Valley of Gold in hell, i'll be in good company

for @Petal & @Dahlia but all welcome
staying vague about the eset thread.

Following the incident at the gulch, he could only stay in the lowlands for only a spell of time. The macabre man wouldn't dwell long on the unfortunate encounter. That was just the way of things, or so he told himself.

Sly stone blue gaze set on the horizon. Sparing meager glances to the desert plants. This place was foreign enough. The desert was full of opportunity. A hint here, a warning of plants to avoid there. Enough to start with. The wheatgrass was pleasant, though nothing like what he used to call home. And yet, the cowboy was too fiddle-footed to miss it.

left it a little open in case dahlia does want to join, but wanted to get in here <3

If she was not with her sisters, she was plucking along plants. Sometimes she was with her sisters plucking plants.

However she had realized rather quickly that there was no way for her to be certain when she was right about plants or wrong. She could not ask her sisters to be testers in any regards but...how did she know which ones were right or if a mystery plant did anything at all?

She had thought that the man who had told her of the marigold and cobwebs had returned.

This was very much not him.

She stayed very still, a golden sentinel in the golden waves of her valley. She watched him and wondered if he meant to move through here quickly or linger in the fields.

why not? jumping in quickly

she had been some ways off, gathering plants, when her sister's attention grabbed her attention. some shadow moved through their lands. she materialized by petal, watchful and guarded.

Unlike the gilded girl, Jasper was apparent among the grass, and it took him an awful amount of time to notice her, the small figure in proximity....and then another! This one, more dusty in her tone.

He was being watched, and the realization came with a feeling of indignance. The undertaker suppressed the outrage, they were just kids, after all. "Good lord, you two are quiet!"

Numbers were better. It was good and strong to have Dahlia alongside her. The man praised their silent status and she wanted to feel pride at it.

Who are you?

Was he a trader? A traveler? Her curiosity about those things could come second.

Something grotesque inside of her bloomed — watered for the first time since she'd pressed her sisters under her thumb. If she could not allow herself any other feeling, she could have this, so long as she kept it to herself.

She wants to say something sharp, but cannot think of anything both clever and innocent enough for her liking before Petal speaks up — something so out of character that it surprises Dahlia.

It was for the best. Her mind goes to the same place as Petal's. If he's a healer, could he help their mother? Could he bring her back? Could he make her love them again?

closing this <3

the man is not helpful. her interest in him died and left behind a bitter taste like ashes on her tongue.

she nudged Dahlia to suggest they should head back towards where others might be. all the while she would keep a cautious gaze out for this man.