The falcon gave the snake a smiled when he said that he did not know to much about wild plants. He knew that not many really knew that much about plants and their uses. However claws had read many books about wild plants and had learned witch one were use for what. And now he could tell the snake as much as he wanted . Though claws did not want to bore his new friend either.” yeah … not …..many….know …a whole ….lot …..about ….them. … I ….have….. Spent….. a lot….of….. Time …studying….. Them…… myself. …..I …..know …..a …..lot….. Of ….the…… herbs…… and ……things……. That ……are ….goods ……for …..you….. I…. also….. Know…. A….. lot …..of….. Plants …..that …..you …….can …..eat ….as …..well….. Heh ….yeah ….a lot …..of ……plants….. Can ……itch ……you …..or…… have….. a lot ….of …..thorns……. But …….some ….of …..those …..same …..plants …..can ……be …… helpful ……if …….you …..know …..how …..to…. Use ….them…… correctly” claws said with a smile on his beak. The falcon did not really like to brag a whole lot about what he knew. However he did like to teach others anything he knew that could help them in the future. Though claws did not get that chance very often due to how shy he was.

"I'd like to know more if you'd be interested in teaching me. Heh, only fair when I gave you information on caves and such? And it's something to pass the time while we go to the next cave. Tell me as much as you can, I'm an eager student." As far as plants on the ground that might be edible Athos was clueless. He could potentially figure out what a mint or spearmint was but beyond that he wouldn't even pick up a mushroom for fear of it being poisonous. He never even figured out what kinds of plants were used in his previous line of work, just typically picked up the powders or liquids after they'd been processed. Once things were in a tube or a vial he knew exactly what to do with them and how to use them to their fullest extent, anything before that was a mystery to him.

Claws gave the snake a smile when he said that he would like for the falcon to teach him all he knew about wild plants. Well that was defiantly not what he expected to hear. However he was more the happy to teach him all he knew. “ really? …..You …..want…… me …….to ……teach ……you? …….Hehe…… yeah……. it ……is……. fair ……that ……is …….for…… sure……. Yeah…… that …..is …….right…….. Well…….. I……. know……. that …….you …..you ….can …..use …….pine …….needles …..to ……..make……. a……. tea…… out ……..of ………. It …..is ……….full…….. of ……..vitamins ……and…… such. …….You ……can ……also …..break….. opened…… pine ……cones …..and ……eat …..the ….nuts ……from …….them……. Then…… there …..are …….herbs ……that …….tend ……to …..grow….. wild …..in …..the ……forest …..such …..as ………….onions …..dill ……garlic….. that ……all …..grows ……hear. …..Though …… mushrooms….. on….. the ….other….. hand …..are….. a ….little …..tricky….. to …..tell …..cause ….most ……of …..them ……are….. poisonous. ….However…. there ….are ….some ….that …..you ….can ….eat ….if ….you ….know ….what ….to …..look ….for.” claws said. He then stopped and smiled at the snake letting him process what he had just told him. He was also giving him time to ask any question he might have. Claws knew that wild plants could be kind of tricky to work with considering that so many of them were poisonous . But even some of the poisons one could be worked with if they were processed right. And claws did know how to do just that. You see the falcon had to have some way to survive when he did not believe in working unless he had to. Not that he was lazy he just did not want to waste his life hulled up in some office some where.

"I'm going to have to remember that. Find a pine tree in the wilderness if you're in need of food and something healthy to drink. Guess trees are probably the safest thing to look for aren't they? I've heard, and I forget if it's a willow or an oak but one of the two used to be you'd use the bark to make aspirin or something. Wish I could remember which one, and sap from maple trees ending up as syrup if you collect it right and over time? Definitely didn't know about the dill, onions, or garlic though." Athos wished he had a notepad so he could write some of these things down. It'd probably be one of the more useful and practical lessons he'd get from anyone for a long time.

Claws smiled to the snake as he listened to him speak now. He seemed to be happy that claws was sharing his knowledge with him. And of course claws was happy that he was teaching the snake something that could help him one day. “ heh ……….yeah ………that ……..is ……..right………. Yeah ………most……. Trees …….are …….useful ……..if ………you …….know ……..what ……to ……..use……. From …..them. …….Heh …….yeah……… willow……. trees …..help …….with ……headaches……. if …….you….. use ……..the …….bark …..of …….them. ….. You …..can …….use ……..the …….acorns …….off ……..of …….the ……..oak ……trees……… though……… if you ……..soak ……..then …..in …..water ……first ……..cause……. if ……you …….do not …….they ……are …….poisonous. …..Yeah ……maple ……..trees……. make……… maple ,……syrup…….. if ………you …….collect ……the ……sap. “ claws said with a smile. He was really enjoying telling the snake what he knew about wild plants. He knew that what he knew was very hard to learn though because he had spent a lot of his free time as a kid learning these things. But he was still trying to learn all of the facts about plants that he could. If only the school had an herb class or something that taught others about wild plants the falcon would have it made. Though he was sure that not many kids these days would ever want to learn thing like that when they could just go and buy what they needed cat a store or something like that he supposed.

"So any general tips on the things that aren't trees? Or any trees that I should specifically avoid? The more I know the better, especially if I keep coming out here on a regular basis. Might mean needing to pack fewer things or at least replace a few things in my pack with other useful tools." Or it might mean he'd have to come with even more gear to properly use some of the things he'd learn. And with the list of new information he might have to pack a notepad and attach a few pictures just so he'd keep everything organized the first few trips out. He knew how to set up security cameras that nobody would see and would help him know of trouble out here, but he wasn't sure how to survive on plants alone. The snake would sooner find a source of water and use it as his basic survival, boil the water and if he was lucky fish from it for food.

Claws gave the snake a slight smile when he asked for tips on things that were not trees. All he could really tell him was that those kind of plants had to be judged by looks and smells mostly. As in mint would have a ninety smell to it and onions would well smell and look like onion when you tried to pull them up. “well …..really…… you……. Have …….to …….know……. What…… what…….. You …..are …..looking…….. For …..looks ……like…….. generally. …….You…… see ……with……. plants ……you …..have ……to …..be…… careful …..cause ……a …..lot….. of …….then …….are……. poisonous. …..And ……as…… far …….as…… trees……. go…….. if ……..they …….have…….. thorns….. on …….them ……I …….would …….leave…… them …..alone ……..cause …….most …….of ……then ……are….. poisonous…… Heh….. I ….am …..glad…… that….. I …….am ……helping. …….Though….. I….. am….. still ……studying ….my …..books ……so…… I …..can …..learn …..more …..about…… plants. …..I …….do …….have…… a ……..few…… books …….that….. you……. can ……read…… if ……you ….want …….that…….. will……. show ……you …….exactly …what ……the…… plants ……look …..like.” claws said with a slight smile.. He was still learning the finer points on finding wild plants. But claws knew enough to where he could live off them if he had to. He was the opposite of the snake for claws was a terrible hunter himself.

"I'd love to borrow them. That is, if you're not reading them right now, and when we get back of course. This is still going to be a huge improvement though. Used to be I couldn't really try anything out here and now I'll know at least a few things that are safe for me. Guess a lot of it's gonna be based on sight and smell so I'd better make a copy of the books or memorize it all really well, heheh." They were halfway to the next interesting cave he knew of. Athos was enjoying his time so far and looked forward to what else the kid might be able to teach him. And what he might be able to teach the falcon too.

The falcon gave the snake a smile now . He was enjoying the snakes company and it was a welcome change form being alone most of his life. Now that is not to say that the falcon did not enjoy his solitude every now and then. He figured though hat every one enjoyed being alone every so often.” Heh …… I ….. have ….. Several ….. That …. I …. am …. Finished …. With…… right ……now. ……..I …….am …….glade……. That ……. My……… knowledge ………..helped …………you……. Most …….do ……not …….care ……….about ……….things …….like …….that. ……..Yeah …….a ……lot………. of it is…….. Hehe……… it …….would ………be……. Kind ………of …….hard ……..to ……..memorizers…… all……. Of ……..that.” the falcon said with a smile. He did suppose though that there were some out there who could memorize whole books with out much of a problem. Heck it had taken the falcon most of his life though to memorize what little he did know about plants. And lucky for him he did not have any bad experiences so far. Though he did remember one couple he lived with that would use certain plants to make poisons that could kill others. Needless to say the falcon left those two as fast as he could so that he did not become their next victim. That was the thing about claws. You did not gain his trust very easy. Though he did trust the snake for the moment.

"I usually learn better from experience, something that happens to me or something I do is much more memorable than what I see in a book somewhere. It does help to read about things in advance but if I went out looking for most of the plants I'd probably remember them. I do know nature tends to have patterns, eventually I'd pick up on the ones to be avoided and the ones that wouldn't harm me. Kind of like looking at a cave and figuring out its story. I'll show you if you like when we get to the next one." Part of why he loved doing projects for his physics class, he knew a lot of students couldn't learn by staring at words and trying to memorize them, or by a teacher going on and on in a monotone voice.

The falcon followed the snake as he listened to him speak now. It seemed that the snake learned in about the same manner that he did. Claws simple found that he got bored if he tried to memorize something by reading it over and over again. The only reason he remembered what he did about the plants was that he used them when he was traveling. Though there were times when he would have to go and look in his books for certain things. “ yeah ….. It …is ……..easier ……..that …….way. ………..Heh………. They………. Are……… pretty…….. Easy…….. To …….identify ……..once …….you ……know…….. what ………you ………are ………looking ……..for. ………Yeah…… that …….is ………not ……..all …….that …….hard …..to …….do ……..really……… Hum …….it …….is? ………Yeah……. I ……..would ……….like………. that …….a …….lot” he said with a smile. Claws was kind of wondering now what this new cave would look like. He did hope that it would not be one of those tight ones that you had to try to squeeze in to. He figure that it might hurt his wings to try to do something like that. He would really hate to ruin the day by getting stuck in some small tight hole in the ground. That was probably one of the worse things that he could think of right one though. So he cleared that from his mind for now. Though he could fold them pretty tight to his body if he ever had to. He just did not really like to try to do things like that. But if that was what the snake wanted to do the falcon would probably try to follow him the best that he could.

Athos nodded, pointing up ahead. "There's the next cave. And we're in luck, not occupied. Can already tell, but there's a lot of ways to figure it out. Come on, I'll show you." The snake led the way at a quicker pace, excited to be able to return the favor and give a lesson of his own. "First and most obvious thing to look for is any bones at the entrance. Not always a reliable thing to look for but if you see them, probably best to turn around heh. Second thing to look for, any obvious tracks coming in and out, or signs of heavy use. Anything or anyone living in a cave like this would have to be leaving and returning pretty often, so if you see prints, or a well walked path, good indication. Usually easier to tell if you're in the woods though, up here on a mountain path it's more difficult. Now one of the tricky things to look for, instead of looking down you look up. Anything growing down over the entrance, like that root there, it's a good sign. People would have tried to get rid of the root so it wouldn't be in the way, and an animal would have either managed to knock it to the side by now or wouldn't want to occupy a cave with an entrance that could be damaged. Root's probably coming down from some old tree further up and out of sight, we'll have to check the entrance ourselves and make sure it's safe to go in but nothing else'll be there."

Claws now looked in the direction that the snake pointed in. he could see the cave that the snake was talking about . That was the best things about having great eye site. You could see things that were a ways away. Not that the cave was that far away mind you. It was actually quiet close to them. “ ahh…… I ……see. ……You…… can…….. tell? …….Wow……. Alright …….I……. am ……coming” the falcon said walking faster as the snake quicken his pace now. It seemed his new friend was in a hurry to show him what he was talking about. It did not bother the falcon much. As a bird of prey the falcon was quit a fast runner. Of course to tell the truth he did like flying better. But the snake of course was not running just simple walking fast. He then listened to the snake as he told him the sign to look for to see if the cave had something living in it. He really did not know what to look for to see if something was occupied though bones would have made him afraid to go near the cave that was for certain. Though a thought did go threw his head though. If someone wanted to live in a place like a cave and they did not wish to be noticed would they not cover their tracks or something. Though claws figured that would be kind of a hard task to try to do. And most crooks were rather lazy on that part. That was why they got caught. “ ahh…… alright……… Heh……. Yeah……. That…… makes ……séances. ……..Ahh……. Yeah…….. That …….makes ……since……. You ……would …..not ……..want…… that…… to ……grow…….. to ………far……. and…… make …….the …..whole ……..cave……. fall……. down……… on ……you…….. Humm….. Aright……. Well ……at least ……we….. will …..not …..be…… watched …..by………. anything……… that ………might …….hurt …..us” the falcon said. He could not help but think about all the things that could go wrong even if he knew that he was safe for the moment.

"Don't need to worry about that, even if we were watched nothing's gonna hurt you. There's a reason I'm part of school security after all, heh. Anthro dragons haven't been able to get past me at times, so I wouldn't really worry about anything out here." Even if all he had was one of his knives he was still more formidable than someone three times his size. Athos always knew exactly where, when, and how to strike if it was necessary and he didn't play around. In his book basically if that first strike didn't finish off the target he was ashamed of himself and let the opponent get in a hit before finishing it off. Not that he could discuss that part with the falcon, instead he was focusing on the cave. Athos pulled on the root hard, smiling as it failed to shift anything around it or even bring down any dust. "It's safe to enter, this place won't be coming down any time soon. Keep an eye on the ceiling as we go in though, the more roots the worse it is for us."

The falcon smiled as the snake reassured him that he was not going to let anything hurt him. The falcon trusted that the snake meant what he said. However he was one of those who always worried that something bad was going to happen to him when he went in to a potently dangerous place. For the moment though he was going to try to force himself to relax and enjoy his little outing to day. Though to tell the truth if he knew what the snake could do if he had to he would have not been surprised. Those who worked for security had to be pretty tough to deal with some of the students here. Claws had seen a few here who were less then desirable and only wanted to fight with others. Claws just simply was not like that. He would rather make friends then start fights. “ ahh …….alright…….. I ……….am ……….just……. kinda …..paranoid ……..about ……….certain……… things ……I ……..guess. ……….Wow……… well ……that……. is …….certainly …….good” the falcon said with a slight smile now. The falcon did not see a point in killing others himself. But he also knew that sometimes one did not have a choice. Really he just hoped that he would never have to be in a situation like that any time soon. He now watched the snake with a curious look as he pulled on the root at the entrance of the cave. Yeah that thing was not going anywhere that was for certain. “ ahh…….. I….. see. ……..Well ……that…… is ……a ……good ……..thing ……then. …….Okay…….. I will ……do …..that ……..then……… Roots ……make ……the ……ceiling …….weak …….right? “ the falcon question . He was sure that he knew the answer but he like to make sure just in case.