Heartleaf Creek I need your little rays

Early afternoon, open to anyone!

Clover snuffled amongst the undergrowth along the creek, searching by both sight and scent for the familiar stalks of Hellebore. Though the creek may have been dried up and the soil along the banks were no longer moist, the herb stalks would have still taken root before the rains disappeared, and so there was a chance enough would still remain for her to collect.

Plants were far more resilient in desert-like conditions than wolves, and she let out a happy rumble upon finding a bushel of the herb. While perhaps not in perfect condition, and shorter and far more yellowed than she would have liked, it was better than nothing, and so Clover set to carefully extricating the Hellebore from the dried earth with practiced actions.

There was just enough to grab a decent mouthful, and feeling happy with what she had collected, Clover turned on her heels to return to her medicine den within the Backwater. There would be little else out here to forage for in these dry conditions that she did not already have plenty of, so she did not linger along the dried up creek for long.

Oleander spent much of the morning quenching his thirst and foraging for greenery. It was a very practiced technique at this point: rising early so he could lap at whatever dewdrops he could find. In the process, he harvested whatever herbs he came across. Most days, it was not enough, but he managed... even if he would suffer an all-day headache from lack of desire to do it at all.

It had been a month since he had visited the Drowned Wood for a long drink. While he wondered if the water had all dried up by now, a part of him was starting to care less and less about it all. About everything.

Dirty paws picked their way along the riverbanks of the creek as he went for an afternoon walk. Absent-minded and wholly engrossed in his indifference to everything around him. In his jaws, he had a sad-looking clump of Virginia strawberries. He dragged his front paws through the cracked mud where the waterline should have been. His yellow eyes stared, unseeing until he saw a glimmer of white shift in the distance. It took a moment, but as he managed to focus, he recognized her. Mama.

She was busy.

Almost immediately, his ears pinned back and his spidery frame bent at the elbows and knees. He was out in the open, too far from the forests to slink away now that he was in her peripheral vision. Luck was on his side though, and he watched as she turned and moved toward the medicinal den. A shiver skittered down his spine. Since Archer had confronted him, he had avoided the place.

Curiosity had the best of him; and, when she darted out of view, Oleander followed. As the entrance of the den came into sight, he tensed up. His nose scrunched up. He could leave the berries there and leave. Or... or maybe he could finally have some one-on-one time with his mother.

The lanky yearling cleared his throat.

they say pray it away, i swear,
OLEANDER VALLE
that I'll never be a saint, no way

Clover had just set the Hellebore stalks down in her den when she heard someone clearing their throat behind her, seemingly wanting to get her attention. She twisted around, peeking out of the den with curious eyes which lit up with delighted surprise at the sight of her son. The only one of her children to still be remaining.

"Oli," she said warmly, lips curling up in a wide smile. Quickly stepping out of the den, she immediately took note of the small bunch of strawberries in his maw. A soft but contented hum left her mouth. "I'm surprised there are still strawberries left, what with the drought going on." She wondered who they were for, or if he had simply stopped by to chat before eating them himself.

Her paws brought her closer to him, and she tipped her head back to look up into his eyes. There was hesitation as she considered whether to reach out and brush her muzzle against his cheek in a more warmer greeting, not sure if he would be accepting of the gesture. It had been too long since they had spoken together with just the two of them, and she no longer knew if he was as receptive to her. She didn't want to push him away, and then be left with none of her children around.

"Did you need something?" She finally asked, the smile still present on her face, though perhaps a bit more hopeful than usual. It would be nice to talk with him for a bit, if that was what he wished.