Welcome to Gaia! ::

OKAY SO.
Me and Houndbound started this on AIM.
Annnd, now we're moving it here~ u3u-b
But it has to be backdated because Nul's in a pride nowww~

Nul tore carefully into the delicate leaves, shredding them into fine strips with a care belied by the humongous size of his paws. He put aside the occasional rotten leaf onto a flat stone – when baked they made a good pain reliever. For now, he concentrated on the fresh leaves, tearing them into strips and mushing them into pulp with some water he had laboriously brought from his mouth and placed on the slightly dipped stone that was perfect for this purpose.
--
Kasi wondered about with a stride ti his steps. His tail flicked to and fro gently with each step he took. Today was a particularly nice day, and he had decided to enjoy it... Alone. He didn't know anyone around this place, he felt new. Kasi paused for a second to actually look at his surroundings, rather than the plain dirt road he was following. That's when he spotted a lion... Tearing leaves apart? Without a second thought, Kasi walked up to him, watching with curiosity.
---
Nul almost flinched when the other approached, but managed to turn it into a shiver instead. He dipped his head politely in greeting, before returning to making his pulp. He sniffed it lightly, darting out his tongue and discerning that it probably wasn’t strong enough yet. He cast a glance at the leopard. The leaves would be of no interest to him, surely? He lumbered to his feet, standing tall, yet with a strange stance that made him smaller, and murmured quietly. “I need to fetch some seed pods. If it would not be too much trouble, I would ask you to leave the pulp alone.”
--
His gaze rose from the leaves to Nul. A small smile togged at the ends of his mouth ans a tiny chuckle escaped him. "Ah, i did not plan to touch your belongings. I was simply curious as to, er, what they were for." Kasi gave a polite nod then held out his paw to Nul. "But maybe we should introduce each other first...? I'm Kasi. And who might you be?"
--
Nul nodded solemnly, encasing the smaller paw in his own and shaking it softly, his grip as gentle as his voice. “My apologies, but it is important. My name is Nul. The pulp when finished will be a sleeping draught of a kind. There is an injured cheetah deeper in the forest, who’s gash has become infected. I need to clean up his wound, but it is inflamed and painful, and he is a little skittish, so I am making this to numb his mind slightly so I can help him.” His voice was more assured now, slipping into the easy tones of a healer who knew what he was doing. “However, the only plant I could find was not very fresh, so I am going to increase the effects by adding some crushed seeds. The plant is safer, but it works best with new buds.”
--
Kasi's mouth dropped a little upon hearing about the injured animal. "O-oh dear! that poor thing... Good thing your helping him, though." He nodded then tilted his head to one side, listening intently to Nul. He found all this rather interesting, and had wondered how he knew so much about these things. "Is there possibly anything i could do to help you, Nul?" He saw no harm in offering help to the kind lion. Besides, he had nothing better to do.
--

He blinked, startled by the offer of help. As a rule, people (especially males) did not mind receiving his help with herbs and salves and lotions and potions of all kinds, but actually making them was a different matter. All the same, a hesitant smile slipped onto his muzzle. “That would be much appreciated, thankyou. The plant we are looking for is a vibrant red usually, and grows in patches – we want them as they are beginning to pale, fat black seed-pods. They usually grow by the river, and I need some more water anyway, so if you would like to help, you can come along and help search.”
-
Kasi gave a firm nod as he began to picture what the seeds may look like. "I wouldn't have a problem with helping. But would you mind leading the way, i have not familiarized myself with this area yet." He laughed nervously as he scratched the back of his head. He feelt silly for not knowing which way to go and such.
-
Nul smiled softly again, shifting his front paws awkwardly before padding ahead. “I am not very familiar with this area either, but I grew up in caves, so I have a good sense of smell, and once I have made a route, I remember it. After all, if you forget the way out once you have come in…” Nul trailed off, chancing another small smile, turning his large head back to his smaller companion. They were approaching the river now. The smell of fresh water was very strong for Nul, but even if Kasi could not smell it, there was the sound of trickling water.
--
The male leopard smiled as he listened to Nul. Kasi found Nul to be a very interesting lion, even though he was the only other animal he's ever met around here. He smiled as Nul looked back at him, wagging his tail ever so happily. The sounds of trickling water filled his sensitive ears and they perked up with excitement. "Oh, the river...!" His voice had a hint of excitement in it, his tail began to wag a bit more than it already was.
--
Nul’s own tail flicked slightly, tuft at the end whipping up a little dust.A small gesture of happiness. He’d been many places, but the simple joy of companionship was still nice. Even if it was fleeting, it was always nice to have someone who’s steps padded with yours, at least for a while. The river came into view, finally, and he smiled at the expanse of silvery water, fast-flowing, too wide for a stream, but not rushing like some rivers. He dipped his head into the water, lapping up a few mouthfuls for himself. He would find the seed pods first, and carry the water last.
--
Kasi smiled, eying the river and it's beauty. Nature, how beautiful it could be. But deadly all the same. He held onto his smile as he dipped is paw into the cool water, swishing it around as he glanced around for the seed pods they had came here to find.
--
Nul spotted a patch of bright red a little further up the bank. Padding upwards, he smiled as the familiar scent hit his nostrils. Yes, this was definitely the required flower. Now to find some in the right state. Again deceptively gentle with his oversized paws, he parted the red ones without crushing them – they would be useful come a few days or weeks, searching for the pale peach of the almost-dead.
--
e perked up as Nul began to move. He withdrew his paw out of the water and followed after him. His eyes kept wondering over to the shinning waters of the river. He found it captivating. Kasi paused to look where he was going only to notice Nul had found some seed pods. Carefully, Kasi walked around him, looking for more patches. He had succeeded in doing so and began to carefully gather some up, hoping they were in the right state for Nul to use.
---
When he had gathered a decent amount, he tucked the stalks into his mane, so he could carry water as well as the flowers, before padding back to Kasi, inspecting his flowers. He seperated a few from the collection that weren't quite ready, placing them in the river and briefly watching them float gently away in the slow-moving current, and tucked the rest deftly in his mane.
"The walk back will be somewhat silent, as I need to carry water. Thankyou for your assistance with these seeds."

"That would be great." Nul smiled again, this time with no hesitation, his eyes crinkling at the force of it. He lent down to the river, gathering a mouthful, then waiting for Kasi to do the same and leading them back, totally surefooted of the route - indeed, they arrived at the very clearing, pulp still there. He went over and opened his mouth, depositing the water.