The greenhouse was and always had been one of her favorite spots on the castle grounds. But now that she and her siblings had been allowed to wander the surrounding territories, she didn't spend as much time here as she once had. The excitement of adventure was too tempting, and she had become too busy answering the call of exploration as it echoed through her. Not to say she was never home during the daytime, there was just always so much to accomplish. However, today was different. She wanted the opportunity to see if any of the healers had planted anything new and if she could still spot some of our favorites. As the summer heat faded from the sunshine, it seemed like the perfect day to check things out.

Walking into the enclosed space, she was immediately met with the warm humidity that remained untouched by the outside world. The sunlight almost seemed amplified as it trickled through the near-transparent walls and ceiling. With a quick sweeping glance of all the flora, she quickly picked out the stalks of lavender with her pale blue gaze. Tromping over to its planter, she buried her face into the lightly purple petals to inhale their sweet, floral scent. It took several deep breaths before she got her fill, but when she was ready, she collected herself into a slow-paced walk around the different features their greenhouse held. From raised bed to raised bed, she carefully inspected what was present. Noticing everything from those that she recognized from her previous visits, to the new ones she would have to ask about at a later time. There was so much to take in, the entire time she was subjected to the concern she just might miss something.

While not quite as comfortable in the greenhouse as she was in the library, Meadow had grown rather fond of the warmth. It was like a hug all the time, one that didn't encumber her movements or hold her back. Just the right sensory experience. That, combined with the smell of the plants and the diffused light? This was a space she could feel safe and comfortable within. That, and it wasn't like that many people even came out here-- even better. But today, it seemed, she wouldn't be alone. Having been squirreled away in the storage room hunting for a watering can, she didn't see Talyssa come in. Struggling with an overfull jug of water for some parched-looking vegetable plants, the small girl made her way out into the sunlight. It was only then that she noticed the other girl, somewhat jumping at the unexpected company. Jeeze, she hoped Talyssa hadn't noticed her surprise. Instead, Meadow offered a small, shy smile and went back to her task, carrying the heavy vessel as best she could. "Speech"

It seemed in her sweeping observation of the recent differences among the various planters in the greenhouse, she hadn’t noticed the presence of another girl- one of her cousins, Meadow. However, silently as the girl emerged from whatever place she had been hiding, Talyssa caught the motion from her peripheral and immediately glanced up to see its origin. Just in time to see the soft smile that was offered in greeting. Without missing a beat, the older girl returned the gesture with her own friendly warmth. “Oh, Meadow! I didn’t see you there.” Talyssa admitted, straightening up as she witnessed her cousin carrying a watering can presumably to whatever bed she was tending to. She knew of Meadow but didn’t know her well. However, she was aware that the girl wasn’t particularly talkative. Whether she was physically incapably or mentally reserved, she wasn’t sure- nor would she ask out of respect. Perhaps, she would approach Aunt Fern for advice at a later time. But for now, Talyssa was fully prepared to do enough talking for the both of them.

Maintaining her slow browsing pace, she eventually came to stop in front of a planter that had Yarrow in it. The tall stalks with large clusters of small white flowers were another one of the medicinal herbs she favored. Leaning in to inhale its fragrance, it reminded her of pine needles. “Do you like it here? I do.” Lys announced, her tone gentle as she pulled back from her current occupation. She felt like ’Yes and No’ questions might be safe, because they could technically be answered with a gesture rather than words. However, if that was still too uncomfortable for her cousin, she wouldn’t pressure the girl. So she was quick to answer her own question for herself- giving Meadow a moment to interject just in case she wanted to before going on. “I just wish I knew more than I did about some of the stuff that grew in here, though.” She explained in that same light and airy tone. She supposed that she could pull one of the healers aside for a lesson … but there were just so many lessons that she wanted to sit through. It was hard to organize them into priorities.  

As her attention had remained fixed on the Yarrow planter, she noticed a specific stalk that had some damage on it. One of its main offshoots had begun to wilt. So, in order to give the rest of the stalk a chance to recover, she gently picked the wilted part off. Satisfied with her culling, she sought out her cousin once more, offering another friendly grin as she finished her thought. “I just know my favorites.”