|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 1:56 am
 A black lion walked jauntily through the underbrush. While no one had come to him with a request, he was still out gatherering. Today he'd decided to look for things that were useful to everyone. Healing herbs such that his tiny knowledge knew. Plants that Loa liked as offerings. Things that did well dried. His bag was near full and weighing down his neck, and his armband was almost too tight with all the dead stalks pushed in there, seed pods hanging from the tops.
Indeed he had every reason to proud. For surely he would be greatly thanked for thinking of and bringing home such items. L'envoi eyed a yellow bird as she flitted to another tree up ahead. He had a thought of making a harness for her that she could help carry stuff home. It wasn't usual for him to pick this much, and he wasn't sure how she'd take the idea. She served very well as scout and guard.
Lore landed on a branch slightly ahead of the lion. It was hard not to chortle at him with dead grass and whatnot sticking up from pouch or band. It make him look as though he was trying to dress up or use it as camouflage. "Are you almost done?"
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 06, 2013 10:57 am
So it was that she was pleased to see a male in the distance, plucking plants and covered in drying specimens. The way in which he carried some of it was a little comical, but Ester wasn't the sort to poke fun at anyone, much less another practitioner of the medical arts. "G-g-greetings!" she called, breaking into a trot. Her large satchel was strapped around her torso, making it easier to travel, but harder to get on and off. It bumped her ribcage as she approached the black lion and... oh, he had an avian friend! "Fine d-day for g-gathering herbs, is it not?" she asked, slowing to a walk again as she came within easy speaking distance, apparently unfazed by her own stutter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 9:18 pm
"One is never in our line of work Lore." L'envoi blew an errant strand of hair from his eyes. His weren't mean and had a bit of humor in them. They both knew his tendencies. They both, however, were startled as a female voice hailed them and a lioness trotted over to join them. He tilted his head as she came closer. Noting her bag he wondered what it was she carried in it.
"Likewise Lady! Greetings! Does gathering herbs bring you out here today too?" He nodded easily at her bag. "We thought it'd be good to do something useful." He gave a smile, "I'm L'envoi, and my birdie friend is Lore. What are you out looking for if you don't mind my asking?"
Lore fluffed her whole body as the lioness approached. With the bag and open nature, the bird wasn't worried about the lion. The lioness looked perfectly friendly. Which, she amused, was exactly the kind L'envoi liked. He wasn't much of a fighter. "Hello lioness," she greeted her simply not having much to say.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2013 8:16 pm
"G-g-greetings, L'envoi and Lore," she greeted them by name with an easy-going smile and a nod of her head to them each in turn. "M-my n-name is Ester," she offered in return for the honor of their names. "I'm from a distant pride," she explained to his question, "and I am wandering to find herbs we use, but moreso to learn how other prides and peoples heal." She paused to examine the bands on the lion's leg with interest. "Oh, that's a s-smart w-way to handle the longer s-s-stalks! Though it w-wouldn't w-work well for long travel, I imagine it is p-p-perfect for local herbing!"
She took that opportunity to sit herself down for a rest. The satchel she used was useful, but it grew heavy the farther she went, both due to weariness as well as what she put into it. "P-pardon m-my asking, b-but is there a w-w-waterhole nearby? I could d-d-dearly use a drink!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2013 9:50 pm
"Ester! What a lovely name! You must have come far indeed. Well I hope you find what your looking for." He beamed at the lioness. "I don't know much about healing, but I know some of the plants they use. I'd be happy to help you gather some." L'envoi gave a pleased purr as she complimented his accessories. "Thanks! You wouldn't believe how long it took me to find one I liked." He gave a soft laugh.
The male perked his ears. He gave a quick look around then nodded. "There is a watering hole nearby. C'mon we'll take you. We could probably use a drink too." L'envoi waited for the lioness to get to her feet. "Could I carry our bag awhile? It looks heavy?"
Lore ruffled her feathers as the lioness included her by name. It was nice to be noticed! And not just as food. She flutter her wings and bobbed her head. "Yes a drink would be nice. He really can get single minded about stuff."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 11:45 am
The healer rose to follow the lion and his companion, smiling warmly at both. They were an odd pair, but they seemed quite happy together. It just went to show that it took all kinds, and that each had their own version of happiness. As they walked, she tipped her head so she could address both lion and bird together. She wasn't the sort to ignore a smaller creature, or believe them lesser in any way. Smaller did not mean less intelligent or less important! "D-d-do the t-two of y-you live n-nearby?" she asked invitingly. The more she knew about their pride, the more their healing techniques made sense. "And what is it you do for your pride, if you aren't gathering these for healing?" This time her tone held much more curiosity. She could only speculate that perhaps the plants were to be used in some sort of crafting if healing wasn't the aim.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2014 5:39 am
Talencia I apologize for the long delay!
"I'm a gatherer. It's my job to get whatever someone needs. Most of this will go to Medsen Fey for healing and some will go to the ShrineKeeps as offering to the Loa. I also get bugs, animals, plants, and ground that go into Bokor potions or any number of things." He gave a proud smile. There was pride in his work. Now he could smell the water and tried not to hurry his steps. "Just around that hill Ester is a nice cool drink."
The avian was delighted that she wasn't brushed off after the initial greeting. Ester continued to include her in the conversation. Lore flew down to land on the black lion's back. She hopped up to his shoulder so that the lioness could talk to both of them more easily. "You mean I get the bugs," Lore teased the lion. She knew very well that he could, and had, caught his own bugs before. "I help him gather things. Mostly insects that are too small for him or too hard to reach."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 7:59 pm
She listened attentively as he explained, but was completely lost in the terminology he used. Loa? Fey? Potions? She felt uncomfortable asking for so much explanation of how his pride lived, though. She didn't want to appear rude or disapproving. So instead she merely nodded thoughtfully and tried to process it all as they walked. She turned an easy and warm smile to the bird. "It can well imagine how helpful it must be to have a friend and companion such as you!" she exclaimed sincerely. "Perhaps I can ask help from some of our winged friends back home."
She subsided into mulling on this until they came upon the water. Grateful, she crouched at the edge of the waterhole and lapped for several long minutes. She had been more thirsty than she had thought! Relieved and refreshed, she sat up and asked another question, her curiosity still high. "Do you mostly gather live things, plants and insects? Or do you gather things like rocks, sand, bones?" He had touched on this already, but she wanted to know more. "Do you have crafters? We have many talented creatures in our pride that make jewelry, masks, charms, that sort of thing. It would be interesting if we had folks who gathered such things as they needed as their jobs. Mostly we barter with traveling traders, though."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 3:53 pm
He gave a laughing purr as the bird put in her two-stalks worth. "She's right. I couldn't ask for a better partner than her for hunting small bugs." Finally they reached the pool and L'envoi stood back to give her some room to drink before he took his turn. Thirst satisfied, he stepped back to some dry land and shrugged off the lioness' bag.
"There it'll be safe enough while you rest." He smiled and settled himself, wrapping his tail around his paws. The dark male considered, "yes I guess I would say so. Sometimes I get non-living, but its a rare request." L'envoi nodded eagerly. "Yes we do. That sounds interesting. Maybe your pride would like to trade with ours? Gatherers spend a lot of time out and about.
Lore turned her head one way then the other to look at the lioness. "You should. I would suggest offering something in return for their help." She puffed up her feathers at the lion's praise. It was good to know he valued her help.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 5:37 pm
Ester leaned forward with interest as he spoke. Ah, so they did do crafting! She thought it odd that so little of his gathering was non-living things, but who knew? Perhaps their crafts were more of the natural sort. That could be intriguing! Her face lit up as he spoke of trading goods between prides. "Oh, I know that our c-c-crafters would be v-very interested in that! Anyone is w-welcome to c-come offer goods at our celebrations," she added. "W-we get artisans and traders from other p-p-places all the t-time, coming and setting up b-booths during our f-festivals. Perhaps some of your p-pride w-would be interested in traveling to v-visit us during one of them? We w-welcome everyone." She was clearly very proud of her pride and also very happy to invite him and his pride to join them. "We should arrange s-some sort of exchange of g-g-goods at some p-point, anyway. We have c-criers who roam the roguelands who I'm sure w-would be w-willing to bring b-b-back samples of what your c-crafters offer, if that's b-better than coming themselves."
She gave the bird her attention next, listening politely with pricked ears. "Oh... I c-can't think what to offer a b-bird," she exclaimed in chagrin. "M-might you help me think of s-something? What d-do b-b-birds w-want?" She was getting intently interested enough that it was causing her stutter to worsen, though she didn't apepar to be aware or bothered by it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 9:46 pm
It had sounded good when he said it. Now he wasn't so sure as he listened to her talking. Go to her pride? He wasn't sure how the others would take that idea. L'envoi scuffed a paw in the dirt. What should he do now? It wouldn't be nice to dash her hopes soon as he had gotten them up.
"I don't know if they'd be willing to leave for very long or very far. It sounds like your pride is still a good distance away. The gatherers are really the ones who travel the most." He chewed his lip thoughtfully. "Maybe you could send some of those traders our way. Or we could set up a meeting point somewhere half way?" It was the best he could offer without being able to talk to any of the others in his pride.
Lore clacked her beak helpfully. "Depends upon the bird. Some like berries, some like insects, some like meat, and some like trinkets." She bobbed her head. "Otherwise ask. I'm sure they'll tell you what their willing to bargain for." Lore hoped she took the advice and got some birds to help.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2014 9:46 am
Ester thanked the bird for her advice, and nodded understandingly at L'envoi's reluctance. "It is indeed a long w-w-way, so it makes s-sense to perhaps merely s-send the traveling traders your w-way." She hummed thoughtfully, considering how best to do that. Probably to talk with those who came, and put a bug in the ear of the criers to keep an eye out and spread the word. "I shall c-certainly s-speak with s-s-someone about such ideas!" The angle of the sun caught her attention just then, and she rose hurriedly to her paws.
"Oh m-my," she gasped lightly, "it is g-getting late. I really should b-b-be moving on." It was always best, in her experience, to find a temporary den well beyond any pride borders at night. Even friendly prides that offered shelter to travelers were no exception to her rule. She just felt safer out in the roguelands, without strange rules and laws and people surrounding her. She hefted her pack and slid it back on, letting it settle comfortably as she turned to thank her new friends. "It's b-been s-so nice to meet you," she told them sincerely, meeting both pairs of eyes. "Thank y-you for y-your kindness and company." She gave her pack a last shrug, then bowed her head to each in turn. "Happy hunting and safe travels to you, may your foraging be fruitful!" With this swift but heartfelt farewell, she turned and headed back the way she'd come, retracing her steps to where they'd met so that she could move out into the roguelands from a familiar spot. Onwards and forwards! Soon it would be time to turn for home once more. How she missed her mate!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 3:02 am
"I look forward to seeing them around someday. I'd be grateful if you could send me a message via them." It sounded stupid and L'envoi gave an awkward chuckle. When the lioness stood up so did he. "I hadn't realized. Sorry I kept you here talking, but you look liked you needed the break. It was our pleasure. We enjoyed talking with you. Safe travels Ester." He bobbed his head as she left.
It was getting late. When the lioness was out of sight he turned to his bird. "Let's get home ourselves Lore."
"A pleasure Ester. May we meet again." Lore waved a wing as the lioness took off. At the lion's invite she hopped onto his back for a ride home.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
