Speech // thought

Alexa lifted her nose to the wind. The seasons shifting had been a welcome reprieve. The frigid southern continent was just beginning its transition into spring when this place was turning into a brisk fall. She was here to collect as many of the last-minute summer herbs to take back down to Vedia. Their stores had been dangerously low for far too long.

She was hoping to find some Queen Ann's lace, Fennel, and fenugreek. Rosemary would be a must along with thyme and oregano. She'd like to surprise both Haydee and Eltrys with her finds. Fledgling her ass, she was old enough now, she didn't need babysitting and staying that close to home.

She hauled a temporary basket with her to fill as much as she could. Oh! The lavender is in bloom too! She'll grab as many bundles of those as she can. Her white tail swished over the grasses. Every herb she touched was fragrant and ready to harvest.

The gulley was not far from her home. Others may have thought it too far due to her condition, but it was the challenge that pushed her further. Prove it to the naysayers that she did not need to always rely on those around her for safety. Her lack of sight only brought height to the rest of her senses. So much so that the closer to the gulley she traveled, the more her nose twitched. An almost sneering expression across her wrinkled lips as she stopped and took a moment to take everything in.

Lavender, in full bloom. Such a sharp, but gentle fragrance that almost covered the rest. Bright dandelion, spicy mint, earth lemongrass. There was even fennel and the floral notes of Queen's Anne Lace. She swore she could almost detect a hint of rosemary and oregano. The abundance of herbs and plants that could be collected here was overwhelming. Where was she to start? It wasn't that the Raiders needed supplies. Their plains supported the gardens that Wenna and Sakana tended to anyway, but she couldn't go home empty pawed either.

Once her nose is given a moment to settle, separating each plant from each other and not flooding her nostrils, Pythia begins to glide through the tall grasses. She's nearing a year old and almost to her full height. Which, thank Abraxas, is one good reason she's not dead yet. Many don't seem to mess with her due to her tall stature. Which is fine by her. She enjoys the solitude, but isn't afraid of the company either. Which is why when that feminine scents wafts to her, she stops, turning into the wind. Someone not of Boreas, no. There was a note of rain and chill on that scent mixed with another pack that interested her.

Approaching slowly in the direction the breeze tells her the stranger is, Pythia tries to stop within speaking distance. It's not always easy being blind. "Hello," the soft, ethereal rasp of her voice breaks over the flutter of grass and rustle of leaves turning for fall. "Could you possibly point me to where I might find some Wintergreen?" Not that she was particularly in need of the rare plant, but it was a great conversation starter.

"speech"

coded by NachoMumma

Speech // thought

Alexa's nose is swimming and beginning to get overwhelmed with the scent of the herbs she grasps. She snips a stalk of lavender, then moves on to quickly snip some more with her teeth, snip snip snip. She places the gathered bundle in the basket and suddenly starts as she finally observes a large bright form of a walk navigating toward her. Their steps were slow and careful as if the woman was navigating the plants around by scent and touch alone.

Alexa held her breath as she watched the woman come closer and closer but stopped just within speaking distance. She narrows her mismatched eyes at the other youth, she must be nearly one, still leggy, like her! A deep purple ear orients backward with skepticism as the other girl breaks the silence.

"Um..." She begins but hesitates, her paw seeking out more springs of lavender. She glanced around and gathered her thoughts about what she knew about Wintergreen. There was typically plenty on the plateau of Lazuli Falls in the cloud forest there, but it wasn't often they got to harvest many herbs from that delicate habitat.

"My..." wait was that a pack secret? Surely not... right? "Uhm... my dad said it's usually in forests, with some...acidic soil and some shade. This... uhm... This is a valley, lots of rich soil and lots of... sun... You probably know that though.... that it's a valley..." Okay maybe she wasn't made for being out on her own when there were strangers she could accidentally run into. Her paws went to grab as many sprigs as she could with a frantic motion. Oops, she tore some of the oregano up by its roots. She dumped the bundles of uprooted oregano into her basket. Maybe she could replant it in the garden at home. Hopefully, the other girl didn't see that.

The audible snap of lavender sprigs breaking brings Pythia's attention toward the bush. Its gentle and aromatic scents lure her closer as the other yearling hesitates. A pale ear turns in the girl's direction, raising one brow curiously. Was there something wrong? Wanting some of the lavender for herself, Pythia reaches her nose forward until it bumps against the tall, thin, and flowery bush. Her teeth grasp around a sprig of it before quickly snipping it off. The taste is delectable in her mouth, a pleased hum rising in her throat.

When the other girl starts speaking, Pythia steps away from the bush. Her blind eyes blink a few times in confusion. Was there not a grove of trees just down the way? Or had the wind carried that oaky scent from somewhere else? Canting her head, her nose begins to wrinkle at the assumption. Her ears folded backward, distaste toward the stranger apparent on her features. "I merely know it is a valley by the way my paws feel the ground slope and my ears hear the wind whistle upward from the creeks below. But if you are implying that I know because I can see then maybe you need your vision checked," there is a sharpness to her words as her lips crinkle into a sneer. Did the girl not know it was rude to speak to a blind wolf like that?

"speech"

coded by NachoMumma