define('WP_CACHE', true); Chapter 27: Spring Fest – Crossed Paths – Logs

Feb 12

Chapter 27: Spring Fest

Chapter 27: Spring Fest

In Which Donfin Celebrates The New Year.

———————————————————————————————

Arrin Woodgreen: He returns to the house about an hour later, hanging his cloak up at the door. “I’m home!”

Yazeth: Arrin calls from the kitchen in response. “We’re in here!”

Soquan walks in to find Jozra stirring something for Arrin on the stove whilst the otter mends a torn sleeve.

Arrin Woodgreen:  He flops into a seat and reclines slightly, his ears pivoting as he listens.

Yazeth:  Arrin ties a knot and inspects her handiwork before setting the tunic aside and moving to the stove to check on whatever it is Jozra is stirring.

Arrin Woodgreen: He grins and crosses his arms. “Anyone else remember what tomorrow is?”

Yazeth: Jozra stands aside as Arrin takes the pot off of the flames and quirks an eyebrow at Soquan’s question. Arrin pauses for a moment, thinking. “Not… Spring Fest?”

Arrin Woodgreen: He grins widely, nodding. “Yes, Spring Fest.”

Yazeth: Arrin looks surprised. “I was sure that wasn’t for another week!”

Jozra merely looks confused. “What’s Spring Fest?”

Arrin Woodgreen: He laughs. “Care to explain, Arrin?”

Yazeth: The otter laughs. “You’re the tour guide. I think you can explain to our guest. Besides, I need to get this in the oven.”

Arrin Woodgreen: He grins at the ferret. “Spring Fest is basically celebrating spring’s arrival. Gifts are exchanged throughout the day, and at night, there is a big feast with dancing and games, and other things.”

Yazeth: The ferret moves to help steady the pot as Arrin pours its contents into a large pan. “Sounds fun.”

Arrin Woodgreen: He nods. “Aye, it always brings back memories.”

Yazeth: Arrin scrapes the remnants out of the pan and places it into the oven. “I thought I’d send some of my maple oat bars with you guys.”

Arrin Woodgreen: He grins. “Wonderful!”

Yazeth: Jozra grins. “She’s also packed us another pouch of nuts and some… What did you call them again? Wandering cakes?”

Arrin Woodgreen: He nods. “Tha’d be what she packed. They keep easy and last you a while.”

Yazeth: *”The ferret nods as she collects the shirt and folds it. “Thought I’d go pack up my stuff.”

Arrin Woodgreen: He nods. “Okay.”

Yazeth: Jozra exits the kitchen and heads to the bedroom where she gathers the clothing she set aside earlier that day and packs it carefully into her bag.

Arrin Woodgreen: He slips in after her a few moments afterward. “So you really want to head back so soon?”

Yazeth: The ferret nods. How to explain the haste necessary without arousing suspicion? “I’ve been away for so long.”

Arrin Woodgreen: He nods and seats himself on the bedside. He produces a small box from seemingly nowhere and holds it out to her. “I figured since we’re gonna be on the move tomorrow, I’ll give this to you now.”

Yazeth: The ferret quirks an eyebrow and takes the box. “I didn’t know about Spring Fest…” She trails off in a rather embarrassed manner.

Arrin Woodgreen: He laughs. “It’s okay.”

Yazeth: Curious, Jozra opens the box.

Arrin Woodgreen:  Inside is a simple silver necklace, with a scorpion figurine on the end.  Oh the irony.

Yazeth: The ferret’s eyes widen. It is beautiful and far more than she expected but… a SCORPION? Does he know?! “It’s… It’s beautiful.”

Arrin Woodgreen: He smiles at her. “I’m glad you like it.”

Yazeth: Jozra nods speechlessly. Best pretend the scorpion doesn’t mean anything significant to her. See what he knows. She slips the necklace around her neck.

Arrin Woodgreen: He grins and leans over, giving her a soft kiss on the lips.  He then clasps a paw to her shoulder and rises, speaking softly before leaving the room to go help Arrin in the kitchen. “Spring Fest luck.”

Yazeth: The ferret sits in stunned silence for several minutes, conflicting emotions warring their way through her skull. She stares at the little scorpion pendant. Traveling companion and dear friend; of course. Safety against the darkness within; apparently so. But as a… lover? She just doesn’t know.

Eventually she shakes herself out of her reverie, more confused than ever. She decides to wear the pendant for now, but it will go back in the box and into an inner pocket of her pouch for safe keeping. She wouldn’t want to lose THAT on a bramble in their journey.  She stands and meanders her way into the kitchen.

Arrin Woodgreen: Soquan stands by the counter, placing some of the fresh-made bread into a wrapper.

Yazeth: Jozra shoots a troubled glance at Soquan but is just as confused as earlier. She moves to the stove where Arrin is cutting the maple oat bars into, well, bars. “Need a hand?”

Arrin Woodgreen: She smiles. “That would be wonderful. I need to start working on some other things.”

Yazeth: The ferret nods and takes over. She deftly wields the knife and slices up the contents of the pans. Once she’s completed that, she begins to stack the bars on some clean linen on the counter placed there by Arrin for the purpose of wrapping up the bars.

Arrin Woodgreen: Soquan finishes wrapping the bread and moves on to wrapping the dried fish Arrin has put out for them.

Yazeth: Soon Jozra has completed her task and has wrapped up the maple bars tightly into two packages. She glances to Arrin, ready for her next task.

Arrin Woodgreen: Arrin motions briefly to a small bit of cheese on the counter before returning to what she was doing.

Yazeth: The ferret takes another bit of clean linen and wraps the cheese tightly, setting it aside with the maple bars.

Arrin Woodgreen: After a while, Arrin dismisses her two helpers. “You two better rest up if you want to get an early start tomorrow.”

Yazeth: Jozra nods in agreement, wiping her paws clean on a towel.

Arrin Woodgreen: Soquan nods and does the same, hugging his sister goodnight before heading off to their room.

Yazeth: Jozra follows at a slight distance, still caught up in her thoughts.

Arrin Woodgreen: The otter yawns and walks into the bedroom, flopping onto the bed with a groan.

Yazeth:  The ferret chuckles. “Tired?” She moves to her pack and puts the necklace in the box before securing it in an inner pocket of the pack. Briefly, she checks that she has everything packed.

Arrin Woodgreen:  He nods and shifts over, making room for her. “Yeah, what about you? You sleepy at all?”

Yazeth: The ferret nods as she reties the cords holding her pack closed. “Exhausted. Running up and down hills will do that, you know.”

Arrin Woodgreen: He chuckles. “How true.”

Yazeth: Jozra stretches, working the kinks out of her back and neck before approaching her side of the bed.

Arrin Woodgreen: He yawns again and climbs under the covers.

Yazeth:  The ferret climbs into bed. “Goodnight.”

Arrin Woodgreen: He grins and pats her on the arm, rolling over so his back is to her. “‘Night, Jozra…”

Yazeth: Jozra pulls the covers up to her chin and promptly falls asleep.

Arrin Woodgreen: It takes him a bit longer, but he falls asleep as well.  He wakes up in the middle of the night and mutters something about too much tea before leaving the room.

Yazeth: The ferret is awakened by this departure. She lays in the dark and decides not to risk trying to go back to sleep without Soquan. How did she ever get used to those horrible nightmares before?

Arrin Woodgreen:  He comes back a few minutes later and crawls back into bed, unaware that she’s awake. He lies on his back with his arms behind his head. He sighs softly, hid mind wandering.

Yazeth: With the return of the otter, Jozra soon drifts back to sleep.

Arrin Woodgreen: He remains awake, suddenly alert for some reason. Something was bugging him, but what?

Yazeth: The ferret dreams lightly of miles and miles of sand.

Arrin Woodgreen: He reminisces about the past when he could see. But now, being blind sometimes makes him feel a bit inadequate.

Yazeth: Forget Blaine, which she has never seen, this place was home.

Arrin Woodgreen: Finally after a good half hour of brooding, the otter turns over and goes to sleep.

Yazeth: The ferret sleeps soundly, dreaming intermittently about the desert.

Jozra

Leave a Reply