Roots Before Branches

Kolt's ears perked at the sound of the door opening again, but he didn't pause in his work. He could sense his younger cousin's presence even before Othello spoke. A small smile tugged at the corner of his muzzle as he heard the pup's curious sniffing. "I'm planting lavender," Kolt explained patiently, gently patting the soil around another seedling. "It's an important herb for the castle's stores. The healers use it for all sorts of remedies."

He glanced up at Othello, noting the way the younger pup's nose was buried in the fragrant blooms. "You're right, they do smell nice. That's part of why they're so useful. The scent can help calm nerves and promote sleep." Kolt sat back on his haunches, surveying his work so far. There were still several rows of seedlings waiting to be planted. He turned to Othello with a thoughtful expression. "Would you like to help? I could show you how to plant them properly."

Without waiting for an answer, Kolt repeated this process with the next seedling, falling into the soothing rhythm as he slowly made his way down the row. The greenhouse's glass panels filtered the sun's rays, casting a soft glow across the scene and warming Kolt's fur as he worked. He figured he’d have time to plant another, even if the kid did want to help.

"Kolt Carpathius"