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Soren had a lot he needed to get done. Sadly, he was at that point of not really sure where to start. He probably needed to go apply for a grant, or was he supposed to look for land first? Did he even have time for all of that nonsense? There was still a lot to do, helping to raise buildings and in general accomplishing things.

Which was why it made very little sense that he had nothing that he was working on, and he was taking a walk. He seemed to perform better when there was a priestess to direct him, some goal that he was trying to meet. On his own? Well, anything was possible. The best question of all would have been why he was wandering around the area that those who came from Conquest were primarily settling.

It was only because he was paying attention to his surroundings that he saw the artisan at all. As he was just about a foot taller than her, it would have been easy to just overlook her completely, and he almost did. But once he noticed her, sighing, he felt that small twinge. The one that prompted him to help her, considering she had went with him to collect seeds for the War clansmen. And she was not so sensitive a type that she seemed angry at him just for speaking. He walked over to stand next to her, looking at the mess that she was seeing, not sure exactly what he was looking at. And that was it, no greeting, not questioning what she was doing. Just standing there. If she needed him she would say something, if not he would just continue on his way after a moment.

A garden. He looked at the patch of...well they were plants, and raised an eyebrow at it. A garden. This. Well, she did seem rather dissatisfied with parts of it, so there was always the possibility that it could turn into something suitable. He glanced at her, noting the signs that she had been working on it before he had shown up. He then weighed her request carefully. A soft friend. No, she probably did not mean that he was squishy, but rather that he did not hold up well to physical labor.

As someone that was used to the physical side of things he was certain that he could accomplish this task. Get rid of the weeds cluttering up the area. And in return she would share her knowledge with him? It seemed like a fair trade. Beside that, at this stage they still needed to assist one another however they could. It was about making the Clan strong, not about lining his pockets. And he did have tokens left from the pouch he had had one him in the battle before...before they had come here.

"Your expertise is reward enough," he stated before kneeling down next to the plants. He reached out with one hand, grabbed at the nearest bunch, and pulled. The plant had little choice but to give, breaking off in his hand, roots still firmly implanted in the ground. But it certainly showed that he had the strength for it.

Sisters? Soren did not ask her about them, partially because he didn't want to know what had happened to them. He already knew, but asking would just bring the confirmation. They were on the isle, the chance of it being anything other than that was so slim that he simply refused to acknowledge it verbally. So he simply nodded, about to move on to the next plant when she was near him, digging with some sort of utensil, a hand-sized shovel.

He found himself watching her rather than continuing his work. So when she wanted him to move closer to see what she was doing he was more than willing. Dig and then pull? Would the plants give easier? He cocked his head toward the plant, trying to reason it out before her voice carried over to him and she began to explain in greater detail.

Ah, so plants were like humans. If you left a bit of them they would soon grow back, and try to take over once more. But if you completely destroyed them they would not return. In this case, these plants were ones she did not want to see again, so he needed to just completely get rid of them. "Understood."

He began to go in the opposite direction for a bit, staying within easy earshot though neither of them seemed inclined to speak. Each plant he came across he removed from the soil, first breaking up the dirt with his gauntlets and then just reaching in and lifting the plant out, creating a small pile. Hopefully all were meant to be removed, because he was not distinguishing between any of them. Occasionally his eyes would flick to the Conquest horsewoman, somewhat surprised to see one that appeared so delicate working so hard at what was possibly a menial task.

"I was...am a guardian," he answered a bit gruffly after she asked her question. It was a time when many of them were really getting to know the other clans, the finer details that most of them never bothered to learn. "I guarded and helped my priestess." There was not that much to be said on the subject, not without dragging memories to the surface, though they were already close enough. A raw wound that was constantly chaffed so that it would not heal. "Yourself?" He was doing pretty good with these plants, and was starting to grow quite a pile of uprooted ones.

Her humming surprised him, and he glanced up at her as he worked, not recognizing the tune. More than likely it was a Conquest tune, one of the songs that might actually have a chance to survive the destruction. It was pleasant, her voice able to carry a tune well, and it made the work more interesting as there was something else to occupy his mind.

Lucky to have him? He was lucky to have Astridr. Her rank had been, well, she was a priestess. Able to lead in trance, constantly on a quest for knowledge. A lesser priestess but still too important for her to risk going on missions that weren't of the utmost importance. "Thank you," he murmured quietly, barely audible.

He was grateful that she took over. It was nice to listen to others talked, he did enjoy the company of others, even if he had little to offer to a conversation. Or, little that he actually voiced. Five siblings. What would that even be like? And all sisters. The way she spoke it was as if what she did wasn't the most important, that it was just a middle-level task. But the lilting way that she gave the rest of the rank's description did make it sound more appealing. It was almost marred by the way that she wished to have an easier life, and he shook his head, not in agreement. "Bloodlines can't be everything. You can do something. Make things. That has value." He was focused on his hands, voice dropping a bit. "For me...I need to do something. Keep busy." He ripped up weed almost violently. Just sitting around gave him too much time to dwell on things. There was no shame in remembering, but he couldn't let himself live in the past.

Lifen had the air of someone who knew exactly what she was doing. Having her near him it was hard not to focus on what she was doing, or, more specifically, the plants she was carrying. So weak and fragile looking, and this was what all of the work had been for. For these strange little organisms that could be crushed so easily. That were too weak to survive on the Isle of Death.

Her voice was a distraction, and he automatically put out his hand, watchging as she reached for one of the plants and put it into his own, his hand much larger than what was in it. "Astridr?" His voice sounded strange even to himself as he questioned her motive, wondering why he should name this simple little plant, this struggling little flower after her. Even as he questioned it though his hand was unconsciously already cupping it, his other hand rising to circle, as if trying to protect it from elements.

He was staring at his hand, missing her blush, missing that she might be feeling self-conscious. All he could think was...questions. They burbled to the surface, unbidden, unleashing a stream of words, the type that only Astridr herself normally got from him. "But how do I plant it? Does it all go underneath the surface? It will grow? How large? Does this plant have a purpose, can it be eaten or used for medicinal purposes? Why isn't it a seed. Do plants understand anything we say? Is it able to learn its name? Is it okay to plant other seeds by it? The only other seed I have is the one that came from the tree." He realized he was rambling and snapped his mouth shut, now it was his turn to be embarrassed. All of this over a plant. It was the idea of naming it Astridr that had done this to him, he realized that. But it was just a name. Just her name.

She did a good job of dealing with his questions, just answering them, giving him time to get whatever it was that had burst loose under control. A hole, the size of her fist. He scooped out dirt, eyeing her hands to see what the size would be before rounding it. He took a long time as she spoke, trying to make it absolutely perfect before he placed the plant gingerly into the hole he had made for her. She needed her own nutrients, and suddenly he was inexplicably worried that Lifen might put her plant too close to Astridr.

It looked a bit strange with the dirt in a small heaps around it, displaced from where he had scooped it out, but he wasn't really sure what to do with it. Just heap it all back? Somehow make it all fit? Did something else go in there? "What do I need to do to make her thrive? Give her water? I can take care of that." His voice was slightly husky, not fully in his control. Astridr...Astridr would like this. Having a plant named after her. What was the name Lifen had mentioned? "Cai?" He questioned quietly. Barely audible, she could choose to pretend he never said it if she wished and he would not pressure her about it. But if she needed to talk, he could listen. It was the least he could do for what she was doing for him. And if Cai was nearly as important to her as Astridr had been to him...some preferred to talk about such things.

Twice a day, not three times? Lifen knew what she was doing though, so the plant probably did not require a midday meal. He would just make sure to give her plenty of water at morning and night, not...soaked, however much that meant. But plenty for sure. He let her knowledge take over, watching as she patted down the dirt and then mimicking her even though she had already taken care of Astridr, just to make certain the dirt was perfectly smooth.

Her sister. There were no children his own age in his family. Brothers and sisters, technically, but his parents had preferred to have one at a time, with "vacations" in between. The children he had grown up with were those that lived near them. Astridr. Somehow without him knowing it she had wormed her way into almost all the different parts of his life, and he only became aware of it after they were together. A sibling that was that close...he could see how it would be painful to lose her. He also knew there was nothing he could say to make it better. Apologies to be sure, words only. It would not help, and that was what pained him the most. Nothing would make them come back.

The quiet statement she tacked on had him staring at her. Insanity...he had heard murmurs of it, and now he was beginning to piece it together. The priestess had a golden eye too, Senga's golden eyes, and there were others like that among the clans. He remembered the odd way Senga had brought up that he was different now, that it was more than energy that made him aggressive. Could they be inflicted by the same thing? Insanity? He was confused, not sure what it all meant, not sure that asking her was appropriate. "I wish they could've met," he finally stated, staring down at the two plants. He watched them for a long moment before voicing another thought pressing on his mind, voice a bit gruff with embarassment. "I am...here. If you need...want someone to listen."