Submission (#8297) Approved

The day was stunning as the sun shined through the tree canopies and into the city. She could see the bright white clouds that highlighted the sky above the sea, but they didn't make any effort to block out the sun. She decided to use this beautiful day to explore more of Ealei, particularly more of the tree city she was staying in. It wasn't part of her usual schedule as she preferred to go down the trees and head to the docks on the sea. There she could admire the ocean that as hung out on the docks collecting the manaberries that had fallen from the treetops and gathered on the shore by the tides.

Alas! Ice was taking a break from manaberry fishing, or I suppose collecting, on this day to explore more of the area. Ealei was more than simply the ocean, right? She was walking through the cities in the trees, heading to where she had been informed that there was a market gathering for the day. She was told there would be uncommon paints and other art supplies that she would normally have a hard time procuring at this market and that meant she NEEDED to go. She needed to get those supplies so she could expand her horizon of art. Of course, she didn't have much money. She had a little spending money that was given to her along with some of the money she got from selling the manaberry dyes she'd made from all her collecting. She also brought along some of the dye, in hopes she might be able to trade that as well. She had some manaberry paint created from it, but she ideally didn't want to have to part with it since it took her awhile to make it.

She had been told to follow the bridge path from treetop to treetop, following the directions and signage until she got to the right district. She followed them carefully, until eventually, she began seeing tables and booths set up along the path. There were plenty of booths and tables, varying activities and attractions for everyone. There were little cafe booths where people were selling tea and cakes that they had made, people selling handmade windchimes that blew in the sea breeze made with sea glass, and a variety of things! There were even small batch classes like teaching you how to decorate cookies as well as how to write Old Eyrish.

The white and black kittom with the fiery red markings walked down the path, searching for the mysterious vendor she had been told would be selling art supplies until eventually she found them, or what she thought was them. There could theatrically be more than one vendor selling supplies, and honestly? She could hope that to be true.

"Welcome, young one," the human vendor said as they leaned over the booth, grinning from ear to ear. Under their breath was a slight awwing sound as Ice looked sheepish and stood up on their hindlegs so they could see over the booth better. There was a small stool there which Ice eventually noticed and stood up upon so she could clearly see the items for sale.

There were hand carved paint brushes, ink, parchment, charcoal, oil pastels, and so much paint.

The paint was what they wanted. She looked over the types, asking what each one was made out of and what colour it was specifically. It went on like this for a while, but the vendor seemed so pleased to talk about them all. Eventually, Ice settled on a pearlescent pink that shimmered almost magically and a gold that was so golden it looked like it might actually be gilded.

Ice had enough money, but only for one. Thankfully, the vendor was happy to trade for the manaberry vial, and extract that was used in so much artisan works.

"Thanks so much," Ice said with a grin, hugging the jars of paint as if they were precious cargo as she walked back along the bridge and headed home.