Otter Creek just a reflex

The young medic traveled along the creek bed, nose the ground, searching for the source of the unmistakable aroma. Chervil was one of the few medicinal herbs that bloomed this late in autumn, making it refreshingly easy to sniff out at a time when most other herbs were dormant and hidden. 

Bingo.

The yearling darted the remaining wolflengths to the chervil patch. She began to dig at the edge of the patch, careful to do as minimal damage as possible to the exposed leaves and root system. It was a practice that had been drilled into her since she was old enough to harvest.