Taking roots

It had been some time since he had decided to go out. Fenix had been all but scarce ever since he gained the rank of deputy and he was shamed by it. Perhaps it was because he hadn’t been feeling well - sending Tanelan away with some herbs every now and again. Sure he’d been asked how he was Fenix wasn’t even sure himself. Yet when he had been going through his herb stores he had realized something quite interesting about the falls that Ethne had claimed. Fenix decided he needed to get down to his roots after walking along the wooded slopes a few times and going through herb names in his head One simple way to help grow a strong community was a strong herb garden. Gathering herbs naturally was one thing but when it came to rare herbs his favorite thing to do was save them, so you could grow them in a controlled environment for your population.

Fenix stopped at the edge of the falls staring at his reflection in the water. “Oh Viper what would you tell your old man, stop moping and get moving?” he chuckled softly. She probably would have been in her third year by now and he felt broken that his daughter's death still haunted him as time stretched on. Perhaps seeing her ghost in his time of need is what had really consoled him and now with his position in Ethne, his dream of creating the grove was in place. Yet he had no proof of his hard work, not many wolves to back him up. For now, he had to concentrate on the needs of the pack he was in.

That’s what made him place a paw in the water quickly rinsing the fur on his toes before looking back up to the particular slopes up to the top of the falls. He squinted against the sunlight blasting through the branches of the trees enveloping this beautiful enclave of nature’s bounty. A small plant had nestled itself in the dirt on the side of a slope. A shady place, but it looked like the plant got a fair amount of sunlight from when the sun moved in the sky. Fenix grinned unable to stop the soft wag of his tail. “Found you,” he noted before he began to pick his route in order to get to the herb.

“Ginseng.” Once he got closer to the plant he could see the red tinge that noted the herb. Like a cluster of berries, the green leaves spread, if he collected it now he could cure the plant and use the seeds in a garden once spring came. Although Auster was different, he would have to rethink the season that he planted these and go by the day-to-day weather until his body adjusted to the climate. This plant was rare and he’d spent all morning looking for it if he got it in his possession though he knew how to hold the seeds for months before having them grow.

The herb was great for war wounds and injuries, but it also could help with harsh fevers if they needed to get them down. Fenix had seen what illness could do to a pack and even if he was a deputy if he could provide Gav and the rest of the healers with a sustainable garden for future generations. Fenix thought about the long haul and that wasn’t something he was used to doing recently. Once he had a firm hold on the slope he further inspected the plant. Deciding it would be best if he dug out the root and took it back to his den. Taking one paw he began to delicately clear away the dirt from the outside of the plant. If he was too rough a rare plant like this would be just a waste of his time.

Fenix’s tail made sure to keep his balance as the male took away more of the dirt. He could finally see the small tendrils of roots compacted into the moist soil. The man made a mental note of where the plant seemed to taper off. Beginning to widen the circle of soil that he dug out with his paws. After a few more patient minutes he delicately pulled the clump of dirt with the plant in it out. Lowering himself down the slope to take a peek at his work. The root.. Intact - seeds that sat at the top were also intact. In full bloom even. Excitement threw him for a loop his tail wagging as he placed the plant gently into his mouth. He could handle a bit of dirt in his mouth while he carried it to his den. After all, he needed to preserve an herb like this quickly. “Mission accomplished,” he muttered turning and beginning to take the slope up the falls following a walking path that seemed to have been used by a few wolves in the pack already. He wondered if any wolf would stop him to ask what he was doing with this plant in his mouth.