Welcome to Gaia! ::

This was becoming quite the crapshoot. They weren't finding the right berries but at least they were eating well. She hadn't had a complete meal in days, her bones were starting to give out and her eyes began to look sunken. This was just what she needed. She took the clusters from the other buck, bit into another red berry, swallowed and feasted.

Alright not that one. She tried a group of the same orange red berries. With a mouthful of berries, she barely gets out, "So, what's your name and if your sister has a garden what do you have?" She bit into a mushroom expecting to taste more than slim and dirt. Nope. Most definitely not this berry. Berry juices started to stain her coat. But not her hair just yet.

"Weak-Kneed." was about as far as she went before devouring more.

They ate more berries and tried various fruit until it all came back to the elusive miracle berry. Soon enough, berry and other fruit juices mixed on her mouth, neck and front paws. Because her hair was so long and she lost herself in the joy of eating and trying new fruits, soon that got tangled and berried up as well. Finally, she looked at him, seeing he wasn't having any better luck.

"Should we ask your sister, Sorrel?"

Before Faint could respond, rustling from nearby roots and bushes could be heard. 2 kin emerged, their shapes odd, unfamiliar and both were carrying parcels. They looked at both Faint and Mugwort, and after quick cursory glance, dismissed Faint, but went back to Mugwort. They looked at him expectantly before dropping their parcel. Out rolled out two skulls and a totoma horn full of red berries.

"Hello brother Mugwort" greeted River-Swollen. It had been a while since she ventured to their garden. Of the family, each had their own hobbies and secrets. Glossbones and her tended to the more crafty side of things. It was a smart move on their part to parlay their interest in playing with dead things into a booming business. Not quite booming yet. There was one Mare who had visited twice already. River-Swollen and Glossbones were the Skull Collectors. With their small army they created works of art or danger with their skulls.

"We're here to replenish our mushrooms supply. Don't suppose you have anymore healing ointments do you? A boar slashed my leg and it's oozing pus." Ah, Glossbones, ever straight to the point.

Weak-Kneed sat in silence, mulling over the last of her fruit wondering what was going on. Speak of the devils. Furtively, she swiped a red berry that came out of the totoma's horn. She waited and looked at Mugwort for silent confirmation it was okay to eat. It was only then she noticed the 8 green owlcats.

She fights off the temptation to flee as the boar sliders to the ground, in a natural harmony that all but presents itself to her in an upmost pleasing manner. She salivates so much she misses Mugwort's blooming blush. The aroma of the fleeting warmth lures her closer but the familial chatter keeps her from joining the fray. They are warm, serene and even genial in their banter. Faint grew up alone and although she is never lonely, she is not without her wants of a family. And so she sits, watching the sister and brotherly exchanges, quietly piecing who is who from snippets of convo. She waits but then Mugwort leaves. Embarrassed she must have missed a cue, she slinks off to her own home. Or just away. She doesn't know anyone there.

Glossbones and River-Swollen take Sorrel's harsh loving and Turtle's subservience gladly. It always felt like home when the siblings got together. It almost animates them. Even the buck of few words Glossbones is getting caught up in the excitement. He regals them with their first repeat customer: a colorful wasp formed Mare and her propensity for the delicatest designs and their mushrooms.

River-Swollen joins in on the fun but glances furtively back and forth from where the white doe was sitting and the passge between two trees she left from. Hmmmm, maybe someone should get her.

She flinches at the bluntness of Turtle's words. It's mortifying to hear your fears verbalized in an abrupt, loud manner. She's embarrassed 29 ways to Matope and back. But soon that emotion blossoms into delight at having been missed. It's foreign and it's fleeting but it's very real. But to save grace, she feigns heavy steps and reluctantly turns back to Turtle and follows him back. She especially tries hard not to laugh at the pink buck's insistence that his family is not scary. She starts fidgeting when she wonders why Mug the supposed hermit talked to her. But that boar and the invitation.. it would be rude to turn down, at least that's what she told herself. "Alright, I'll stay for a little bit. I was wondering around looking for the so called famous miracle berries." There. She has a legitimate reason to come back.

The family runs on gossip, that is what ties them together. And how the tides had turned against Mugwort. Now that he's all patched up, thanks to turtle and Sorrel, he asks his little brother about the white one. "So, where did you meet her? And what's her name? Scared her away did you?"

Despite her discomfort at the unfamiliar and Mugwort's strange and overly familiar gesture, Weak-Kneed decides to stay. If not for the boar and possibility of red berries then for the warmth of a caring family. And the fact that she tried so many berries and citrus is still awesome. All in all, a very pleasant and productive day. New friends and, she glances at Mugwort, possibly something more, she's tickled pink. She stays and even engages in some conversation though she's quick to muteness and not fighting to be overheard. It's a pleasant place, almost dreamy in its friendly chaotic atmosphere.

"I think I'll stay a while" she replies to Mugwort before committing herself to an evening of fun.