Aristotle began to stir after full sleep. He had finally slept well after he and James had made up. It was the first good sleep he had had in several days now. In fact he hadn’t slept at all one day and instead had spent it looking at different plants and trying to figure out how to use them in his “Medicine”. The young lion still lay on his side stretched out on the two fur he had stacked up. He had two deer hides and several rabbit pelts as a pillow. His collection was slowly growing and his bed was slowly becoming more comfortable. The young lion nuzzled his face down against the soft rabbit fur of his pillow, a wide yawn parting his jaws. He was in no hurry to move from his spot. James wasn’t home yet from his little quest that he knew of.

Inhaling deeply the young lion let it out as a soft sigh as he slowly rolled to his belly and opened his baby blue eyes. Another yawn parted the young lion’s jaws as he looked around. The glowing stone James had given him glowed softly at the head of his bed, assuring him that James was at the very least still alive. He was still gone to the quest thing James was so desperate to complete. He had even given up some of his mane in order for James to complete his quest. The young lion lifted a paw rubbing behind his ear as he mourned his lost fur. But it was worth it to see James happy.

Slowly the young lion stood, then he stretched his entire body forward and then rocked until his entire body was on his back paws. Then he shook his fur and loomed to the blue topaz egg. Good morning Abraxas. Aristotle spoke to the egg bidding it a good morning. It had become a habit to tell the egg good morning when he was home and slept here. The young lion stepped up to the egg rubbing his cheek and neck along its smooth surface. A soft purring sound left the young lion as he nuzzled the egg affectionately. Then he moved to his bed picking up the rabbit skin bag Elspet had made for him. It was still full of his prizes from Eridanus that required his attention. He was going to start a garden in the backyard. He was going to fill it with all sorts of plants that would help with healing others. The young lion slipped the strap around his neck and smiled. I’ll be working in the backyard Abraxas. The young lion told the egg. He of course knew that it probably couldn’t hear him, but talking to it for some reason brought him comfort.

With that said the young lion headed out to the back of the house where already a mango and Cordoncillo tree were growing. He had already started his garden with the two trees. Walking to under the mango tree in the center of the yard the lion slipped the bag from around his neck and upended it dumping its contents on the ground. First he grabbed several of the small single red berries in his mouth and headed to a spot near what was once a fence and stopped. Digging a hole he placed the berries in the ground. The young lion inhaled deeply as he brought himself to focus on the ground. Then he sent a wave of energy into the ground.

This was becoming easier the more he did it. He sent a wave of energy into the ground and into the seeds within the berries. As he opened his eyes before him stood a lovely little plant with light green stalks and dark green leaves with small little white flowers on its tendrils.

@James

The young lion was becoming accustomed to using his magic, as James called it. He wasn’t sure why it was called magic, but hey it sounded better than energy skills. He wasn’t very good at naming things like that apparently.

The young lion walked back to the center of the yard under the tree where he had dropped his bag's contents. Nosing through the plethora of berries and seed pods and the one root he had collected. He leaned down grabbing the Iceberry bunch. Holding the bunch daintily in his mouth, the young lion scanned the yard looking for a good place to grow the Iceberry bushes. There. He found the perfect spot. A low crumbing wall ran along the back of the yard creating a property line of sorts. The young lion trotted forward. He thought four would be a good even number to work with on those kinds of bushes. Considering that only the bark itself was of any use, the berries just being a delicious little treat from time to time. They would be a tasty little morsel for him and James to enjoy once they produced fruit.

Setting the berries down in one spot and dug four shallow holes about a foot apart, turning around he plucked a berry and dropped it in one of the holes. Using a paw the young lion swiped the dirt pile back into the hole covering the berry. Setting his forepaws beside the dirt pile the young lion took a calming breath and focused with his energy. He sent his energy out into the ground in a wave. There he felt the loose dirt moving against his paws as the bush quickly grew from the ground sprouting light green leaves and small white flowers began to bud in bunches along with new a plant.

The young lion stepped back smiling as the new bush had fully formed and budding in front of him. He couldn’t help but be proud of himself. Now he would just need to learn to get them past the blossoming stage. To make them bare fruit. He knew he could do it if he just tried hard enough.

The young lion moved back to pluck a second berry from the bunch of seven, and moved to the second hole he had dug. With a gentle move the young lion put the berry in the second hole and swiped the dirt over the hole and covered the berry.

Gently the young lion sat his forepaws beside the little mound of dirt, taking a deep focusing breath, the young lion sent another wave of his warm energy into the ground. There he felt it, the little plant began to climb its way through the dirt and out into the open air. Slowly the plant emerged seeming to have a little trouble as it slowly began to unfurl its dainty green leaves. Then small white bunches of flowers unfurled their petals to complete the bushes ensemble.

The young lion stood inspecting the bush. It was smaller than the first and a bit punier, but it was still healthy and showed signs that it would in the future be a good plant to harvest from.

The young lion looked at the ground. Had his energy not been a powerful enough push? He squinted at the ground giving a mildly irritated wave of his tail. Had the berry been bad? Had the seed gone bad inside the berry? There were just too many variables. The young lion stared at the ground for a long moment. The spell as James called them hadn’t worked perhaps? In any case the young lion dug up the berry and started from there. He tossed the berry aside and plucked another from the bunch. He dropped this berry again in the hole and covered it with dirt.

What had gone wrong? He couldn’t figure it out. Perhaps he just hadn’t been focused enough. He was thinking about James. He was worried about him even if he seemed safe enough, he didn’t know he was safe. Maybe he should have gone with him. He shouldn’t have let James go back alone. Not with those wounds on his back, they could attract bigger predators. All he had done was numb the pain, it would wear off in a few hours, and James would be hurting again. He would need a second application of the bark poultice and sometime soon. Poor James was so eager to make Aristotle proud of him, he didn’t have to try hard. Aristotle was impressed and proud of his best friend no matter what.

The young lion inhaled deeply to calm and focus his mind. He tried again, pressing out with his magic as James called it. He sent it into the ground and into the seeds. However again they failed to grow. Once more the young lion replaced the berry leaving only two on the bunch.

The young lion flexed his paws in the soft dirt. He was frustrated at the moment. His previous spell had failed to produce any results. Either from his own failing or the fact the life had already left the seeds he had tried. The young lion let out a soft growl of frustration as he looked at the new mound of dirt. A new berry resting within its confines. He would try again, he would try until he got it right. He would have a flourishing garden under his watchful eye. His slender tufted tail gave a slither wave behind him as he flexed his paws in the dirt again.

Taking a deep breath the young lion closed his eyes and focused again. He let the breath out, placing his paws beside the mound of dirt, he found the well of magic deep inside him and focused on pouring it out through his paws and into the dirt. He focused on pushing his magic into the ground and into the seeds.

This time he felt it, the soft shaking of earth as the bush emerged from the ground. He opened his eyes and watched as the stalk of the bush grew up first, then long branches began to sprout from the main stalk. After that branches began to unfurl from the main stalk, these leaves were followed by small bunches of little white flowers. The young lion took a step back inspecting the bush. It was larger and much more robust than the second he had grown.

A brilliant smile was spread over the young lion’s muzzle as he worked. Moving to the berry bunch he plucked off one of the last two and moved to the final hole.

The young lion sat proudly admiring his work. The four Iceberry bushes growing full and healthy in a row. The one that looked a bit puny looking more robust among the other three. They were nice and perky green, with deep green stalks and branches. It was a lovely thing, the soft sweet scent wafting from the tiny white flowers on their bunches. A soft purr left the young lion as he admired his growing garden. Next he was going to grow the Motelo plants.

Standing up the young lion moved to pick up eight of the little bright red berries. Aristotle moved to a new spot not far from the Iceberry bushes and dug five holes in the ground. The young lion started by placing one berry in the first hole, and set aside the rest.

Closing his eyes the young lion inhaled deeply focusing himself as he placed his forepaws beside the mound of dirt. As he exhaled the breath he took, he pushed a wave of his warm magic into the ground, and into the seed.

There it was. He felt it. The ground gave a small shake and the loose dirt shifted as the plant unfurled from the dirt. Its brilliant green stalk growing tall and budding a few leaves. Then small yellow flower began to bloom along long tendrils coming from the main stalk.

The young lion sat inspecting the newly grown Motelo plant. Brilliant baby blue eyes looked at each leaf and stalk on the plant as well as every little bloom. He found himself quite pleased with the way things were going. He was passing time easily as he worked, and was somewhat keeping his mind off worrying about James and what he was currently doing.Finishing his inspection on the tall plant the young lion turned picking up one of the seven remaining little red berries leaving six in the pile.

The young lion moved to the second hole and gently placed the berry inside, using his paw he swiped the dirt back in to cover the berry leaving a small little mound where the berry was buried. Then he placed both paws beside the little mound. However just as he was beginning to center himself, the sound of hooves on the earthen floor of his house caught in his rounded audits.

The young lion perked up happily. Was James home? The young lion stood quickly and turned to head inside. Though he heard his friend’s voice as he wandered out to the garden. There standing in a sagging tired form was James. The young lion walked up to meet his friend giving a brilliantly pleased purr as he approached. James, welcome home. The young lion greeted his tone belying his relief and happiness to see his best friend. Oh. The garden? I’ve just been trying to keep myself busy while you were away. The young lion wasn’t big on boasting about what he could do. He just wanted to grow things that would help others, and that was just what he was doing. Only two trees grew in the garden currently. An apple tree at the center and a Cordoncillo tree next to the backdoor.

ARistotle watched as James lowered a net bag to the ground filled with things for him. Oh, James! Thank you so much! I’m sure I can find places for them. The flowers will look nice on the ring of the remaining up floor of the house. They should shower their sweet scent down into the house. The young lion noted sniffing the sweet smelling flowers. The young lion looked over the treasure trove of things his best friend had brought him. He gingerly sniffed the peaches curious about their taste. The young lion took a nibble of one and rolled it on his tongue. Giving a rather pleased purr to find it having a sweet and delicate flavor. He would definitely grow these in the garden!

Mmm James did you know these tasted so good!?! The young lion questioned licking his lips as he nosed at the spiny leafed plant curious as to what it was. And gently rolled the berries curious of what they may be able to do. He was very proud of his friend for thinking to gather plants. Thank you so much James. Now why don’t we go lay down? You look positively exhausted. The young lion urged his best friend as he slowly started to head inside toward his bedroom hoping James would follow.


@James

Aristotle looked at James, almost astounded at the delicious sweetness of the fruit hsi friend had brought him. He wondered if James had eaten any. Then upon inspection of his friend's belly he noted that it was a bit swollen. A little smile began to break over the young lion’s muzzle. So you did eat some. I may not like grass, but I’ve taken a liking to what aunty calls fruit. They’re sweet and delicious. The young lion mused to the horse happily. He would get to eat the fruit and save the seeds for planting. But the best part, was he got to eat them before planting them!

Aristotle inspected the plant James showed him. He sniffed it and gave it a tentative lick. Aristotle took one of the leaves in his paw and held it up cutting it open with his other, he split and showed that the inside was clear and slimy. The young lion stared at it giving a thoughtful wave of his slender tufted tail, he took and rubbed it across his paw pads and a slight soothing coolness began to spread. The young lion looked at it and hummed softly. That should be good for burns it has a soothing effect on skin. Thank you again James this will be very useful for treating others. The young lion mused smiling.

Glad to see James following him Aristotle walked into his room and lifted up and moved aside one of the deerskins he used as a blanket. Come lay down I’ll cover you up. He had found that sleeping under a skin was actually rather cozy and helped him sleep better. It kind of felt like he was sleeping with another even when he wasn’t and it helped keep him warm.A nap sounds pretty good honestly, I’ve been at that for several hours now and… The young lion’s words were cutoff by a wide yawn that parted his jaws and exposed his sharp white teeth. I’m kinda tired myself. The young lion blinked a couple of times to clear the wet from his eyes that formed when he yawned. Come on let’s take a nap. Aristotle urged further hoping the colt would lay down so he could cover him up and lay down himself.


@James