Submission (#8137) Approved

     It wasn't every day that Jay got invited out to help tend the gardens in Faerindell, especially not for an event like this. He had spend the past few weeks traveling with a caravan and was happy to stay in one place for a while. The cherry on top for this pause in his journey was that it was in probably one of the prettiest locations he had ever seen in a long while. Everywhere was festooned with floral arangements, small window boxes filled with flagrant flowers, or large gardens surrounded by fairy shrouds and blossoming trees. He had planned on keeping most of his days empty so he could enjoy the rainbow of colours but today had become much more busy, and thus interesting.

     It had started with a knock on the door. "Hey, are you here to help with the ladybugs?" A darker elnin peered down with a quisical expression. "See, we were going to be releasing them today but we are short volunteers and the lady of the house said you might be available." 

     Jay squinted for a moment in confusion before realizing the elnin who had offered her end-of-garden cottage may have volunteered him for something without his notice. A change of pace from what his plans had been (mostly just lounging in the sun with maybe some pencil sketches later) but honestly, his curiosity was peeked. "Sure, what did you need help with? Ladybuys you said?" 

     The dark elnin nodded once more and gestured with a thumb over their shoulder. "Every year we release ladybugs into the main village gardens to take care of the aphids that infest our roses and other flowers. Usually we have enough people to release them all at the same time so that the birds don't get at the bugs before they can get to work but we seem to be a few people short. The head gardener asked us to rustle up some extra people to help out which would be where you come in."

     With a chuckle Jay made a small bow, "Looks like I can come to your rescue. Let me just grab my things." He pointed his chin towards the center of the village. "Meet you at the center court in a few?" 

     "Sounds good! I'll let the head gardener know you are on your way. Gonna go see if your neighbor will join us also." The elnin was gone in a swoosh of a long furred tail and Jay could see them heading toward the cottage next to him that shared the other end of the garden, intent on adding more members to this noble endevour.

     Jay turned back inside and gathered up his belongings, slipping them into his sachel. For the most part he knew he'd be helping out with the ladybugs but he expected there would be a little time after to get some sketches done. After making sure the door was closed securly behind himself, the kittom made their way towards the village center. When he got there, he could see that almost every able-bodied member was there as well as a few people who he wasn't as sure of. There was an excited hub-bub that surrounded him which mingled with the floral scents and rainbow of blossoming garlands. It almost felt like a festival however Jay knew from the last few days he had been here, this was a normal every-day apperance of the village. 

     The head gardener came into view, standing on a pedistal so he could be seen by all around him. "As you know, this is the annual release of the ladybugs. Please gather up in lines so you can be handed your bug box and then report to your leader. This way we can make sure each of the main gardens are populated and protected. The ladies will do their own job of spreading to the surrounding gardens." The crowd grew a little louder as elnin looked around to see where their leaders were and then quieted back down in to an excited hush. At the head gardener's nod they pushed forward in an orderly fashion, each taking their own small container of bugs before grouping up into their assigned parties. 

     The darker elnin from befor found Jay and handed them a small paper package. "Here are your bugs, I've agreed to take you all on a trip." 

     Jay spotted his neighbor of the past few days who shyly waved at him and another two kittoms who he had not seen before, and then followed the darker elnin out to the south quadrent where already another party of elnin were spreading the little scarlet bugs over the roses. With a nod of approval from their leader, Jay opened up his little box and tossed out the ladybugs; carefully making sure they were spread out as evenly over the roses as best he could. Some of the insects came out in clumps but he was assured they would figure things out. After emptying his box the next part was to hang out in the gardens and chat while the bugs did their thing to keep the birds away for the time being. Jay turned towards his temporary neighbor with a smile. "So is this a one time thing or are you often dropping bugs on roses?"

     She looked over with a chuckle. "No, this is a first for me. I was just here to deliver a package and decided to stay an extra few days." The kittom shook out the last of her ladybugs gently and then watched them crawl across the vibrant petals to their new homes under the leaves where they would find aphids, their main source of food. "I have to admit, I might come back again next time if this really is a yearly thing. It looks quite fun."

     "Yeah, it was definitly a nice surprise, if a little unplanned." Jay nodded in response as he watched a few of the ladybugs reatch the edge of the rose petals, spread out their wings and take off into the air. "I'm quite glad I also decided to stay an extra few days... and find comfortable lodging close by to here. I don't think I would have been invited otherwise." The pale kittom watched as the wind picked up a little and sent petals flying into all directions from the surrounding blossom trees. This might be the best place to set up for some landscape sketches, he thought to himself. If he could find a few ladybugs after most have gone into hiding he might even do some study sketches of the little crimson critters too. Yes, this day was shaping up to be a very interesting one indeed. His thoughts were suddenly interrupted.

     An older elnin ran up a little out of breath. “Need your help… there is an infestation… they are eating the ladybugs!” Trying to catch his breath, he bend down, paws on his knees before waving one towards the direction he came from. “They have nets… I need to pass the message on.” 

     Jay looked towards the other kittom and gestured towards the direction the elnin had come from. “Shall we?” 

     “Our job is never done,” she answered with a chuckle. “Come on, let’s go help out. I’m sure this area is now safe from the birds.” 

     With a nod, Jay followed her over to where there was not a bit of a commotion. People were grabbing nets and other materials like fabric bags and looked like they were trying to scoop up the ground. Jay waved down a rather burly looking kittom and asked him what was going on. 

     Slinging a net over his shoulder the stout kittom replied. “Some kind of horned beetles must have gotten into the ladybug boxes and they got loose and are now eating the ladybugs around here. If you see any, they are asking you to pick them up and hand them in so they can be safely relocated away from any of the gardens.” He waved his net in the air a few times. “They are out of nets but the horned beetles arn’t that dangerous to us, just ladybugs and other small insects. If you have a pouch that can be closed that would work too.”

     Jay’s companion for the day piped up, “We can use the ladybug box to collect them in!” She brandished the container in response and then started looking around the dense floral plots for the larger horned beetles. “They couldn’t have gotten too far right?” 

     “Thank you,” Jay called out to the departing kittom before turning his eye also to the ground. He pushed apart some of the rose bushes carefully, making sure not to catch himself on any of the thorns. “Oh there is one! How about I clear out the space and you can catch.” He used a stick to maneuver the sharp stems away and let his companion dive in to capture the hungry beetle. 

     She pounced and caught it swiftly, depositing it into the box before realizing there was another next to it. “Gotcha!” She grabbed at the second, almost dropping the box in her haste. “Whoops!” 

     Jay reached down, “Here, let me hold that. Gives you two paws for catching that way.” He took the box and closed the lid with one hand while keeping the stick steady with the other. “Do you see anymore or should we move along?” 

     “None around here, let’s try the next row.” The pair moved over and systematically worked their way through the fragrant blossoms, carefully moving away the flowers and bushes to uncover the soil and leave any invading beetles open for attack. “Another one over here!” “Be careful, that bit is sharp!” “Wait, I think I saw something… no, just a worm…”

     Eventually, the party of releasing bugs became the party that caught the beetles. Most of the horned beetles, if not all, were round up and the head gardener deposited them into a larger box for safe keeping before organizing a small group of nobles to take them into the thicker forests where they would be better suited and wouldn’t cause havoc in the gardens. “Thank you all for your help, and the swift response!  It is very much appreciated.” The head gardener raised up his net and then swung it towards the village center once again. “In thanks for a days good work, there are treats and drinks to be had by the fountain. Please, feel free to relax and enjoy the rest of the evening!”

     Jay turned towards his companion of the day as they both headed over to the new festivities and suddenly realized, “You know, I don’t think I got a chance to ask your name…”

     “Oh! It’s Claribelle; nice to meet you!”

     “Nice to meet you too, I’m Jay.”