It was dusk, and Gin was just beginning the process of coming alive. She couldn't really complain. Though the rain had been near-ceaseless, the girl rather appreciated it. Rain would keep the sun from filtering into her den during the day. The ghostly creature wanted her days to be restful, and her nights to be active. If it was grey during the day, she could actually make that happen. The sound of rain pattering on the cedar leaves drew Gin forward. It had slowed up some, no longer a torrent. No, this was the quiet sort of rain, chilly but not terrible. The girl shook the leaf litter from her soft coat, stretching and yawning. The last of the sunset was fading over the horizon, leaving everything a strange sort of purple. Gin's ghostly eyes adjusted easily to the darkness, and she faded towards the garden itself. With soft steps and an easy, floating jog, the creature carried herself over the ground. It would take her some time to learn what grew here, and she was taking her time to inspect each. Fat rain drops came down slowly from the sky, and Gin was happy with the peace of the evening.

He had taken some time to venture around the area by himself. Lately, his brother had gotten busy with the other hunters scoping out different prey in the area. While he enjoyed hunting, was actually pretty decent at it, he preferred fishing. Taking on anything larger than a deer or with nasty sharp teeth really wasn't his thing. As dusk settled over a cloudy sky, Kuroo wandered alone. Rain pattered through the trees and scatter over his splotched coat. Feeling the squelch of mud between his toes was somewhat enjoyable. He didn't mind being wet either, he'd grown accustomed to it after he found his love for fishing. Silence wrapped around him and his thoughts as he ventured into the shadows. Minding his business, nearly unaware of his surroundings, he caught a flicker of something from the corner of his eye. Glancing up, Kuroo's ears perked as he heard the soft steps of another wolf. She appeared familiar from their previous group meeting. Yet, he hadn't had a chance to meet her personally. Curious, Kuroo made his way closer to follow in the path she was jogging. Picking up his step so that he could catch up to her, he let out a soft chuff to let her know he was there.

Gin was wrapped up in the herbs. It was nice... the plants were something she knew. The plants were something she understood. Though things grew differently here than they did back home, she found herself comforted by the scents all the same. Wet earth, the smell before and after and during the rain... it was nice. Gods, it was so nice. She could truly relax, just being among the plants. Gin's guard was down, uncommon as that was for her.

The scent of elderberry too, came as a welcome greeting. The purple berries were among the less common things that grew here, from what she could tell. They were finnicky, hard to keep alive... something she didn't really want to even attempt growing in a garden of her own yet. It was good to see them springing up here, their bush an overgrown relic from the time of humans. It was in good health, and she'd be able to return for it when she needed it.

And then she wasn't alone. A small jump came from Gin at the sound from the grey boy, ears pressing back against her head for a moment. Her head swung-- oh. He was one of theirs, not a stranger. Well, a stranger but not a stranger stranger. She recovered quickly, offering a demure smile instead. Good evening. The mother tongue, sure, but colored with the accent of a girl that's lived a thousand lives and been too many places to count. Gin dipped her head politely before setting her gaze back on the elderberry plant.

Speech

His own steps paused when she stopped to look at the elderberry bush. He wondered if she hadn't noticed him at first. Feeling a bit nervous, his lips turned down in a frown when she spooked. Mouth opening to begin an apology, his own ears flicked backward. As she swung her head toward him, Kuroo thought maybe she was going to lash out. Not that he didn't deserve it. While he wasn't trying to be sneaky, he hadn't been very loud either. Exhaling softly as she recognized him, he moved a bit closer so he could look at the plant as well. "Evening," he said softly back in their mother tongue. It was always easier to talk like this. To not have to think so much all the time about what words to say. Flicking his gaze from her back toward the plant, his face tilted out of curiosity. He wasn't much of a gardener and really had no idea what she was staring at. "What is this you're looking at?" The boy questioned quietly, trying not to raise his voice as loudly as he normally spoke. While at times, he could be a bit much and too animated, he also had an empathetic side that could sense when others needed it to be calm.

While not always the most friendly creature, Gin doesn't have an aggressive bone in her body. Lately, at least since the strange end to the world and then the rebirth of it all, she'd become more jumpy. More easily startled. No, she's not aggressive just... easily scared. The boy doesn't seem to be aggressive either, and Gin felt a bit sheepish as his ears flickered. An apologetic smile cursed her lips, dipping her head softly. It's an apology without having to speak the words. If Gin continued on as she did, maybe she could pretend that there wasn't anything wrong after the long night. Maybe she could pretend that there hadn't been anything to leave lasting damage on her. She could pretend, right? There was nothing wrong with it.

The boy steps closer, and Gin doesn't shift away. His voice remains quiet, conversational... yes, she could handle this. As he steps in, she gestures to the berries where they grow in clumps. They're shiny and dark, inky and stark against the greenery of the plants. "Familiarizing myself with the plants that grow here," the words were soft. If he was asking questions like this, it's unlikely to Gin that he's a healer, so she feels the need to further explain. "This one here is elderberry, it's not very common but good for coughs," coughs and other things, but she didn't want to bore him with explaining all of them. No, she's happy to just... leave it at that, for now.

"Ah, forgive me, I'm Mata Gin." It strikes her now that she's been rude, forgetting to introduce herself. Gin dips her head to the boy, watching him carefully for a reaction. Has she overstepped? She... should be fine, right? The hierarchy within Tojo Kai was still working itself out, after all.

Speech

Kuroo is glad that she doesn't startle away from him or turn him away when he asks. Unlike back home, here he had little to call friends. Used to the hustle and bustle of keeping himself busy with hunting and socializing, Kuroo longed for companionship. Interested in what she had to say, his pale eyes inspect the clumps of berries with a gentle nod. Not that he really understood what she was saying, but if it helped her feel comfortable, he would listen. "I've been doing the same with animals and fish," he mentions with a friendly smile as his ears flick forward. Kuroo was nothing close to being a good healer, but man could he fish. Hunger was something he would never know. His tail wags gently as he glances at her now and gives his shoulders a shrug. "No worries, I'm Shima Kuroo," he responds before looking back toward the plant she called elderberry. "Is this elderberry the only kind you have found so far?" The boy asks, hoping to keep the conversation going at least for a while.

The concept of friends has always been a strange one to Gin. She's... truthfully, she's never really had any. No, this is a girl that knows well enough to keep to herself. She's never been in one place long enough to have friends, really. Associates, sure. Acquaintances, maybe. Friendly enough to be good company for the night. For maybe, maybe two. Enough to be able to secure herself employment in exchange for somewhere warm to sleep and a good meal. That's all. That's all there's ever been. She doesn't mind that, even. Her existence has been comfortable shades of lonesome for as long as she's been, and as long as she will ever be. Gin would need to be okay with that. He speaks of the animals, the fish. "Is there anything interesting?" Right, better to actually have a conversation she supposed. Gin doesn't look up from the plants, sniffing at them carefully. "As far as useful things, yes. Most of what grows here is ornamental." The words were quiet. She presses further on, though not leaving the space of comfortable conversation. "I can smell lavender somewhere close, but I haven't seen it yet." Right, if she could smell it then it should be here... but where? Interesting.