take a bath, mud! [Bog]

She lowered an elongated snout to sniff the lichen attached to the side of the mangrove tree. The scent was a combination of musk and earth. "It is not yet ready..." She mumbled under her breath. Mud was waiting for the lichen to be just right. She used it medicinally as her parents taught her, and preserved it as a snack. Thankfully the deer were not yet so desperate to brave the dangerous swamp for the lichen yet. Soon, she would need to collect what she needed before the deer enjoyed their buffet.

Mud paused by a tangled mass of flowers. One that stood out to her was what she called frogfruit. She used to for a variety of things, but specifically for worms in the stool. Something important to have on hand and she couldn't pass up the opportunity. She began harvesting. Mud removed a bunch of the flowers, root, stem, and all. Then, a pile of just the flowers. She left plenty of roots intact and made a mental note of the area for next year's harvest. Once she finished, she reclined and looked at her pile of flowers. To her dismay, she had over-harvested. Waste was not something Mud was comfortable with. She pondered for a moment making multiple trips back to her den but ultimately decided to ask a friend. "Detka, sweetheart, could you come forward, please? I require your aid." She couldn't see the caiman but knew her beastly friend was lurking beneath the waters.

A ripple below the surface revealed two amber eyes. Hardly any of her reptilian faces was visible; everything else was hidden beneath the murky water. The dwarf caiman lifted her head slightly and cocked it to the side. She did not speak but made it known she was listening. Mud smiled warmly at her. "Detka, my love. I located this plant - frogfruit - it is a cure for wolves suffering from worms in their stool. It is a remarkable plant. Unfortunately, I collected far too much for myself to carry and I do not currently have a bag. Ah, it is a pity. I would like to ask if you would carry some of my frogfruit back to my den. But, if you are busy, please, take your time, as I do not need it so urgently." She watched the caiman carefully. Detka blinked each eye independently while staring at Mud, then let out a soft, pleasant hissssss. Mud's tail swooshed softly; it was a yes. "I will go ahead and take as many as I can carry, love. I will meet you back at home."

With a mouthful of purple flowers, Mud began the walk back to her den.