15 Frost, Year 122
[Closed - Laebirius]
In the Umbrium, Hilana was coming away from her Elementalism lesson with Sentinel Ævril. She had her energy toned down to a more appropriate level considering her earlier expenditure of aether, and as a result, she was calm and content, utterly relaxed even as she trotted along. As she made her way towards the lift, she had a thought: their magma bloom stock swerve getting lower than Vasilei liked, and with her training in resisting heat, this might be a further opportunity for her to get some more practice in. Two birds with one stone - she knew what she needed, and she knew further where to go. It might get a little warm, but there was no time like the present to keep practicing what she had been learning.
Having decided, the botanist made her way south towards the warmer, more accessible areas of the Cavernae towards the Pulvine districts. That was going to be her best bet - she wasn’t about to enter the Thalamum Draconum just yet - the Crownwyrm had told her to come when she was ready, but Hilana had more to do. The Cavernae were warm and the blossoms flourished there. As much as they were a valuable source of nutrition for those who had limited options otherwise, the blooms were used in a host of medicines, including the energy drinks that Vasilei had helped her make last season when she had spent more time awake than even she should have during the autumnal equinox. The hottest areas were where the blooms grew best, and Hilana looked at Tiaz on her shoulders, lifting a hand to run her fingers over his scales. “You and me, hmm?” she smiled at him. Tiaz only coiled up a bit tighter on her shoulders before relaxing slightly, his head resting on his own body. She lightly scratched under his chin, mindful as always of the sensitive spots, his tongue flickering.
She always carried gathering bags in her rucksack, if only because she never knew when something might catch her eye. And for the most part, unless it was an elegant and manicured garden - in which Hilana would politely inquire about acquiring a cutting or three in exchange for appropriate payment - she had free rein to go ahead. But if the word was no, then she wasn’t about to get tagged as a thief. She knew better. No plant was worth her freedom, after all. She could always get another shipped in or found from somewhere.
If anyone was following her, she paid no attention as she picked her way easily towards the Cavernae. If anything, this was a good trial run for returning to the Dragon Chamber as she took a quick drink from her waterskin and made her way up along the path, all but dancing over the rocky areas to get up towards the vents where the large blooms grew in abundance.Magma wasn’t far off from here, and she had to focus with the elemental spirits in order to cool the air down a bit around her to make it easier for her to tolerate the heat. She gathered her skirts with one hand, bringing them up to allow her steps more freedom, as the brilliantly-coloured patchwork tiered skirt was starting to catch on the rocks. Different coloured cotton blocks had been stitched and gathered, albeit with no discernible pattern, the lengths all but brushing the sandy ground and not exposing her sandals. She got to where she wanted to be, though, and shifted her rucksack, getting out two of her waxed gathering bags, and settled down into a crouch in the middle of the bloom patch. Beautiful. She popped a petal into her mouth before starting her harvest with a knife. She knew how to work just so with the heat-resistant stems, and while she was on a good patch that was several feet around her in any direction, Hilana wouldn’t take it all.
[Closed - Laebirius]
In the Umbrium, Hilana was coming away from her Elementalism lesson with Sentinel Ævril. She had her energy toned down to a more appropriate level considering her earlier expenditure of aether, and as a result, she was calm and content, utterly relaxed even as she trotted along. As she made her way towards the lift, she had a thought: their magma bloom stock swerve getting lower than Vasilei liked, and with her training in resisting heat, this might be a further opportunity for her to get some more practice in. Two birds with one stone - she knew what she needed, and she knew further where to go. It might get a little warm, but there was no time like the present to keep practicing what she had been learning.
Having decided, the botanist made her way south towards the warmer, more accessible areas of the Cavernae towards the Pulvine districts. That was going to be her best bet - she wasn’t about to enter the Thalamum Draconum just yet - the Crownwyrm had told her to come when she was ready, but Hilana had more to do. The Cavernae were warm and the blossoms flourished there. As much as they were a valuable source of nutrition for those who had limited options otherwise, the blooms were used in a host of medicines, including the energy drinks that Vasilei had helped her make last season when she had spent more time awake than even she should have during the autumnal equinox. The hottest areas were where the blooms grew best, and Hilana looked at Tiaz on her shoulders, lifting a hand to run her fingers over his scales. “You and me, hmm?” she smiled at him. Tiaz only coiled up a bit tighter on her shoulders before relaxing slightly, his head resting on his own body. She lightly scratched under his chin, mindful as always of the sensitive spots, his tongue flickering.
She always carried gathering bags in her rucksack, if only because she never knew when something might catch her eye. And for the most part, unless it was an elegant and manicured garden - in which Hilana would politely inquire about acquiring a cutting or three in exchange for appropriate payment - she had free rein to go ahead. But if the word was no, then she wasn’t about to get tagged as a thief. She knew better. No plant was worth her freedom, after all. She could always get another shipped in or found from somewhere.
If anyone was following her, she paid no attention as she picked her way easily towards the Cavernae. If anything, this was a good trial run for returning to the Dragon Chamber as she took a quick drink from her waterskin and made her way up along the path, all but dancing over the rocky areas to get up towards the vents where the large blooms grew in abundance.Magma wasn’t far off from here, and she had to focus with the elemental spirits in order to cool the air down a bit around her to make it easier for her to tolerate the heat. She gathered her skirts with one hand, bringing them up to allow her steps more freedom, as the brilliantly-coloured patchwork tiered skirt was starting to catch on the rocks. Different coloured cotton blocks had been stitched and gathered, albeit with no discernible pattern, the lengths all but brushing the sandy ground and not exposing her sandals. She got to where she wanted to be, though, and shifted her rucksack, getting out two of her waxed gathering bags, and settled down into a crouch in the middle of the bloom patch. Beautiful. She popped a petal into her mouth before starting her harvest with a knife. She knew how to work just so with the heat-resistant stems, and while she was on a good patch that was several feet around her in any direction, Hilana wouldn’t take it all.