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Soren turned as the Horsewoman called out to him, having been content to keep walking past the arguing clansmen until that point. War clansmen playing in dirt? He had presumed that they were working on an obstacle course or something of the sort. The woman’s demands really…did not bother him that much. He made the choice to go over to see her, and she didn’t waste any time piddling around trying to sugar coat what needed to be done. He could respect that. Clear cut orders, in and out. Basically? She spoke his language.

Not that he could really see what the seeds looked like. He knelt, and thankfully no dirt had been pushed into the hole to cover up the seeds yet, eyeing the type of seeds that they would need to find. “Very well.” He looked up to see another horsewoman passing by and motioned her over. By her appearance she likely came from Conquest, though with the way they were merged now he would not place a bet on it. “They need us to go find seeds for their trees. Do you have any reason not to help them?” Was he trying to rope someone else into the task set to him? Two sets of eyes were better than one in his opinion, and if she didn’t have a good reason not to he would do his best to put her to work.

Soren was used to people being shorter than him, and it was only because he spent a fairly decent amount of time on his own that he did not have a permanent crick in his neck. At least she was not arguing and just cutting to the chase as well, and he tried to offer her a small smile in return. For just a brief moment his eyebrows unfurrowed and...well that was a start at least. He nodded in acceptance. "I won't leave you alone in the forest," he promised. "Don't worry about your safety," he added on, just in case that was what worried her. Soren knew better than to underestimate someone due to size, but this mare simply seemed...fragile. Perhaps it was just her skin that lead him to believe that, but the thought was there.

Presuming that since the woman wanted to be accompanied meant that she would stick with him he struck out to the forest, looking constantly upwards to try to find the seeds like he had seen. "I'm Sören," he offered a bit belatedly before abruptly switching the subject.. "That looks like the right type of tree." He made his way to it and began to clamber up the trunk. Soren was not precisely a light stallion though, and while not fat he was stocky. The slender tree stood no chance and began to give, creaking ominously. He jumped down, landing in a crouch. "Too weak, we'll have to keep looking."

"Lifen," he muttered, more for his own benefit than anything else. The bark that she pointed out looked like...well, bark to him, but he eyed it to try to see why it was different. If they needed to press their way deeper into the forest he had no qualms with that, the exercise might be nice. And at least this mare was proving herself useful, he would not have thought to look at the bark, though relying on his instincts was not the most horrendous thing.

He was content to remain in silence as they delved deeper into the forest, waiting for a few minutes before resuming his search. Finally they came across a tree that looked promising, or as promising as a tree could look. It was thick, had branches, and had some greenery at the top.

Promising.

He turned his head from side to side, cracking his vertebrae, and eyed the tree before starting forward. He had to bear-hug the tree until he got high enough to reach the first branch, but from there on it was just letting his muscles do the work, steadily moving to the top. For the briefest of moments he remembered climbing a different tree on one of his expeditions, on his way to plucking a plum from a high up branch. It had been the end of the season, but when he had seen a few of the fruits still high on the tree he had decided to take some back to Astridr. His effort had been well rewarded, she had been delighted in the treat, first examining it, then sketching it, next carefully dissecting it, and then, finally, devouring it, making sure that he tried some as well. She had tried to plant the seed, but it had never sprouted, and eventually the small pot of dirt was moved aside as other research piled in.

As he thought about it he reached the greenery. He reached out, stretching precariously, and snagged a single seed before gravity took back over. Immediately his gauntleted hand shot out, clawed tips digging into the bark of the tree, slowing his descent but leaving a nasty trail in the trunk of the tree that he did not seem to really notice as he held out the seed to Lifen. "Does this one look okay?"


+1 seed

Well, two seeds for the War Horsemen, their task was already complete it appeared. He glanced at her seed as well, allowing himself to revel in her words for a moment. Yes, these tiny, insignificant seeming seeds would some day grow into a large tree, capable of supporting one of the structures that those who had been of the clan of War so preferred. He could not imagine living in a tree like that but trees had uses beyond that. Shade, bearing fruit and seeds good for trading or other various purposes, firewood. Research. His hand closed around the seed, and he slipped it into one of the pockets in his pants that was not visible due to his long shirt that draped his frame.

"Would you wait while I gather another seed? I'd like to try to plant one myself." He eyed the tree he had just climbed, but then began looking for another one. If he was going to get another seed it would probably be best to add some diversity in. There was another tree nearby, and just like the first it seemed to have little until the very top. The lower branches possibly did not get enough light from the pumpkin sun as the top ones formed a canopy, but whatever the reason it meant that he had a tree to scale. He went at this one with the same determination as the first, focused on getting the job done more than not harming the bark or any of that nonsense. He reached the top and managed to get one seed before his...interesting sort of lowering himself back to the ground occurred. Once again he wound up on his feet, and this time he looked at the seed himself before adding it to the one in his pocket. "We should be done here unless you need to stay."

"Yes," he said simply, turning back the way they had come. He took a single step before halting, even he knew that such a curt answer was not enough considering that she had waited on him. Soren turned slowly to face the mare, turning a level gaze on her to meet her peculiar eyes. "We couldn't grow plants on the Isle of Death, potted plants were an extravagance and a tree would be laughable. I think..." he paused to clear his throat, trying to keep his face expressionless though he couldn't quite manage to keep the pain and sorrow from flickering in his eyes. "I think someone that was left behind would want this."

There, it was out in the open. Somewhat. But it was a start, and he was at least referring to his priestess verbally now. He found himself clearing his throat yet again (surely it was simply because he had been talking so much), and glancing away from Lifen toward where the Clansmen that had come from War were waiting on them. "We need to get back."

Start a garden again? Then she likely already had some experience with plants. He filed that information away for later usage and simply gave her a nod. It was not that it was noble, at least not in his mind, but it really was nothing to argue about. The seed in his pocket suddenly seemed heavier though, as if it knew it was of some importance. "If I need help I'll know where to go."

The ex-War horsewomen came into sight and they approached, handing over the seeds so they could begin their saplings. After the seeds were handed over a few horsemen tokens traded hands as well, and now that his mission was complete Soren simply wished to have time alone, to plan out just how he was going to get this garden to work. "Thanks for your help Lifen," he stated with a slight dip of his head in acknowledgement to her before turning away, his hand in his pocket, cradling the third and final seed as he began his way back to where the remnants of the Death Clan had set up their temporary quarters.