Paws carried the colossal lioness to the fields, completely unbothered by the snow on the ground and the chill in the air. Large steps continued to help her make her way through the taller drifts of snow that still lingered in the area. As she got further into the fields, she would start to pause in some areas, trying to see if she could find any herbs that had survived the harsh winter in this land.

She was on the hunt for any herbs - those that could heal and those that could hurt. Being one of very few medics within the Plains now, she felt pressure on her to make certain she could keep a good stock of herbs within her den to help heal and tend to those within the pride. She'd seen the wounds on the other Sovereign's body as she settled in - and she was intent on making certain that she could help if something like that occurred again.

@Genesis

text. "speech."

Art & Table code by Zodiac

In contrast to the much larger lioness mozying casually through the fields, Genesis appeared almost comical. If not for her own size, the gentle gray of her underside and paws might have broken up her frame against the snow, but alas, it did not take much for her to find herself nearly knee-and-elbow deep in the stuff. It did little to stop her, though, for she knew that somewhere beneath the vast blanket were bits and pieces of plants she had learned were helpful--all thanks to Brynja.

The stranger was naturally pretty easy to spot, and the girl found herself trudging toward her with bright and hopeful eyes. "Are you here for herbs, too?" she asked through a soft smile. "My name is Genesis. We can look together if you'd like." With any luck, the woman would need basil and devil's claw. @Atalanta

MEDIC:
+5 help someone find a plant they're looking for (1/2)
+5 dry or prepare herbs for use (0/2)
+5 learn something from another about your trade (1/2)

code by scorpixia♡︎

She hadn't expected to run into anyone else here in the fields, especially with the snow drifts being somewhat deep and the weather being rather chilly today. However, the sound of someone calling out to her threw the colossal woman off for a moment, and she turned her duotoned eyes in the direction of the much smaller lioness who had made her way towards her. Blinking for a moment, Atalanta would allow the younger girl to speak for a moment.

"Herbs, and plants that aren't exactly ones that help." She said simply, flicking her bobbed tail as she spoke. "Atalanta." She said simply. Flicking an ear as the other girl offered to help look, she hesitated for a moment. She was so... little... She wasn't sure she would be able to easily navigate the fields at the moment. "But I 'spose you could help." She said, her accent unintentionally coming out for a moment. "I was just looking for the roots and seeds of some herbs and poisonous plants so that I can get a garden started." She said, continuing to move onwards to look for some of what she was searching for.

M E D I C:
+5 Collect herbs
+5 Teach someone under 2 years about healing

A S S A S S I N:
+5 Teach someone under 2 years about poisonous plants

@Genesis

text. "speech."

Art & Table code by Zodiac

The girl brightened at @Atalanta's acceptance of her company. Listening closely to what she claimed to be searching for, though, Genesis tilted her head at her, trying to ignore any creeping feelings of self-consciousness due her general lack of plant knowledge. This was just another opportunity to learn. She had learned plenty while helping Brynja forage, after all. But this was not the lesson she was expecting.

"Poisonous plants...." To her knowledge, her mother had dabbled in the subject, but due to Genesis' young age at the time, she had taken care to expose her daughter only to medicinal plants. This...would be a first. Without skipping a beat, she trailed behind the larger woman, though it took some effort to keep up through the snow. "I'm afraid I've only been learning about the 'helping kinds.' May I ask, ma'am, how I might recognize a poisonous one?"

MEDIC:
+5 help someone find a plant they're looking for (2/2)
+5 dry or prepare herbs for use (0/2)
+5 learn something from another about your trade (2/2)

code by scorpixia♡︎

Had she been planning on having a child follow along with her? No. Was she gonna be polite and deal with it regardless? Yes.

Because what choice did she have?

Mentally shaking herself, she continued to stride onwards. "I'm trying to start a new garden, and am not on the lookout for anything specific - but rather a large assortment of herbs and such so that I can properly start my garden." Atalanta said simply, flicking an ear as she spoke. "Please don't call me ma'am kid. Makes me feel old." She said with a snort. But then she'd focus on what she'd been asked otherwise. "There's not really a way to recognize a poisonous plant, as many look quite similar to ones that heal or that don't have any effect. One of the easiest ways to know about them is simply to be taught by someone who knows about them." She explained simply, nose twitching as she followed it towards a plant.

It was mostly brown and dead, but there was enough life to it that she was able to pick out what it was. "This plant, for example. This is what's known as castor bean. The seeds are the toxic part - being known to cause seizures, vomiting and even death." Atalanta explained, carefully holding the plant in her paws. She needed to gather some of these seeds carefully. They'd be handy for growing in her garden back home.


M E D I C:
+5 Collect herbs
+5 Teach someone under 2 years about healing

A S S A S S I N:
+5 Teach someone under 2 years about poisonous plants

@Genesis

text. "speech."

Art & Table code by Zodiac

Genesis chuckled nervously alongside @Atalanta's distasteful snort. Since her arrival here in Amaryllis, this had somehow not been the first time she had been corrected for her way of showing respect. Orei had said something along similar lines about it making him feel old, but she had never intended her language to send that message. Perhaps she had been made too stiff and cautious by family, but it seemed these lands would quickly unravel her. "Sorry."

With that, she listened intently to the woman's next words, hanging onto them as she turned the rest of her senses toward the snow and frost. Their noses seemed to pick up on the same scent at the same time, but Atalanta's expertise had been what told her whether it was anything significant. Genesis paused and watched her fish it from the earth, presenting it to her with a snow-caked paw. After scanning it carefully she nodded her understanding. "My paws are...uh, smaller. If you manage to find as many as you would like, I could help with picking out the seeds?"

MEDIC:
+5 help someone find a plant they're looking for (2/2)
+5 dry or prepare herbs for use (1/2)
+5 learn something from another about your trade (2/2)

code by scorpixia♡︎

She hadn't intended to make the youth feel bad - she just was very much her mother's child. She had never understood why some insisted on using 'sir' and 'ma'am' to address others, as her family had been so much less formal than some of the others in the area. Granted.. she was never a princess or ever really raised with formalities and such.

"'S fine. My mother never really was insistent on stuff like that." She said with a shrug as she continued to walk through the snow. Her nose had caught the scent of the plant, and as @Genesis followed her to the plant she would pause to explain it and allow the girl to really understand what she was talking about.

Webbed paws showed while she was holding the plant for the paler girl to study it. "I usually allow the berries to dry in the sunlight and then carefully sort the seeds out of them. Just if you touch any of the berry liquid make sure to wash your paws extremely well in quickly running water. You don't need to risk poisoning someone else on accident by washing them in still water." She added on. "But you're welcome to give it a try at picking out the seeds." Atalanta said with a flick of an ear.

text. "speech."

Art & Table code by Zodiac

As far as Genesis was concerned, @Atalanta was something of a genius. Drying the fruit to make harvesting cleaner--and in this case safer--would not have crossed her mind, and now after all these warnings about the berries' juices, the girl was not so sure she was comfortable meddling with them. However, her acquaintance continued with clear instructions about how to prevent any unfortunate accidents, which put her mind a little more at ease.

"I'll try," she said with a nod, reaching one paw toward the plant. She shot a brief glance at the woman before unsheathing a single claw to pluck a berry and take it between her toes. Nearby was an iced-over patch of snow, where she shuffled so that she could work the berry on a solid surface that was not someone else's skin.

It split open easily, having been made fragile by the frost, and inside Genesis spotted a five-pointed circle of tiny seeds. Again she used the tip of her claw to carve them out onto the ice, at which point she turned to Atalanta for confirmation. "These seeds can cause that much sickness? Do you know what this plant is called?"

MEDIC:
+5 help someone find a plant they're looking for (2/2)
+5 dry or prepare herbs for use (2/2)
+5 learn something from another about your trade (2/2)

code by scorpixia♡︎

She had learned so much from her mother at such a young age, and she was grateful for everything she had been taught. She had absorbed so much knowledge at such a young age - and as much as she didn't really know how to interact with younger lions she was realizing she enjoyed teaching someone else what she'd been taught by her mother.

Drying the fruit had been her mother's idea. It was something that she'd realized was an incredibly good idea. It made poisonous berries easier to work with, with less chance of the juice and pulp getting on one's paws. "Give it a go - just be careful." Atalanta said, flicking an ear. Should she have been more cautious about letting a yearling work with poisons and toxins? Maybe. Was it a better idea for @Genesis to learn learn how to handle poisonous plants under the watchful eye of someone more experienced? Definitely.

"They can indeed. Smaller amounts can cause vomiting and seizures, and the more seeds ingested the more likely one is to risk death." Attie explained, flicking her bobbed tail as she spoke. "Other plants are even more toxic. Some will cause death with even the tiniest amount in one's system." She added on. As to answer the youth's question... "Its known as Castor Bean." She said simply.

text. "speech."

Art & Table code by Zodiac

Vomiting, seizures, death. All from one, maybe two, undetectably tiny piles of seeds. Genesis could not help wondering if such seeds could ever end up in one's meal accidentally, such as just from touching the ground. But wild were a yearling's thoughts, and hers were no exception as she absorbed every bit of this first encounter with poison, like a sponge. She took in every word and blinked, remaining silent for a moment before tilting her head with a thoughtful furrow of her brow. "Do you know any sort of antidote for the effects of castor bean, @Atalanta?"

code by scorpixia♡︎