Chimera Fields as long as my mom and dad were... smiling.

for @Holland : )

She was on her way to the land of her allies, having let her growing children wander ahead to the nearby Neverwinter, and remaining back for some relaxation on her own. Huā strolled through the field absentmindedly, only coming back to the present when she caught a faint familiar scent on the breeze, and glanced up. Just ahead was a tree- and at it, Holland, who appeared to be busying himself with some task. She padded closer with a wagging tail, Holland? It is me, Huā- what are you doing? She laughed.

"Hm?" he had been too lost in his thoughts and focusing entirely on the tree that he failed to notice her. Twisting his neck awkwardly, he spies the woman interested in frogs. "Hua..." Holland says now, though doesn't turn. She laughs, wondering what he was doing.

His front claws are prickly and with splinters, but a small pile is growing. "Gathering" the medic replies, lifting a paw to lick idly at it "bark" he adds for her benefit. The process is a lot like collecting moss. He will skin the tree like a cat clawing a post. "what are you doing?" he directs it back to her.

He wasn't exactly as enthusiastic as she, but that was okay. Gathering bark, he said. Her eyes flit to the little pile gathering at his feet, then back to him. Strolling, She answered casually, I was going to visit friends in ally packs, this weekend. 

She got a little closer, and then settled onto her haunches. Why do you do that? Are you not afraid you will kill the tree? She wondered. The only other wolf Huā saw tear bark was Orochi, when he was mad. But Holland seemed content, at least, and she couldn't understand his reasoning.

"What packs are you allied with?" he queries Hua, turning back to look at the bark. He raises himself to press his front paws on the tree as he listens to her reply. But her own inquiry into him killing the tree... "I will only take a small bit." The woman seemed very concerned about life below her.

He did not see that much in wolves. "The cedar bark is good for flu-symptons" Holland went on, running his claws down the tree expertly peeling a few pieces away. There was also a reason for peeling the bark of this cedar tree, but he did not know if she was curious about that. "tis the season."

Well... Yuèlóng is ally to Neverwinter Forest, Moonspear, Kaistleoki... my daughter told me about a 'Firefly Glen' lead by Hydra's son, too, that her friend mentioned to her... but... I have yet to visit them. Huā chuckled dismissively. Already it bothered her to think Nüwu had not summoned her immediately if they had guests at the border before, but she hoped she would still be recieved well when her time to visit came.

He said he'd only take a little bark. She wondered if that meant the tree would be just fine. Well, I guess a little can not hurt. She decided, though her gaze still ran over the stripped bark in a sympathetic manner. Good for flu, really? I did not know that... is it something you- er, the patient- chew? She thought for a moment about chewing tree bark- sounded gross, but then again, she never much understood doctors and such. She was a watcher of nature, not a user of it.

He was silent, listening as she spoke. His ears piqued when she spoke of the Glen. An amused smirk crossed his face, but his back was to Hua still. "I live in the Glen" he said softly "I can escort you there... or give you directions." Whichever she wanted.

"When you peel the bark, it gives off an odor to insects and other pests" Holland explained "therefore, the tree will be safe from inner... infection." Hua seemed content he would take a little, yet he felt the need to explain regardless. Just in case she was worried.

But he would also explain the tree was fine if he scratched it a bit. Elk and other deer did so when they were in a rut, and it never killed the tree. "If it is too tough - or if the patient's teeth are bad... I will chew first" Holland scrunched his snout a bit "but yes, they should be able to chew on their own."

He told her he lived in the glen and she was pleasantly surprised. Directions would be nice- I need to visit Mal-er, Neverwinter, first. She was a scout, and could likely make it there on her own, but directions couldn't hurt in case she did wind up lost by chance.

He went on to explain more about the use of the bark, and she was amused by the idea that talking about nature was the best way to pull words out of him. The bit about the tree's odor was interesting. I see,, She hummed, shifting a little closer to see if she could catch the scent- but too shy to invade his space, and ultimately smelling nothing at her distance. When he spoke of chewing it, it was Huā's turn to scrunch her nose up. Does it... taste bad? I think I would not enjoy chewing that, She laughed.

"Business?" he asks Hua or pleasure? He does not miss her stumble, and is also too polite to dive further into that subject. Romance is never a subject for him - he finds he cares very little about the personal lives of near strangers. "I hope all is well in your pack." He decides against prying too much, giving her an out.

He huffs somewhat amused at Hua's question. "No less disgusting than other plants and herbs I have to chew..." Holland points out softly. He expected her to wince at him basically saying he had to chew it into a pulp and deposit it into his patient's mouth himself. Well, spit. Basically spit. But she doesn't cringe.

Sure, business. She lies casually. Yes, it was business of a sort- but moreso the business of her relationships, rather than anything political. At least, for once, she could visit him without any fresh bad news. When he wished well upon Yuèlóng, she briefly bowed her chin to him with respect, We are. I hope your pack is good, as well. Huā lifted her face again.

He laughs slightly at her question, and her ears flatten bashfully to her skull. The thought of having to chew not only bark, but also plants, and herbs, well- that sounded nasty. She winces more at this. I see now, why I am not made to be a medic, She laughed a little at herself. Maybe I am just selfish. But I think, I would have to really like someone, to chew tree-bark for them. And she giggled again.

What if a packmate was a, um... asshole, to you? Will you still chew the plant for him? Curious tilt of her head. Did he value loyalty to the pack over personal vendettas?

"It is acceptable" he answers, not one to be pulled into politics so easily. If Hua thinks there is more to it than that, she is correct. There was the subject of the kidnapping, of scouting those Saints, waiting and seeing what would happen next... But he did not want to gossip outside of his own pack.

Holland shakes his head as if flicking away an annoying insect. "No - not selfish" for his reasons for being one was one of atonement "you just know what is better for you. Your skills lay elsewhere." It was selfish to dive into a subject only to abandon it later on.

The man hums now. "I would force it down their throat if they truly need it" his voice cracks in some amusement "they can chew it if they're quick enough."

He seemed rather unjudgemental of her selfishness (as she believed it to be, and which he spoke of as otherwise,) and she appreciated to hear an affirmation that perhaps she was not so terrible for valuing her own beliefs. I would force it down their throat if they truly need it. She chuckles at that, Oh, you have some good humor! That is the spirit! She laughed and wagged her tail. Here I thought you are only a stone-cold doctor. But you are funny, too. She complimented with a smirk. 

Suddenly realizing, Oh, I keep making you talk, am I distracting you? Ah, should I leave you to your bark-collection? Huā wondered shyly.

"Yes" he muses, not able nor willing to correct her "humor." Holland would definitely shove herbs down some ungrateful asshole's throat though, let's be clear about that. Hua wanted to know if she was being distracting; she would be if he was wired the same as any other man.

A beautiful woman giving him attention, speaking to him... It should make him flutter. But it didn't. There was also more to it than looks anyway. Yeah, she was scientifically pleasing to the eyes but he looked for more than that. "I will give directions first" he went on, twisting to look at Hua.

Quietly, making sure to leave nothing out, he would give clear directions to the Glen from this point.

He offered directions first, and so she listened quietly, glancing at whichever features of the landscape he might point out. He was clear, and at the end she had no questions for him, feeling it was likely that the place he'd directed was a place she'd visited before. Thank you, I will keep those in mind. She hummed. I hope we may meet again. She offered politely, bowing her head to him before making away to Neverwinter.

"I hope so too" was all he gave her as the pair departed. Holland went back to collecting a bit more bark before heading back to the Glen. Hua was polite and curious, which suited him just fine. He could do with worse for company, especially if they continued to run into each other.

end!