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ERIKA'S GARDEN - AFTERNOON
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Erika is... not actively prodding at her garden, for a change. She's laying down on her and Cavro's picnic blanket in the middle of it, not quite sleeping but certainly not being her usual active self either. She idly nibbles at a piece of grass, having grown oddly accustomed to using herself to keeping the weeds away.
Xochi slithers in slowly, having been forewarned about what had happened to her friend, but still cautious in her approach as she enters the garden. "Ahh, Erika? You are here, yes?"
Erika 's ears perk up at the sound and she turns to look at the usual direction her friends enter the jungle from: "I'm here!"
Xochi enters into the clearing from more or less exactly where Erika expects, hands folded in front of her as she takes in Erika's form. "Ah, so it is true. Captain Louma had informed me that you had been changed, my friend." She frowns, but seems to be taking this weirdly in stride. "Are you well?"
Erika looks at Xochi for a moment, then nods: "Yeah, I think I am. Well, as well as you'd expect I guess." She looks down, having certainly seen happier days.
Xochi moves closer and smiles, "You are taking it in stride, this is good. Is there anything I can do to help?"
Erika looks about her garden, then gives the best approximation of a shrug... before blinking and looking at her porch, at the cutters hanging from the wall. "If... if you could do some branching I've been unable to do."
Xochi bows slightly, "Of course! Anything I can do to help you, simply point them out." She lifts her head to the trees. "...your condition, it is not unfamiliar to me."
Erika tilts her head, looking at Xochi: "...it's not?"
Xochi shakes her head before looking back at Erika. "Not exactly, no... there are stories of things like this happening to those who displease the gods, or those who amuse the gods... or because of the gods whimsy."
Erika frowns a bit, looking aside: "...was the flower put there on such a whimsy? Hmm."
Xochi: "I cannot say. I do not know of this flower, if that be the cause of it. To my people, such stories are often myths or warnings. I read... many, many books of such legends."
Erika scuffs a hoof on the ground in front of her: "Guess so. Non-myth enough for me, though." She sighs: "I hope the expedition is successful."
Xochi slumps her shoulders a little, "I did not tell you this to sadden you, Erika. It was my intention to bring you some hope... I think I have failed at this."
Erika looks at Xochi, smiling: "Oh! I mean, it's... well it is what it is. Gotta deal with what I am now, right?"
Xochi nods, struggling a bit with some internal thought before she speaks again, "There is more knowledge then just stories, I suppose. But it is only an experience... I do not know if I should share it, for many reasons... but if you wish to hear, I shall tell you what I can."
Erika gives a soft chuckle: "I have nothing but time now, Xochi. If you want to, I'm all ears."
Xochi laughs as well, "It is a percular story... but... I was given a potion. I cannot say by who, because I do not know, fully."
Erika blinks: "A potion? Some kind of magical one?"
Xochi nods. "It must have been. It was given to me to drink, to use to disappear from somewhere without attracting notice." She laughs, "As you may imagine, a thirty foot snake has difficulty 'sneaking' anywhere."
Erika pauses at the mental image, then gives a small laugh: "Oh. Right." She blinks, looking back to Xochi: "Where were you sneaking to?"
Xochi 's face falls a little bit. "Eventually... here. Respite. But the effects of this potion wore out long before then. But... other arrangements had been made by that time." She pauses. "There is... much to this story which I cannot go into, I am sorry."
Erika gives the best approximation of a shrug she can, shifting her shoulders and neck: "Say as much as you can, then. I'll only know what you tell me, after all."
Xochi nods, "Suffice it to say, I was somewhere I did not want to be. Others offered to help me, and so they did. I was given reasons to trust them, and had little choice. Now, I am here. And I am free to make my own life. But it all started with that change." She closes her eyes. "It was... unnerving. I knew what it would do, but not what to expect. I imagine for you, you did not know or expect any of this."
Erika shakes her head. "I did not know the flower when I ate it. Definitely did not expect this."
Xochi sighs, "Much different, and I cannot pretend to know how you felt, or how you are feeling. I am sorry." She looks to the sky through the garden trees. "There was a moment there when it was true freedom, such as I have never known. But for you, I expect, this is more of a prison."
Erika blinks, looking aside: "Prison... well. I don't know. I'm still free, just... less able. Although I find myself more... jittery. Like my mind wants to flee from anything and everything."
Xochi looks at Erika with a slightly worried expression. "You fight this feeling, yes? It is not you, but this other being who is of you, but not you."
Erika nods: "It is me. But... well, not me. Or how I was, anyway. Now it is me." She sighs: "Instincts. They drive me more now. Good? Bad? I can't tell."
Xochi places a hand upon her chin, tongue darting in and out. "I have read many books on my people's relgions... some say, there are two selves within each of us." She points to the her head, then points to her heart, "They each strive for happiness in conflict with one another. Some seek enlightenment by making their two selves agree, and work together to a purer end. Very few find such peace, however."
Erika huh's a bit. "...never thought about it like that. But... perhaps?"
Xochi chuckles, "I am not enlightened, or able to speak on such, other then what I have read. And I have read many, many books. I have my beliefs, and my gods. I cannot say if you were cursed, or subject to whimsy, but they have their purpose behind everything, Erika. Perhaps finding what you must learn is a key to undoing this?"
Erika nods, shifting her position again as she mulls the idea: "I wonder what I should... learn, then. I'm just little ol' me." She looks about her garden, a thought starting to spark: "...I haven't really tried it, but... maybe I already have part of the cure in here?"
Xochi turns herself atop her coils to look at the garden. "It is a very impressive garden. And you do know the plants, and their effects, yes?"
Erika nods slowly, the gears in her head turning: "Yes... none of them would work alone, but... if I am able to get some of the plant that got me, then maybe...?"
Xochi: "Ah, and that is the purpose of the expedition that the Captain and Kira have departed upon, yes? So, if one assumes they return successful, what else might be useful here?"
Erika nods again, getting up: "They... I hope they do. They were also looking for... the bear that ambushed me. Apparently he's one of the Guards..." She frowns, sighing: "What a mess."
Xochi moves closer to Erika, and nods. "The gods have their reasons. And you have my aid, for however long you may need to help you fix this 'mess'."
Erika turns to smile at Xochi: "Thank you. I'm going to need hands, certainly." She lets out a little giggle despite herself.
Xochi raises hers, "I have two, but I have no legs, so I do hope you do not need any more of those." She lets out another raspy laugh at her joke.
Erika laughs a bit, shaking her head: "I think I'm good."
Xochi raises herself up, "Then I shall lend you my hands, Erika. Let me know what I can do for you."
Erika shakes herself a bit, then nods at the garden tools on the wall: "Well, we can start with the pruning. See what we can come up with later."
Xochi nods, uncoiling herself as Erika directs her on what to prune from the branches overhead, aiding her friend in whatever tasks need to be done around the garden, asking a few questions here and there as well to learn more about how best to tend to her own little garden as well.
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CAMP NEAR MEAN PEAK PLATEAU - EVENING
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Victoria is laying down on her belly some distance from the fire and the others around it. She looks alternatively at the captive, sleeping bear nearby, and the others she knows but feels currently distant to. Something about being near that fire - or the others - doesn't sit right with her, and she's kept her distance ever since her and Garwin's 'capture' earlier.
Louma has been somewhat lost in thought since they settled down in the camp, watching the sun descend through the trees and thinking mostly about home. She idly turns her dried rations in her hands, appetite mostly gone as she finally looks down from the canopy and rests her gaze across the fire on Victoria.
Victoria notices Louma looking at her, and looks back with only the kind of intense impassivity a feline is able. She turns to look at Garwin, then back to Louma, seemingly inviting for an explanation.
Louma sighs to herself, mostly out of exhaustion as she slowly rises from her coil, stretching for a moment before excusing herself from the group and slithering around the firepit. She glances toward Garwin, keeping her distance to not wake him as she approaches Victoria. "How are your wounds feeling?"
Victoria looks down at her paws, then glances at her side: "Better. Time will heal."
Louma nods, offering a smile. "Of course. Thank you for helping. When you showed up, I was honestly worried we were going to have to bring both of you down." She settles her tail near Victoria, though not close enough to crowd her. "Do you know how this happened to you two?"
Victoria sighs a bit, shifting her position to her side before looking back up at Louma: "Yes. Those... flowers."
Louma pauses, then nods. "So our theory might be good, then. But... You're more like Erika than Garwin, what had him so riled up? So... Well feral."
Victoria squints at Louma: "Erika? The kooky herbalist lady?" She shakes her head, then looks at Garwin: "Dumb brute ate the flowers."
Louma nods. "She's the reason we came to search for you up here, apparently she also ate one or two of the flowers after Garwin chased her. You didn't eat them?"
Victoria gives a dry laugh: "When have I ever eaten that stuff, Louma?"
Louma chuckles quietly, then considers the implication. "So... How did you end up affected?"
Victoria gives a snort, looking at Garwin again: "After he started turning, I stayed nearby. Too long went before I realized what was happening or why."
Louma tilts her head, looking towards Garwin. "I don't understand. Were you just nearby? Or... Victoria, did you bite Garwin?"
Victoria looks at Louma quizzically: "...what do you mean? I mean, I had to defend myself."
Louma sighs, turning to look at Victoria with a frown, but just shakes her head. "Alright so... The transformation doesn't depend on just consuming the flower. That's actually good to know, I suppose."
Victoria keeps looking at Louma for a moment before turning to look into the darkening forest: "I might have slept in the things too. Was kind of busy making sure Garwin doesn't do anything even more stupid, you know."
Louma frowns again. "You slept in the flowers? I take it back, everything you've said has made things less clear." She leans back into her coil, shaking her head. "Well. Hopefully Doctor Plume will be able to work a cure with the samples we gathered. Otherwise... Well..."
Victoria starts licking the back of her forepaw: "There's a new Doctor in town?"
Louma nods, smiling slightly. "Yes, a very proper type. They've got a good amount of skill from what I've seen, and far more helpful than Hooktail."
Victoria continues her licking: "Well, can't be much worse than the crazy monkey."
Louma nods again, chuckling. "You're right, I'm not sure anyone would want to bring those flowers to Hooktail to begin with, there's no telling what he'd do with them. That said, if they don't find a cure for this, what would you want?"
Victoria sighs, rolling to her side again: "Don't know. Not there yet. This time yesterday I was sure I'd spend the rest of my life in this forest."
Louma pauses for a moment, looking towards the fire. "Were you staying out here because of Garwin?"
Victoria shifts to look at Louma, seemingly hurt by the notion: "I'm not going to leave a mate behind!"
Louma nods, her warm smile obvious even in the lower light where they were relaxing. "Good, I'm glad that my trust wasn't misplaced. It's a shame there wasn't a way for you to get a message to us. I'm sorry that we didn't think to send someone out after you."
Victoria stretches on the grass: "Unfortunately, I can't fly. And I don't fault you I guess, who coulda predicted this?" She gives Garwin's sleeping form a bit of a glare despite her words.
Kira flutters over and lands on Louma's tail. The moth still seems quite tired from the exertion of the day's earlier events, but is uninjured at least.
Louma nods, turning to look towards Kira, nodding in greeting. "I'm glad that we found you both in relatively good health, though. You've done a good job out here, all things considered."
Victoria looks at Kira for a bit, before turning to glance at Louma: "Whatever 'good job' means. We're alive, but Garwin is hardly in there anymore."
Kira nods to Louma and then to Victoria. She's carrying a small cup of nectar, which she sips from. "I hope he can be saved. He was very kind to me before..."
Louma sighs, lowering her gaze. "Surviving is a good enough job, we'll work with Garwin, hopefully he can recover from this. If Plume can't manage it, we'll send out notice to Bairnell's Foothold for someone who can."
Victoria shifts back to lie on her belly and stares at Garwin. Her voice is lower as she speaks: "I hope so. He's an idiot, but he's our idiot."
Louma wears a hint of a smile, glancing toward Victoria. "That's the nicest thing I think I've ever heard you say about him."
Kira giggles a bit.
Victoria flicks her ear as her only reply, her gaze still on Garwin.
Louma chuckles quietly, leaning back onto her coil to look through the canopy above at the stars as they begin to appear. "I promise not to tell him."
Kira looks up at Louma. "We go home tomorrow?"
Victoria glances at Kira, then into the darkness of the forest: "Home..."
Louma nods, looking to Kira. "If we can convince Garwin to walk that way, yes. There's no other way to get him there, and we'll be moving at his pace, not the pace we got here by."
Victoria looks at her paw, at her claws: "I can always help persuade him. That's how we avoided that waterfall."
Kira nods a bit. "If he is reluctant, I can fly back and get more help...."
Louma: "As long as that doesn't just rile him up again. But no, Kira, I don't think that would be a good idea yet. No offense meant, but I don't think you'd make it back to town, we're three days hike away after all."
Victoria nods a bit: "Well, he is coming, one way or another."
Kira blinks. "Oh... I thought we were closer..."
Louma smiles, gently patting Kira's shoulder. "Time feels like nothing when on an adventure with your friends, hmm?"
Victoria pauses, then looks at Louma: "...what... uh, what month are we in?"
Louma turns to Victoria. "We've just entered July."
Victoria blinks, then stares at Louma: "What."
Kira nods. "The sixth moon is full tomorrow night."
Louma nods, smiling sadly. "You've been out of town for almost two months now."
Victoria looks down, going quieter again: "...doesn't feel like that..."
Louma moves to put a reassuring hand on Victoria's shoulder, but hesitates, not wanting to upset her with uninvited contact.
Victoria seems to withdraw to herself, curling up a bit. She stares at Garwin quietly.
Kira looks between Louma and Victoria but stays quiet for the moment.
Louma draws her hand back, sighing quietly. "We'll work on getting everything put right again, Victoria. I promise."
Victoria sighs, nodding without taking her gaze off Garwin: "Didn't realize it was that long."
Louma nods, taking her turn to go silent as she rests back into her coils, the day's events catching up completely.
Kira looks to Garwin while speaking to Victoria. "You were caring for your friend. I don't think time spent doing that can be wasted."
Victoria looks at Kira: "Not wasted... I guess. Just... I don't know. Lost." She shakes her head: "Stupid bear."
Narrator: The three end up sitting in silence for a while before parting for the night's sleep. Victoria doesn't end up sleeping all that well though.