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Post by Evainmoire on Sept 6, 2021 4:24:14 GMT -6
The incident with the lotine likewise not withstanding. The poor creature had not taken into consideration that her choice of nest had occurred on already occupied territory. The nightshade's reaction, then, was entirely predictable and, in some fashion, justifiable. The lepus knew the lotine to be largely gentle and shy souls. The nightshade might not have the ability to make such distinction, however.
Once the burlap had been dragged into place upon the next spot, the lepus knelt down again. A minor grimace crossed his face, but remained to ghost it only briefly. Such was the nature of disability. It would remain a constant friend and foe in one. Something one knew and accept most of all, yet likewise never truly find agreement with, by its very nature. Perhaps he should have made a point to call the day earlier than intended, should the ache persist. What remains undone that day could be taken up on another, should conditions improve by then.
|44| Summer: 44 Morelle: 11 (4/5) / 8 (4/5)
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Post by Evainmoire on Sept 6, 2021 4:28:47 GMT -6
There were those who would have found it ironic. The powers that be allowing him to heal others, and yet unable to heal himself to the fullest extent. The lepus had never held an over-abundance of hope towards this, and thus was not entirely surprised to find the arcane process had little effect on the injury. After all, what caused it had been something of great and terrible force. So, then, only great and wonderful power could have a fix it, and the node had not been that. Some powers of the world were greater than men or beasts.
There was a slow breath out, the pain settling, before he adjusted the heavy leather gloves on the hands and began to resume the weeding work. In such a process, a window of opportunity began to present to the nightshade. The further the mammalian would go in his own work, the more unattended the wheelbarrow. Thus, the nightshade might yet have a chance to sate her curiosity towards it.
|45| Summer: 45 Morelle: 12 (0/5) / 9 (0/5)
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Post by Nadia on Sept 7, 2021 12:00:27 GMT -6
Might have to move this pal before you can get to the berries.
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Post by Evainmoire on Sept 8, 2021 7:50:19 GMT -6
It was an attempt at daring, something the nightshade had avoided thus far. Her form crept from within the rocks and slithered across the tended grass a mere foot. A testing, to trial the lepus and his response or lack of such, to see whether further attempts could be made to draw closer to the barrow. With sky overcast, it added a boldness unfamiliar, for the serpent assumed shadows, however faint, could surely obscure her presence. And to a degree, they certainly would have, for she remained unaware that his sight could still see within dimness as if light.
On the lepus' part, his ear remained trained upon the faintest of sounds, and so he assumed motion was had, but did not make it evident he was aware. As prickly as a temper as the nightshade had, more so still could be her pride. It would have been better to allow her to move about on her own time and will, lest the observation scare her back into hiding.
|46| Summer: 46 Morelle: 12 (1/5) / 9 (1/5)
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Post by Evainmoire on Sept 8, 2021 10:05:12 GMT -6
The motion was resumed as the nightshade continued to attempt approach to the wheelbarrow. Scarce little scattered the ground between her nest and it, thus is left her uncomfortably exposed. Bare shade and keeping low to the ground would have to be her better tools, and she made sure to utilize them to the fullest extent.
During the course of the approach, the lepus merely resumed his work, pulling out the weeds of the thicket in practised motions. It should have been said that, to his credit, the mammalian's experience with plants had largely been contained to small flower beds and potted plants at most. Some had been for pharmaceutical purposes, others for decoration. They were a fascinating field to study, and yet remained one which he had only in recent found time to delve further into. Likewise, the garden was certainly a bold undertaking, given the size of its space and the duties that would come with it.
|47| Summer: 47 Morelle: 12 (2/5) / 9 (2/5)
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Post by Evainmoire on Sept 8, 2021 10:11:09 GMT -6
An undertaking which he, at last, had found time to pursue. The main work remained in much the same prominence as before, though there was certainly less call for graves within a city that housed a temple able to bring back those on the brink of, or even beyond death. A memorial, at best. A tragedy thrice-cursed at worst, should even those magics fail. The city in fact had two temples for such purposes, but he would not spare so much as a thought to the second one. To do so would afford it recognition, even if minute, and he firmly felt it deserved none.
The sounds of rustled grass signalled the serpent to be quite close to the barrow, then. She slithered beneath to bide her time in hiding for a spell, before attempting any further progress. Enough had been risked already, and there was no purpose to proceeding if there remained even a chance she could be spotted in the process.
|48| Summer: 48 Morelle: 12 (3/5) / 9 (3/5)
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Post by Evainmoire on Sept 8, 2021 10:16:01 GMT -6
A task that would have soon become under such threat, regardless of her prowess at being hidden. As the lepus weeded the thicket, cutting down the remaining grass where due, there was a motion within it. Slight, yet enough to catch both of their attentions within the same instant. Surely the serpent might assume it to be another intruder, such as the lotine had been, but the lepus knew to recognise the motion as much too small for such an occurrence. When a part of the grass was parted, it was not surprising to find a small round creature huddled in a hollow behind it.
What did prompt both interest and slight shock was the recognition that the creature seemed identical to the one already previously encountered. In so far as his experience had been, such a repeat occurrence was not common. Indeed, a brief split second of time saw him consider whether it was the same one, thus escaped.
|49| Summer: 49 Morelle: 12 (4/5) / 9 (4/5)
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Post by Evainmoire on Sept 8, 2021 10:22:37 GMT -6
But no. The mannerisms of this small creature seemed to have more shades towards the nervous, than the last. It behaved in another manner, despite the identical appearance, and so he could but presume it to be a different creature. A theory he could not prove any other way, as the nightshade remained hiding underneath the barrow and would surely spook should he turn his attentions towards it. Alas, the wheelbarrow was where the kin of this animal also lay huddled among the uprooted weeds.
Perhaps it was more direct kin to it, of sorts? If so, then reuniting the two would have been a most favourable sign. As the lepus reached out a hand towards it, the creature shied back. Not out of fear as such, but rather uncertainty. The action, in turn, revealed some berries that had been obscured by it just beyond. He paused, and instead moved to pick up the berries, to allow the creature some time to accustom to himself.
|50| (counted) Summer: 50 Morelle: 13 (0/5) / 10 (0/5)
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Post by Jack on Sept 8, 2021 10:24:58 GMT -6
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Post by Evainmoire on Sept 8, 2021 10:51:57 GMT -6
No sooner had the berries been picked that the garden revealed yet more. He had not had the ability to differentiate the minute differences between shades of green among the tall grass, but the small round creature appeared to have a companion. When the insect creature rose to wakefulness, its expression was quite aptly mirrored by the lepus, as he hadn't expected such turn of events. Though, where the creature seemed alarmed, the mammalian was merely surprised, retaining the calm nature so innate to him. A lotine he was familiar with, but this type of creature was unfortunately quite foreign. He wasn't even sure if it would be able to understand any gesture or intent he might portray.
Though.. that certainly didn't mean he would not try. Already the anticipated rustling from behind him signalled that the nightshade had become aware of this intrusion, and although her goal to hide had been carefully plotted, she remained ready to rush the other beast and run it off. The serpent had only just begun to slither forth from beneath the wheelbarrow when the lepus calmly turned his head, catching her in his sights. It stopped her, suddenly giving pause to her boldness. For as sure as he knew anything, it would be that there should not be a repeat of the incident as had occurred with the lotine.
|51| Summer: 51 Morelle: 13 (1/5) / 10 (1/5)
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Post by Jack on Sept 8, 2021 10:54:46 GMT -6
Eyes flicked from side to side as it wondered what was going to happen to it. Gathering up the plants and the bunana, which stuck out against it in color like a sore thumb, it slowly backed away a step or two, shifting from foot to foot as it hoped it wouldn't be hurt. Then, surprising itself, it clicked a little and tilted its head, warily eyeing the two of them as it tried to figure out what it should do next.
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Post by Evainmoire on Sept 8, 2021 11:12:01 GMT -6
There was an assumption that perhaps this strange creature had merely been passing through, such as the lotine had. As such, the lepus certainly would not have faulted it for wishing to leave, to carry on the journey it had been on prior to landing within the garden. To that end, he maintained the gaze on the nightshade serpent long enough to cause her to back up and retreat back beneath the wheelbarrow. "Remain," he said then, holding up a palm towards her. Though the serpent was hardly trained, certain meaning and gesture could be derived from simpler attempts. His hope remaining that she is aware of his attention now, and would be less likely to act out on her own.
The ear moved when the strange creature made a sound and the lepus' focus shifted back to it. Oh, curious.. It had not yet run off, as had been the expectation. The lotine had been merely tired, looking for a place to sleep. Perhaps this creature had similar goals? A moment's consideration passed, before he addressed it, "Beg pardon, but am I to assume you understand my words?" Not all creatures were blessed with man-like brilliance, but it was worth the effort to test it.
|52| Summer: 52 Morelle: 13 (2/5) / 10 (2/5)
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Post by Jack on Sept 8, 2021 11:14:46 GMT -6
Narrowing its eyes a little, the Koguma clicked again. The voice was a little soothing, and it sounded polite, but that was about all it could get from the words. Hmm, this was irritating a little, and it took a little step forward with just one leg and clicked a little louder, as though attempting to ask something of its own. It was smarter than it looked, at least it was smarter than most bugs, but not smart enough for a society of its own.
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Post by Evainmoire on Sept 8, 2021 11:25:25 GMT -6
Aha, not quite, then. There was certainly an attempt at communication by the creature, though it seemed neither able to parse the meaning of his words nor offer a clear indication to its own. This was valuable information of its own, though the lepus would have to resort to another path in order to make connection. Knelt, he leaned back on the legs and observed the creature from a more scrutinizing perspective. It was an insectoid of some description, though certainly larger than most. The eyes denoted a sense of presence, but not quite the clarity of thought as some. It did not appear to be equipped with natural-born weaponry, such as tooth or claws (or the insect equivalent) suggesting it wasn't likely to fall within the same predator category as the nightshade. To that end, it would likely explain its unease around the serpent as well.
The gloved hand stroked the chin in thought, until recalling the berries held within the other. The idea which sparked match the recognition that the creature appeared to have a berry hoard of its own. So, food then, perhaps?
"Are you hungry?" he asked, the tone steady and calm. Knowing the words alone might not suffice, he extended the other gloved hand and offered up the blueberries on the palm.
|53| Summer: 53 Morelle: 13 (3/5) / 10 (3/5)
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Post by Jack on Sept 8, 2021 11:32:17 GMT -6
It stared as the person stared, but then something unexpected happened. The person offered a hand with... food? Perking up a little, it clicked again and held its hoard close with two arms while reaching out with the other two for the berries that laid there. Darn, it couldn't reach... Frowning a little, it took a few hopping steps forward and then reached for the berries again.
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