It had been so long since young Ara had first encountered the giant willow trees, but ever since that day she dreamed about them. Their tall, billowing branches that dipped so low they nearly touched the earth; they were more beautiful than anything she had ever seen before. And yet now that the Kingdom of Seracia had expanded its territory to support the growing pack, Ara could not help but feel as though her private sanctuary had been stolen from her. She was not angry, but could not help but feel a slight bit of annoyance, but she would never express it to anyone.

And so she had wandered, seeking a place equally as fertile and lovely, a place she could retreat to when she needed, a safe place. Home was safe, always safe -- but she needed a place to herself. Who knew a child, not yet a year old, could need so much space. Even though her father had returned home, and even though she preferred being near him often, she still needed time to herself. The young child had taken it upon herself to supply him with endless herbs and food to ease his ailments. She was aware her parents were not as young as most, and she was not too stupid to see the occasional limp in his step.

Her goal today was to find berries. A particular kind that she'd heard of -- elderberries. They were dark purple and were rumored to be great at keeping the body adept at fighting sickness. Her father was weak and tired often, though his condition seemed to be improving as the cold vanished and the earth thawed -- but one could never be too sure.

Her journey would not carry her far, only a few hours' journey from her home. The trees appeared in the distance, perfectly spaced, nothing like the wild variation of a forest. The dual-colored girl's curiosity would be piqued, and she would rush forward to get a better look at what she had encountered.

The scent of the orchard was pungent in the air as she drew closer to it, and it began to seem less orderly than she had anticipated. Though the trees were spaced perfectly, like nothing she had ever seen before, between the trees were wild bushes and shrubs, a place clearly not inhabited by any wolves. But it was likely bustling with other life -- of birds, of rodents, and many other plant-eaters. The faintest hint of a smile would tease the corner of the girl's lips as she began to venture into the orchard, weaving carefully between obstacles that threatened to disrupt her journey.

---

The abundance of vegetation was a pleasing sight to him, life seemed to pour form every corner of this youthful place. The man sought such comfort in the blooming laid that he decided to take it upon himself to lay against a thick oak tree, drifting away into the confines of sleep, smoothen to dreamland as his coal tipped ears flicked listening to the gentle passing of the wind, rustling the trees in a calming rhythm. As one ear is pressed up against the soil, he could almost feel the approaching woman, though the earth, a light and almost careless beat it is. Shifting the brute raises his skull curiously, opening his eyes to reveal his emerald gleam, he does not spot her immediately, but, the scent she carries reaches his sensitive nose.

Raising onto his black paws, Castor shakes his pelt of any of the degree, casting away the insects as he makes his way closer to smell, carefully making his way through the twist and turns, he spots her quickly against the evergreen back ground. Sitting himself down, on the side of the pathway, as to avoid a collision, he opens his maw to speak, ?It seems I?m not the only one who find comfort in these type of settings.? Says the golden man, as a warm smile creases against his maw, his eyes shine with interest, as he wonders what her purpose for venturing out. ?Might I ask what beckons you here??

The scent of another would become apparent to her, signifying his presence before he even spoke. Though the scent of fruits and plants was rather overwhelming here, the scent of another of her kind was always more evident. The smile that had once painted her gentle features would subside momentarily. Much like her father, she was an independent creature at heart, despite how fiercely she loved and cared for those around her. The sudden presence of another was enough to make her feel on edge, and she would stiffen her posture as she peered around the orchard for the stranger. Each step was careful and light, as though she were hardly more than a feather in the wind.

Her voice reached his ears before she caught sight of him. Eyes would widen as she swung around to face her, her features giving away the slight alarm that she couldn't help but feel. "Not at all, sir," she assured him readily, nodding warily. "I have never seen a place like this. It is beautiful, don't you think?" Unsure of his intentions, she remained standing nearby, poised lightly on all fours. He didn't seem to be a cruel man, so she would answer his question softly, creeping forward a few steps more. "I come here in search of berries. Elderberries, to be precise." She truly was an old soul trapped in a child's body; her words were carefully chosen and serious. Despite this, her youth was obvious, unable to be hidden -- from the way she stood, with her head cocked naively to the side, to the slight smile that threatened to erupt at a moment's notice. "And you, sir?"

---

the man is pleased to see the child is not frightened by of him. Normally, pups would react with their chest puffed, and tiny slivers of teeth bared, however, this would seemed rather calm, opened minded towards the stranger. Of course, the gentlemen had not spoken of any words to assume the he would do harm, even so, it was nice to sit an chat with the youngsters of today. Seeing where the generation was headed. As she nears him with careful steps, the man perks his ears, as he awaits her answer. Upon hearing such, he blinks gently, ?Elderberries?? He repeats, more of a reassure to himself, as he expected form the foreign land, he had not heard of these types of berries, but, the word clicks inside his mind quite quickly, ?Oh!? He exclaims, briefly, reaching the realization, ?You have your heart set on becoming a medic then?? He questions, as his eyes glint with curiosity. When he was younger, he couldn't not recall adventuring with such task in mind, an ear of his twitches, realizing that the question was now directed towards him, "I'm a newcomer to these lands, I've been wondering about ever observing the scenery." Castor smiles warmly, with a sway of his tail, he voices his thoughts again, "Allow me to assist you." He half request, "I happen to have very keen eyes." Charm laces his voice, however, the golden man speaks the truth. He awaits every patiently, curious as to what these herbs look like in a place such as this, it would take quite some time to find, the with overgrown around every corner, though, Castor was willing to devoting his time to helping others.

She would be pleased to have some company, even if she was not outwardly ecstatic. Always a stoic girl, it was rare to see much excess emotion from her -- she was the epitome of serenity and caution. A guarded smile made its way over her features as she dipped her head, tail twitching lightly where it lay resting at her hocks. Ara was much more like her father than her mother, serious and dutiful almost to a fault at times. She knew there was time for play, but some things were simply more important.

"Elderberries," she replied, her tones airy and light, undoubtedly the lyrics of a child. "They are good for preventing illness and keeping the body strong." They were not a cure, but more of a preventative measure. "Being a medic is my calling, sir. I think I was born for it." Perhaps that was not entirely true, but it certainly felt like it. She could not imagine harming another wolf, nor would she imagine spending her days scouting the borders or even hunting so frequently. Her passion was in herbs and plants, and using them to heal and better others. She also enjoyed seeing lands unfamiliar to her, and basking in the beauty of nature. Nothing was lovelier!

He, too, seemed to appreciated the beauty that surrounded them, making her dark tail wag a bit faster behind her. "What shall I call you?" she inquired gently, true curiosity shining in her soft sapphire gaze. "It would be impolite to take your assistance without even knowing who you are. My name is Ara. I come from the Kingdom of Seracia."