Ferns and Flowers

Walk | Talk | Think

Callisto was well and truly tired by the time they reached the Fern Gulley. Too much had happened in too short a time span, and she felt as if she needed an entire week to sleep off the effects of it in order to feel even remotely like herself again. She tried as best she could to keep her thoughts from returning to the children she had abandoned in the north, the children that had vanished either with or without their demon father's help, but still they stole into her mind like thieves, assaulting the little shred of morality that caused her guilt to make it worse. But it was a little easier to consider now, though only just. They were gone, the matter was out of her hands, and there was nothing further to be done about it.

She was half conscious of Jakart as he led her further south, and less conscious of the cat who traveled silently behind. The dark feline was strangely silent and kept her distance, and somehow it was even more nerve wracking than dealing with her constant commentary. She must have had something on her mind in order to be so quiet, and surely it must have been important? Eventually Callisto was going to have to dig it out of her, though she hoped more that, in keeping with her silence, the cat would depart without a word and never return.

Somewhere along the way the scenery had changed and it was only now that her guide spoke up and interrupted her thoughts that she realized they had reached their destination. Her trudging gait slowed to a stop as Jak backtracked over to her, and immediately she began to look around. She noticed first how much greener this place was than the new forest she had been staying in. There were so many more plants here, so much more variety, that, though she had had her doubts, Callisto was forced to admit Jakart had been right. Even from the little that she could see, from what she could smell, this place was like a healer's paradise teeming with plants and herbs that she could put to good use.

Only half aware of what he said - something about a den, and did he mention a pack? - she turned in a slow circle where she stood, finishing her quick inspection of the gulley. If she had felt up to it, she would have begun searching through the plants immediately to locate what she could recognize and make mental notes about those she did not, but, despite the excitement of the eager healer inside of her, she knew there would be time enough for it later. "Are there any open dens around here?" Callisto asked as she rounded her gaze back on Jakart and then away as if to begin searching herself. As much as she liked the idea of carving out her own, building it to her own specifications, she currently did not possess the energy to.