Wild Child shook off the leaf that was stuck in his mane as he emerged from between the bushes. The warm sun hit his face as soon as he appeared on the meadow hidden between the mountains. That day was great, despite Rekes’ harsh mountainous climate. The wind only mildly ruffled his rust fur and was not too cold - a perfect weather for gathering flowers and herbs! The fur at the tip of his tail bristled up as he felt the cold dew on the grass wet his feet, yet this discomfort quickly disappeared as he noticed a small sea of blue flowers. Forget-me-nots! They were on his list. He instantly started picking the flowers and putting them into a small plastic baggie.

However as the plastic baggie was filling up with the freshly picked flowers, he had one worry in his mind. He had found everything he had on his list except for one thing - bitterroot. Looking at the fact that it was underlined twice on the list the researcher gave him, it had to be very important. Still, he hasn’t seen them anywhere on today’s trip and was out of ideas for where to look for them. Ah, he shouldn’t have insisted on going alone, maybe Pumpernickel would have known where to look for them. 

But just as he was planning his next move, he noticed two strangers passing by - a lavender Tsabhua with a dark mane and a fluffy mud Tark’ee with rosettes. Wilde has seen these out in the wild before - Stormbreaker and Irko! Last time he bumped into them he actually managed to remember their names, which is an accomplishment for someone as quick as him. He wasn’t planning on chatting with them, he had to find those flowers. However, his plans changed as soon as he noticed pink flowers in Stormbreaker’s hands.

Bitterroot.

Without thinking for too long, the rust whelp hopped right in front of them, almost tripping over his own feet. Thankfully, he managed to stop right before such a disaster would happen. 

„Where did you get these? Where can I find them?” He asked, his eyes glued for a solid moment to the bright petals that were held by the lavender bull. Then he realized that this was a bad way to start a conversation and his ears flattened. „Oh, sorry - I got too excited… I don’t know if you two remember me but we have met before! I’m Wild Child, but call me Wilde - with a silent e!”

„Of course I remember you, Wilde!” Irko lowered her head to have a better look at him, her beak almost touching him. „We’ve met… I think two days ago”

„And I met you four days ago,” Stormbreaker added. „Are you looking for bitterroots, I assume?”

„Yes!” He nodded vigorously. Did he really meet these so recently? He felt like he had met them a few weeks ago, not days. Seems like time was flowing slowly for the whelp. He quickly rummaged through his bag and showed the note the researcher gave him. „The researcher taking care of the colony I’ve been a part of gave me this list of what I am supposed to bring back, see? Bitterroot is underlined twice, which means that it’s very important.”

„Well, bitterroot is a very useful herb,” the bull agreed with a slow nod. „It can soothe pain, as well as be used to help with heart problems”

„Really?” He asked, his blue eyes widening. He was not too knowledgeable when it came to treatments, but treating the heart sounded much more serious than helping with a mere stomach ache. „That sounds great, it’s going to be very very useful! Can you show me where I can find them?”

„Actually, I’ve got a bit too much of them on me, I can share them with you.” He was about to pick some of the gathered flowers and give them to him, when Irko stopped him with a light slap of serpentine tail in the wrist.

„I think it would be much more valuable if we showed Wilde where to find this herb, so that he can find it in the future, don’t you think?” She tilted her head, before turning once again to the little whelp. „Don’t worry, it’s actually not too far from here”

The Tark’ee gestured towards the woods with her beak and Wild Child instantly understood that this had to be where they had found the bitterroot. 

„Even if it was far away, I would still go! I’m not tired at all!” He claimed, before suddenly sprinting away. „I’m gonna get there first!”

He barely even heard the synchronized „Wait!” From Stormbreaker and Irko as he dashed between the dark green branches of the rekke trees, the coniferous branches scratching at his sides. The air there was more humid and there was less light sneaking in between the branches - would any flowers really grow there? The rust whelp ran and did not look behind himself, hopping over any branches and roots. When he noticed a familiar pinkish-purple hue, he stopped, barely avoiding hitting a tree’s trunk. A bunch of bitterroots was growing right next to some twisted roots sprouting from the ground, basking in the bit of sunlight that reached them. 

He did not waste his time and immediately pulled out one of his trusty plastic baggies, starting to pluck the flowers’ heads.

„Wait! Stop!”

Wilde’s ears stood up at the sound of a familiar voice and when he turned around - Stormbreaker and Irko were already there. They looked a bit… shocked? But he was all fine and in one piece! And he found the flowers!

„Are these the wrong flowers?” He tilted his head in confusion, showing off the petals in his hands. „I’m pretty sure they are the same as you gathered?”

„Well yes, but…” the hen started, just for the lavender Tsabhua to interrupt her.

„Don’t just take the flowers - their roots are useful and have medical properties as well!” He explained, walking a little closer to him. „Well, there is a reason that there is root in their name. And it’s bitter just like the name suggests”

„Ooh…” suddenly, Wild Child felt a little bit stupid as he looked at the petals in his hands. He has ruined a bunch of the needed herbs - unless he dug out their roots left in the soil. „That makes sense, most medicine is bitter. So if bitterroots have bitter roots, then they probably have medical properties”

„Well… That might not always be the case” he tapped his claws together. „Sometimes bitter might also mean that they’re poisonous. But in the case of bitterroot this theory might work. Bringing them back with the roots also gives you the chance to plant them in your colony and grow them, which might be pretty useful”

„You’re right…” He agreed. „… Can I still ask for some of the ones you’ve gathered? I’ve already ruined quite a bit of them”

„You didn’t ruin them completely” The Tark’ee slithered a bit closer. „Making mistakes is also a method of learning! I can help you dig out the leftover roots as well”

Wilde felt his tail start wagging a little. 

„Yes please!” 

And thus, the little whelp has received the help and guidance of Stormbreaker and Irko and returned to the colony’s base with all the herbs he needed, as well as with some extra knowledge for future foraging trips.