Harvesting For... [Ethan]

[Amaya Whitevine]

Fall 80th, 511 AV

Amaya's eyes scrunched up as she focused on the dead lichen that had stuck itself to the wide trunk of an old tree. Hoarfrost shimmered in the sweeping boughs, frost shivered on her breath with every exhale, and her eyes paid little attention to the timeless beauty of Morwen's approaching Season. She was focused more on if the lichen was worth anything back home or if her venture was completely worthless.

Branches trampled underfoot cracked as Amaya shifted her wieght, settling once again on the hard snow and narrowing her shifting eyes on the tree, leaning forward.

Her ears were open to her surroundings, unlike her eyes. Amaya understood the laws of predator and prey within Taldera as much as any wild animal or Polar Bear could. She may have the mark of a Goddess upon her brow, but that would not stop a hungry dire wolf from making a light snack out of her. It was with this in mind why she had brought her healing kit and her kama. If she was injured, she wanted to be able to fight off death before it came to her.

Still, the lichen had the brunt of Amaya's attention. Was it a healing type? Was it worth anything in her Hold? She probably couldn't grow it. Out of all her years living in a hold of Healers and Herbalists, Amaya was unable to decide if a lichen could be grown or not. She should have went home and asked about it instead of coming into Taldera on the search for a medicinal plant that she had nothing like back home. If Avanthal would recieve a new import of seeds, she'd be happy. She should consider asking the traders that come to the city for seeds.

A faint smile curved the chilled lips of the Vantha as her eyes shifted to show amusement mingling with frustration. She reached to harvest the little splotches of frosted lichen, her ears keeping tuned to the beautiful sounds of wildlife all around her.

[Ethan]

Ethan crouched behind a large trunk big enough to hide him while he changed. The bright golden light was a dead give away to his race. And he was still in the habit of hiding from would be slavers. All Kelvics with a mind where. He would of changed clothes, if that girl hadn't come by. He had gotten his breeches on at least, but was waiting til she busied herself again to continue. Ethan learned his lesson with Fraha and was more cautious with who knew his secret. Not that Fraha betrayed him or anything, but that was a crazy night he soon regretted. From the small glances he got of her. She was cute and lithe. Working on moss or at least paying close attention to it. He tested her awareness by throwing a rock and seeing how quick she responded to the noise. She must have been a hunter with how fast she jerked. And that thing on her back wasn't all that inviting. Some kind of hand sickle. A cruel weapon for sure. And could gut him easily if he had to fight her with his bare hands. Slipping his heavy wool tunic on. He cringed every time he scratched the trunk noisily or shifted in the snow. Ethan wasn't made for sneaking around. He was graceful to be sure, but all Kelvics where. He was meant to fly and to surprise his prey. There wasn't much choice but to try and get away unseen. The cold was biting into his skin. And he shivered as the bits of snow melted against his skin. Keeping his clothes tucked away by a tree had been a big mistake. The snow didn't wet his clothes but plenty of it stuck and he didn't dare shake it out. As he changed his only comfort was the presence of her Aura. Although he wasn't close enough to get a full reading. He could sense she was calm if he focused hard enough. It would have to do. He put on everything he could and checked once more. She was a cute little Vantha, but knowing his luck she could probably cut him from groin to ear. He creeped away slowly. All the while keeping an eye on her. Praying to Eywaat that she didn't hear him... Either Eywaat wasn't in ear shot or wanted Ethan to mess with his birdy subject. But a branch cracked under his feet. Loud enough for the girl to hear. There was no doubt about it. So thinking quickly he spun around and put on his normal face. If he was going to be caught he didn't want to be seen slithering around like a crook. When the girl looked his way and she certainly would, he smiled and said. ”Hope I'm not interrupting, just going for a little trek and wondered what kind of plants your studying?” Going for a stroll? What the petch was that! Middle of the bloody forest. He smiled again as he ridiculed himself mentally. And tried to salvage the statement. ”You are a herbalist, right? You Vantha are such an interesting bunch. Never know who is studying what.” He had officially made himself sound like an old dork. Good enough for him. Better a nerd than a threat. ”I'm Droggle by the way! Deric Droggle.” He walked forward to shake her hand. Smiling goofy the whole time. Like any one experienced in deceit. Ethan took the mistakes and created a persona around it. He was now Deric Droggle, a limp dick, green thumb traveler from Syria. Someone no one would suspect.

[Amaya Whitevine]

There was a flash of light and a sudden noise, startling Amaya out of her consideration of the tree’s frozen lichen. Her eyes flickered, changing from indigo to a purplish maroon within a few moments as she snapped her head around, seeking any predator that may have been pawing its way towards her. She saw nothing, and that worried her greatly, causing her to narrow her eyes. She felt that she should have asked someone to accompany her out, but she had forgone that for she would have felt helpless and meek. A Healer couldn’t afford such feelings, and so she was alone with Rak’keli knew what else. She was wary now, and uncomfortable. She collected her sample and prepared to leave, a shiver traveling her spine with her uncertainty. A branch snapped in the opposite direction the first noise had come from, and Amaya looked that way to see a man frozen in place, a look of what could have been horror stuck on his face as their eyes met. Her eyes flickered an even brighter maroon from her curiousity, the purple half-fading away but still lingering. The man that Amaya now faced was different from the others in the city. His eyes never changed colour, unless he stayed in one emotion, and that alone could have disconcerted her. He was also completely unfamiliar, not even a tinge of the slightest feeling of recognition stirring in her belly. Was he a traveler? A mercenary? Uncertainty tinged her eyes green and she took a half step back. However, before she could turn and flee, he spoke in a forcibly happy tone of voice and in a language not often spoken among the Vantha. Common, it was, and she recalled her own knowledge of the tongue and a smile as well, and although her eyes flicked to a happy shade of red, green still slivered it along with maroon. “Interrupted me? No, it’s fine. I was almost done anyway.” With that, she pocketed the sample and turned her full attention to him, the self-addressed Deric Droggle. “I was… looking for medicinal plants, I suppose,” she said, a small frown wrinkling the bridge of her nose. It faded away and she had to silence a chime of laughter at his name. It was the strangest thing she had ever heard in her life! “I am Amaya Whitevine, Deric Droggle, and it is a pleasure to meet you. Where are you from? I’ve not seen you here before.” Stating the obvious, of course. It was a great thing she had brothers, or she would have been at a loss for words in how to talk to a boy. She didn’t get much availability beyond what she did in her Hold. She was totally helpless. “Why were you taking a walk alone? It’s dangerous out here.” She had to try and not roll her eyes at herself, and instead plastered a smile on her face. She so enjoyed meeting new people.