Submission (#3537) Approved

She sighs softly looking up at the clouds as she pauses her work. It was nice seeing clear skies again, the awful weather that had finally passed really did a number everywhere.

Her eyes flick down to see flower petals everywhere, some branches here and there that had broken off because of the strong winds. Don’t even get her started on the muddy terrain in some areas, the farmlands had seen better days too.

She really needs to focus though, brushing the petals and leaves aside to pick up. She had gathered a good couple branches nearby, a pile of leaves so tempting to jump into to play around in not too far from the branches. It was a little saddening seeing the faerie shrouds look so… sparse? Maybe not the best word, a better one would be sad or depressed.

They were the reason behind so many petals and flowers just scattered across the paths of the area. Well, aside from the almost pink blankets from the trees. 

She was sure she had come across a tree that was void of its usual faerie shrouds.

Ya, she could easily go help out in the towns to tidy up, but who was going to help the wild? It needed some tender love and care, especially when it came to planting new flowers to replace the ones that unfortunately got ripped out from the wind, or even washed away from the terrible rain. She can always go back to visit the bustling streets to grab some food anyway.

Puffing her cheeks she goes back to brushing up the stubborn plants that really didn’t want to stick around and stay where the paths would be clear. Her paws were all muddied and it only spread to the petals, becoming a sort of ugly brown, pink mixture that honestly sort of horrified her. It was an attack on her eyes. She can’t expect to plant flowers that were so vibrant and bright when her paws were such an ugly, uncomfortable brown soggy paste. Such a stark contrast to their usual soft white. It was her own fault for straying out this far anyway, so close to the bordering forests of pink, where you could just about see the eldertree in the distance if you squint your eyes. Way beyond the fields of flowers that had some serious patches. It only settled in how much work she had to do… not that she was alone!

No, there were plenty others she could spot that were chatting amongst themselves as they did their own part of cleaning up. Probably finished cleaning their home area to be able to help the fields.

She didn’t have a home here to tidy, she sort of up and left after tidying her own home back in Strynhalde to come here. She always liked it here and she felt compelled to visit. She wasn’t sure why… It was like a calling? Some weird vibes going on inside of her. A disgusted look washes across her face hearing a squelch when she took a step into a muddy puddle, sinking slightly into it. 

Her nose crinkles up, the corner of her mouth quirks up too, yanking her paw out and shaking it, mud splattering to the side. A gust of wind blows by, bringing petals along with it in a would be beautiful dance any other time, but was just a major inconvenience at this moment in time. The pink, blue and yellow flower petals stuck to her muddied paws, stained with brown and only getting worse when she let herself stand on all fours again. 

She might as well dig some holes for the flowers while her paws are already a mess, save herself from washing them more than needed. The disgusting feeling of wet dirt wasn’t leaving anytime soon, especially when she dug a hole, followed by another. It was only getting into the space between her toes. A shiver ran up her spine. No time to dwell on such things.

She gently picks a potted flower up, pulling it as soft as possible out of its temporary home to put it into the brand new hole. It’s home from now on. 

With two paws she shoves the dirt and pushes down carefully to flatten the earth around the now planted flower. It was kind of like putting someone to bed. She guesses? Like tucking someone in? 

Ya no, focus, this was getting out of hand. She was far too flighty minded, she needed to pull her own weight more rather than leaving it to the other elnins working not too far from her. She honestly wasn’t too sure how long she spent transferring the potted flowers into their new homes in the ground, but when she looked back up again she couldn’t help but groan at the sight.

The flowers and petals she had brushed aside were once again, on the path. What is she even meant to do with them? She definitely didn’t bring enough bags with her to put them into, or even transfer to compost? That’s something you can do right? She wasn’t a big farmer or gardener YET, she was more so a barker, a cook! This was new territory for her. She was also far too nervous and shy to ask the others nearby what to do… if only she had asked Yuzu for help, but the other girl was far too busy with her own messes to clean.

Now that she thinks of it, does she even know anyone from here? Amaryllis, but she was busy too. No one really brings her here, she comes here more so for the scenery than anything else. Inspiration for food, to see things other than snow and ice back home.

She sighs, wandering back to the mess of colours on the path, she’ll finish this then head back for food, she could feel hunger sneaking up on her.