+5 Practice preserving food
+5 Practice concealing your scent
+5 Gather herbs for nursing or birthing

Quill had managed a small meal of a dik dik. Unable to eat it all by himself, and uncertain where his sister had headed off to, the changeling grabbed various plants that he found. He wasn't certain what all of them did but some smelled really nice. It was these nice smelling ones that he rolled around in to mask his own scent. He then rubbed these flowers around the thick brambles in which he intended upon hiding the rest of his meal. He figured that if others couldn't smell where he had been then no one would be able to find his stash.

With his cache made Quill worked on actually preserving the meat so that he could stretch it out and have it last days. He had no idea when Illusion would be back and he wanted enough for her.

Quill had found a flat rock to work with and moved towards the edge of the thicket where a patch of sunlight presented itself. The rock was dragged into place to settle in the sunlight in order to let it bake. Next Quill brought over the remains of his meal. Small bits of meat wore torn off and placed on the rock to let the sun do the work of drying it out and preserving it.

The widely spaced forests of Amethyst Grove that surrounded Vermeda soon gave way to more tangled thickets and closer trunks. Lena ambled slowly, her mind clear and free of worries for once, soft blue eyes roaming over the flora around her. From her lips, a calm and gentle song came - a lullaby that she was been taught when she was too young to even remember it. Sometimes she hummed it for the girls, but she hadn't spoken the lyrics aloud for a while and every now and then she would trail off, stumbling over forgotten words until she found them once more on her lips.

It was a peaceful meander, a stretch of her legs and her lungs and when she happened upon a cluster of ashanti pepper she paused in her wandering to study it. She had heard that it was a good herb for restoring a mother post birth and spent a long few seconds studying its scent and the bright orange fruit that began to emerge. Lena began to carefully clip off the fruit, her claws working calmly as her song resumed - unaware that behind the bush was another lion with his own agenda for the day.

+5 Gather herbs for nursing or birthing (1/2)
+5 Learn about another trade’s skills (0/2)
+5 Sing a song or serenade someone (1/2)

code to ivy

Movement at the bush beyond him had Quill grinning, for he figured that his sister had returned, and had him poking his head through the bush. "Iongantach!" He called out surprise in Gaelic before he realize the surprise was actually on him. That wasn't his sister on the other side of the bush.

He had no idea who it was, it didn't matter who it was. He had just stumbled upon one of the Fair Folk. Fear made his eyes huge as he quickly pulled his head back through the bush and back away. The changeling male crouched low on the other side of the bush, trying to make himself smaller than he already was. Where was Illusion when you needed her?

@Lena

It took no time at all to gather the small pile of ashanti peppers, the song she had originally started to sing morphing easily into something a little more upbeat and less sleepy. A workers song, her mother would have called it. Naturally, her singing and clipping had masked the sound of another on the other side of the bush until a soft golden head poked through and exclaimed in a language foreign to her. As he was shocked to find that it wasn't who he thought it was, Lena was just as surprised to be jumped out at. She gasped, jumping backwards to get away from the bush creature.

It dawned on her at just the same time that his face had gone from surprised expectation to horror - as she jumped back, so too did @Quill retreat to his side of the bush. It wasn't a scary creature then - just someone who expected to find someone else. Her heart stopped trying to beat out of her chest and she released a settling breath of air. Quickly she stepped around the bush with a chuckle of amusement, starting to say - You made us both - when she saw him cowering. Lena stopped, ears tilting back. It's okay, no harm done. The Nursemaid cooed softly, thinking perhaps he was worried she might be angry.

+5 gather herbs for nursing or birthing (2/2)
+5 learn about another trade’s skills (0/2)
+5 sing a song or serenade someone (2/2)

code to ivy

Confronting the Fair Folk had always been more of his sister's forte rather than his own. He had always let her handle all of the talking and that sort of business. Quill had always been the sort to more or less freeze up around the Fair Folk. His sister had seemed to gain all of the bold genes in the family.

While the lioness's words were meant to be comforting Quill interpreted them as some sort of test. He wasn't good at tests. Tests were bad. The changeling continued to cower and tremble as he sought to come up with the appropriate answer. After all there could only be one right answer.

"I..." The antlered male started and then hesitated once more. "I am glad that no harm has come to you." It wasn't exactly a lie. Quill really was grateful, even if it was more to save his own hide. If he had managed to harm a member of the Fair Folk then who knew what would happen to him.

@Lena

Lena was not necessarily equipped to deal with such a reaction to herself - she was the sweet, calm, fuzzy Nursemaid and this kind of response did not fit with how she normally interacted with others. But perhaps there was a trauma there that had nothing to do with her - as the male did not move from his cowering position. His stuttered words caused her dark ears to fold back slightly - that wasn't what she'd meant. "No, sorry, that's not what I meant." She murmured softly, sitting back on her haunches. "I'm not going to hurt you." She offered gently, remaining where she was without stepping forward. It was then that she noted the meat drying on the rock. "What are you doing with the meat?" She asked, hoping perhaps to move on from the worried posture.

+5 learn about another trade’s skills (1/2)

code to ivy

Quill had been raised to fear those with the appearance of normality. Granted the female wasn't entirely normal but in his fear Quill didn't notice the longer than average coat. His own sister had a long coat as well. But there were also more obvious things with Illusion as well.

The changeling glanced up at the mention of her not wanting to harm him. He wasn't certain he could trust the word of the Fair Folk. Of course he couldn't say that either. That would just be risking upsetting the Fair Folk and one really didn't wish to do that.

His meat was brought up and a quick look of guilt flashed over his features. Illusion would understand, he was certain. Since it was picked up he couldn't go and deny it and hide it now. "Drying it. So it lasts longer. You can have it."

@Lena

The stranger managed to glance up from studying the floor as she promised that she wasn't going to hurt him, but there was something in his gaze that told Lena he didn't really believe that. It was reasonable to be cautious and the girl had nothing but patience when it came to others. Her smile remained kind and gentle as the other glanced back at the meat on the rock and a guilty look passed over his features. Had she mentioned something she shouldn't? Even so, an explanation came and she blinked softly - drying it to last longer. That's a really good idea. She said, surprise marking her words at the way he offered it straight to her. Thank you, but it's your meat and I don't need it. She wouldn't be taking the mans dinner. What's your name? I'm Lena. She introduced, remaining exactly where she was as she observed the reclusive male.

+5 learn about another trade’s skills (2/2)

code to ivy

Quill wasn't certain what to do when his offer of a meal was denied. He had never had one of the Fair Folk to deny an offering before. Usually it was met with an air of superiority, like of course the offering belonged to them and it was foolish to have ever considered otherwise.

Of course once the Fair Folk were around nothing really belonged to Quill for him to even be able to offer it. So the lack of entitlement and the almost kindness was really throwing the antlered male for a loop. He didn't know how to react and respond to one of the Fair Folk not even acting like a Fair Folk.

"Quill." The young male spoke softly, giving the name he has been known by since a mistake made in youth.

@Lena

Lena understood that there was little to nothing she could do about the other lions ingrained fear such as it was - since they had never met before, it couldn't be her that instilled such a response in the other. She could only offer her non threatening presence and perhaps show him that not all strangers were bad. Her question was answered and she had a name at least - Quill. She smiled in return, still staying where she was and not advancing into his space. It's nice to meet you Quill. Her tone was genuine, kind. But perhaps the kindest thing to do would be to leave the nervous creature in peace. Thank you for teaching me about your skills. However brief it had been, she had learnt something about preservation. With a final dip of her head, Lena turned and collected her herbs, leaving him to his drying process.

/exit

code to ivy