Submission (#4830) Approved

In an hotel room seated up in a tree, two paws pushed open a window. A whish of wind blew through the room, brushing up loose papers left lying around. Ebi let out a soft sigh, brushing her bangs out of her eyes.

So it was a chilly day in Bellmoril– at least enough to be noticeable from the usual weather. You wouldn't even be able to tell it was miasma season just by viewing the forests outside- the tall trees were still vibrant colors of ember with leaves speckling the ground and the branches of trees. However, the more noticeable effects of the miasma season were on the routes the caravans took along Eyre. She'd been in Bellmoril for a while, and it seems she'll be here for a bit longer. She glanced at her bag in the corner of her room filled with unwashed laundry, reconsidering taking it out to wash in such weather. She plucked out a leaf from her hair and tossed it back outside. Drying sheets now would just get them plastered with red leaves.

She closed the window and hustled to pick up the scattered recipe papers off the floor. If she would stay inside today, she may as well try and perfect the new pastry she's been wanting to craft. She'd gotten permission to use the kitchens from her friend who ran the hotel. It would be something to keep her mind off of the weather outside. She stacked up the papers back on the desk and placed her compass on it as a makeshift paperweight.

She wasn't entirely used to baking alone though. Handling all the work as a single Elnin tires her out pretty quickly. She glanced to the dresser in the room where her pomu lantern was situated... Although her gaze found it floating at the top of the ceiling.

"Ah!"

She quickly scurried to pull it back down by the string. It came loose from the small weighted pouch she had it tied down on. Even as a lantern, it seems Suki likes to keep getting into trouble...

She peered under the pink-and-white paper lantern at the deep pink gem. Though they crafted it together, she still felt a little lonely when she looked at the lantern. She missed Suki's little peeps greeting her in the morning when setting up their shop at home.

She pulled back her hair into a bun and dashed down the steps into the open lobby. Tables neatly lined the walls and a gentle scent of flowers were in the air. A couple Elnin were browsing around, but it seemed most weren't around at this time of day.

She pads into her kitchen and greets the other nin working for the day. She waddles over to a free oven and looks out the window above it. The different shades of orange leaves cascaded into a beautiful gradient. She was inspired. It was a good idea coming to Bellmoril.

The elnin washed her paws and waddled over to pull out the ingredients for dough. She rolled out the cutting board and spread out some flour.

"Hm... Last time, they all came out cracked and misshaped... Hopefully, the less sugar this time helps them stay in shape." She murmured to herself, wagging her tail.

She separated the dough into separate chunks and dropped in some food coloring, careful about the portions to matching the gradient of fiery red leaves outside the window. Ebi spread each slab of dough out and began to roll it flat, kneading in the colors smoothly. Very carefully, she began to shape out little leaves.

The elnin began to hum to herself, filling the room with a gently melody. She wanted to save up and buy a mana-stone recorder one day.. It would be nice to be able to play her favorite melodies to her patrons. There should be a shop somewhere in town that might sell it.. Or would they be cheaper in Strynhalde when she caught a caravan heading there? She quickly lit up the oven to preheat it for baking. Her tail bounced to her beat as she enjoyed herself.

She laid out an orange pine tree on the parchment paper, followed by an red birch, a merigold deducious, and a cider colored maple. Ebi kneaded out some carrot-colored dough, tilting her head curiously to study the trees she had shaped out.

"Ooh.. I wonder if I should add dashes of orange zest to represent flowers?"

The elnin grabbed a round citrus from a nearby fruit bowl and gave it a juggle to weigh it in her paws. "This one is just ripe." She grabbed her knife and a bowl, holding the fruit over it.

"Wait," She hesitated before she could peel the outer skin. "What if somenin mistook it for pollen..." It has happened before with real pollen once during spring season in Faerindell... Ebi had to call in a friend to shake off that grouchy nin. "But, pollen's not typically up in the air this season. Mhm... These trees don't usually flower either, I guess." Though the pink trees in her home region caused a ton of allergies, she did miss seeing them.

The elnin grated some zest and sprinkled a handful over the pastries. The scent of the fruit was strong. It would definitely accentuate the milky taste of the pastries. She laid the last carrot-colored dough down and gave it all a quick skim with melted butter.

Ebi gave herself a self-assuring nod. She was used to the process of baking, but really did miss having a second set of eyes to give her another opinion. She wouldn't want to serve anyone anything underwhelming after all! She popped the oven open and slid in the tray, then sat back to make sure the pastries were settled nicely through the small oven window.

Fifteen minutes should work. She set up her timer.

The elnin washed her paws and headed out of the kitchen back to her room. She grabbed her pomu lantern and tugged it along, taking it down with her to the lobby. She stared at the fresh crossiants on display made by the other chef nin and smiled. They reminded her of the little kittoms who'd come into her cafe every week to fight over the biggest chocolate crossiant.

She looked to the door outside. Crimson leaves laid still all over the ground from the gale this morning. The fact they were no longer being swished around meant the wind had calmed down. Traveling outside now wouldn't be too hard.

Ding! Her ears perked when she heard her timer go off. Ebi returned to the kitchen and checked the pastries baking through the glass.

"And.. done!" With oven mitts, the pink nin withdrew the tray from the oven. Like she expected with her recipe alteration, the pastry trees were in one full piece. She carefully began to transfer the pastries onto a cooling rack.

"Oh.. The gradient's a little dampened, might need to add more food coloring next time, hehe. I'm sure Michiru's would love them, I know she loves oranges."

She nods to the chef nin who was taking a break in the corner. "Thank you for letting me borrow the kitchen."

"Yeah, of course." He nods back to her.

She packed up the treats in her basket. With it in hand, she headed towards the front door of the hotel. She ensured her pomu lantern was wrapped securely around her tail, and pushed her way out into the foliage on the way to see her friend.