Submission (#3653) Approved

Fireflies danced just out of reach from the windowsill where a pair of bright curious violet eyes watched them bouncing to and fro. “Kaori, you can play in a bit, come help!” her ears perked and she tilted backwards slightly to see her father peering down at her with an accusing glare. “I’m on break!” It was a playful response but the featherduster her father nudged towards her along the ground said he was less than amused. “Break over little Bell, join your mother outside or help me in here.'' With that, the much larger Elnin turned with a flick of his long tail, making sure it knocked over the small kittom. Of course Kaori only laughed and rolled about before dashing after him to catch up. If she was going to tidy up the home they had been staying in at least she could help outside where it wasn’t so dusty! With the miasma creeping in they had parked the caravan and been inside for what felt like forever and she was more than happy to feel fresh air hit her face once she leapt out the open door. 

Faced with the glittering dark velvet sky of the region twinkling above, she wistfully hoped that they would come back or perhaps stay even longer. Silveil had to be one of her favorite places they had visited so far with towering glowing mushrooms and such funny looking frogs hiding in ponds. She would miss it dearly. 

Outside of the small home they had rented, many other Elnin seemed to be sweeping away dried leaves or cleaning up empty boxes from storing things away during the miasma season. More importantly, she spotted a rake that looked just her size leaning against one of the trees in the yard. Prancing towards it, she knocked it over, picking up the handle in her mouth and dragging it along the ground. Back and forth she went, watching the leaves pile up on one end before she dragged the rake back along the yard to the other side. Soon enough instead of one large pile of dark colored leaves and old petals, she had several much smaller piles scattered about. Proud of herself, she dropped the rake from her mouth, plopping down and gazing over her handwork. 

Though the yard did look better she didn’t feel overly satisfied as she should. While she pondered over what else she could do to help, she heard the sound of rustling around the side of the home, causing her to glance that way with a tilted head of interest. Perhaps her siblings had found something else to do! 

Giving a tiny stretch before padding around the corner with a small hum, she came upon the scene of several of her kittom siblings–adopted and otherwise–trying to clean up the backyard with her mother. Pulling up weeds from the small fence and plucking up rotted mushrooms near the bushes to then toss into small baskets. It seemed that there was an entire system in place and Kaori was eager to help. “What can I do?” she chirped up at the large lavenders and pinks that made up her mothers fluffy form. “Oooh little Kaori!” with a quick nuzzle from the shimmering Elnin, she was nudged towards the center of the backyard. “Gather some of the fallen sticks for the baskets, don’t hurt yourself!” 

Kaori only gave a quick nod and smile in response as it seemed her mother had taken to watching the kittoms as her work–or hiding simply from the cleaning inside with Taiki. 

While the yard wasn’t very large it did look like the recently passed season had done its number on it. At first Kaori wasn’t sure how it could take very long to finish up, afterall there couldn’t be that much that had fallen down and such, could there? 

One by one she picked up one stick then three, then ten. Laying each one carefully in the basket but everytime she thought she was nearly done she spotted another. Or a cool looking rock that could go in the basket as well. Perhaps some of the leaves that were scattered around didn’t want to be left in the yard all alone? Little by little her basket began to fill until soon she stood at the edge, dropping one final odd shaped stick with a leaf still clinging to the end. Tired now and nearly out of breath from running all about the yard and dodging the other working kittoms, she sat back on the soft grass. She gazed up at the little lights of the fireflies dancing about her head as if teasing her for working so much today instead of napping with them like usual. 

“All done?” Taiki came walking over, sitting down next to his still very tiny daughter and placing a paw on her hair that seemed to have a breeze all its own. He knew that her little tuft never laid flat but they still attempted to get the unruly hair to lay for at least a moment. “Mhmm, can we play now? Or maybe tell a story?” she gazed upwards at him with admiration, causing the Elnin to shake his head and a few cobwebs seemed to come free. Someone had to do the dusting inside when little Kaori had abandoned him for a different chore. “Yes yes, go get cozy and I’ll tell a story you haven’t heard before the trip back tonight…” 

Without much more prompting she was off, jumping over the other yard tools and towards the parked caravan, all too excited to be rewarded with a good tale of her parents adventures.