Compared to where they'd just come from this place was practically heaven.  Fresh water was readily available, and there had been no shortage of small game for them to fill their little bellies with at almost any and all hours of the day.  Boneset wasn't sure she'd ever eaten as much as she had within the last 24 hours, even when they had been with their momma.   After having shared a delicious rabbit that they'd caught together for lunch, Bones told Ducky that she was going to go get a sip of water.  The truth of the matter was that Duckweed was having a harder time with recent circumstances than Boneset was, and she wanted to see if she could find something in the area that would bring even the smallest of smiles to her sister's face.  The problem was that she'd have to be swift about it if she didn't want to cause Ducky any more stress, but Bones was pretty good at using her head to think fast. To an outsider it might look like the young pup was running around the prairie without rhyme or reason, but there was actually a method to her madness.  Shortly after walking away form Duckweed she'd discovered the plant itself, boneset.  It was then that she sort of formed an idea for what the gift should be, but she knew she probably wouldn't be lucky enough to find actual duckweed out here too on such a short notice.  The girl ended up settling on a nice bouquet of meadowsweet.  It was a fluffy and delicate flower, kinda funny looking, which sort of reminded her of her sister if she reached far enough, but it was going to have to do.   After collecting the boneset and the meadowsweet the pup ran around and grabbed as many sticks as she could find.  The  design was that the flowers together would represent the two sisters.  It was supposed to signify that everything was going to be okay because at the end of the day they still had each other.  Bone's wasn't 100 percent sure her sister would really get it, but the sentiment of receiving a gift would probably still be there.  The sticks were included because.. hey, they were nice sticks and who didn't like chewing on some nice sticks? A little sweaty, the young pup started making her way back to where Ducky had been, carefully carrying the strange gift in her maw.  "Wuckweee!" she called as she caught site of the girl a short distance away.

Ducky wanted to be mad at her sister for having the willpower to continue on, for bringing them to this place of abundance where their needs could be met, but she'd left her fight in those hills, opting for listlessness instead. She rose when Boneset told her it was time to move on, and she ate the food that they caught, though she was only ever able to manage a few bites. She got herself water, and groomed herself occasionally, but otherwise, Duckweed spent her free time curled up in the crook of a tree, or sprawled out on her side waiting for Bonnie's next command. She knew that her sister was probably worried, but Duckweed just didn't have it in her to care. She was tired, and numb, and nothing was going to change that. When Bones mentioned needing water, Ducky simply hummed her acknowledgement and readjusted herself against the scraggly bush, allowing her eyes to flicker closed. The creek wasn't far, so it's not like her sister needed an escort, and even if she did, Duckweed's presence would probably be more of a hinderance than anything. She wasn't sure how much time had passed, but eventually she woke to the sound of her name. Two sage green eyes cracked open, landing on Bonnie's frame in the distance. The girl seemed to be carrying something, but Duckweed couldn't tell what. Her dark brows furrowed as she lifted her head, hoping to all of the Gods that it wasn't more food. "What's that?"

Boneset didn't bother answering her sister's question until traveling the rest of the way and presenting the gift before her. It was too hard to talk with your mouth full, and it also wasn't very polite. "It's a present for you." She smiled lightly, nudging the bundle of plants and sticks closer to where the girl had been resting her paws. "It's boneset and uhh.. some other kinda flower that reminded me of you. Couldn't find no duckweed. The sticks are for eatin'." The pup continued after giving her kin but a moment to examine the gift. She wanted to kind of hash out what her thought process had been when creating it, though of course choosing to omit anything that might have sounded too cheesy. Boneset wasn't always the best at expressing the way she felt out loud, at least not in any positive way.

Boneset didn't answer, but Ducky didn't expect her to, especially not while she was holding whatever it was that she had between her jowls. The object seemed to morph into something new with each step, first a bird, then an antler, then.. sticks? She was unable to discern the item or items until Bonnie literally placed them at her paws. It was an odd collection to behold, but once it was explained, Duckweed felt her chest tighten. This whole time she'd only been thinking of herself. Not once did she consider her sister's feelings, or that this was probably just as hard for her. Not once did she stop to ask Bones if she was okay. Instead, she spent her time moping, and ignoring the issue at hand. She felt the rush of emotion swell in her chest, and did what she could to beat it back down, but there was no stopping her body as it rose, nor her maw as it bumped into her sister's shoulder. "It's hideous." Her voice caught in her throat as she attempted the jest. "But I love it." She wasn't quite sure what she was going to do with it, but it was truly the thought that counted. "Thanks, Bones."

The pup furrowed her brow as she waited anxiously for Ducky to react to the mess of plants she'd been offered.  Every millisecond that ticked by made her second guess herself more and more.  Maybe the girl wouldn't like it, or didn't want it.  Maybe this would somehow make things worse.  Maybe it would somehow remind her of mom, even though Boneset couldn't think of a time where mom had ever gifted them anything more than the bare minimum needed to survive.  She just wanted to help.. Boneset almost wanted to cry after finally hearing her sister comment on the strange gift.  The young girl returned her affection with a couple of soft licks to the top of her sister's head before pulling back to admire her handiwork one last time.  " No it's not.... Well, okay.. Maybe it is." she chuckled. "Glad ya like it, Ducky.  Now scoot over so I can lay down too."

Ducky was relieved that her sister didn't seem to be upset by her comment. Of course she knew that in any other situation the cub wouldn't have been bothered, but this wasn't any other situation, and so much had happened in the last few days that she had been a little worried that Bones might have taken it to heart. She returned her sister's affection by making a face and pushing her away, much like any other sibling would, and followed her gaze to the mess of plants and sticks. "Just a lil bit." Her nose crinkled with her smile, and she obliged the request by scooting over a bit. "So what now?" Was there a plan or were they just going to live here alone forever? That would be fine with her, of course, but she wasn't sure what her sister might think about it.

"Dunno." The girl responded almost mindlessly, circling around a bit in a quick attempt to find a halfway decent spot to lie down next to her sister before Duckweed could change her mind and push the fae away a second time. Finally she settled and began to think a little harder. Bones hadn't intended on really letting her sister in on anything she came up with until all of the quirks were worked out. Sure, there was a plan, but it was just kind of a shell right now. The pup hadn't really worked out any of the fine details. But Ducky was talking now, and that was a good thing, a really good thing in fact, so the pup would just have to tell 'er what she's been thinking. Keep her talking, because if she was talking then she was healing. "I think we gotta cross that lil river. It's nice here but it's open. We need ta find a spot where we can hide n' stuff just in case we ever gotta do somethin' like that. It's all dead stuff the way we came, so I think the river is the way ta go." and that was about as far as she got, but the fae thought it was a pretty logical next step.

Duckweed clicked her tongue in response to Bones' uncertainty. Of course she couldn't expect the fae to have a fully formed plan, but she'd expected a little more than the 'Dunno.' that she got. Bonnie always had a plan, and if she didn't then she would inevitably come up with one. Ducky on the other hand only needed to wait for her sister's command and follow it, things were easier that way, and there was less room for the pair to clash. She listened as Bones began detailing the plan, nodding when appropriate and holding her tongue until the pale youth finished. "Yeah, I guess you're right." If going back wasn't a possibility then the only way to go was forward. Right? Ducky heaved a sigh and pulled one of the sticks closer to her body. "Then we'll leave in the mornin'." One more night here should be enough.

The orphan felt a tinge of excitement flow through her body as Duckweed reached for one of the sticks.  Something about chewing on a good stick always did the heart some good, or at least that's how it worked for Boneset.  Originally, when she'd brought the bouquet back, the fae wasn't so sure that her sister would be in much of a stick chewing mood.  Maybe this really was the beginning of their healing journey, but Bones didn't want to push it.  After all, it probably hadn't even been a week since their mother left and as far as Boneset was concerned she herself hadn't managed to heal anything yet, just ignore the feelings when they came up. Nevertheless, in this moment the pup's little heart felt warm.  Maybe next she could even get Ducky to eat.  Like, actually eat.  But again, she couldn't push it.   "Sounds good ta' me."  She smiled, resting her head on her paws.  "Let's try ta' rest till' then.  Gotta make sure we ain't feelin tired while we're doin' all that walkin'." she closed her eyes, taking in the feeling of the warm summer breeze that occasionally gusted past the pair.  Things we're only going to get better from here on out, that much Boneset was sure of.  She'd do whatever she had to to make certain that the rest of their lives were filled with so many happy memories that they couldn't even remember them all.  Maybe she could even make them forget about mom with enough time.  Or if she was really lucky, make mom wish she hadn't forgotten about them. (FADE)