[se] that is eternity

Lena

and sweetest in the gale is heard
and sore must be the storm

Lena, curious by nature and nosey at her worst, flew away from the festival proportions on rosy wings and semblances of freedom, plants tucked within her modest talons. It didn’t take her long to breeze over tar pits and puddles, but she was more or less intrigued by the swamps down below – hoping, by some chance, to catch the gilled musk deer in its natural habitat.

And considering she’d grabbed far too many herbs, maybe some more life could be placed here – beneficial for all.

It took her a few moments of cautious, hesitant, downward spiraling, utilizing her senses to ensure nothing too predacious or carnivorous was about (she wouldn’t want to come across gore crows or blind swamp rats in her current state – though, she supposed, she could always compel them away if need be).

Upon landing, she came along the edge of the boggy marsh, and started digging in the wet soil, scratching away at the plentiful earth.

that could abash the little bird
that kept so many warm

It hadn't been Hadama's intention to come into the swamp. Even if he wasn't constrained to saltwater like his shifted form, the thick waters were still unpleasant and he was unfamiliar with the local predators. But sometimes curiosity or some impulse tuned to Caido called, and he had learned to simply follow it.

He still carried his jar of seagrass as he swam through the murky waters, head up to breathe the air - which was far more pleasant than the water - and to be able to see his surroundings as he passed the border from salt swamp to brackish and finally into freshwater. The cacophony of life in the trees was full of new sounds and the fleshy swamp flowers in their Flowerbirth finery were in full bloom. There was a beauty here, even if it was a strange and oppressively humid beauty, and one such epitome of it caught his attention.

A bird, bright and colorful as a flower itself, was scratching at the soil and Hadama paused to watch, bemused, and wondering what manner of insect or seed it was attempting to dig up for its dinner.

Lena

and sweetest in the gale is heard
and sore must be the storm

Lena was wholly occupied with her task – as so often happened, whether it be in the Celestine, through market squares, or baking tendencies. And though this wasn’t strolling through streets or tending to her animals in the gardens, it did require some level of concentration, so she didn’t notice the familiar mermanta lingering nearby – and wouldn’t think to look for one, in the murk of the swamps.

Once she figured the hole was big enough, she dropped the seedlings she’d snagged from the table, surveying them all for a moment more, before choosing one she believed would be helpful to the local climate and terrain. Plucking it neatly with her talon, the bird neatly plopped it in the hole, and began pushing the dirt back over it.

Often in the habit of talking to herself, it might’ve been no surprise as her warm and clear voice came over in Attuned endeavors. There! she uttered, quite proud of her modest achievements.

that could abash the little bird
that kept so many warm

Bemusement turned to surprise and then understanding as, instead of digging up and eating a seed, the bird carefully selected and planted one. The Attuned voice didn't startle him, though it was further unexpected to recognize the timbre from other shapes and endeavors.

Lena, he greeted, swimming closer at a leisurely pace now that he had less concern for scaring away a truly wild creature. He hadn't expected to see her again so soon, but that didn't lessen the warmth in emerald eyes as he dipped his head towards her. What type of plant did you choose? And though he likely wouldn't recognize it he was still curious.

He had to stretch out a hand to the edge of his limited reach, but the mermanta concentrated as a thin stream of water snaked across the ground to reach the recently-scratched soil where it sank slowly in to nourish the seed in its new home.

Lena

and sweetest in the gale is heard
and sore must be the storm

The voice in return only caused the slightest of jumps – bird talons springing her out of the dirt for half a moment before mild laughter configured through her Attuned proportions. Hello Hadama. I’m sorry I didn’t see you there. Concentration had been far too bent and focused on seeds, rather than her environment – a note to her own measures and lessons from Salt recently. She’d have to do better next time.

Stepping back and placing her feathers back where they belonged, she only unfurled her rosy wings for a moment, before surveying where she’d dropped the seed. Oh, one of the little herbs. I didn’t want anything that would make too much of an impact on the natural ecosystem. But it might be nice for animals and travelers passing through.

Then, to her utter delight (if birds could smile hers would be wide), the mermanta utilized the water to his advantage, permitting a light stream to segment upon the soil. Thank you!

that could abash the little bird
that kept so many warm

Hadama tilted his head in acknowledgment, unruffled at being unnoticed given his deliberately quiet approach. I did not want to startle you, he agreed, having thought her a natural creature and not realizing she was Attuned.

He admired her colors, bright as one of the reef fish of his home, before stretching his young magic to water the seed she had planted. Again, a nod of his head at her thanks but his eyes stayed on his task. Is it medicinal? Not too much water for some of these fragile land plants, he thought... but then again, they were in a swamp. Hopefully the new flora would flourish under such conditions.

Lena

and sweetest in the gale is heard
and sore must be the storm

Bird feathers hunched and bunched together towards her head in a makeshift shrug. I should still be more aware of my surroundings, in any given circumstance. Shuffling her wings back together, she watched the watery display, angled and purposeful, as the seedling received another volley of droplets, cascading in controlled ripples and showers. Hopefully the little plant would be grateful, and gain enough strength to remain in the swamp’s vestiges.

As for his question, she nodded. Mhm. Good for minor ailments, like stomach aches and such. Considering how many prey animals lurked within this world that likely could upset anyone’s gullet, maybe the herbs would assist in efforts to alleviate those pains. Recalling the ones she’d snagged for him at the festival, she inclined her head. Have you thought of someplace suitable for yours?

that could abash the little bird
that kept so many warm

The merman tilted his head in acknowledgment of her words. They were sensible to him, and he could certainly understand such a desire. In the meantime he finished watering the seedling at the extent of his reach, and slid back to rest more comfortably in the silten swamp. Something slick and soft brushed against his flukes and from the tickling whiskers he guessed it to be a catfish; harmless to something his size.

Not so, Lena in her current form, but the brightly colored bird was safe on land.

I keep a garden, he revealed, and the quiet pleasure of the thought drifted warmly through the bond. At my home in the Underwater City. I do not have this flower in it yet. Not so different from the flowers of the land, the seagrass in bloom. The corals were another matter; unlike anything he had yet seen ashore. Do you keep a garden for yourself? And not just in her capacity as Caretaker of herbs and medicinal plants for others.

Lena

and sweetest in the gale is heard
and sore must be the storm

The concept of an underwater garden might’ve been foreign to her, but she readily accepted the notions with wild abandon and imagination. She’d seen pictures of coral reefs before, and in addition to those proportions, envisioned fields of wild seagrass floating and waving below the waves, amongst branches and brambles of other sorts of saplings and sprouts. Before she got too carried away, the bird’s head tilted. Ooh, what sort of things do you grow?

As for her own means, Lena’s eyes shifted a little. No, though I should. I find I tend more to the gardens, herbs, and plants that spring up within the enclosures. Which could be quite a few. The Celestine was a host of plots and estate all on its own.

that could abash the little bird
that kept so many warm

Sea grasses with flowers like this one. Corals of different colors and shapes. Some seaweed for food, but most for beauty, he admitted, green eyes warm as he satisfied the Caretaker-turned-bird's curiosity.

And in return, she described her own garden to his curious mental ears. He nodded slowly to show he was listening, though he had trouble envisioning the Celestine and its enclosures. It was so very different from what he had seen of the ocean and the wild coastlines of Caido and a faint frown marred the smoothness of his brow as he fell into deep thought.

Are there others who help care for the Celestine? It seemed a vast and time-consuming task to rest on the shoulders of only one person.

Lena

and sweetest in the gale is heard
and sore must be the storm

Sure enough, her imagination had depicted the notions before Hadama confirmed them – conjuring a slight smile, inward, rather than mock a bird’s features. Sea grass with flowers, sprouting towards the sun peeking between undulations, setting her sights into perhaps further meandering into some of the sea enclosures amongst the Celestine, just so she could peek and seek them out herself.

Taken out of her potential and future reverie, the rosy flier tilted her head. I have a few helpers which allowed her to wander in and out. Otherwise I would be there all the time. Which she did for the most part anyway, allowing and permitting a few breaks in between the constant work.

that could abash the little bird
that kept so many warm

He still didn't have a true grasp of just how large the Celestine was, but he nodded in understanding when she explained. It helped to put the place in a little more perspective for him as he slowly gathered details and built a picture in his mind of a place he had little hope of seeing outside of dreams.

But perhaps Remi would be willing to share a dream of the Celestine someday, if...

If they all survived, and their homes remained intact when all was said and done by the end of Longheat.

Is there a favorite animal that you care for? he asked curiously instead, to focus on the moment and leave the future to take care of itself.

Lena

and sweetest in the gale is heard
and sore must be the storm

Uncertain how else to describe the Celestine without being in human form, the youth strived to feed the curiosity in pictures and images across the bond: encompassing flowers and constant gardens around every corner, a serene backdrop of flora and fauna, of starlit skies, of cosmos and petals, widening enclosures changing, shifting, as needs proclaimed. She’d never be able to fully encompass the beauty and tranquility of such a place, but was eternally willing to share what provided her such peace and repose.

Picking at the ground for a moment, the bird’s head swooped back up at the question. Ah, we shouldn’t have favorites, with a mild tease adorned. There are quite a few that come and go, and I’m always learning something new about them.

that could abash the little bird
that kept so many warm

He half-closed emerald eyes and relaxed his mind to better see the images that Lena shared with him. A dizzying, dazzling array of greenery and flowers, far larger than he had imagined, containing fantastic creatures of the drylands far from the coasts. It was a brilliant and fascinating display, and when the flow of memories stopped he bowed deeply to her from the water as gratitude flowed through the bond in return for her gifts.

His awe was not enough to repress his curiosity, however, and his question earned an answer he should have expected.

Hmm. She would feel that he wasn't entirely convinced by her claim, but he was certainly amused by it. His long, dark tail swept slowly through the muddy waters with his silent laughter even as he inclined his head in acceptance of her reply. Are there places for sea creatures there? he asked instead, trying to sort through the recent memories that weren't his own for an image of such an enclosure.