Welcome to Gaia! ::

If there was one thing to be said about Amityville Academy, it was that they had a fascinating array of flora on their grounds.

Already Hera had examined several specimens, surreptitiously stealing samples of leaves and petals when she thought no-one was looking and her sketchbook had several new, carefully detailed sketches of interesting plants she'd come across.

It was this that she was currently in the middle of; the herb before her was small and unassuming, but, she'd found after consulting her books, quite poisonous if mixed in a potion with several other garden variety plants.

If that didn't deserve a sketch, she didn't know what would. Which was why she was currently sat on a blanket she'd brought along with her sketchbook on her lap and Atlas buzzing along, examining the other plants in their surroundings.

Hera hadn't heard the other ghoul approach, absorbed as she was in getting the herb's stem just right - which was why she gave a mighty start as something gently tapped her shoulder and a voice spoke. Book and pencil almost went flying before she managed to get a good hold on it and she sent a quick glare to her familiar for not warning her.

"I, er," daintily clearing her throat, the druidess tried again; "I do, yes. And they are, aren't they?" Finally the words the other ghoul had spoken had registered and a proud smile bloomed on her face. "It took a lot of work to get to that point of course, but a Queen doesn't give in halfway!"

"You didn't scare me! It was only a small startle, that's all," she waved a dismissive hand at the words of apology.

And then as the older ghoul seemed properly impressed by her title - okay, her future title - Hera puffed up like a peacock, subtly moving her head in a deliberate motion that sent her rose-curled hair tumbling in beautiful waves. "I'm - well, I'm not the the Queen yet, that's my mother. I will be Queen though! One day. And," she paused for the best effect, in-laying her words with Great Importance; "I will be the Queen of the Mantodae cluster."

Which... didn't sound nearly as impressive as it actually was when the other ghoul had just talked about kingdoms and thrones. Hm. "We used to have a small kingdom, but we've downsized now," she explained, in a tone that brokered no further questions.

A laugh wasn't quite the reaction Hera had gone for, but it didn't seem too patronizing so she'd tolerate it.

And then there were introductions and finally, finally it dawned on her that here was a moving, sentient plant in the flesh.

"You -" her voice was slightly breathless and her eyes had gotten slightly wider than her usual half-lidded look, "you are? That's... that's amazing! I mean I've heard of your kind of course, but never actually met someone -" ah, but the older ghoul had asked a question; "I am Hera, druidess! It is a pleasure to meet you!" Just in case the barely-contained excitement written on her face didn't get the message across.

"Ah, what human books aren't inaccurate?" She huffed, shaking her head at the thought.

When the older ghoul said she was pretty, Hera threw her an assessing glance before nodding in agreement. Of course, she was not as pretty as she herself were, but she was certainly very pretty.

But exchanging information with a vhenemous tenticule... "Yes of course! Sit," she patted the open spot on the blanket. Atlas had flown closer and was now perched next to her, watching the two ghouls with interest as he clicked his mandibles.

"I am quite knowledgeable about potions and plants of course, but bettering oneself is a constant quest."

Atlas inched closer to the minipet, examining her with great interest - while they had many winged minipets at their dorm, they had none like the one before him now. He edged closer, reaching out with a careful pincer.

Hera paid little attention to her familiar or the minipet, choosing instead to ponder over her options in questions. What would she like to know? "Everything, preferably," she said after great consideration. "How is it like being a living plant? No, I suppose that is a stupid question - what are your abilities?" That was a better one.

Atlas was not quite certain what to do next; it seemed imperative to be gentle with this mini, for it did not have any protective armour and pincers could be dangerous. Clicking his mandibles, he sent pictures of distress to Hera, making the druidess sigh and exclaim, "it's not that fragile, I'm sure."

And then she remembered that she'd quite been in the middle of a conversation and turned her focus back to Amy, "truly? That sounds rather marvelous - how fast does your natural ability allow you to grow them?" Her head was cocked slightly to the side as she internally compared the older ghoul's ability to her own.

In return, Atlas gave the mini a gentle headbutt with his crown, determined to return the friendly gesture.

"Hmm," Hera tapped her lip absent-mindedly, thinking, "that sounds rather a lot like my own natural ability. Any plant that I care for will grow much quicker than normal and will be less likely to die, as well. It is rather handy for growing potion ingredients; I had thought to perhaps look into how to train the ability more, but perhaps that will simply come with time?" She shrugged, before looking to Amy, "do you keep any plants of your own?"