Welcome to Gaia! ::

Looking down at the small child she smiled. For whatever reason children had never held any fear for her. "Hi.. " she said to Nahda.
She turned as Foenix spoke, "I'm...ok" she said quietly and then looked back over the garden area. "Well... what soil types do you need? and where would you like the beds" Acias held her staff out , running her practiced hands over it, as if readying herself for work.

Taking all of the information in she already began to formulate in her mind what was needed. Much of the land was filled with sandy dry soil which would wash away easily and wasn't good for much besides carrots. There was plenty of organic matter deep in the ocean as well as large limestone deposits which she could utilise. Spellweaving was about manipulating what was around you, things couldn't appear from nowhere.

She grinned as she seen Nehanda's attempt at a puppy-eyed look, slightly odd coming from a swan/horse combination. "I... should be able to do it with no problem" she said quietly to Foenix. "I'll get to work right away."

Acia knelt down, her fingers combing the soil in the first area, she knew it's composition instinctively and had dealt with it many times before. In her mind she imagined the small particles of plant material she knew that was littered throughout the earth, as she did they soil moved around them, jostling both internal and some external twigs along the ground towards the patch.
It was an odd sight, many of these little twigs and pieces of plant moving up from the ground, this loose layer of aerated soil would gover a slightly richer one which would be built up behind it. From the ocean rocks, low down and their coating of sediments she drew up, through the soil a wet and humic rich mulch which sat underneath, the excess salt drawn out by the soil as it arrived. The sandy soil had been displaced and pushed tightly at the new layers which had jostled their way atop it. Acia let out a blast within her mind, the soil in that region rumbling as if a mini-earthquake had taken a hold of it. The soil, now well mulch and aerated would only need a little fertilizer in future to keep it going well.


Finished this patch, the rested for a moment, mulling over the requirements for the other.

Having caught her breath and had a few moments though she moved on to the other patch. She wasn't sure if there was vermiculite nearby but she could search quite far afield for a source. Volcanic islands were always good for finding minerals. She knew there was plenty of perlite in the surrounding hills and moss was always easy. Gathering her strength she delved her hands into the soild and drew through it all of the elements which were neeeded. Once she had attracted them all - sometimes it almost seemed like a form of magnetism - she thought on how to structure them best. Limestone was needed and a good base so a layer of that was sandwiched between the sand and the new soil on this uplifted bed. The other layers fell into place on top of this.

The pots were not so impressively done. she simply walked over and hefted up the containers one at a time, took them over to the high piled soil and filled them with her hands, both of which were getting covered in fine soil dust.

Finished what Foenix had asked for her she stood up and stretched - the evening sun felt glorious on her back. She brushed her hands together to get rid of tjhe soil and then bent over to lightly rub the back of Nehanda's neck.

"It's no problem, basic stuff for me really..." she said, blushing slightly. Acia shook her head at Foenix's question. "I should head back now.. " she said, looking over her shoulder at the distant centre. "Thank you, though..." she didn't know what to say, how to express her gratitude to this kind human who she felt oddly comfortable with.
"Acia grinned once more as the little Aerandir nuzzled her cheek. She gave Nehanda a light pat" Goodbye for today, Nehanda.. Maybe i'll see you soon?"

Acia turned and sped off back home, not wishing to hang around awkwardly. She waved over her shoulder as she dissapeared behind a stand of trees.

"Okay, guys, here we go!" Foenix stepped out of her house with a smile and turned to hold the door open for the rest of her little clan. Nehanda flew quickly out, followed closely by Nahda, whose sunny face was wreathed in her customary smile, and by Kylara, who bore a pouch to carry her V-Day sprite egg. Freya hummed softly in her spot on Foenix's shoulder, and even Zimra trotted up from the yard, ready for a relaxing afternon and picnic.

It didn't take long for the group to find a shady spot on the opposite side of the village, where huge old trees grew near the beach and they could enjoy both soft green grass and the smell of the ocean. Foenix unfolded a large blanket from Zimra's back, and shook it out upon the grass, and began to unload food from the basket she herself had carried. You just never knew who'd stop by, so she'd made sure to bring plenty.

With a content sigh, Foenix picked up a sandwich half and opened the book she and Nehanda were reading. Opening it to the proper page, she ran a hand over the gryphon's soft back and began to read.

"Before dawn broke I rose and went out into the garden, and gathered the things I needed. Ben lay in a heavy slumber on the bench, with an empty ale jug for company. I drew a circle in the soft earth, and placed four candles around it. In the center I made a tiny fire, with sticks of hawthorn and elder. Somebody had to help John's spirit go free, and to seek its new path. I could not trust these people to do the right things, even though they loved him. The flames burned small but bright and true. I fixed my mind on his weathered, solemn, steadfast face, and on all the things he had been, and I threw onto my fire handfuls of pine needles, and of thyme leaves, so that before long a sweet, cleansing smell spread across the garden. My mind pictured John as a great, spreading tree, that sheltered and guarded many within and under its wide canopy. I thought of the roots of this tree, holding firm to the earth of the valley, a living part of its deep heart. He was a valley man. Wherever he journeyed, whatever his spirit path, a part of him would always remain here. As dawn broke, I quenched the candles and scrubbed out the circle, and I spread the last embers of the fire and covered them with sand. It was another day, and there was work to be done."

((Ya know, this book has some really, really long paragraphs!))

Fae smiled proud and excited as she opened her door. It was such a lovely day that she had planned on everyone taking a walk with her through the woods. In her arms she carried Pueblo who's ears were on ends; this was her first time ever being outside and there was so much to see with her big round eyes!

Sage and Ombre were flittering around Twizzler whom even he tagged along. His purple and red hair glistened in the warm sun- he was lucky enough to have shorts in this warm weather.

As a breeze from the ocean sweapt past, she smelled the salt. It was a wonder how she never been on the beach yet. Walking in jean shorts and a rolled-up short sleeved shirt, hair pulled back into a pony tail, she overlooked the ocean's horizon. Then,she squinted her eyes behind her glasses and noticed red hair near a few trees and a familiar looking Aerandir. "How would everyone like to take a visit to the beach today insetead?" she asked to everyone's agreement.

Soon, Fae as leader, trotted over to Foenix and realized she had fallen asleep. "Ahoy, Feonix!" She yelled out loudly, hoping her friend hadn't fallen into a too deep of sleep.

Fae grinned and held back a chuckle as Nehanda excitedly leaped out of Foenix's arms. She first waved to Nehanda who was bouncing around in the air, then waved to Foenix. The group walked up to them shortly.

Pueblo shyly nuzzled into Fae's chest, trying to hide below her arms as they approched. Her ears flattened and perked and flattened again at the site of another Aerandir creature.

Twizzler and the Fenthries all huddled behind Fae. It was obvious who the mother goose was.

"I'd like you guys to meet Twizzler and Pueblo!" Twizzler waved friendlishly, the little boy's curious eyes falling onto the other creatures wolloping around. That fox looking creature with giant claws and long tail made him uneasy.

Pueblo attempted to flatten herself down until she heard her name and popped back up. Just having realized what she had done, her eyes blinked and stared at Nehanda and Feonix.