A vibrant glade of lush grasses and trees that bloom during all but the coldest of seasons. The sweet fragrance of spring flowers hangs in the air and delicate petals float on the wind and a gentle creek flows through the green meadow.
Larkspur scraped the soft soil beneath their paws, careful to not dislodge any of the smaller mounds and dark-colored soil. This was such a lush and heavily flowered area that they'd assumed - correctly, they noted with satisfaction - that the soil here was loose and rich with all sorts of things that would be beneficial for the plants. They could practically taste it through their pads, the various nutrients and enriching plant matter being broken down and they could even feel the burrowing motions of the worms squirming about, careful not to clip any of them with their claws.
Only yesterday had they returned the lost friends Reed Blackpaw and Balthazar to each other and while the two friends enjoyed each other's company, Larkspur elected to sniff around the nearby land with the intent of constructing another garden for themself. It had felt odd and discomforting to have traveled so long with only the plants that grew in their back rather than the various medicines they typically toted around in their equally lost saddle-bags. The double-pouched saddlebag would be hard to replace - they had no place for tanning, hadn't found a creature with a decent enough pelt for skinning and sewing was a skill they rarely practiced beyond the sewing of flesh-together to encourage the healing of more severe wounds. Thus, it only made sense for them to start out with their garden itself - it would be a while before the herbs would be well-grown enough to begin taking clippings of.
The birch patterned chocolate wolf gave a stretch, arching their back towards the ground and stretching out their forelegs in front of them. It had taken a while to scout the little area, determine a good place for the plot, clear a small area out then begin digging out the plot itself. A rectangular space might have been more traditional but Larkspur had chosen a more circular plot, something that might go a bit more easily unnoticed by anyone flying above. They lined the outside of the circle with large, smooth stones stone from a nearby river alongside a few pawfuls of tiny pebbles to sprinkle on the inside of the circle and allowed their muddy appearance to further disguise that it was a garden.
"Now all I need are some sprouts or clippings," the wandering wolf mused aloud. They were fairly impatient when it came to growing things at times and seeds would take far longer than they desired in this new world to propagate.
Being back on the cove was refreshing, and he owed all the help to Larkspur. And he would make that up to her soon.
He has taken the contents of his pouch and hung them to try out on vine, where anyone could check and use them as needed. (He plans on making a new salve for Larks wings). He also made a crude frame in which to stretch the tanning deer hide he had salvaged for Larks new saddle bags.
Throughout the daylight Balthazar spent him time cutting loose trees and gathering everything he would need for a solid foundation. Having his suppressant salves helped to keep away any itching or burning in his skin.
The large building itself is based around five large octagon shaped frames. Three for rooms, and a main chamber that will eventually be a living or place to rest-- hobestly he thought of bringing the ladies in to design when it was time!
The foundation was built from various stone rocks he found on the beach that could line and get under the home without causing structure damage anywhere else.
He has plans to go as far as to create a French drain around the house that lead underground to feel Larkspurs Garden.
-- time skip, he was looking for Lark --
Balthazar chips loudly to announce himself to Lark as he comes over "Mornin' Lark," a smile on his tongue. He watches her work, using her paws to dig out and start a garden space- but this one was circular! "Nice shape choice!" He remarks, looking up. Maybe birds and critters could avoid it. "Tell me' wha' to keep an eye out fir, I'll help with clippings!" Blathy nods. "But you know, it is getting cold out. I need to get my forage done to make us both seaglasses and some glass to keep your plants happy in the winter.." He nods happily to himself. "And if we install this French drain into your garden it could water itself with rain!"
---- Ooc: no roll to now but will to forage next post! As always Balthazar is open to light power play. Sorry kind of fillerish, need to get established!
Balthy goals; help with garden, and get the rest of the 'home' framework so everyone can be dry
Fluffy, coned ears twisted in response to the sound of another approaching, turning their cobalt gaze skyward as the bat-winged being landed in the fading light of the day. They were a bit surprised to see him for a moment - it was a cooler sort of day, with a wonderful breeze, tugging gently at the tufts laced through their fur. It was perfect basking temperatures, they'd even begun to scout out a good basking stone to spread out their wings and allow the warmth to seep into their muscles and soothe any cramps that had formed over the night. The confusion faded however at the somewhat strange scent wafting from the hyena, unfamiliar to what he'd borne before and reminded them of the salves he mentioned. Convenient - they would need to learn that recipe, on the change they encounter other vampires like Balthazar and Sage in the future. It was a much too useful form of medicine to pass up learning.
"Good morning," they greeted easily, walking around the circular garden with a critical eye. It seemed to be alright, the mounds deliberately organized in a slightly slanted fashion to continue on with the charade of disguising it from fliers and walkers that glance by. "Thank you - hopefully, no one will be able to tell it's a garden from above. Or if they do, it's because they're looking for help."
Though Larkspur hopes that if they're not around, anyone who needs help would at least be careful and kind enough to not destroy all of their hard work.
"For now, I'd like to re-establish some basic herbs," Larkspur said. If the giant was willing to help them acquire all the sprouts they needed, then the chocolate furred wolf wouldn't have to search too far for some of the harder or more finicky to carry things. "A little beadwood, coneflowers, celadine and maybe everlast."
They turned away from their garden thoughtfully, "Woodmint would be nice as well but I'd need a raised garden to keep it from strangling my others."
Again, you only make a mistake in that vein once before you learn from it. She'd lost a lot of good flowers to that badly planned, impulsively added patch of rapidly growing herb. So very useful - so very quick to destroy her entire patch.
"Do you think a drain is needed?" Larkspur asked looking at the garden. The area before digging ti up was well-draining if the flowers around it said anything but now that she'd dug it up, loosening all of the soil, new rain-fall could end up washing it away. The stones were meant to prevent some of that, meant to contain any water that could've broken through the cracks but they hadn't want it to be too tightly pressed together given they also don't want to drown their flowers. "Is there any way to create one without it being... obvious?"
It was nice to have company. He watched as Larkspur easily circles her handy-work, inspecting the shapes and sizes of things. "Some tings may see it from above, but that is were smells can help." Balthazar remarks, "like uhh peeling around the garden- or even having your snake slither through and around it. Animals are big on smell." He reminds her. Balthazar glanced around to see if he could spy the snake that bore an uncanny remblance to Larkspur- but found him not. "Yir little friend must be hiding well," Balthazar remarks with another small smile. "Have you thought of a name?" The hyena tilts his head, walikg the garden to get a firm look at it. "Honestly I don't think We will need the drain.. I'll route that somewhere else."
It would need a fence. Balthazar knew he had the materials for that. He went to his housing plot and grabbed a mouthful and a handful with his telekinesis. Then sat then beside the garden. "These ten will be out posts!" He says proudly. "We will need to space them out accordingly for your garden, then wrap them tightly with vines to keep critters out!" He sits down tail lashing back and forth behind him; irritated. "I'll have to dig for the vines though,' Balthazar's bright eyes lit up for once in mild annoyance. He always loved to be prepared- so going back into the woods almost seemed a task. "If you want, stay here and set them posts up 'round tha garden, I'll find the vines!" He assures her as the large hyena sauntered into the woods.
---
Roll progress:
Successful: Balthazar finds the vines he needs after digging and snooping, he heads home.
Fail: he hears a call that sounds like Fyn and becomes distracted!
NPC Diceroll 1: Success Diceroll must be above 500 to be successful.
0 was added for Dexterity.
508 was added for Level 0 (50/50).
0 was added for A. No Enchantment.
0 was added for A. No Buff / Penalty.
Larkspur nodded, not quite able to suppress the light snort that came from her in the face of the giant seemingly unwilling to just say 'marking.' It was a good point though - she'd encountered quite a few fliers back in her hold pack and in the surrounding area but the farther they'd gotten, the more ordinary some of the wolves had been. She supposes that she should've gotten a more 'civilized' vibe out of him when he mentioned being a pirate with Reed, using cutlasses and wearing goggles (even if they served an important purpose) but they supposed they forgot at times there were creatures who didn't consider themselves animals.
"Yes she blends in rather well," the wolf remarked, turning their gaze to a particularly muddy patch of stones around the garden and clicked their tongue lightly. The python had become rather friendly in the short period of time, the creature extending outward from the shadows, darkened body twisting slowly as it begins to stretch towards her neck. The creature began to drape itself over her neck, wriggling and pushing itself around until it had settled in against their neck like a scaled-scarf. The muscular creature had looped itself once around her throat, its head on the same level as their jaw but the snake was a lot more slender than other snakes of its kind, signifying it as some form of juvenile with a lot of room to grow. It flicked its tongue in Balthazar's direction a few times curiously as Larkspur spoke up, answering his question, "Folke seems to have warmed up to me fast."
They nodded in agreement to his assessment - she didn't know anything about assembling or planning drainage pipes so she'd have to concede to any advice he offered to her. So if he wanted to move the drainage towards a river or something.
"Alright then," Larkspur agreed, leaning back slightly in the face of wooden stakes being tugged into the air then planted next to the circular stones. The wolf tilted her head, trying to imagine how it would look - potentially unrolling a thin mesh around the stakes, then maybe something on the top to keep out the taller grazers. Oh, but then she's have to consider for herself how to get inside because if it's completely fenced in then she shouldn't be able to pick the herbs... She shook her head, stepping back - she could decorate the fence, perhaps they could add a gate? "How will I get in? Should we add a gate of some sort - oh, okay."
They blinked, slightly surprised that the vampire had left so quickly but got over it rather quickly. With a helpless flick of their ear, they ducked their head down, sinking their teeth into the edges of the posts and began dragging them into the spots they think would fit the best. Folke slithered further around their neck, squeezing a bit tighter in response to all of the movement but thankfully, not tight enough to be restrictive or suffocating. They dug at the spots a little, loosening enough of the soil for the post to not immediately fall over again before beginning the struggle to propping it up. Without telekinesis, they were stuck with using their teeth and paws to get it off the ground, then use their shoulder to begin pushing it the rest of the way vertical, edging it cautiously to the hole.
---
Text. Speech.Thoughts.
Strength Check! Larkspur is trying very hard to set these stakes up but they're an average sized wolf.
Success - Larkspur is able to set up all of the stakes on their own with minimal struggle and the only consequence being their exhaustion
Failure - Larkspur is only able to set up 4-5 of the stakes on their own, but the struggle and work of doing so is too much
Character Diceroll 1: Success Diceroll must be above 500 to be successful.
0 was added for Strength.
559 was added for Level 1.
0 was added for A. No Enchantment.
9 was deducted for C. Vagrant Penalty.
The palms always provided a nice shade. Occasionally one may hear - or even feel a coconut fall to the ground (or head sometimes). But he didn't mind it- this place felt like home- and always would be. While he had the time alone he found his mind reaching off to Reed. What exactly had that lass gotten into? But he wouldn't allow soreness to creep in- he had important things to do!
Like grabbing the vines!
Looking for then had been easy enough, but he would have to hop and fly multiple times to bring them all down. By the end of it he was sitting down and catching his breath. He was out of shape it seemed, and needed to fix that. Unhappy with these new thoughts he hatefully grabs a mouthful of vines, making his neck hurt. The other half was rolled up and drug behind him.
When he returned he was pleased to find the posts all in order around Larkspurs Garden. He spat the vines out and put the others into a pile with th"em."these look great Lark!" he moves closer to inspect the depth. They all looked well dug in- should keep most things out. "how are you feeling?" he couldn't help but ask after watching her reaction to killing the stag. Hopefully she wasn't hurt bad.
"Now then, I brought the vine to weave around these lower stick. I figure we can fashion a gate from drift wood around here..." although it was evident he had not thought about encasing the top off.
Balthazar slithered over to one of the vines and grabbed it, weaving it tight and with care along two posts, showing Larkspur how to do it as he goes.
-------- "speech."
Next post Blathys gonna need some salve. Hes got some stuff for him in a jar.
Larkspur peered up at the returned vampire, their soft pants rocking their body a little from their place half-curled on the ground. Folke hissed, a little surprised by the sudden shadow, flicking its tongue suspiciously as it guarded its exhausted wolf. They offered a gentle 'woof' and slowly sat up, reassuring the python that Balthazar was still their friend.
"I'm just tired," Larkspur grunted, working her jaws carefully as they tested their soreness. They arched their back a little, stretching as they pulled their splayed wings back neatly and safely to their flanks without risk of damaging them.
They tilted their head, looking at the vines that had been retrieved. It was good to know the giant had considered Larkspur's own ability to get in and out of the garden - while they could use their affiliation with the plants of the world to bend them towards them, it was safer and healthier for all of them if they allowed them to grow on their own and to be plucked and pruned normally.
"Alright. Then we can see if we can find some thin netting to cover the top," Larkspur asserted, rising to their paws and stretching out their hindlegs. Of course, these plans were derailed when they noticed - with a frown - the various weeping patches that seemed to have begun blossoming on the hyena's back. "...you vampires are sensitive to sunlight yes? Perhaps you should sit in the shade for a bit..."
Because it looks like the sun is trying to peel you from your pelt, they thought to themself but decided it would be awfully rude to say that out loud.
Balthazar didn't even notice the snake hidden among Larkspurks fur. "sorry to startle you little one," Balthazar purrs softly to the python, trying to reassure Folke just as his owner did.
Then the vampire turns his gaze to Larkspur, watching as she flexed her jaw, trying to relax it. "well at least let me get our salves- I made some stuff for your wings-- and I also have some salve to help me but i'll need help applying it into my back." the vampire admits almost sheepishly. He didn't like the idea of anyone (besides maybe Reed) applying his salves- but he would have to allow it for now.
Balthy made his way over to the hut where he had sat the salves inside the building foundations. First he grabs he sun salve and urges Larkspur over with a flick of his tail. I shall stay out of the sun for awhile.. Here are the salves." he points to both. "the thicker one is for me. The thinner salve needs to be applied daily to your wings. It will help the feathers regrow faster and healthier too."
