Ah yes, the curse of being blind. There were many things that Ygritte didn't get to see. The beauty of a sunset or sunrise. The meadows that filled with flowers during the spring time but there were some benefits in being blind. Ygritte didn't get to see the horrid of which death brought to the world. Of what war had given to Amaryllis in its short time here. However, there was her smell and hearing that were better than most and her imagination always went wild with new things. But it never stopped her and even when @Alexon began to speak about creating a Apothecary in the Grove she would squeak. That sounds delightful! She would announce and remember to take a visit once it was up and running.

Talking about the apothecary excited Alex, and they kneaded their paws against the ground happily. They were really hoping there would be least some interest in the thing that they had been working so hard towards for so long.

"I'm hoping it will be! I've figured out how to dry aloe to make it easier to store and transport for treating burns, and I have figured out how to dry mango and melon to make the herbs sweeter so that they are more palatable!" They were really hoping that they would get a chance to teach others some of the things they had learned and hopefully make the process of healing more pleasant for everyone involved.

@Ygritte

Let the years we're here be kind

Let our hearts, like doors, open wide

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Ygritte would begin to listen to @Alexon as they began to speak about finding way to make aloe easier to transport when it is needed. Ears twisting and pushing forwards as she was curious to know about them. Even finding a way to dry out mango and melon. Really? How did you manage that? She would ask curiously. Of course if it was something that required sight then she would definitely have to come to Alexon to get this type of herb and that would be fine for the young medic in training, but for now she was eager to learn how.

Alex purred happily when she asked how they'd done it. They were more than happy to answer. "It isn't hard, actually! It works best in the desert in the summer, but it will work any time as long as it's dry and in direct sunlight, it might just take a few more days. I look a hide and the plant I wanted to dry and laid out the hide in the sun. For the aloe, I split the thick leaves into quarters to expose the gel to the sun, and for the fruits I cut them into thin slices. Then, I came back a few days later. The bugs take some of the fruit, but if you do it large enough batches there is plenty left to collect." They wondered if there was a way to repel the bugs, thereby increasing the yields. That would be an experiment for next summer.

@Ygritte

Let the years we're here be kind

Let our hearts, like doors, open wide

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She listened very closely as they began to explain how they did what they did. It was interesting what her mind came up with but in reality, these moments were one of the few times that she wished fore eye sight. That sounds like some work. She would admit before chuckling, Perhaps that will be something I come to you for. It might be a bit hard for me to do on my own. She would admit. Ygritte wasn't ashamed of her curse, or even blessing to some, and let those know she wasn't. It showed with how she held herself. @Alexon

Alex chuckled at her words. It was indeed a lot of work. They'd only started doing it because of Arachnae's encouragement, and now because it was useful and they had the free time. Besides, it allowed Arachnae to occasionally be out in the sun when necessary, so it was well worth it no matter how much work it took. "It may be. I'll be sure to keep some extra on hand, feel free to stop by if you ever need it. Oh, I also found out that mixing aloe in with poultices seems to make it sting less in open wounds." It didn't take the sting away completely, nothing could. But it helped.

@Ygritte

Let the years we're here be kind

Let our hearts, like doors, open wide

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You are very thoughtful @Alexon, thank you! She would chirp at him. He seemed passionate about his work as well and for that she admired him in the darkness. Though she was blind, and darkness was all that she knew, her features were never a dull moment. Any emotion, or thought, crossed those speckled cheeked and merle body. So the admiration she did fell was shown brightly on those foggy jewels and features. Which one's would you recommend me to mix with it? She would ask, listening to her new friend and perhaps a teacher in the making. Who knew!

The clay lion purred softly, content to sit here all day and discuss their trade. It was one of their favorite pastimes, after all, and it wasn't every day that they got to sit around and talk shop as they pleased. It was nice to have someone listen and ask questions instead of just talking to plants.

"I tend to mix aloe into anything that will go on a burn or an open wound. My friend uses it to protect her skin from the sun as well. It's very versatile." The ability to dry it was probably one of their most significant discoveries, in all honestly.

@Ygritte

Let the years we're here be kind

Let our hearts, like doors, open wide

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Listening intently, Ygritte would try to remember what he was saying. To mix aloe with anything you'd use to soothe a burn. Which was understandable and smart. Something she would have to try one day but right now she was content with just allowing herself to listen to him speak. The sun bothers your friend? Now that was interesting. Since Ygritte was blind she didn't know that the sun could both lions. She didn't know that there were albinos. Black pelts, white pelts or just dark pelts in general. The sun didn't bother her so much but even she didn't know what her own pelt looked like. @Alexon

"It does. She has sensitive skin, and burns really quickly, though she isn't albino. Albinos have skin and eyes that lack pigment, so they burn really easily, and dark lions can overheat quickly."

Alex had absolutely no problem with explaining these things, but it was definitely something that they had never thought about a blind lion not knowing. It made sense, of course- how could she know that lions were different colors and that those colors were affected by the sun differently? Just a new thing to consider.

They'd never met a lion who was born blind. In his old pride, they wouldn't have survived, so they'd never had the opportunity. They were excited, though, to learn more about the adaptations that would arise from such a thing.

@Ygritte

Let the years we're here be kind

Let our hearts, like doors, open wide

code by corvus