This is a private RP between the herd members of the Healing Grove. The primary POV is Zenith, Pandora, and Zodiac. All are owned by Nayci.
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The long soft sigh that escaped through Zodiac’s lips brought a grimace really quick to Zenith’s already paling face. The weather, despite everyone’s best effort to ensure the accuracy of what was coming these past few weeks, had not, and was continuing to not, cooperate with them. It continues to laugh at them in their faces and continued to be a great thorn in the groves sides. Especially for those who were in charge of their multiple garden plots. Despite their best efforts to keep this particular area of the grove covered to prevent a copious amount of sunshine in, there was only so much they could do. The weather was going to do what it wanted, and it was up to them to answer accordingly to keep everything running as smoothly as possible. Not to mention that because of the excess of sun, it was causing a humidity problem every time it rained. It was a perfect storm of annoyance. However, it wasn’t the first year this happened, and everyone was sure it wouldn’t be the last. “So, what’s the verdict? Do we need to make some extra changes, so nothing is lost?” Zenith asked with a tilt of his head.
Zodiac hummed with a frown, his eyes sliding closed to contemplate in front of a patch of various herbs and plants, “has Eywa given you an update yet on the forecasted temperature for the next few days?”
“Not quite yet. She was still waiting to speak with Andromeda and the other flyers.”
A sigh, “for now let’s add some extra coverage our crafter’s made for the most pressing plants. I can already see some wilting from too much sun. But be careful with the water still. We don’t want to drown them, and this humidity will make it worse.”
“Sounds like a plan. I also checked current stocks; we aren’t quite at the point where we need to worry about running out of anything.”
“Good, let Pandora know that we have a game plan and not to worry,” Zodiac looked over at the young stallion.
“You know she’s going to worry regardless.”
To that Zodiac chuckled softly, “I expect nothing less of our Alpha. But I digress, we can handle things from here so she can focus on those who need healing. It’s what we’re here for.”
“Absolutely,” Zenith turned to begin making is way towards the healing section of their grove, “try not to lose your mind too much.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
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Zenith met his aunt not long after he left the gardens and Zodiac. Her brow furrowed in concentration as she listened to her brother Ephemeris speak animatedly about something. What that was Zenith didn’t quite know, but apparently it was important enough to garner Pandora’s rapt attention. As Ephemeris eventually turned to leave, Pandora met Zenith’s inquiring gaze and smiled as he approached.
“My brother was regaling me with his tale about the importance of self-care,” she answered the question in Zenith’s eyes.
“Have you finished speaking with Zodiac and come up with something to stop us from losing additional resources?”
“We have and Zodiac wanted me to relay to you that we have a plan in progress to fix the current issues with the groves supplies and you shouldn’t worry.”
Pandora huffed with a small smile, “he knows me better than that.”
“That may be true,” Zenith answered in kind, “but it’s no less important. You have nothing to worry about. We’re on top of it, and you can focus on the more important things, like healing.”
“My patients are the most important.”“True, but if you don’t take care of yourself, especially in this heat, you’ll wear yourself out too fast. The last thing any of us want is our Alpha to get sick.”
Pandora nodded her head in acquiesce to her nephew, “Alright, but if I’m going to take it a bit more easy you need to help me decide and prepare for the coming of fall.”
“For gardening specifically?”
“No dear one,” her smile grew, “for all the festivities that come with the turnover from summer to fall. It’s time to start preparing to give thanks and giving back to others. I’d like to do something special for those in our care. They deserve it after everything they’ve been through.”
“Do you have any ideas? Should I begin preparing some special plants?”
“Quite possibly, how is the soil faring in the deep grove?”
“It’s the one place where the sun hasn’t been able to overreach. While it is still humid, it’s not as humid as it could be. The soil there has been holding out quite well.”
“Excellent, let’s start preparing some calibrachoa, petunia, lantana, camellia, and garden mums. I’d like to see something rich in color to represent the changing of seasons.”
“I’ll double check our seed stock and if necessary, send out some gatherers to find anything that we may be missing. Anything else auntie?”
“Yes, I have something to give you.”
Zenith watched in curiosity as Pandora made her way towards a grouping of baskets. Her familiar Nova dove to land one and waited as Pandora whispered to him. He chirped and picked up a set of gorgeous flowers, all tied together in a long string. When she came back over to him, Nova followed and landed on his head.
“What is this?”
“We made it for you. To thank you for all your hard work this season. You’ve come a long way from when I first introduced you to the gardens.”
Zenith felt Nova’s beak against his ear followed by his claws. Once Nova pulled way, the flowers stayed connected to his head, flowers cascading down his neck. Pandora’s smile brightened further, and Zenith felt a swelling of emotion in his throat.
“This is beautiful. Thank you, auntie.”
“You’re most welcome, dear one. Now, let’s go check on Zodiac and see if he tells me to go relax a few more times today.”
The echoing laugh of Zenith followed her as they made their way back to the gardens where multiple crafters were quickly setting up covers to hang over their resources. Zodiac’s second long sigh of the day upon seeing the Alpha and her nephew made both laugh just a bit harder.
“You’re never going to relax are you?”
“Not until I’m unneeded.”
“At this rate, I’m going to go get Centaurus. Or better yet, Eywa.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
The playful banter between the two continued onwards as Zenith went back to helping his herd and his gardens. While this second summer was absolutely not necessary, it brought a renewed sense of purpose to them all. And it also proved that they would continue to work well together. For that, Zenith would always be grateful.
-FIN-
