Nature was doing what he did best, he was collecting pretty greens to take back to his little haven, to carefully churn up the dirt with a hoof, and gently deposit the roots into the ground, to cover and water them, and nurture his newest plant friend till it was a big healthy plant. He also had a habit of bringing back things he thought his plants might like. A pretty feather, a brightly colored stone, things like that.

His plants were his family, and had distinct personalities, and likes (and dislikes), and he was trying to please one of his plants who he felt had been sulking him for some time, and was now trying to make it up to 'her' like one would an unhappy lover, trying to bring them out of a bad mood.

So after he finished planting his new little friend, and carefully poured water onto it, he was over to his precious and nuzzling at her some. "See? I brought you a friend, who'll be nicer to you than he is. Always trying to wrap and tangle, and strangle. He knows better, he's just jealous because he thinks I love you best." words sugary sweet as he lipped away a discolored leaf. "There, now you're just as beautiful as ever." a happy sigh from him before he was prancing over to the larger vine. "And you. Stop picking on her, or else." a hoof brought down on the ground with a bit of a thud, to bring across his displeasure.

"Yes I'm mad at you! I found your roots around her again, stealing her water, and you know better. It's hard to love you when you act so jealous. You know I love you as much as her." he sighed at the larger vine then, and leaned in against it. "I know you're sorry. I am too, I shouldn't get so upset, but I hate when you pick on her."

His conversation continued on this way a little longer, before he was leaving his carefully tended haven intending to see to his own needs, such as water and food before he was back to tending his plant loves.

A startled note was pulled from the bucks mouth at the sudden voice behind him, and he pulled away from his bigger vine, and planted himself squarely in front of his little plant family, eyes roaming wildly over the other buck.

Or was this a plant on four legs? He was suddenly very confused as to what, or who he was looking at and he took a half step forward, curiosity winning out as his eyes slowed down to a more acceptable speed and he slowly raked them over the stranger.

he's beautiful... Nature's mind supplied him as he took another little step closer, all eyes for the strange looking kimeti who reminded him already of his beloved plants.

"More room?" he looked around his little home, a thoughtful nod given. He could see about moving some things, to see about preparing the dirt so he could try moving him some. His head was swiveling back to the other though, taking him in.

"You're beautiful." words escaping him without further thought. It was meant as it came out, a compliment. Story was beautiful to him, and he let out a sweet sigh. "I didn't know plants could look like you. I wish I had though. I'd have found one like you years ago to bring here." why yes, he thought the other was a walking, talking plant.

He beamed a little at the other accepting his honest words, his vines liked to argue their beauty with him, fishing for more compliments though he felt they were deserved. Still it was tiring sometimes. So that it was accepted so quickly, so easily, it was a warm feeling.

The question of his name, it brought him up short and he had to think a moment, leaning into the smaller vine, and whispering to her. "My love...what's my name again? Don't tell me you've forgotten as well?" he sighed, and carefully made his way to the larger one, and leaned into it, nuzzling it. "How about you? Do you recall my name?"

He listened intently, nodding his head a moment, eyes brightening. "Ah, right! Yes! Good, thank you!"

Finally he turned to the buck that he believed was a walking talking plant, and smiled warmly. "Nature is the quick name, but he says my full name is Nature Sways A Broken Mind. I like Nature better I think however." a thoughtful note from him.

"This, is Flower." a tip of his head toward the slimmer vine, and then to the larger "And he, refuses to tell me his name though he's been with us so long now. He likes to play coy with us." and he was nuzzling at the vine affectionately, a laugh from him. "He says he'll give you his name if you tell us yours however, pretty plant."

LOLLI qAq wrote:

Nature watched as Story watered Flower, and smiled at that. "I think she liked that. She likes fresh, sweet water I've found since she came to live with me." well it was what she'd grown best with.

He was looking at the larger vine, and smiled "Maybe you're right. He was here, and allowed me to stay, and then let Flower join us." he nuzzled at the larger vine again. "Though, he says any name we wish to call him, is fine he'll answer to it. Precious is what I usually call him." and he seemed to 'respond' well enough to it in his mind.

He listened to the other and made a motion with his head to where he slept, a cushy bed of mosses, that he swapped out regularly. "You can rest there, if you'd like. I can fetch you water. If you like sweet water like Flower, or stronger water like Precious, I know the best places. There's a small pond near here, but the water is no good anymore."

Nature was watching Story with rapt attention, and came a little closer to him then, looking up at him with wide, awed eyes.

LOLLI qAq wrote:

Story turned his attention carefully towards the offered resting place. It did look comfortable, indeed. There was something about the demeanor of Nature that was troubling. The forested buck stood still for his new friend to get a better look at him.

Ah! There it was.

"I do feel it important to tell you," he breathed out slowly, "I am the same as you."

He'd seen this fascination in passing and from small creatures that tried to nest along his back. Never in another kin, however.

Lirilei wrote: OKAY! Finally! <3

Nature was more than a little surprised to hear the other kin say that and he took a half step back, eyes wide.

"No, not the same as me." he shook his head slowly, a soft laugh from him. "Story, is telling stories, isn't he Flower? So full of life, and plants. A walking garden. Walking beauty. Not like me at all no." he shook his head again with a warm smile to the other buck. "

He whipped his head to Flower, and he pouted at the plant a moment, before laughing. "I understand, he's more interesting than me, you want to know more." it was easier for him to talk to others, via his plants it would seem. The downfall to spending most of his life alone, surrounded by plants. It'd obviously done something to him, or helped it along in any case.

Though he seemed to get along just fine here with his plant family. "More room for Precious you say? I'll have to move a few of my family around, and make them new homes. Though, maybe it's easier to move Flower than Precious." he was looking around then. Maybe, it was time to branch out, and claim more of the surrounding area for him and his plants, to give them all more room. An idea he'd had once or twice and promptly forgot.

The pretty walking plant though, Story, he made sure that idea would stick firm in his easily distracted mind though.



@LOLLI qAq
(Yay! No rush on things, I know life is busy for us both!)

He nodded slowly as the topic of conversation shifted back to the plants. He shouldn't have tried to push that he was a normal child of the swamp. No one believed him anyhow. That was fine. Nature clearly needed help with his own growth as well as with the growth of his plant family, but helping flora was what Story was better versed in.

Stick to what you know, old man.

"Moving Flower may indeed be the better option. Perhaps a south-facing spot, for the most sunlight?"

He'd seen vines like her in his travels but had never had any reason to stop and care for them. He thought he could remember them always being in the light ... and, possibly, clinging to another sturdier tree for support. Maybe--

"Maybe," he voiced his thoughts aloud, "Flower also needs a friend to help her stand strong. A sapling to grow with her, perhaps."

@Lirilei

Nature was looking around his little home, and he grew very, very thoughtful. He was mostly trying to think about what it looked like through the day, and what area had the greatest amount of sun through the course of a day.

The idea of a sapling though pulled him out of his thoughts, and his lips curled back in a startled grimace. "What? A sapling? Here?" it wasn't his usual thing to care for. Plants and flowers. Pretty vines and buds. But a tree?

Still, he looked Story over again and gave a thoughtful nod. "Okay...a sapling, if you think it's what Flower needs to grow big and strong. I don't know how to make saplings happy though. Won't it make it made if I move it?"  that wouldn't do, to upset a potential new family member after all! He gave Story a beseeching look for help on this subject.


@LOLLI qAq

"Hmmm."

The sound was low in his throat like he was clearing something out of it, and not at all like he was pondering what to do. Story looked at the little vine and back at his new friend. The acha did have a point. Too much disruption, movement from its native soil, and any other number of issues could cause the sapling to perish and take the vine with it. That wouldn't do at all.

The wooden buck continued to think as he sat and tended delicately to an itch on his back. As he was scratching he felt the breeze against his back and in his face, like so many little kisses and a laugh.

You silly old man, his inner thoughts always sounded like her. Think carefully. Why does your back itch so much?

Story's face lit up slowly. Almost as slowly as his movements to stand back up. He reached back around to where he'd been itching, and pulled a small maple sapling from his back.

"You're in luck!"

His words formed strangely around the baby tree.

"I found this not long ago. It was in a poor state and needed looking after."

@Lirilei ((Ah haha, surprise sapling gift! It's a little ... too contrived a coincidence. xD I hope you can forgive me.))

Nature watched the (obviously not another) buck curiously, wondering just what the pretty, wandering, talking plant was up to. He was more than a little curious really.

The sapling being held out though, it made his face light up. "Oh!" that was really, really helpful! "How big does this pretty get? I've not seen one like it before." he needed to make sure the sapling was planted in a big enough spot to grow, and in such a way Flower could grow stronger right along side. "Can't let you get hurt now can I Flower?"

He was moving around his little clearing, trying to find a good spot. He found a mostly sunny spot, wondering if that was a good spot, because he knew trees would get big, and get to be too big to move. It had to be a one and done thing.


@LOLLI qAq (heh the sapling is cute though! I like the idea of Story leaving a little something of 'himself' with Nature!)