Exploring the Coast

Writers: Chelle, Len
Date Posted: 28th September 2011

Characters: Parale, Rena
Description: The two of them go hunting for useful plants.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 4, day 6 of Turn 6
Notes: Follows: Chick Chatting

"It's just down here, just past that big tree." As she walked, Rena
pointed the thicket out to her new friend. It was a lovely slightly
overcast day, perfect for gathering herbs.

The girls were working on basket weaving with some of the other
childrens' fostermother. Parale was glad for the time to gather some
of the useful things she needed. "So, what are some coastal plants
that are useful?"

"What coastal plants aren't?" Rena teased. "Everything can make a
dye, you just have to know what part and how to get the dye out."

"Eh generally, I've been told seaweed is a waste since it's so full of
water, the color doesn't come out well." Parale had been doing her
research.

"Whoever told you that must obviously only like bright colours." Rena
ducked down under the tangle of vines as she talked. "Seaweed can
give you really beautiful tones...as long as you know which ones to
use and what ones can be used in combination with other ones, and with
other herbs and roots."

"Will you show me then?" she said curiously.

"Of course! Do you want to look for some now, or look for some herbs?
We can get a bit of both and show you how to mix them for a more
subtle color than just the root or herb alone."

"I'll follow your lead. I have time for awhile." Parale was glad to
find someone else to roam around with. It was hard just having Ioven
and the girls to talk to sometimes.

Rena leaned down to a tiny, ragged looking weed. "See this one here?
If you just pull it up," and she did so, showing Parale the fine mass
of roots, "the roots give you a really good red on its own. Let's
gather some and then go to the beech for a few different types of
seaweed."

She felt a bit like some forest creature, except that they were running
around in the small jungle near the beach. Parale was beginning to get
too hot. "Rena, I'm going to have to sit in a minute."

"Okay, we have enough anyways." Picking up her skirts, she walked
towards the beach with the welcoming breeze on their faces. "Do you
like it here?"

"Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. I don't like the heat, but I like
the ocean. I don't like not having my friends and family close, but I
like the more casual way of doing things." It was hard to explain, but
she was still torn between two worlds.

"I would miss the ocean, if I ever left." Rena watched the waves for
a bit before smiling at the girl. "It gets into your blood, the salt
air and the sound of the waves. And the storms even."

"Storms?" That caused her head to come up.

"Yes, we get hurricanes. Has no one told you yet?" In fact the
hurricane season was just starting, but she thought she wouldn't alarm
the lovely girl by telling her that.

"Uhh no..." Parale had heard of such a thing, but she didn't understand.

"Don't you worry, they're not all that bad." she patted Parale's
hand. "We're all used to it here..we'll take care of you."

Last updated on the November 6th 2011

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Exploring the Coast