Being part of Fiori again was something Ara had to grow used to. It wouldn't take long - but the itch to travel farther than she ought to was still there, taunting her. She even felt an urge to figure out where Ahlon was and to try to find where Novel had gone, but she knew it would be unwise. She had promised Leo that she would remain part of Fiori, and she wasn't one to go back on her word. Still, it didn't stop her from wandering close to home. There were herbs to be collected, and stores to be built up, just in case. Her wandering brought her to Firefly Lake. She was familiar with this place, though hadn't fully explored it. A lazy yawn fell from her lips as she drew toward the lakeside, her sapphire gaze sweeping over the foliage that grew next to the water. She didn't immediately see anything that caught her eye, but herb hunting was rarely so easy.  Most plants had no use for her, not in a practical sense. They could all certainly be enjoyed intrinsically, of course, but that wasn't what she had in mind today. She padded near the lake's edge, serenity washing over her as she focused in on the task at hand.

It was his first time off the continent he'd chosen as his home. Hell, Poser was never going to have a home that wasn't his-- never again. The shadow had been chased off one too many times for that shit. If he was going to live somewhere it was going to be his. The mentality is dangerous for a creature that has no following, that has no friends, that has no family. No one to fall back on in the slightest. He's alone in this. All Poser does is remind himself of that fact over and over again-- no one to miss him, no one to love him, no one to realize he's missing. Ha. So it goes. Firefly Lake. Poser was well aware what he wanted, moving with his high head and graceful steps. The shadow moves to the marshiest part of the lake, snuffing through, tracking a particular scent. The Devil's Lettuce, and as the creature finds what he's looking for, there's an "Ah ha," on his lips. Yes, he'd be reaching down with his elegant snout to strip buds from stems, chuckling to himself as he tucks a delicate bit of green inside his lower lip. It tastes terrible, but Poser is none too bothered. It would quell his anxiety, it would put him back at ease for at least a little bit. It's with his high head that he catches a woman in his periphery. "Whatcha lookin' for, sunshine?" His voice errs on the feminine side, colored by the Russian accent he could never quite shake. He's airy, drifting overland, closer to the woman. Curious as always. your charged touch poser breathy way of saying my name

Ara hadn't expected company. Easily, she grew fully engrossed in her task at hand.. to find herbs that might prove to be useful, no matter what they were. She would avoid collecting things that grew readily in Fiori territories, she decided, as she called them to mind as she wandered. Her attention was taken fully by her self-appointed task, so deeply that she barely noticed the arrival of a stranger. 'Whatcha lookin' for, sunshine?' came a man's voice, slightly sweet though tinged with an accent she hadn't heard before. Ara lifted her head quickly from its lowered position, eyes widening as her nose flared to take in the stranger's scent. It was no one she knew, and she retracted slightly from him, out of instinct. "Hello," she greeted him tentatively, peering at him cautiously, poise stiffening. "I wasn't looking for anything in particular. Just scouting the herbs that grow here." She shuffled her weight from one side of her body to the other, tail flicking idly behind her. What was he looking for? She wondered, but didn't think to ask yet. Instead, she kept her distance, wary and curious as she regarded him and waited for him to speak again.

Already with a bit of cannabis tucked in his mouth, Poser feels more equalized. He can focus now. He's rummaging through the plants, looking for whatever else could be fun-- honestly not sure quite what he's looking for, either. He's already got his weed, he's already got that which will keep him feeling okay. Now that he's okay, he can be great. That makes sense, right? Poser pretends it does, picking up an easy jog with his ground eating stride. "That's fair." His ears prick slightly, head cocking to the side. Everything about Poser is bright, is brash. The girl is stiff and it leaves him chuckling, his head tossing. Why was she so serious? What was her issue? Still, he feels grand for now. It's hard not to. It's hard not to feel positively fantastic when you're... well... alive. Poser has had some close incidents to not enjoy himself. "Did you find anything good? I haven't been 'round here much." He's new. He's very new. Fresh off the boat, you could say. Hell, he'd been living on Auster. Crossing between the continents didn't suck, but it didn't leave him a lot of time to explore either. He'd be here, for now, until he'd found what he needed-- witch hazel, cannabis, kava, all the things that kept him ticking. Poser would learn to find it in his own home as well, but exploring was never bad. Snuffling about in the herbs and the roots, his tail wags. Ginseng root maybe? That would help his energies, his low moods. There was also no turning down horsetail for when his foot was bothering him, for the days it opened back up. When it was wet, sometimes it would slip back open around the edges. Absently, Poser's nose brushes against the old injury. your charged touch poser breathy way of saying my name

Ara was as wary as always, poised on the pads of her feet as though ready to spring away at a moment's notice. His intentions were unknown to her and she would keep him at a distance until he proved himself worthy of her trust. His demeanor is easy-going and confident, which makes her feel somewhat uncomfortable. Ara eyed him warily as he spoke, though she nodded in quiet answer to his question. "Depends what you mean by good," she started, a bit of the hesitation fading from her voice as the sound of interest trickled through her feminine tones. "There's a good bit of marigold growing growing near the shoreline, and dandelion near there too," she offered readily, voice growing in strength with each word that she spoke. But, if he meant good as in rare.. she found herself sniffing at the air again, in search of something unusual. Ara knew she'd have to look more to find anything extraordinary. Her tail would bat behind her in a slow, steady rhythm. "What about you?" Ara would inquire, her eyes bright as she watched him, taking a few slow steps toward him. "My name is Ara Destruction, by the way."

Ahh, there she goes, more friendly. Poser relaxes considerably, looking softly to the woman the next time he speaks. From shaky to friendly, he's able to get on her level as well. That was nice. That was lovely. Comfort in the presence of another healer. "Marigold is one of my favorites." He's relaxing into the interaction. He's... able to do things like that. Poser takes some time to settle, that's true. People with issues like his sometimes don't settle at all. This is nice, though, and the girl is kind. Most healers, you see, have kind hearts. They are his favorite sort of people, the sort of person he aspires to be in the most base form of them all. That would be nice, wouldn't it? Isn't it pretty to think so? He is easy on these days, and a smile lolls over his face. It's hard to hold himself back. He feels grand. Ever so grand. Has he found anything? "Cannabis, in the shady, damp soil by the trees. I was hoping for horsetail or white willow bark, my foot still won't heal." Poser offers a devil may care smile, knowing full well that his paw may never heal. It was his own damn fault, living in a nuclear power plant and all, but whatever had gotten into his foot when he'd shredded it wasn't good for it. It still opened sometimes, so he'd continue to wrap it and keep it clean. Maybe the horsetail would help keep it closed for long enough to do something better than only sort of heal. "Poser Volkov, pleased to meet you." The man's eyes are bright, tail wagging as he looks from the marigold he's been snuffling among. Polite, with a bright Russian accent. Friendly on days like this one. Oh how grand he feels. "Ara, that's a pretty name." It feels pleasant on his tongue, in his mouth. He is friendly, and he feels... lovely. Fantastic even. A new friend, who would have thought! your charged touch poser breathy way of saying my name

This man strikes her as confident, but easy-going; she found herself relaxing gratefully, though not letting her guard down entirely. Her smile widened ever-so-slightly when he said marigold was one of his favorites. It was useful and quite lovely on its own, marigold was, which made her enjoy it even more. Shyly she looks him over - she'd never seen a creature quite like him, and she can't help but be interested in who he might be, and what he might be. Certainly not a wolf, but close enough. He said he'd found cannabis nearby. It was good for relaxing and minor pain relief, though she didn't have much experience with it, had only heard of it and seen it enough to identify it. "Pleased to meet you too, Poser," she returned the friendliness with another smile, true and genuine, and a quick wag of her tail. "Thank you." Ara was unused to compliments, and found her face growing warm beneath her fur, unsure exactly how to respond to his kindness. "There may be more herbs on the other side of the lake, if you'd like to check," the woman offered, her head gesturing to a cluster of trees, perhaps the ones he'd spoke of earlier.

He can feel her looking him over, as most wolves do upon meeting him at first. It's funny. In his old homes, Poser had been the closest to looking like a wolf. Here, among wolves, he sticks out like a sore thumb. Like a sore everything, really. Still, he chuckles softly, head canting softly to the side. "I'm a Russkaya Psovaya Borzaya, a borzoi." It's gentle, the Russian words slipping softly from his tongue. They feel good. Comfortable. Familiar. A warm jacket on a chilly day, but for your heart. If Poser can boast one thing, it's that he's got a good heart. She was a nice girl. A kind girl. Poser would never say no to that. It warmed him to have someone that was so easy to get along with, have someone around that he didn't have to worry about. Someone he wouldn't have to work too hard to be friendly with. She was sweet. He was happy. It was a good day, and there were herbs everywhere. "That would be lovely, would you like to come with me?" His head quirks softly to the side, the offer open and gentle. It feels grand. There's something playful as he snuffles along among the marigolds, prepared to explore. What a lovely day. your charged touch poser breathy way of saying my name

Ara has never been as comfortable around men as she is around women. In general, women are softer, warmer, and more inviting - at least the ones she'd met. This man seemed warmer than most and she found herself relaxing in his presence quite visibly. It seemed as though he noticed her staring (perhaps for a moment too long, wondering what sort of creature he was) and explained it easily. She'd never heard the words and they sounded foreign as she mouthed them, repeating them inside her own head, for future reference. A borzoi. What a strange word. Delighted at his explanation, she found her tail wagging behind her gently. He seemed interested in her direction, and asked if she wanted to join him. "I'd love to," she admitted gladly. The two of them moved in unison by the lakeside, heading to the more vegetated area. The flowers still thrived here, and she found her gaze sweeping across flowers and plants, searching. "Do you live near here, Poser?" Ara would ask, conversational as they scouted through the herbs together and wandered about.

Poser is warm because he hurts. He hurts so badly from the inside out, so he will fix everyone else in his place. It was easier that way. It was easier for him to reach out and hold tightly to those that need the support. He would hold them up, he would work with them. This woman was one of the first he hadn't told that he was a god among men. That was strange for him, of course. He did like to seem like far more than he actually was. That's the way he portrays himself. He would always live to cone off as more, as brighter, as far more brilliant. It's to the more floral area that they move, his long legs and lithe build carrying him forth. They are so lovely, and today is so lovely. Flowers and plants, and more towards the water--ah ha! He's excited, romping forward in the chest high reeds, laughing. It's a laugh that rings softly in his chest, picking up a broad sort of excitement. "I've been living on the southern continent, in an old castle. What about you?" The black dog launches himself into the shallow water, splashing broadly as he does. If Ara was to come any closer, he'd bounce and splash at her as well. Sometimes there's a sense of childlike wonder to the man that can't be quelled. Today, it's beautiful. your charged touch poser breathy way of saying my name

Ara found herself wondering, briefly, what sort of life he lived. He hadn’t said much so far about who he was, only vague hints at what he enjoyed. Did creatures of his kind enjoy living amongst one another, as wolves did? He seemed wolf-like enough that she would be surprised if anything about his kind was drastically different from what she expected. She noticed his easy-going demeanor; no, in fact he seemed downright giddy. He had the air of a child, moving about the vegetation with ease, even heading toward the waterside as though ready to jump in. His laugh was infectious too, and she found a soft giggle leaving her own mouth at his joy. She watched with interest as he bounded forward, into the lake with no hesitation. She had never lived quite so freely, and she found herself envying him. Ara tended to keep to herself, and focus on her studies too much to find such adventures. She didn’t mind, but it was different to see. He lived in a castle? She thought back to when she’d been young, living in the Range, and wondered if it was anything like the structure that had stood there. ”I live a bit south of here,” the woman admitted, studying him as he swam. ”In the Mangrove forest, by the sea, if you’ve seen it.”

Adventures are something that Poser can't live without. He can't let go of that spirit, that wandering ideal. Everything is beautiful. Everything was beautiful, nothing could hurt him. He's untouchable in his loveliness. It's beautiful, the way that he moves and the way he thinks. Bright eyes and soft steps. Always. He's good in the water, careful and graceful. When he finally wraps his teeth around the horsetail. He's so pleased with himself, coming up with a massive clump of aquatic weed in his mouth. Tail wagging. Grinning. He'd gotten it! "Horsetail! There's plenty, want me to grab you some?" Wolfish grin, words muffled around the mouthful, tail thrashing wildly. Poser looks even stranger, even skinnier when he's wet. Dripping joy, coming closer to the shore, placing down the chunk. "Mangroves by the sea? That sounds beautiful, I'd love to see it," The Russian man breathes the words, eyes going wide. How fantastic that sounded, seeing something so widespread and fantastic. Holy woah. What an interesting creature this Ara was, and Poser was happy to make a new friend. your charged touch poser breathy way of saying my name

His presence was, truthfully, a welcome distraction for the older female. She was easily lost in her own thoughts - though she wasn't a depressed individual by any means, it was growing harder and harder to stay positive these last few seasons. For now, though, she could forget all of that and simply enjoy the presence of her newest acquaintance. His joy was more infectious with each moment that passed. She leaned nearer to the lakeside, finally lowering herself to her belly to watch him. She wasn't much for swimming, though wasn't totally opposed to it either. It was amusing enough to watch him splash about, and her pleasure showed as her tail batted lightly at the earth behind her. She even sound herself giggling as he surfaced with a mouthful of plant matter, pronouncing it as horsetail. Not an uncommon herb, but she wouldn't be so rude as to deny his offer.  "I'd love some," her soft voice offered, the smile she wore audible in her sweet tones. Seeing him work for her felt a bit foolish, though, if not amusing. She'd never been one to let anyone do much for her, not if she was willing. After only thinking for a moment, she'd push herself forward, front paws entering the lake first, the rest of her body following closely behind. Might as well join him, right?