[RQ] something in the water

"Not. Helping." Tal pointed out to Hotaru with his best huff of annoyance - only slightly ruined by the grin that kept tugging at the corners of his lips. Boreal, of course, picked up her feet and lifted her blocky head high, soaking in the praise and affection that were her rightful due as she bounced along at Ru's side and ignored Tal in favor of keeping a weather eye out for more squirrels.

"Brown tops, huh? Sounds lovely." Tal wrinkled his nose but this time when he gave a shake of his head in negation it was in all seriousness. "I need t'have a good image t'give Boreal afore she can look for 'em. We'll have t'find some, first." If they'd been looking for anything native to Halo the dragon would have needed little coaxing, but for a strange plant in a strange region, she was limited by her human's mental images and Tal had only a sketchy concept of the herb from Ru's description.

"Lead th'way," he agreed with Alys, peering about at the maze dubiously. He didn't have a clue where they were at or which they were going at this point. He was entirely at the mercy of her leadership and Ru's former experiences in the Labyrinth, but he trusted them to find their quarry and get the whole team out again.

It was a relief when Alys called out in excitement and scampered ahead. Tal hung back, finally snagging one of Boreal's horns and pulling her back to fuss with her and scratch her head and chin - much to her happy grumbles - while he waited for Hotaru to give the approval before he set the dragon to imprinting the unassuming-looking plant.

Hotaru

you talk a lot of shit for someone who's sorry now

Tal's gritted words only has Ru's devious expression deepening, positively foxlike. "I am not trying to help," she croons shamelessly, and practically walks on air as they continue deeper into the labyrinth, fearless of the winding walls and Tal's temper alike. Such were the perks of being the best friend.

Alys' call draws Ru back to her, peering over her friend's shoulder without a care for personal space to investigate the herb in question. It makes her heart melt a little when Alys looks up at her for guidance, and her expression goes fond where nobody else can see (which is really just Tal and the creepy squirrels) as she returns the eye contact. "Exactly correct. Wonderful eye." Stepping aside so Tal can show it to Boreal, the Valkyrie lifts her head to look down the passageway they're in. "We should definitely find more just in case. Always good to have backups." Especially with how delicate plants are. Sticking close enough to be within sight, Ru continues along the wall, finding two more plants and plucking them into a sad little bouquet in her hand.

Hotaru's praise warmed the Seer, who promptly grinned back at her friend. She'd grown used to invasions of personal space; in fact, she really didn't mind them. It was kind of nice to have that casual camaraderie - something that had been missing for so much of Alys's life. She'd always been a bit of an outcast, and one of her favorite things about having settled in Halo was that she didn't have to feel that way anymore. In the tundra, she'd been accepted for who she was, exactly as she was, without any judgment or need to make herself into something she wasn't.

Alys picked a stalk of the herb, holding it out to Tal. "Here you go! Now Boreal can make herself useful," she teased, smiling down at the dragon to show she didn't really mean it. Then she stood from where she'd knelt near the herbs and wandered after Ru to search for more. She found clumps of the herb, a few stalks at a time, as she closed in on the center of the labyrinth, picking them and placing them into a small basket that she carried at her side.

alys glasse

waiting for the right mind to drive insane

"Yeah, well... good job, then," Tal grumbled sarcastically, sticking his tongue out at Hotaru's back in a very mature manner. She might have been safe from his temper but not from his awkward sass as he struggled (and failed) to match her effortless banter while also trying to wrangle a dragon into acting as a bloodhound.

The successful apprehension of their quarry had him sighing in relief, especially if it meant getting out of the creepy Labyrinth sooner rather than later. Squatting beside the little plant, he pointed it out to Boreal, who sniffed it curiously and then opened her mouth to try for a taste. The courier hurriedly reached out to push her head aside with an exasperated, scolding huff (though not a surprised one) and she cast him a look of wounded dignity, as if to imply that she was innocent of all wrongdoing even though he had just caught her in the act.

"Find more'n maybe - maybe - y'can try one," he finally promised her as the dragon leaned heavily against Alys's thigh, seeking shameless sympathy from her friend. She looked up and crooned affectionately at the woman's teasing, then put her blunt nose to the ground and started sniffing. Tal followed in her wake, sharp-eyed and ready to stop her from chomping on their desired herbs before they could collect enough. The pair of man and dragon soon had a solid half dozen and only the last clump disappeared down Boreal's pale gullet before Tal could stop her.

"...Well, we just won't tell the girls, yeah?" he whispered to her in resignation as she sat back on her haunches and let out a happy, smoky burp.

Hotaru

you talk a lot of shit for someone who's sorry now

Tal's meager rebuttals only make her grin, needing to say nothing else given she has clearly already won. Leaving Boreal to him (poor girl) she wanders deeper down the passageway, careful to stay within sight. Alys wanders after her not long later, and Hotaru scours the adjacent passageway as it opens up to the side, not daring to go too far in but collecting four more bundles.

Content with the amount she has personally gathered even without the additions of what the others have found, she backtracks and meets up with Alys once more, bumping hips and smiling as she presents her own finds. "I think we have plenty now." Which means they can leave for the entrance of the maze whenever they're ready, lest Boreal decide to antagonize the squirrels again.

Once they had found the herbs, gathering them took relatively little time. Alys worked diligently against the backdrop of the labyrinth, with its quiet squirrel noises and oddly somber air. It was almost pleasant, working with Tal and Ru, no matter where it was that they were. She was careful not to stray too far as she collected herbs, keeping one eye on the others to make sure they didn't wander too far and get separated from the others.

It seemed only a short time later when they rejoined one another, comparing amounts of the herb that had been found. "I think you're right," Alys told Ru with a smile. "Let's head back." Casting a glance around to ensure that Tal and Boreal were both in tow, Alys led the way out of the maze.

-FIN-

alys glasse

waiting for the right mind to drive insane