Sometimes it was nice to simply get out and stretch his legs. While leaving, Gem had wandered into his path and Chimera had decided to take her along with him. He kept their pace leisurely, taking breaks as needed so that the young pup didn't get overworked. Gem was a trooper and didn't complain and Chi was proud of that. The Moor was close to Ashen territory and so it was worthy of some inspection. It was always good to know what sorts of resources were within reach of your own lands. Though it was midday, a thick mist hung over the land and it seemed darker than the lands outside of it. A variety of colorful clumps of flowers littered the grasses. He wasn't a healer by any means, but Chi thought he recognized some of them. "What do you think of this place, my love?" Chi spoke to Gem, keeping her close as they moved into this, as of yet, unexplored place. Hopefully the girl would enjoy herself. Gemma & Chimera

Exploring with her father was one of her favorite things to do in the world. Especially when he took her from Ashen territory. Since her father had taken over from aunty Venom, she had a chance to explore some other lands within their protective borders, but this place was new. Shrouds mist poured from an unknown source. Covering her paws, nearly up to her chest as she sticks close to her father's leg. With him nearby, she knows she's safe. Other than the mist that cloaks the land, she notices the soft grassy that is practically grey in appearance. Compared to the grass she knows in Cryer's Ravine, she wonders if it's dead. Her brow even scrunches slightly as they continue to walk through the fields. What surprises her further are the sporadic bunches of vibrant herbs that scented differently than the ones at home. As she looks at each one, she can see some that she recognizes, but there is one that pops up that she doesn't. Suddenly, Chimera's voice as her looking upward. "Oh, it's lovely, daddy!" Her sweet voice is accompanied by an angelic smile. With a soft swish of her tail, she takes a few bounding steps forward and stops before a delicate flower that a practiced healer would know as Earth Smoke or Fumitory. "Daddy, why does this flower look as if it was made to grow here when the others don't?" Gem asks with a tilt of her head before her reaches out to grasp a stalk gently between her teeth. Ripping it away as careful as she can, she lifts it up toward Chimera so he too can get a whiff of it. Gemma & Chimera

1/3 explore a new land (druid's moor)

The man's ears shifted this way and that, always on alert for sounds of approaching danger. He would never be complacent. He would never let his guard down. Especially not when his children were present. It was funny, really. None of them knew just how much of a self-absorbed, volatile asshole he had been at their age. It had taken him time and many hard lessons to realize what he found important. This little girl before him... she was important. As Gem questioned him and held up a flower for him to smell, Chimera dutifully gave it a sniff. Why would a flower look out of place in a certain landscape? He was no healer. No navigator. He did know about birds though, so that was where his thought process went. "Birds can take plants a long, long way from their home. That's why a lot of plants make seeds. It's their way of spreading to new homes." Chi leaned in and whispered to the beautiful child, "Do you know how they do that?" He was curious as to whether or not she could come to the correct conclusion. Chimera wasn't the type of father to give them an answer straight out. He wanted to exercise their minds. Gemma & Chimera

Mist swirled around their paws and she wonders how wolves know which way is which here. If there were clouds in the sky, would they need bird companions to help guide them? How would a bird communicate through this fog though? If they couldn't see the bird... Would they have to rely on sound? What if they were deaf? What if the flowers and  grass were too tall? Did the mist ever hide scents? Her nose twitches, but all she can smell is herbs and her father. Who is suddenly leaning down toward her and whispering a question in her ear. Right, seeds and birds! That made sense! "Oh, do the birds carry the seeds? Do they know they need to be spread?" Gem thinks on it a moment, sitting her butt down into the dewy grass and letting her eyes wander to the flowers around them. "Or... are birds like squirrels? Do they eat the seeds?" Another pauses, her eyes focusing on the purple and white gradients that lie in clusters across the grey hazy field. It wasn't as if she had been given lessons on bodily functions, but she had heard her parents yell at the boys more than once not to poop or pee inside the den. Gross. Suddenly she laughs, looking back up at Chimera. "So if they eat the seeds, they fly away, and then poop them out?" She can't hold back the giggles because like any pup, poop is a funny topic. Gemma & Chimera

2/3 explore a new land (druid's moor)

Gem thought about it for a bit and Chimera gave her the time that she needed to come to her own conclusion. Eventually she realized that birds pooped out seeds and erupted into peals of girlish laughter. A smile came over the giant's face and he chuckled along with her. "Yep. Birds poop out the seeds and they grown wherever they land. That's how a lot of plants spread from place to place. Cool and gross, right?" In the future, Chimera had no doubt that Gem would learn much better lessons from her mother, but for now she could learn a bit of silly stuff from him. "Do you think we should take some of these flowers and things back to your mom?" The brute tilted his head, wondering if the girl would want to collect the plants that she'd asked about or not. If so, they could stay a while longer. If not, they could start heading back. It wasn't the longest walk, but she was still small and had little legs. Gemma & Chimera

Gem continues to giggle as Chimera asks her if it is both silly and cool. She can hardly breathe, but still nods her head in agreement. Everything was so soft and mysterious here though that she wondered if anyone ever noticed the birds pooping everywhere they went. Is that how life was? She looks to the ground, nose wrinkling, but can't clearly see anything except mist and heather. Even the delicate fragrance of the plants around her hides whatever stinky smells may be lurking below. Was that why others seemed to like this place? It was easy to hide in the heather and the mist? Her attention is soon drawn upward back toward her father as he questions if they should bring the flowers back home to her mother. At the mention of Aliana, Gem lights up, ears perking and tail wagging. Nodding furiously, she bounds forward a few leaping steps toward a cluster of yellow and white flowers. "How about these ones?" Gem calls out, looking up to Chimera with a few of the flowers already in her mouth. Before he can answer, she hopes over to another cluster with pink and purple flowers. "These too?!" Gem can't help but be excited. Anything to make her mama happy! Gemma & Chimera

3/3 explore a new land (druid's moor)