Games at the border

He was curious at what 'some' would say had been hard in her life. Curious, and a little sad. He hadnt thought before that hardship might have brought this lovely friend to them, but the possibility was there. The boy had been exposed to some hardships already in life, and he knew that they existed. Some part of him, perhaps the small part that took after his possessive father, wished he could have helped her in her dark parts.

He didnt push, showing he had some wisdom despite his curiosity. Instead, he let her turn the conversation to the flowers and herbs. He laughed softly in agreement. Honey was harder . "Dad cleared a beehive near the den a few weeks ago. I saw the stings he had for his trouble" Mort agreed

When she indicated he should approach, he did so, coming up alongside her, to lean over and inspect the herb she indicated. Lavander, she had called it. He took a deep breath, and smiled. "I recognize that smell, it's often in Io's den. Guess it calms her patients" he guessed. His tail gave a light wag behind him, enjoying the realization of the ones he had encountered before.

He settled when Mal did, this time sitting across from her, and simply listening when she spoke. She was taking them back to his earlier question, and answering it in further detail. "That sounds so much different to what we have with the Armada. We joined them because father loves and respects their leader. Did it ease it? The tensions, I mean. Did they love each other?"