Re: The Vasta's Bounties [Æros]
Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2023 6:23 pm
For a creature of the desert, Hilana certainly enjoyed the water. She knew on the way back that she might like it a little less, because she might feel the chill of the air far more with wet clothes and hair. But that was why she had layers backed for when she was finished, now, wasn't it? She came up regularly for air, and she was checking on Æros and Hayima'el each time, too. She was able to use them as a guidepost as well, because the botanist was moving downstream a bit in pursuit of the glowing curly kelp, but she was not very far from her initial gathering point. There was always the rule of sustainable harvest; so that she could be sure that there would be more here the next time that she came back.
The second bag joined the first on the shore, and Hilana dove back under. The light of the dragonshard on her neck helped, and it was fascinating in a way to see the fact that these giant crocodiles were not particularly bothered by her, nor were they interested in her. She didn't dare try to touch any of them, though some part of her wanted to; but there was no need to tax Æros' aether more than necessary by riling up one of the great reptiles. It didn't matter how much she may have wanted to; there was no need to do it. But with so much of her focus on the water-dwelling crocodiles, Hilana completely missed the fact that had it not been for Æros, she and Hayima'el might have been a great snack for a wyvern that was on the hunt. As it was, she only saw the tail of it in the distance when she surfaced with a third bag full. "Did you send it away?" Hilana pointed at it, calling out to the starborn-Fae hybrid, her eyes wide as she tread water.
Before much longer, the Vastiana had brought in five sacks - three of the kelp that lit up in the dark, one of waterweed, and one of hydrilla. Her white shirt and purple skirt clung to her body, and the halter showed everything through the wet fabric. Oddly enough, her braids looked something much thicker, as if her long, onyx hair had started absorbing water. "Mission successful," the girl was thrilled. "We've got three sacks of lunarglow, one of waterweed, and one of hydrilla," Hilana indicated each one as she laid them down by Hayima'el. She would let them dry on the sands for the moment as she dealt with her tools, wiping down and drying off the shears before placing them and the special gloves, which were still apparently quite dry despite being submerged for however long she had been down there.
She wasn't very concerned about her wet garments at the moment; considering the Fae's partner was one of her friends; but Hilana also knew that they both seemed to prefer men. Therefore, she wasn't worried about anything showing as she pressed on her scalp to force more water out, and squeezed her braids. She could would grab a towel from a saddlebag and start to dry herself off before stripping down and redressing herself, the tiny short skirt and wet halter replaced with one of her longer skirts, this one in bright greens and blues, and a dry halter top. She put a traveling cloak on, which was perhaps funny - that alone was more clothing than Æros had ever seen her in as she put her sandals back on and repacked the camel. "All set?" she beamed brightly at him, climbing back on her piebald bull, and they could start their way back.
