(ooc: find and collect four different herbs (3 rounds from each participant))

It was looking more and more likely that the pack might try to stake a claim on the ancient oaks, so Sedna had gathered together the healers of the pack, established and budding to range into the towering trees and see what herbs might be on paw if they chose to move this way. Her daughter had spent more time here than she had, and had returned with quite the bounty from her expedition. She had samples from the young girls expedition spread out for the others to consider. Chaga mushrooms, and a more psychedelic variety (she had her suspicions when her daughter bought them home for the first time), and an assortment of ferns as well. “Le’s see ‘f we can figure where Fuji dug these u’from an’ if there’s anythin’ else worth stakin’ a claim on eh?” she offered with a lopsided smile before leading the way under the matted and suffocating canopy of the oaks.

“Speech”

home is where you are loved the most and act the worst

Fuji didn’t need to see the plants her mumma laid out, she’d found them after all. Kenta rolled his eyes as the pink splotched girl romped forward. Sure, she was almost a year old now, but sometimes it felt like she had barely grown bigger than some of her siblings had been at birth, and the golden cat still towered over her. She had grown wider though, she liked to think it was muscle from all that sword and kicking practice (laced with a healthy amount of butt-butting with her heavy horns, that were finally almost grown in). Couldn’t be all Kuroo’s tasty fishies. Nu-uh.

“Yeah, yeah mumma,” She muttered under her breath as she started poking through the undergrowth with her nose, she wanted to find something different today, something new to make her new favourite playground even more of a tempting acquisition.

The hedge at the bottom of that tree looked promising, she thought, with it’s thorny branches and rough, grey bark. “‘s’ this hawthorn?” She looked to her golden cat questioningly. She’d seen the berries and flowers dried, and was sure her mother had traded a decent pelt for what she had gotten, but the smell was ever so slightly different, being fresh instead of dried.

Just in case, she used her dexterous paws to pluck some berries and flowers from the shrub. It was worth taking back to the group for assessment either way.

“Speech”

Just move those left feet, go ahead, get crazy

Herb 1: Hawthorn

She was always more than willing to help the pack with whatever was needed, whether it was patrolling, gathering, hunting, or expanding. When she thought about it, she couldn't believe she had been with Tojo-Kai this long. Emotions changing from rage to vengeance to wanting a new start, Tenshi was pleased so far with the outcome. Everyone was pleasant and welcoming, and the growing pups were always eager to learn. Thus why she followed Sedna and her two offspring, Fuji and Rheum, up into the Ancient Oaks. Tenshi knew she needed to spend more time getting to know Sedna, but this would be a start. Listening intently to the other woman's words about finding where the small pup had dug up the fungi, Tenshi fought back a smile as they made their way through the dense brush. Not far off the path under a different tree, she recognized a plant she had seen before. Kava. It wasn't fungi, but it would produce euphoria. Close enough right? - Gathering Kava (1/3)

It really didn't matter to Rheum what she was doing when she was with family. When her mum had asked her and Fuji to go with her on a trip to the Ancient Oaks, Rheum jumped at the chance. Any time spent learning and exploring was okay with Rheum. Curious about what they would find within the depths of the oak forest, Rheum followed beside Fuji while their mum talked about the stuff Fuji had dug up. A quiet laugh left her as she heard Fuji grumbling under her breath. Veering off in her own direction, Rheum peeked through some bushes. Hoping to find fungi, instead, she found a cluster of white flowers. "Mum, this is Meadowsweet, yeah?" She calls out with a wag of her tail before beginning to gather some.

Gather Meadowsweet

Her companions wasted no time moving off to sniff out something of worth, and Sedna struck out on her own path, eyes turning upwards to the tree trunks. She thought she spotted what she was after and tipped her head to send Otis up the towering trunk to check when Fuji’s question turned her ear. She padded closer to her smallest child and looked at lobed leaves and the small white flowers that were quickly turning to fruit. “That it is, we can use th’ berries ‘n flowers in teas. Gather some up, an’ we’ll take it back ter show Tori.”

Tenshi had found something of interest too, but before Sedna could check in with her, Rheum also called for attention. She wanted to take a closer look at this one to make sure it wasn’t cowbane. Meadowsweet, yarrow and the water hemlock could all look scarily similar from a distance. She leaned in close to give it a sniff and a smile came to her lips. “It is! Good job. Be careful if yer ever see one where the flowers are more circular an’ spaced out. There are some poisons that look similar, an’ they both grow in damp soil. It has a different smell too, if I ever find some, I’ll make sure ter show yer th’ difference.”

Otis had made his way down the tree and worked to erase the cranky look off his face when he saw that Sedna was helping her daughters, it wasn’t like she had deliberately left him behind to do all the work. He held out the bright orange flesh of a fungus and the Archer woman took a cautious sniff. It was Chaga after all, and she gave a nod. Not that any of them were old enough to be suffering memory problems yet, but it didn’t hurt to take some as a precaution. “Let’s gather up a bit more before we head home.” She said to her companion, heading towards where Tenshi was working.

“‘S’lookin’ promisin’. What have yer found there?”

“Speech”

home is where you are loved the most and act the worst

-Gather Chaga Mushroom-

Tending to the interests of the little ones would be more important than having adult conversations. Tenshi knew that as she listened in on Rheum asking Sedna if she had indeed found meadowsweet. Not wanting to take away from the young healers educational experience, the woman continued to gather the plant known as Kava. It wasn’t the best tasting plant that she had gathered before, but it would do. After a few moments, she glanced at the other three with a kind smile. “Find anything interesting to report back about?” Tenshi directed her question two the younger two as she pondered if what they found would be of any use medicinally.

With her mothers confirmation that she had indeed found hawthorn, the girl continued her gathering until there was almost nothing left to gather on the bush. She moved to where the adults were gathering and proudly showed her haul to Tenshi. “Hawthorn this time! this place is just like a garden if’yer look hard enough!” It would be great to have the option to spread their gardens out, sunny plants down near the bay and shadier plants between here and the bamboo depending on whether they preferred well draining soil or moist. “We could cover all our growing needs too, we might even end up with enough ter trade if we wanted to.” Not that Tojo had ever been the trading sort, but it would be nice to offer travelling merchants something other than dried fish and pelts if they found themselves short. “An’ we’d have less ter worry about if it comes ter patchin’ people up.”

Fuji’s head tilted to the side as she looked at the bitter, earthy smelling leaves that Tenshi had gathered. “Smells like dirt. What’s it do?” It seemed she had inherited some of her mother’s bluntness after all.

“Speech”

Just move those left feet, go ahead, get crazy

Rheum listened intently as her mother described the plant. Eyes slightly widened and tail wagging slowly, she was proud for a moment since she had accurately found the meadowsweet! That was until Sedna said she could have possibly found poison if the flowers had only been slightly different. Dropping the flowering plant quickly, she looked nervously down at the find. “So we could use the poison ones against enemies if we ever get attacked?” The girl asked, mildly curious as she wondered what other kinds of poisons were out there to find.

Sedna smiled as Fuji began to chat the ears off Tenshi about how this seemed like a good choice for expansion and asked her what the plant she had found was for. Sedna had an inkling, but it wasn’t one she was familiar with through personal use. Her attention was quickly grabbed once again by Rheum’s queries about poisons. “I suppose yer could treat weapons wit’ poisons ter make sure they ‘ave a bad time later… but sometimes yer need ter made a call ter send someone off peacefully too. Yer can’t can’t save everyone all th’ time.” That being said though, “But there are nicer ways ter go than cowsbane if it comes ter that.”

“Speech”

home is where you are loved the most and act the worst

-healing expansion round 3-

Rheum looked back down at her bundle of meadowsweet with an unsure glance. If herbs and poisons were so similar in appearance, how many had she almost accidentally plucked before? Nervous, she listened to her mother with open ears before looking up at her. There is a pucker on her lips as she shifts her weight. "I like this place for expansion, but coul' ya possibly teach me more about poisons? Or what ta avoid?" Rheum asked quietly as her gaze shifted to her sister and Tenshi. They were both distracted by their conversation which helped Rheum not feel so ashamed. Why she was ashamed to admit that she was scared of feeding someone the wrong plant was beyond her knowledge, but she couldn't shake the feeling from her gut. "Are there lots of poisonous stuff in 'ere?" Rheum's question drifted through her mind as her eyes glanced back down to the meadowsweet before looking around the tall oak forest.

Collect meadowsweet 3/3

Before she could strike up a real conversation with Sedna, her attention was pulled down to Fuji. The small pup seemed to never get any larger and it made Tenshi wonder if the girl would be stuck at that size. Now wasn't the time to be wondering such things as Fuji began a full report about the forest that surrounded them. A proud smile licked Tenshi's lips as she glanced around herself. "You're correct, Fuji," she responded back with a nod of her head. The young girl was indeed right. If they could clear enough brush, they would have enough space to grow vast gardens of whatever plants they needed. The more they had, the more they could help others. While Tojo may lack fighters, they had plenty of healers. If only Hanzo would welcome in those that needed help... Bringing her attention back to Fuji who was now sniffing the pile of Kava at her paws, Tenshi picked up a leaf. Taking it in her mouth and chewing it thoroughly, she swallowed the earthy taste with only a slight quiver of her expression. The flavor reminded her of home in the mountains where they could only grow hearty plants that survived harsh temperatures. "It helps one to relax when they are nervous," she responds simply as she holds out a leaf to Fuji. "It is not sweet like some, but it does not take long to take effect," Tenshi's head tilts slightly to the side, curious to see if the girl would take it. - Gathering Kava (3/3)

Fuji reached out to take the offered leaf, rolling it between her dexterous digits and having a good sniff of the earthy scent before placing the herb on her tongue. It was bitter, and spicy, and muddy all at once. Her nose scrunched up, to be honest, she had tasted worse, but it wasn’t really a taste she wouldn’t try to mask in some way or other. “Would it work in a tea?” she queried the older wolf, gathering up their supplies to head back towards the bamboo. It had been a fruitful journey between the four of them and she was sure her mother would be putting a good word in for this place to be their next claim.

“Speech”

Just move those left feet, go ahead, get crazy

-round 3/3-