"Hey,"

Of all the places she had wandered, this had been one that she had avoided the most. Since Aphrodite had taken her in and she had given up on Zabrina returning she had been adamant that she did not want to walk down the familiar trails and remember herself as a young cub. Things were different back then, simpler, but she had been foolish, young, and naive.

Her paws stopped at a familiar little patch of buchu. A bittersweet smile tugging at her lips. She remembered this plant, remembered sorting through he dried and withered remnants of Sabrina’s herb cache with the chimera. Nostrils flared, sucking in the scents of the flowers, they had a sweet, earthy scent. Zinnia slid the pouch off her neck, letting it fall and spill open so she could pluck a few of the leaves, careful to leave the blossoms undisturbed. The leaves were unique enough that she did not worry about mixing them with the others that were currently stored.

Sighing, the spotted bronze girl walked a little further, looking about and not at all paying attention to the trail. She knew it like the back of her paw. Ahead there would be lavender plants, some young that she had planted last year and others older. They were not native to the peak, but she had found that they thrived in the spring and summer, they wilted early in the fall and disappeared entirely in the winter. Yet, there they were all over again come spring and summer.

Zinnia dropped her pouch again, more carefully this time so that it remained closed. She didn’t need more lavender, but she moved forward anyway, abandoning the pouch. Zinnia breathed deeply, the scent alone soothing her nerves. Less than carefully, she chomped on one of the blossoms that tickled her nose, the bitter taste not bothering her. It had a floral, disgusting taste, but she had grown to like it over time. The girl chomped more than the recommended amount, ingesting several blossoms before laying down, looking around as her body absorbed the lavender and began to relax. She had done good lately, she hadn’t had lavender in weeks, after the party she went to…she needed to relax and this, this would do the trick.


@Dario

+5 Collect herbs
+5 Study the flora of a neutral territory

everything starts and ends with you

code x art

Bye, bye baby, I'd really like to stay

After his encounter with Erebros, he decided to make his way back down the mountain. Opting for the other side this time. It had been a day or two since he had left the roaring waterfall. He wasn't quite sure how to feel about the piebald brute, but he supposed it wasn't his place to know. What did his feelings matter in the grand scheme of things anyway?

Dario had begun a few hours before sunrise, his paws aching, but he decided to push forward. The crisp mountain air carried the soothing scent of lavender, was there a field nearby? As he made his way further, he caught sight of a lioness, pausing on the trail. His eyes narrowed slightly as he took in the peculiar scene before him. This young woman was seemingly chewing on the blossoms with a strange sort of familiarity. Dario tilted his head, curiosity piqued. Eating plants? It wasn't something he often saw, but far be it from him to judge. Life was full of mysteries, full of things he had yet to try. He would ruin his chances of discovering new things if he had a closed mind.

Adjusting his posture, he stepped forward with warm confidence. His sleek muscles rippled beneath his gray coat as he approached. His movements were deliberately unthreatening, his tail swaying lazily behind him as he offered her a small but charming smile.


"Well now," he began, his voice rich and smooth but still carrying a playful undertone.
"I have seen lions devour many things in my time, but lavender blossoms? That's a new one for me." He stopped a few paces away, being sure to give her space as he dipped his head slightly in greetings. It was very important to make sure women felt safe around him at all times, too often did he see men acting brash and abrasive in their attempts to impress the feminine. Too often did those brutes cause uneasiness and fear.

No. He would be gentle and careful as if she was one of those flowers. His glacier hues met hers briefly, a flicker of amusement dancing in their depths, though no mockery was in his tone.


"Don't worry," he added quickly, "I am not here to criticize you. Who am I to question what someone else finds appetizing? Though I admit, I'm curious... what's the story behind it? Surely it is not just a snack." He settled onto his haunches, the crispy mountain breeze ruffling his thick mane as he kept his posture relaxed. Though his curiosity was genuine, Dario had a way of making his questions feel like an invitation rather than an interrogation. His smile lingered, easy and hopefully disarming.


"My name is Dario by the way, and you are?"


"SPEECH"

But, we'll remember the best time in our lives

code x art