If there was one season Atreus loathed more than the rest, it was undoubtedly winter. The bitter chill and blustering winds could be relentless, and the snow that oftentimes accompanied it covered the ground for weeks on end. It made his job all the more difficult, especially when one considered that this was also the time everyone was more susceptible to illness. Much to his dismay, his sleek coat of lavish, silvery red grew longer, and there was a good chance that that was the potion master’s most hated reason for the season.
 
Still, he had a reputation to uphold as Champion despite it all, and so when one morning came that was a little calmer than the rest, he set out for the snow-blanketed fields due north of Terrastella’s capitol with basket in tow. No amateur, Atreus had gathered a plentiful supply to maintain the Court’s residents until spring came and the annuals returned in bloom. For now, the Ilati man was focused on gathering the more common perennials that dotted the land and weren’t quite as precious to him. Rosemary, thyme, mint, basil and more – they all persevered throughout the cold months, and each were highly revered in their medicinal properties, as they could be used in a variety of remedies if curated and prepared properly.
 
Uttering a soft curse as an unpleasant gust whipped his side, Atreus set to his search, beginning first at the base of a group of trees, carefully scraping the layer of snow away to reveal the earth and what remained beneath it.

“Speaking.”

@Theodosia and anybody else who wants to gather some herbs or whatevs!

It was the gentle ruffling of feather overhead that gave her away. By the time he raised his head to look up she was already descending upon him, coming to a halt and standing with poise near him – too near, if he were being honest, but his features gave no indication to the fact of the matter. It was odd that anyone would approach him at all unless they needed some sort of medical attention, but save for the mark across her flank, she appeared just fine to him. A part of him was suspicious, remembering well the looks she and Israfel had shared upon their arrival in Delumine months prior. “Theodosia,” he spoke her name to return her simple greeting, “I would argue it’s too cold to be out for a flight, yet here we are.”

He quirked a brow at her offer, taken by surprise. For a moment he pondered turning her down and going back to his task in comforting solitude – because that was simply what he preferred sometimes – but as yet another brutal wind hounded him, he was quickly reminded just how much he would rather be back at the hospital surrounded by four sturdy walls. “A kind offer, my friend; I would appreciate the help.”

Glancing down at the basket filled with only a couple stalks of rosemary, he moved it so that it sat between them. The Champion returned to the task at hand then, pulling back the snow which lay piled up around the base of the trees as he continued his search. “I’ve been getting complaints of aching joints and congestion this past week. Are you familiar with the plants basil and thyme?”

“Speaking.”

@Theodosia

“No,” he offered, rolling a shoulder after a moment of consideration, “I suppose they won’t.”

His question asked, Atreus expected one of the usual answers he received, bordering from a simple ‘no’ to a prideful claim that they knew every plant when in reality, they couldn’t tell wild blueberries from tutsan. As he dug, he glanced toward Theodosia as she gave her answer, wondering if she might be amongst those latter few – but she seemed far from the type, despite how little he knew of her.

Dragging his hoof carefully against the top layer of snow, the roan worked diligently to unearth a clump of basil, now void of its lavender flowers but still lively enough to be used. Silence fell momentarily over him as he uprooted the plant, assuring he retrieved the entire plant before placing it in the basket. Only then did he continue to speak, offering a brief inclination of his head. “If I may inquire, where is home for you? Are you from Terrastella as well?”

@Theodosia

“Speaking.”