Recovery Heart

When the fruit of the heart flower reaches a certain maturity, it will detach itself from the stem of the heart flower, becoming what is known as a recovery heart and float away. 
== Properties ==
Recovery hearts have curative effects. When consumed by a Lyrean elf one fruit will fill a depleted fullheart that has been emptied due to damage or physical trauma. The surprisingly light weight of the fruit causes it to be found all over the planet. 
== Distribution ==
The fruit is most often found in open fields of grass or buried underground in small mounds of earth, possibly due to animal interference. The other races value the fruit, storing them in pots and other containers. 
== Speculation of why recovery hearts are found on creatures. ==
Recovery hearts can be found in the spoils of creatures found in Welt, there are several  theories concerning this phenomenon.
=== Creatures eat recovery hearts to heal ===
One theory is that creatures seem to eat them, as hearts have been found in the carcasses of creatures found in the wild. The recovery hearts effects work on the creatures of Welt, as wounded creatures will seek them out in order to heal themselves.
=== Recovery hearts must be eaten to continue their life cycle ===
Another theory is that intact recovery hearts are found in creatures are part of the heart flowers life cycle. When a creature dies, hearts are not released, further suggesting physiological interaction with hearts which are not seen in other species. To this effect, perhaps it is proof of further steps in the development of the heart flower. Hearts found in some species of fairy folk could be a more advanced stage of reproduction, where hearts are permanently assimilated to the host body. Hearts in other creatures could be a middle stage of reproduction, where the hearts are developing.
=== The recovery heart takes control of the creature ===
A theory building upon the former idea is that the hearts act on the host's brain and push it to attack other creatures, because the heart needs to integrate a Lyre elf host in order to complete its life cycle. The aggressive behavior of hosts causes damage to the Lyre elf, which can then be healed by recovery hearts; effectively forcing the Lyre to engage in the heart's reproductive cycle. But once again, this theory hinges on the fact that Lyre elves take part in the life cycle, which wasn't the case until they returned to the surface.
=== Heart flower spores grow like cancer inside creatures ===
Another, darker theory is that heart plant spores grow inside creatures into recovery hearts, like a parasite. This would explain their hostility towards Lyre elves, which they see as predators looking to eat the recovery hearts found within their bodies.
It is theorized that, should a recovery heart be preserved for long enough, it will mature into its next stage, the quarterheart. 
Category:Flora and Fungi of Welt
Category:Heart Flower
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