian was. She knew that while she may have no qualms with them herself - that they may choose to attack her based primarily on the fact that she was a member of Firnen. Which was another reason for her being out here at night - to find less of them to run into.

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It had been a hot minute since she'd visited the labyrinth. Her last time through had been a few months back in the depths of summer when she was desperately in search of frankincense. Thankfully for her, it had been easy to locate some along the edges of the rocks and the shaman had been able to transplant some into her bed. Restlessness had driven the pregnant woman from her den in the Hollows, sending her on a little journey down the mountainside.

She hardly expects to find anyone out at these hours, but the familiar scent of @Kireena ♞ draws her attention as she gets closer. Her interest piqued and she pads a bit faster to her destination now, hoping to bump into the maroon woman before she had moved on. With a bit more trekking she stumbles upon the equally large woman, a smile highlighting her features as she calls out softly in the dark to gather her attention. " I'm going to assume from our last conversation you are out here collecting herbs? "

@Aelynthi spoke and Kireena lifted her head, smiling at the dark woman. "You'd be correct...how have you been?" The scent of Obsidian clung to the others pelt and Kireena wondered if this would be a meeting where previous actions were ignored in favor of pride allegiances. Personally - she was a proponent of personal interactions should remain that.. but it wasn't always that way.

Kireena shifted as she searched through the labyrinth, her bi-colored gaze passing over familiar plants as she searched for the ones she was hunting. Some moss was carefully tugged from the walls, to be placed into a pile. It was a sweet smelling lichen-type.. and though it didn't have much in the way of medicinal properties, she could use it to freshen her den.

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Thankfully the maroon woman recognizes her and a smile is returned in full, ears cusped forward as she listens to @Kireena ♞'s inquiry. " I have seen better days, but I expect many who have been with child would say the same. " Nearly halfway through her pregnancy and while things had lessened up on the nausea end for the moment, it did not make the muscle spasms and cramps of certain movements any better.

She peers curiously as the medic plucks moss from the walls, following behind a semi-polite distance to give the busy woman room. " What about yourself? I can smell the rainforest on your fur; did you finally find a place to stay? " There were absolutely no hard feelings involved. Aelynthi was aware of the... tense relationship between Firnen and the Hollows, but as far as she was concerned, that only existed in regards to Ryker and the former Savante, his wife. At least until Alexander let her know otherwise.

@Aelynthi spoke of the Rainforest and there was an obvious flinch at the comment. When the other didn't seem to be upset about it, Kireena nodded. "I.. tried to take their home actually." The woman gathered her moss and placed it carefully to the side so it would dry a little and be a bit lighter to carry.

"Ryker took me prisoner - but at the end.. I was offered the choice to stay and become a member or leave. I chose to stay.." She glanced up towards the woman, ears flicking back a little nervously before she offered a smile. "Now I'm their Noble.." The dark woman shifted, as if waiting for the Hollows lioness to launch an attack on her. Though she certainly hoped not.

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Eyebrows furrowed in concern, eyes widening in dismay at the comment of trying to take over their home. Knowing how things were, it would not have gone well, and Kireena's follow up comment only confirms it. She nods in understanding, pausing her pace to gather her thoughts... and her breath. " That is very brave of you... but I am glad to see you mostly without harm. " She blinks softly against the growing moonlight, glancing to the moss and back to @Kireena ♞. " Outside of water collection, I've not known moss to be of many uses. What do you intend to collect it for? "

"It went better than I could have expected, truthfully..I was poisoned during the fight, but overall they treated me well - surprisingly." @Aelynthi questioned what she used it for and Kireena hummed. "This stuff, mostly I use it to sweeten the scent of my bedding.. but it works well for thicker poultices that need to stay moist...as this stuff holds moisture."

"I intend to try to make my way up higher than Noble but... I'm not sure how well that will go. I'm sure there will be many that dislike that I am intending to do that.." She had already discussed such a plan with the leadership however. "It's...unfortunate that Firnen is disliked - I want to make sure myself and my children are going to be cared for should something happen.."

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Alarm floods her features at mention of poison, lips curling into a deep frown. " And the poison... you recovered without lasting injury? " Kireena's soft hum draws her attention away from the situation momentarily as she understands. It takes her back to the day she met Roarke in the flowerbeds, where she had brought flowers home to scent her own den. She nods in approval, listening as the maroon medic begins to speak of her desire to climb the ladder, so to speak. It wasn't exactly an ambition Aelynthi understood, but she knew many who had prioritized such things. " I find it hard to believe anyone, even given you had tried to take Firnen, would not consider you a useful enough asset to disallow you to climb rank. " There was no denying that the woman before her had both battle prowess and medicinal knowledge. Honestly, it was a two for one steal. Anyone who couldn't see that was simply stupid.

She laughed, her expression showing amusement as she laid another piece of moss down to dry. "I would hope so.. I don't think the young royals like me.. but I can't blame them." She really couldn't. They were children and she knew that not all children would understand things such as the whims of adults.

She would look towards @Aelynthi and glance towards the moss she had gathered. "What are the uses you use it for?" Were there things she could learn that would help her get better at what it was she did? Kireena shifted, settling to her haunches as she waited for the answer, knowing that the druid in front of her might have far more knowledge than she - given she was older.

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Kireena had not been done collecting moss it seemed, as Aelynthi watched her remove another piece to collect. It reminded her that she had her own issues in her garden that needed tending to, but for now she would focus on her friend. " I find that hard to believe, but children... certainly do have their way with picking who to dislike for small matters. " A soft chuckle escapes her as she thinks back to her time in Vermeda, and the youngsters that had been so strong-spirited then. If Ryker and Levana were any indication of the spirit to be in the children, it would not surprise her to hear that they were handfuls.

What are the uses you use it for? comes her way by question, pulling her from her internal monologue with a thankful smile. " I typically only use it to hold water for patients... but sometimes, I have used it in a manner to dry out the mouth for inspection. If you place it in the pocket of the cheek, it absorbs a lot of saliva. " It wasn't exactly a common medicinal need to need the mouth free of saliva, but it had been useful when she had needed it. Saliva only got in the way of seeing if things were impacted or infected. She'd never thought to use it for poultices though..

+ 5 - learn something from another about your trade (1/2)