---


It seemed that the small bat did indeed have a bit of knowledge about the bush that he rested upon. The young owlet leaned forward slightly with anticipation, ready to hear what exactly the bat had to say. When Zeno spoke he first glanced at the berries that he indicated, nodding to himself that he wouldn't try to coat his wounds in the berry juice. Perhaps they'd have other uses not in the vein of healing. However, at the information on the leaves --or rather their juices-- he reached one talon up to touch the dark leaves and inspect it. "I am grateful for the information, Zeno." He said sincerely, glancing at the tiny bat before returning his blue gaze to the leaf.

"I propose an experiment to test the juices from the leaves on my leg." If it helped then it would be great, if it didn't then he would know better next time. Either way it would be a learning experience and he was game to be the metaphorical guinea pig. He doubted the tiny bat was one for chicanery so he ripped one of the leaves away from the bush and held it, unsure of how to extract the juices. He couldn't exactly chew with his beak and puncturing the leaf didn't seem to yield very many results as he only received a tiny dot in his talon.

Here he looked at Zeno, the bat didn't have a beak but a muzzle like the cave rats and mice that wandered the caves. He also seemed to be a fruit-eater, perhaps he could use the small creature's assistance here. "Could I trouble you to help me with this experiment, Zeno? I have no reliable way of extracting the juices as of right now but you, you have teeth. Perhaps you could assist me in the extraction to test the viability of the leaf's liquid as a healing reagent?" Here he extended the leaf towards the bat, waiting expectantly to see if he could have help with the extraction and application.


---

342 | --- | @Zeno

"Talking!"
Thinking...

The tiny bat took the leaf with some hesitation. He was no healer, and his activities in the cave so far had done little to prepare him for the study of herbalism. That said, this was one good way of starting on that journey; if he only ventured to do what he knew he was easily capable of then surely he would miss out on valuable skills just on the tip of his ability to obtain.

"For sake of knowledge, I'll give it a try." he said as he stared down the plant. It would be simple enough, surely, he'd just have to bite it enough to disrupt the surface of the leaf but not so much that it got destroyed. Then again even if he did destroy it perhaps it could be utilized in a different format, a... poultice of sorts?

Delaying no longer, Zeno folded the leaf and bit down into it a few times. The taste was definitely nothing to seek out, but it wasn't so horrid as to elicit a reaction from him. After a few more bites he unfolded the leaf, pleased to see its internal liquids laid bare, but not so much as to be unmanageable.

"I can apply it to the wound if you wish, though I'm not sure if it will sting." he offered before one more placing the leaf in his mouth and crawling right next to the owl's damaged leg.

---


Ah, so his little assistant was in. Good. He deposited the leaf with the small mammal and sat back to wait for the results. After a moment of deliberation it seemed that he had his plan of action in mind. Tacitus watched as he folded the leaf and bit into it, summoning the juices from within the liquid. He was curious at the whole process and wondered if he would be able to find a way to do such a thing with his beak. Would there be a way around it? Could he bite it like that without completely biting it in two and making it useless... Probably not the latter, he'd just need a workaround.

"If you wish to apply it then feel free to do so. Pain is no issue here." If it hurt then so be it. He would grit his figurative teeth and endure it for the sake of finding out the results of this remedy. He extended his leg out further to make it easier on the bat if he wished to apply it, if not then he could take the leaf and try to put it on his own leg. Either way, they would be learning something new today.


---

205 | --- | @Zeno

"Talking!"
Thinking...

Having received the signal to proceed Zeno transferred the chewed-up leaf from his mouth to held between his wings as he balanced on his back feet. It was a bit of an unstable position to be sure, but he wanted to be able to see what he was doing. It would certainly be difficult to be precise but whatever happened Tacitus was right, this would be a great learning opportunity.

Just as he leaned himself forward to apply the poultice, however, his balance wavered, causing him to drop the leaf not on the wound but instead on the front of the owl's talon. Zeno scrambled up and gave an apologetic grin to the one above him.

"Sorry about that. It seems that fine movements are not my strength." That would be an obstacle, but perhaps not an insurmountable one. He felt he had a tool within him to perform the task, and even felt with more practice he might have been able to carry it out as planned. "I can try again, perhaps change tactics."

Following his address Zeno retreated a few inches, hoping to figure the problem out with just a small change in angle. The leaf was resting on his patient’s talon, and the wound was just a little bit above. If he was careful perhaps he could slide it up with his maw? That might work but how much of the liquid would be lost in the process? Beyond that he had avoided using his maw in the first place in order to facilitate observation.

As the small bat visualized all possible options, contemplating routes from using tools to using more leaves to simply trying the failed application again a strange thing happened. Zeno's breathing became slow and steady and a feeling of warmth permeated his chest. The misapplied but clean leaf before him started to shift, at first appearing to be falling off the talon but quickly rising into the air on its own accord. Zeno watched in astonishment as it spread out and applied itself evenly to the wound, just like in his mind's eye except without intervention.

Had that been him? He certainly knew the concept of magic, but to see it with his own eyes in this format was remarkable. Mind roiled over possible explanations and usages of such an ability as the poultice applied a light pressure over the surface of the wound, extracting even more juice than had been freed before.

@Tacitus

---


The owl waited and watched as the young bat balanced on his rear feet, toddling forward to come and place the leaf on his wound. Unfortunately his balance faltered and he ended up falling and getting it instead on his claw. Tactius blinked but simply gave a soft blink, "Understandable. No need to apologize, sometimes failure is needed to figure out a way to success." The reason he was so patient now as Zeno tried to figure out a way to apply the leaf. "Take all the time you need to figure out a better solution." After all, it was he who was helping the owlet with figuring the secrets of the leaf. It was the least he could do to be patient with him.

Zeno sat back and seemed to be pondering on different ways to solve the problem and the owl himself looked down at the talon with the chewed-leaf and for a moment figured on attempting to do it himself with his free talon. Surely he could take the pain of supporting his full weight on that leg for a moment? However, before he could think much more on it the poultice seemed to move of its own accord and then raise up to apply itself to his wound. Almost instantly a feeling of soothing spread across the limb, dulling his pain and he knew then that the leaves of the iceberry bush could be used to numb pain and if the leg healed without infection perhaps it would be good for wounds in general.

"So, it appears that the leaves of this bush can be used as a numbing agent and possibly to stave off infection? But that is still to be seen... My gratitude for your assistance, Zeno." He looked at the bat then, eyes taking on a contemplative expression. "How did you make the leaf move in such a way?" It reminded him a bit of the magick that Astaroth possessed and he wondered if they possessed the same vein of spells.


---

338 | --- | @Zeno

"Talking!"
Thinking...

Zeno's thoughts turned away from contemplating the nature of this magic and toward the experiment at hand upon seeing the owl's reaction. Tacitus was not cringing, nor was he crying out in pain. In fact he seemed rather content with the results, an observation confirmed by his words a scant few seconds later.

"I'm glad to have been able to help, Tacitus. This knowledge might be useful to me as well; surely as I try to gain strength to fly to the stars I'll run into a few badly failed attempts as before." He just had to remember that the berries were good for eating and the leaves were good for injuries. While still tired from his earlier attempt and vaguely drained by the expenditure of magic the success had invigorated the small bat. Surely he could climb the tower again now before resting.

"I can't say for sure how I did so. I lack the gem that many others in the cave have, yet somehow I still seem to be able to command magic of some type. Do you think, perhaps, that means magic is a product of willpower that for most is made manifest through their stone?"