[center][img]http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2014/092/7/1/untitled_1_by_carlospcastro-d7ct2xo.png[/img][/center] A thin layer of white, bright and cold snow had settled onto the large gardens. Where there once were colourful flowers and green, soft grass, the white snow covered it all in a rather uniform manner. Some flowers had survived and had balled up and shriveled up somewhat as they tried to survive the harsh conditions. Near the old and overgrown cottage some of the vegetation had also survived. Even some grass peeked out from the snow, and flowers and vines lived comfortably in pots and on the walls, respectively. Right next to the cottage's entrance and a burning, bright torch was a peculiar looking plant. Of course, this plant had some small amounts of snow on top of it as well, just like the others. With brown, abundant leaves standing on end, they seemed to follow a pattern which let the plant's leaves nearly form a perfect semi-circle. No movement came from the plant at any time, just like the flowers and vines near it. [b][I]"Hey, Shrub! Get outta there!"[/b][/i] At least, until a loud shout made it twitch. [hider=Coco+Alaira] Slowly, Coco stretched out into a standing position, shaking somewhat to get rid of the snow coating her leaves and letting them flatten against her skin. She stood silently for a short moment, walking towards Alaira in a relaxed yet confident pace afterwards. "Hey, Beast. Is it training time yet?" Coco asked, snapping her fingers once and tilting her head at the new spear Alaira was carrying. "Where did you get that? It's fine wood and very..." She sniffed at the air, "Clean smelling metal." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alaira didn't have to wait long for Coco to come out of the woodwork (heh). She wasn't sure how the girl did that, perfectly impersonate a bush. Hence, shrub. [b]"Heh, not today."[/b] she answered. Coco held the distinction of being the only one able to refer to her by something like that without being forcibly fed their own spine, and boy did she abuse it. There it was again, that odd finger-snapping mannerism she was so fond of. She seemed curious about the weapon she had brought along, and for good reason. It was rare that she carried any weapon other than her iron lance. [b]"I made it..."[/b] she said as she inspected the head once again. She ran her finger along it, and seemed satisfied when she found a slight cut. with excellent dexterity, she flipped it around, offering the Haft to the plant. [b]"Here, it's yours."[/b] ---------------------------------------------------- "Aaaww..." Coco whispered softly, grabbing the spear and running her hands along it, nodding in satisfaction after she had lightly touched the metal point. "Gemstones, right? And some engravings..." She said, leaves twitching as she passed her fingers around the head again. "Leaves and vines." Coco inclined her head up towards Alaira's and in a swift and strong movement, she pushed its blunt end into the cold dirt so that it'd stand as she released it and gave Alaira a friendly hug. "You didn't have to!" --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alaira was a bit surprised when the little shrub rushed up and hugged her, but it wasn't entirely unpleasant. She managed to get her off with some effort, and gave her a friendly pat on the head. [b]"Sure I did! Why should I go out and buy a weapon that good when I can just make one?"[/b] She asked, though it was pretty much rhetorical. [b]"Besides, you needed something to fight with, right? a piece of wood with a pointier piece of wood on it wasn't going to cut it forever."[/b] That much was true. Wood was ineffective at piercing the hides of over 3,213,098 creatures. -------------------------------------------------------------------- "I guess not--But still! Didn't you have homework to do? Sergei sometimes sends a lot of homework without knowing it. How did you manage? Why would you spend so much time making something for me?" Coco asked, grabbing the spear again and slowly and continuously stroking the wooden shaft, as to better enjoy her new and second lifetime possession's texture. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]"Well, you're my friend aren't ya? Isn't that what friends do? Make each other expensive shit?"[/b] Alaira said. Come to think of it, she hadn't really had a friend since... Anyway, Coco. She asked about the homework, aw crap. [b]"Well, uh... I didn't do it. yeah..."[/b] Alaira said. It might seem like Alaira wouldn't want to do it, but that wasn't the truth. She had trouble with most of it because simply couldn't read, and was too proud to embarass herself to ask for help. Sergei was quite fond of forms and papers, that's for sure. or so she thought, how would she know, she couldn't read. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- [i]"Back home friends just share pollen.."[/i] She said quietly, before perking up at Alaira's confession. "I'm still on it! My progress is slow on that stuff... You know, having to ask the librarian to read the reports to me. Sometimes the person is busy or just doesn't feel up to help me. So, next time we should go together. That way, you don't forget like the silly Beast you are." Coco offered, lifting two fingers to her forehead and forking them out to signify horns. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]"Uh, yeah, okay..."[/b] Alaira said, as she made a mental note to avoid the library. Of course, not being able to read must not be as terrible as having no eyes. She couldn't imagine life without her eyesight. Now that she thought about it, Coco would never know how that gift looked. She even went out of her way to get green gemstones... Well, she seemed to like it at least, and the cosmetic enhancements only took about three man-hours. Alaira laughed and gave Coco a slap on the back when she started teasing her. [b]"Beats being a shrub!"[/b] she said. [b]"Hey, you ever need that thing fixed, bring it back to me, alright?"[/b] with that, she realized she almost forgot to give her the other pieces. she took a minute to rummage through her bag. [b]"Here, I got a belt with a loop to hold it, and a bag of Whetstones. You remember how to use those, right?"[/b] she asked as she handed Coco the objects. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- "Of course. I pay attention in training, Alaira." Coco mentioned with a short laugh-like sound, taking the objects. She wore the belt and used it right that instant, and the bag of whetstones she put in a small box next to the cottage's front door. "You know, I actually have to get going now. You know how it is, being a Foreas. I have to go around and catch up with the news, hopefully speak with a soldier or two." She stretched her hand towards Alaira and waited. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alaira smiled and took the plant's hand and gave it a nice firm shake. [b]"alright, I'll see ya later. I gotta go see Angel."[/b] Alaira said as she turned to leave. [b]"You take care of yourself, alright?"[/b] she said over her shoulder as she left the area. -------------------------------------------------------------- "Will do, you too!" Coco replied quickly before Alaira left her hearing range and vanished. [/hider]