Submission (#7655) Approved

Submitted

30 December 2024, 22:32:27 PST (3 months ago)

Processed

31 December 2024, 19:26:37 PST (3 months ago) by mild-arts

Comments

Word Count: 939 (6 EC + 2 EC)
Pomu Bonus: 1 EC
Regional Affinity: Silveil

Elnin: https://worldofeyre.com/character/ELN2740

Content

Cracking the kitchen window just a smidge to vent out the warm air from a kitchen full of chaos and noisy Kittoms and maybe even a little baking to keep everyone busy, Poema chanced a glance through the glass once the cool night air blasted away the heat fog from the window panes.

At times it could be hard to tell when miasma season was underway, especially in night-soaked Silveil, but not tonight. Silveil's sky was strange in its winter roil, a tangle of not quite clouds flickering across the otherwise familiar blanket of twinkling stars and bright colorful nebulae, all of which on a normal evening usually tinged the night landscape in beautiful deep hues of violet and indigo and even some rosy pinks and reds.

The unfamiliar shadowy effect resembled a reverse aurora, almost as though something strange and alien with spidery fingers was trying to absorb the joy and color from the sky, and maybe even beyond the cosmos. Poema shuddered, despite the heat-steamed kitchen. The Nobles guarding the creche had reassured everyone that they were safe, even if miasma was making its return after so many unseasonably clear evenings. Just so long as no one was caught alone outside too long.

In the far distance, the bioluminescent shimmer of the Eldertree, suspended within the Starlake and all its minute jellyfish, winked and twinkled back at her, a small reassurance away from the tendrils of miasmic veil attempting to gather like fog outside. It couldn't be so bad if the Tree could still be sighted, of course, Poema told herself.

"Hey, Pearly, no daydreaming! Help me with this custard already!"

Jolted from her reverie by the shout of the ridiculous nickname her friend had settled on for her, Poema scampered off the window step stool and toward another step stool lining the massive prep counter, finding her best friend Danika's usually dark fur coated in a fine layer of flour or powdered sugar, she wasn't sure which.

Another pair of Kittoms nearby were patting the finishing touches on soft tart dough into tartlet shell molds, some of which were admittedly still lumpy. Chattering happily to themselves, they presented their handiwork to one of the adult Elnins, who pressed the worst of the lumps into shape before sliding the tray of tart shells into a cheerily crackling, wood-burning stove.

Danika was deep in concentration, cracking egg yolks into a small bowl while trying her best to salvage most of the shell. Next to her was a bigger mixing bowl, filled with warm milk and cream, also surrounded by drips and splashes and puddles of dairy that didn't quite make it into the vessel.

"Egg me, Pearly."

Resisting the urge to prank her friend with a smushed egg into her star-marked fur, even though Danika would have more than earned it with a request like that, Poema reached into a wicker basket full of brown and white speckled chicken eggs. Instead of what she expected, her paws touched something quite strange.

Squinting her eyes at the strange green object she found nestled in the basket, now no longer hiding underneath its egg companions whose yolks now crowded the mixing bowl, Poema took up the not egg in delicate paws, investigating it closer. Danika peered over Poema's shoulder, her blue-purple eyes huge in startled surprise.

"Wait, that's not an... is that an egg?"

"It... looks like an egg," Poema remarked, both curiosity and skepticism tinging her voice. The shell, if it could be called a shell, was marked in soft green swirls and warm to the touch, though solid like jade stone. Even more curious, the little treasure was wrapped in soft leaves and wrapped with a bow, like a gift. But who could have left this behind, and why in a basket of food eggs?

Danika leaned over, giving the green egg a deep sniff, wrinkling her muzzle to better contemplate whatever strange aroma danced across her nose. "Doesn't smell like egg. Smells nice, but doesn't smell like egg. I uh... don't think we should add it to the custard. Whatever we do with it."

As though on cue, a black and white feathery creature peeked its head from Poema's shadow, peeping a question. In one dainty paw, he gestured wildly toward the other paw, in which he held a small frying pan.

"Hoku, we're not eating it. It's not food."

Hoku, her Pomu familiar, wailed in frustration, dropping the pan into unseen storage as he clutched dramatically at his stomach, slowly sinking backward into her shadow like he was falling into oblivion. Poema sniffed back a little snort as Danika barely contained her laughter.

"Hoku, you'll get a custard tart soon, just be patient."

While her retort fell on deaf ears as her familiar disappeared back into her shadow, Hoku obviously sulking at the denial of snacks, Poema decided he likely wouldn't be the only one seeking ill-advised treats. She scampered off to grab some clean tea towels, gently wrapping the strange jade egg with them and settling the whole bundle back into the egg basket.

Not the best location to keep an egg safe, she thought. But whoever or whatever had left the strange little treasure behind clearly meant for it to be found here. That, and leaving it inside an unused kitchen bowl or saucepan would definitely send the wrong message.

Finding a scrap of parchment meant for recipe notes, Poema scrawled a message in her best paw writing, leaving a note behind on her tea-towel bundle as she grabbed up two chicken eggs to help resume making custard filling.

"NOT FOOD. DO NOT EAT."

Rewards

Reward	Amount
Miju	1
Elecite Coins	9

Characters

ELN2467: Danika 🌟

Reward	Amount

ELN2740: Poema 🌊

Reward	Amount
AP (Silveil) (Currencies)	1

Add-Ons

These items have been removed from the submitter's inventory and will be refunded if the request is rejected or consumed if it is approved.

Item	Source	Notes	Quantity

Keilin's Bank

Currency	Quantity