Submission (#6648) Approved

Luzia was running along the docks of Ealei, on her way to a friend. She was jumping over the mangrove roots and making her way across the rocks. In the distance she saw Elnins harvesting mussels and crabs and algae. Near the docks and rocks they had little farms and places where they grew the ocean wildlife, right along the colorful coral reefs that could be seen stretching for miles under the crystal clear ocean surface.
It was harvesting season in Eyre and elnins in every region were quite busy. Luzia herself had harvested manaberries a few days ago. 

Surrounded by lush and sunlit tree foliage, Luzia found herself high up in the branches of the eldertree of Elaei, Yggdrasil. The tree was abundant with ripe berries, providing Luzia with an enticing exploration opportunity. Laden with clusters of juicy berries, the tree stood as a natural treasure trove, beckoning the agile kittom to explore its heights. Luzia, with expert precision, maneuvered through the complex web of branches, effortlessly finding footholds among the leaves. While she made her way up, the air around her became filled with the sweet aroma of the ripe berries, luring the kittom to continue her upward journey. The sun's rays filtered through the dense leaves, casting a magical play of light on her dark fur. Luzia's determined eyes gleamed as he noticed a particularly tempting bunch of berries that were just out of his grasp. Leaping gracefully, Luzia reached the cluster she had been longing for. Using her nimble paws, she skillfully plucked the mana berries from the branches, one by one. The berries, displaying a variety of blue shades, clung to her fur around his mouth as he continued gathering them. One by one they filled the basket, while Luzia was very careful so she wouldn’t drop any of the precious manaberries. The small kittom enjoyed its surroundings, listening to the sounds of leaves rustling, birds chirping in the distance, and the gentle murmur of the ocean below. Luzias' ears twitched with satisfaction as she enjoyed the burst of sweetness from the freshly picked berries on her tongue. She just couldn't resist and snack on a few - after all, there were more than enough berries. Her basket was full to the brim and yet there were still so many berries around her. Quite satisfied with her harvest, she tried to find a safe way down again. 

She was reliving her harvest experience as she was arriving at one of the tree villages. She and her friend wanted to make jam out of the berries; her friend had collected berries as well and they had enough to warrant a cooking session. Luzia made her way across wooden hanging bridges and finally arrived at the little tree cottage. Her friend greeted her and invited her inside. Back in the cottage, Luzia asked her Pomu to retrieve an old, well-loved cookbook that had been tucked away in her shadow. Her friend perched on a stool, his ears twitching with anticipation as they followed the recipe for a simple and delicious berry jam.

The delightful scent of simmering berries and sugar soon filled the kitchen. Luzia, standing on her tiptoes, stirred the bubbling mixture with a wooden spoon while her friend provided insightful suggestions from his perch.

Luzia and her friend were amazed by the bright colors and pleasant smell that filled the air as the jam became thicker. They worked together flawlessly, their teamwork and shared excitement transforming the process of making jam into a delightful celebration of their friendship. Once the jam reached the perfect consistency, Luzia carefully poured it into small jars. Her friend, with his agile paws, helped secure the lids, and together they decorated the jars with colorful ribbons and labels.

With their homemade berry jam complete, Luzia and Thistle sat at the cottage table, they felt proud and content. They spread the jam on freshly baked bread that her friend had prepared before Luzia arrived; sharing in the delicious fruits of their labor.