The Heartwood I can look back,

ecologist thread for @Reiko !

Huā had left Hydra's domain feeling (presumably) more satisfied with their relationship and the terms their packs were on. Before returning home she would linger a little longer in the mainland. She was getting better accustomed to the crowdedness of forests, but still she longed to see the ocean and sky again. 

Where she had come now, the sky was gone. Trees restricted any shard of blue from shining through, and Huā sort of moped through the forest, eager to be out soon. It was then that a sort of strange buzzing caught her attention, a sound unlike any other. Curious as always, Huāzhen could not stop herself from being drawn to the source of the noise like she was tied to a string. 

There was a strange yellowish thing at the top of a tree. It was the source of the noise, and around it flew little bugs painted in black and yellow. A regular wolf might've gone and moved on with their life, but Huā was no regular wolf. Raised on the beach and lived there all her life- bees, and beehive, were not things she knew of. So she stared on at the thing as it buzzed with noise, as if waiting for something to happen.

With a guard assigned to her every time she left the pack's claim, Reiko had felt more at ease with her travels now that she felt the presence of another looming somewhere nearby within calling distance. She found that bounce in her step again and a confidence that had vanished during the previous events in the wilds. With spring beginning, she had to investigate the lands once more and familiarize herself with the herbs and anything that might be of use later on.

It was the sight of a young female, perhaps the same age as Reiko herself, looking up at a tree that caught her attention. Of course, her own eyes were drawn to the branches, searching for what the other female was looking at while walking toward it curiously. Before getting too close for either of their comfort, it was the familiar sound that came to her first.

Bees. She sang with a sway of her tail, eyes flickering to the female and back at them just to make sure she was as relaxed as Reiko was right now. At the angle she stood, being weary of invading the stranger's space, she couldn't quite tell what they were yet and squinted as if that would help her see them better... were they honey bees or wasps? She couldn't see them yet or the nest without approaching more...

A strange word from behind came to her, interrupting her daze and causing her to turn her charcoal head to face her company. A pale girl who glimmered like a diamond with blue eyes like the sky above the sea- undeniably gorgeous, that she was, and had Huā staring for a moment before she slapped herself out of it. 

Beez? She imitates the odd new word, testing it out on her tongue. Wh... what is beez? The... the thing, or bug? She wonders, paying a glance back to the hive and its many inhabitants. Why they make that noise?

Behind her the tail whipped a little faster as the woman seemed pleasant, welcoming even. Reiko took this moment to approach a little more and observe the female a little closer as well as the insects above. She had a unique look to her, something Reiko was fond of. Being pale and without any beautiful patterns, she found beauty in the unique appearance of others and how this one's eyes shone oh so brightly in her charcoal face. 

Getting just close enough to be able to see the bees a little better, she sat back onto her haunches and observed the busy nest as they prepared for a new season. They must have just woken up either today or a couple days ago as the weather warmed up. They look like honey bees! There was clear excitement in her tone as she spotted the combs instead of a paper mache like nest. 

They're bugs, have you ever had honey? Since the young woman didn't know what bees were, Reiko was almost certain the answer was 'no', but would ask anyway. There was no point in assuming. The sound comes from their wings. They move so fast it makes a buzzing sound! It's louder because there are so many of them together.

The pretty girl comes closer, and of course Huā has no protest for that, tail wagging easily behind her without even thinking about it. Perhaps Reiko thought Huā pretty because of her markings- but the empress saw quite the opposite. How gorgeous was this girl with her clean and unblemished fur! Like the light of heaven itself. But Reiko began to speak again, and Huā was snapped out of her mindless wonder. 

She asks her about honey, and Huā's gaze flickers back to the object and its busy inhabitants. Huh-nee? Um, no, I never have it... what is that? She wonders with the curiosity of a child, wide eyes looking to Reiko for an answer. The girl speaks of wings too, and Huā's expression takes on a little surprise. Those little thing have wing? Like a bird? She giggles, a smile forming on her maw.

Hm, how was she supposed to describe honey to someone who has never had it before? Searching her brain for possible likeness she could describe the sticky substance in a vivid light just enough for the other damsel to understand, the Empress remained silent for a little while. Eyes wandering the branches from where the nest hung. If she could find any honey that had leaked out it would be beneficial for the dark-headed woman to taste it! But the branches and ground were bare, the season too young for them to produce enough for the nest to overflow. 

If I could describe it, it feels like tree sap. Her companion must have already come across tree sap before. Tangled in her fur or stuck to her paws, by the looks of her age, though young, she must have lived long enough to see sap. Thick, sticky, and hard to get out of your fur, but it tastes very sweet. It's gold-coloured, very pretty, and the bees guard it viciously with stingers that hurt more than thistle. Of all things she had to be certain she shared how they guarded their nests, what an unpleasant surprise it could be to desire the honey and get attacked by little soldiers!

Almost! They don't have feathers, more like a butterfly's wing but smaller and faster, and you can see right through them.

sorry for the wait. been working on a lot of huas plot threads!! we can just wrap this right around 10 posts if that's alright!

She eagerly awaited the description in quiet, until Reiko compared it to sap. Ah yes, the sweet treat that her mother would've sometimes taken her for, when they were very very little and well-behaved. She smiles softly at the memory- how long had it been, since she tasted the stuff? And could this honey be even better? She was nearly eager to try- 

until Reiko explained that the bees guarded the stuff. Huā wanted to scoff- they were tiny! How could such a small thing hurt a wolf? Then she thinks of crabs- the little red things that could hurt wolves with a pinch of their snappers- and considers that perhaps the pain was not worth the honey. 

Finally Reiko explains the wings, like a butterfly's- that sounded beautiful, and she gazed up at them, wishing the would pause their buzzing so she could observe their anatomy. For now Huā could only catch glimpses of the translucent wings of the creatures as they busily went this way and that. She smiled to herself, and then back to Reiko. You know lot about this. I am very impressed... I think because I live on beach all my life, some things all the wolf know, I do not know, She chuckled warmly, ears flattening with embarrassment against her head.

Smiling at the compliment, the other continued to explain her naivety on the matter - something that Reiko didn't even think was necessary. Whether it was lack of exposure, or maybe attention to the details of the little things around them, not everyone focused on the little insects and their nectar as she did. Many focused on fighting, bettering themselves physically to survive - she did it in a different way. Sometimes she wondered if it worked, or if she was lucky.

I wouldn't think that way - I'm certain you could teach me lots of things by the sea! Not one to wander too close to large bodies of water regularly, the sea wasn't something she was particularly drawn to.

Reiko had her seeing a different perspective- and it was true, of course. She had remembered the molten-eyed man of steel she'd met on the beach who had no idea what a jellyfish was. Didn't even know not to eat one. And had never tried clams! Perhaps the land wolves were missing out on enough to make up for her lack of knowledge in land things. 

Actually, I think you are right. The other day I meet man who not know what jellyfish is. And I wonder, if most land wolf know of shark, whale, dolphin or seal. She eyed Reiko closely, wondering if the girl had heard of the larger beasts of the sea. We just have different experience... is okay. I learn new thing all the time, as I sure you do too.

I don't think I have ever seen these jellyfish either, they sound strange. Perhaps you should show me one day! I've heard of them all, but they are mythical beasts as far as I'm concerned. At least the other woman seemed to agree and no longer saw herself as inferior simply because she lacked certain experiences or knowledge that others might have had.

Now you get it. With a smile, she was pleased with the revelation. Perhaps one day you will show me all these other creatures you mentioned. For now, I must go back home, to another day! If you are ever near the mountains, look for a vale hidden within, my name is Reiko. Call for me and I'd be happy to show you more new things. With that, she left the dark-headed woman to explore the bees and possible honey drippings if she was lucky.

Last post from me!

They came to a sort of agreement then, on the nature of learning new things between them. And that Reiko was willing to show her some new things within the Vale, and so Huā only felt it right to return, I am Huā. If you ever on beach and see island, call for me- I also can escort you over, show you a lot of beautiful thing there. As Reiko began to leave, Huā gave a slight dip of her head respectfully. Once the girl was gone, she would continue to taze at the bees and their hive for a few minutes before eventually taking off again.