this house don't feel like home

Ara tended to be cautious around males, in general - perhaps she was being prejudiced, but she'd never been quite able to shake the slight fear of strangers she'd had since Novel had been hurt so long ago. Though her fear wasn't obvious, it was there, and she was on visibly on edge, though not quite ready to flee. As badly as she wished she could return to the task at hand, carefully digging up the roots of the watercress plants, she was unwilling to look away from him for long.

His interest was obvious, and though possibly feigned, it did seem quite genuine. The smile that appeared on her gentle features remained as he listened to her, taking in what she had to say. Feeling a bit more relaxed, her tail would sway absently behind her, curling amidst her hind legs. "My name is Ara Destruction," she offered her full name with ease. At the very least, perhaps if he had bad intentions he might be turned off by the fact that she came from a family that was relatively well-known. They'd been more powerful once, but he didn't have to know how many of them had left these lands. "And.. I suppose I could teach you a few things. I'm no expert," she admitted slowly, wishing she had more knowledge to offer him. Largely self-taught, she lacked the formal knowledge that most healers might, though she'd learned quite a bit in her travels and with her wife, on their own. If he seemed awkward at all, she was ignorant to it; she was happy to share what she knew, and her pleasure was written plainly on her face.

"Right now I'm just trying to dig this watercress up," Ara told him, turning back to the herbs, her brows furrowing slightly. "The plants will die pretty quickly once they're picked, so I was trying to salvage some of the plant, root and all, to bring back home. If I set them somewhere damp, they may stay fresh longer. Usually fresh herbs are more potent." Going back to what he'd said a moment ago, her head cocked to the side, ears flicking as she recalled his words. "You said your family has been sick?" she'd inquire cautiously, wondering how wide-spread the problem might be, if at all. Perhaps there was some new illness this season..