Central Park was a great rectangular mass of green growth haphazardly dumped next to the Kohaku River. Much like the ship on which it was situated, it gave Clef the odd sense of something having been lost in translation - that his surroundings were so far removed from their original context that his appreciation of them could only be coincidental.

For instance, the zoo consisted of a landscaped courtyard surrounded on all sides by man-made structures. Though secluded and luxuriant with growth, the empty buildings and walkways maintained little evidence of their original purpose while being only tangentially suitable as a place for three people to sit and talk. Yet, the Conservancy served their purposes well for a number of reasons.

"Stacy?"

Silence.

"We should be able to talk freely here," Clef said, mostly for Presea's benefit, as he leaned his staff up against a wall. "In theory."

Central Park had been transformed.

Ever since the visit to XaXing, Jara Hamee had been toiling away here, busily working the land, planting seeds, and tending budding trees of every description, from towering redwoods to humble apple trees to trees only those born on other planets might recognize. Most of them were shockingly fast growers--while the trees certainly weren't mature yet by any means, they're mostly no longer mere saplings, either.

And here he had remained! Any visitors to this humble forest-to-be may have easily noticed the Hork Bajir, and probably would be completely disabused of the notion that this menacing-looking alien was in any way a threat under ordinary circumstances. For one thing, he was singing--a bright, rhythmic, almost joyful sounding tune--in his native tongue, a language pretty much nobody on the ship would be likely to understand. For another, he was dancing, as well--an energetic, dynamic interpretive dance that looked like it had a story to tell, full of graceful swooping motions and widely-spread limbs, moving fluidly in and out, high and low, around and around. It didn't quite look like something that could traditionally be considered worship, but it certainly seemed close.

With enough patience, it could be seen that he was dancing around an individual tree, and the whole ritualistic affair was apparently directed towards it. He was rather absorbed in the whole display; it might end up taking him a bit to notice anyone approaching.


((OOC: I am really sorry for falling off the face of the planet, guys. If anyone wants me to continue threads with them from before, please let me know; otherwise, I'll just assume that I fail and move on.))