Asterope tilted her head somewhat at Avela's words, but before she could ask further, the Inarta who introduced herself as Alex spoke up with a question about the bugs, having not been in Alvadas to experience the wave of disease that had swept the city.
Aster shook her head at Alex in response, lifting her hands ever so slightly in a gesture of defeat. "I don't think any amount of birds could have helped. My guess is it had something to do with the lack of winter; without the cold, the bugs didn't die out, but plenty of animals were and still are dying of dehydration. It was a huge swarm." Sadness tinged the Eth's voice; the continued absence of Morwen was heavily affecting the land, despite the amount of snow that had fallen in Alvadas over the winter.
Avela, however, knew what she was talking about. "Many people got sick; you're lucky." Aster smiled slightly at the Konti, glad the young woman hadn't had to suffer through any of the illness.
Clearing her throat, Aster clasped her hands together. "Regardless, it's always good to be prepared. We have a better idea of what we could potentially be dealing with should it happen again in any capacity, and I think it's important you know how to keep yourselves safe and healthy."
Seeing that the two had no further questions, Aster leaned her hip back against the table behind her, rolling up the sleeves of her dress. The white cotton was beginning to look more grey, and rather than simply being soft and worn was beginning to look and feel threadbare. She really needed to buy some new clothes, especially with one of her dresses having been almost entirely ruined by the fire at the Womiyu in the autumn; but it simply hadn't been a priority of hers.
Brushing her palms over the skirt of her dress, the loose fabric swishing around her knees, Aster began to speak, thinking carefully as she did so. "The best way to keep yourself from being bitten is to simply keep yourself covered. Thick clothing is best, but even sheer material like lace can provide a barrier thick enough to keep you from being bitten."
"Of course, that's not always an option, seeing how hot it can get. You can buy insect-repelling candles and ointment, which is always a good idea. Certain smells tend to keep bugs away as well; mint and similar strong smells is popular since it's pleasant, but garlic and basil can also work."
That information was relatively new to Aster herself; Irene had just recently explained to her that those were scents often used in the balms and candles sold to help deter insects.
"Perfume, balm, or candles with those smells could help keep insects away from you. Nothing is foolproof, of course; while prevention is best, it's important to know what to do if you are bitten."
Aster paused, suddenly slightly flustered to realize how much she'd been talking and how much information she'd just projected onto the two women seated in front of her. A flush rose to her cheeks, and she curled her fingers into the soft, loose material of her skirt as she glanced away. She was surprised at how easily she had begun to talk; perhaps it was because it was something she enjoyed, and she was so focused on trying to think of and remember the proper information.
Still, she hadn't expected to settle into the role of teaching quite so easily. Now that she was aware of it, she was much more self-conscious. "Uhm, any questions so far?" The Eth asked, shifting her weight slightly, forcing her fingers to relax and release their hold on her dress.
