Sowing Seeds

[buon_giorno]

"Come here...isn't your paw hurt?"

Giorno had full intentions of stealing a mid-day nap, but Croccante was high on one of the broken pillars beside the door to his room. The white cat eyed him but didn't come down. Giorno sighed and rubbed his head. Just looking up for too long was hard when he had been on his feet for longer than an hour or two.

It had been just two days since he cured Joseph. He had slept almost the rest of the day through and that was all he was allowing himself after making himself so scarce for a whole week. At some point doubt would creep into the community gossip and that was the last thing he needed to manage.

Giorno leaned against the pillar and put some of his energy into the ivy vines that crept up it. The flowers burst open, surprising the small cat, and urging her to leap down--right onto his head. He quickly pried her out of his now-mussed curls and inspected her paw. A little splinter poked out of the pink pad, and he squinted to pluck it out--and missed. And tried again--and missed. His hands were shaking. Croccante's tail was swishing in irritation. He summoned all his focus and managed to fix his fingers around it to pull it out, and the fluffy cat bolted out of his arms not a moment later.

"Yes, yes...you're welcome." Giorno watched her take off down the hall.

Comments

[julibahana]

"I'm not worried," Juli said. She was absolutely not a combatant. Neither was Zelda, really, but she had so many skills that were useful in this situation that she could easily out-maneuver anything they encountered. "Not as long as the three of you are here."

[shepard]

"I appreciate the vote of confidence. I think we've been pretty lucky. There hasn't been much need for combat since I arrived here." It was a definite change for Shepard from back home, but she wasn't complaining. Still, she was worried that she might be getting a little rusty, even with regular gun and biotic practice. It helped, but nothing kept your skills in shape like genuine battle.

[unchill_chuck]

Chilchuck didn’t argue—he didn’t feel the need, which was rare for him. Even if Shepard was the only true combatant among them, it was difficult to feel too worried with her around. It wasn’t just because of her strength, but her experience and calm confidence.

It was surprising to think about how much less he felt the need to manage things when she was around. It was the most relief he’d felt since assuming responsibility over a community of so many kids.

When they stopped and Zelda asked Juli for help holding her slate as she knelt down in front of a mushroom, Chilchuck realized how long he’d been in his own head. He rubbed his eyes. ‘Focus.’

The small clearing they were in was as quiet as the rest of the forest. The air was thick with moisture and signs of wildlife were scarce. It felt somehow like everything was…hiding.

“…Are folks the superstitious type where you’re from?” He suddenly asked Shepard.

[shepard]

"Depends," Shepard said, watching the two girls from the corner of her eye. "The galaxy's a really big place. You get enough people in one place, you're bound to find some that are superstitious about one thing or the other."

[unchill_chuck]

Chilchuck unrolled a large piece of paper. It was a carefully measured topographical map starting from the abyss--though the details of the forest he was outlining as he went. "What about you?"

[shepard]

"Not any more than most people." She glanced down at the map. "What about you? You the superstitious type?"

[unchill_chuck]

"Half-foots have plenty of them. 'Never trust a new sword, but don’t rely on an old spear.' 'Never use a coin that lands on tails first thing in the morning.' 'The first mug of a freshly opened keg will give you good luck.'" That last one was his favorite. "To be honest, I never thought we were more superstitious than other races. I liked to think myself practical about those kinds of things, but...when I'm in doubt, they always seem to be the things that echo in my head first."

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. He had decided to use an old coin as a unit of measurement for this one and dragged it six times to where they were now. "This coin landed on heads this morning. So far...we've been pretty safe. Though...the coin isn't really what I should be thanking first."

[shepard]

Huh. Chilchuck was practically-minded. She didn't even consider he might have some superstitions he clung to.

"Who'd you thank?"

[unchill_chuck]

"Well. You."

[shepard]

Shepard raised a brow. "Me?"

[unchill_chuck]

Zelda was talking Juli's ear off about the fungi and Chilchuck felt reasonably confident they wouldn't overhear the conversation. His lips quirked upwards and he glanced sideways and up. "I mean it. I don't think any of us would feel so confident about venturing into new places like this if you weren't around. I haven't seen Her Highness this unfettered before."

[shepard]

Shepard rolled one of her shoulders. "Well, it's what I do. I think I'd go stir-crazy if I were back at the villa all the time. Not sure what I'd do."

[unchill_chuck]

"I just wanted to tell you...you know, before something pops out and I get--"

Rustle

Chilchuck's ear twitched and he whipped around at the sound of the brush 30 feet back.

[shepard]

Shepard immediately flung out an arm, as if to guard Chilchuck from harm.

"Stay here and keep them safe." She unholstered her blaster, ready to use it if whatever-it-was-that-made-that-sound was dangerous. Then crouching, she slowly, methodically approached the source of the sound, her finger readied on the trigger.

[unchill_chuck]

Chilchuck looked to the girls--they hadn't even noticed anything. 'Geez.'

When he looked back, the bushes rustled even harder. Then, there was a flash of orange--a fox's head popped out of the wet leaves.

[shepard]

The fox was still, probably assessing the danger. Shepard re-holstered her blaster once she was sure there was no other threat lurking nearby. If there was, she'd handle it with her biotics.

"That's new," she remarked. "Don't think I've seen a single fox since I got here. You think it came from the abyss?"

[unchill_chuck]

"Like...they're becoming an invasive species now?" Chilchuck wondered what kind of debate that would have sparked with his party.

"Commander! Chilchuck!" Zelda's voice called exuberantly. "Please, come see this!"

[shepard]

Zelda's voice didn't sound panicked, but Shepard still moved as quickly to her side as she would if she did.

"What's going on?"

[scholarandaprincess]

"I had a feeling before, but now I'm sure of it." Zelda hovered over the delicate looking mushroom, its drooping cap glowing faintly. "This is a Silent Shroom. It's native to Hyrule."

[julibahana]

"Really? It's so pretty."

[scholarandaprincess]

"It gives you energy if you eat it raw...but it's said if you cook it, it can grant you the ability to move about practically unheard!"

[shepard]

Shepard raised a brow and glanced over at Chilchuck. "Sounds like something your friend Laios would go crazy for."

[unchill_chuck]

"Yeah, he would."

Chilchuck really missed Laios at times like this...not that he'd admit it. Zelda got the exact same glint in her eye when she was going off about something or other like Laios would.

"...Wait, so if it's from Hyrule..."

[scholarandaprincess]

Zelda nodded. "I believe this is a Hylian forest."

[julibahana]

"Maybe there's other things from Hyrule nearby too!" Juli said, nearly in time with Zelda. Her lips curled up in a smile at their joint reaction.