Nephele
Nephele dips her head in agreement. "The sun has its own flaws, but light and visibility will always be safer than what darkness brings. Perhaps it will help you here, where LongNight's monsters prowl." Potentially an insensitive thing to say but Nephele has no way of knowing that. To her it is a simple fact that the Hollowed Grounds suffer monsters in the sunless time, and the Greatwood does not. Whether that is a cause of the barrier or some other curse that continues to poison the Grounders Nephele isn't sure. It is one of her greater subjects of curiosity. Nikki's surprise is well hidden but spotted nonetheless, and Nephele's cheeks flush with warmth at her own surprise. "Gift-giving is...uncommon for my people," she explains stiltedly, though she cradles the flower with incomparable gentleness as she places it in her hair. Clearly appreciating and cherishing the gift despite it being a rarity for her. When the other woman accepts her gift but verbally declines it, Nephele feels she has misstepped somewhere. Until the last few words at least, which release her from the bindings of her anxiety. "Not a trade, a gift in return. A thank you." She leaves it unspoken, but it's implied that she is grateful for having received the flower as a gift, something that has rarely ever occurred to her and never outside of her family.
a mind full of wild forests
and eyes that await adventure
