The Sweet Musk of Dirt and Produce [END] (1,395 views)

[Maddie]

The sun was particularly hot this afternoon at Meri Acres Farms. Its bright, intense rays beamed down from the sky, waves of heat rolling down into Star's very core. The biscuit kacheek's breath was choppy with fatigue, but her mouth was crooked in a triumphant smile. Beautiful blooms of yolkalia stretched along the length of her farming lot, glowing with health. No matter where she looked, Star's eyes were met with stunning pops of red, orange, and yellow. To her, this heat wave only complimented what she had created; warm weather and warm colors. It was absolutely perfect.

But a farmer's work was never done. The lot next over needed her attention soon. In this fever, water was evaporating fast. Star shook out her dirt caked gloves, picked up her watering pail, and trudged her way towards the farm's sparkling clean river. "Heat doesn't stop me!" she huffed to herself zealously. "If the sun is working hard, I should be working hard too!"



_{(Would also highly recommend LAKE for musical inspiration.)}

[Blue]

Soaring high into the skies, above the proud lands of Meridell, came Azelf, wearing his cloak and hood. For sure, some of the villagers and his pals would still wonder why the blue Shoyru often wears long sleeves when going out, especially even now when it's a very sunny weather, though they didn't seem to mind, since they knew he was only trying to protect his identity as well as wanting to drop by his old home again. He flew down into the village, yet no one seems to be outside due to the intense heat. Instead, he pays a little visit to favorite place, the farm. There was a lot he found really attracted to. It's now prettier than how he last saw it. "Wow... someone must have quite a green thumb to make it this colorful..." He notices someone at the river, next to the lot and stopped right where he was standing.

"Woah..." Azelf suddenly drifts into a flashback where he and his mother used to plant seeds and produce good crops in a farm, working together to make a living, as they sell the crops, and/or give them who are in need. That act of determination through this heat he saw from the kacheek warmed the young Shoyru's heart, 'cause it somehow reminded him of his long lost mother. He wanted to help the kacheek out, though he's too afraid to approach 'cause: first of all, his outfit looked a little too devious. Second, he doesn't want to startle her. But while he's thinking of that, he was slowly floating towards the kacheek. "Argh! No! What am I doing!" he stopped himself and landed his feet on the ground. He notices he was almost close and gulps. He blushed and thought to himself, "You can do this, you can do this. You just want to help, r-right?" All of the sudden, he didn't notice that he was already talking out loud. "Just ask... she could be nice. Ask if she needs help... It's okay if she doesn't... Just ask!"

[Maddie]

As Star bent over to fetch water from the lake, she stopped mid-way after noticing the slowly approaching stranger. Her back straightened, and she gave the shoryu a baffled look. She looked around, wondering if he was advancing towards someone else, but she was the only one around. "Well, no reason to appear stand-offish," she thought.

"Hey there!" Star greeted Azelf, wading through the water and meeting him half way. "Couldn't help but notice you coming directly towards me," she joked with a tired grunt. "Do you need something? Maybe some cooler clothes or perhaps directions to Happy Valley?" She laughed at her own wisecrack.

[Blue]

Azelf's heart skipped a beat for a second, standing in the distance in a cold sweat, hearing her voice. "Uh, no?" he replied, as he slowly approached Star. He sort of feels embarrassed now too. "I just needed to wear this... 'cause it's a disguise..." he tried to explain and chuckled nervously. "That's secret though. It's kinda hot in this outfit, but I don't really mind..." He was spacing out of the real reason he was there. "Wait, wait wait...! May I ask if you... uh... need some help with the watering?" He scratched his head. "See, that wasn't so bad, was it? I bet this won't end very well though..."

[Maddie]

Star appeared surprised. "Help?" she repeated with a questioning tone. She considered the offer with an open mind until she picked up on its possible connotations. "So what, do you think I need help because I'm a girl?" she interrogated with a watchful look. "I don't need help. Being a girl doesn't make me a damsel in distress. I'm one of the best farmers on this here land! Is that clear? You can only help me if that's something you want to do. In which case..." Star eased up, giving the shoyru and crooked grin. "...that is perfectly fine."

[Blue]

Azelf shivered and regretted everything he had done at first. The young Shoyru was both a little frustrated and intimidated. Who knew he could meet such a zealous farmer like her? Especially, it was the first time the boy ever spoke to a girl who isn't his relative.

"But, it's not 'cause you're a girl or anything at all." Azelf cleared out. "Well... it's 'cause..." he looked downward, placed his hands behind his back and brushed his foot on the ground. "I just thought... you have a pretty farming lot... and you did amazingly just by yourself... I was thinking that... this... time..." The shoyru started sweating. "...yeah, 'cause, I do want to help..." The tone of his voice sounded different, he gained confidence a bit. "Don't think I'm helping out 'cause of the gender thing... I don't see why people even do that--" Azelf stopped and felt that he had said too much there, but still hopes that he can still help after his sudden outburst.

[Maddie]

Star put her hands on her hips and inspected the blue shoryu up and down. After a thoughtful pause, she grinned and said, "I know my farm is amazing and pretty. You don't have to tell me twice." She nudged Azelf's shoulder teasingly, amused. "You weren't intimidated away from me. I respect that in someone as young as you. You're more than welcome to help out, kid." Star extended her dirty, gloved paw forward. "My name is Star."

[Blue]

The young Shoyru's face formed into a warm, silly smile and slowly reached out his hand. "I'm Azelf." he shook hands with her. Azelf felt a little bit relieved now. Didn't think it would work out, lucky for him nothing bad happened... yet.

Beams of sun light came harshly towards their area. Azelf seems to have sweat through his cloak, yet was eager to get started. "So... uhm, is there another extra pail I can use?"

[Maddie]

"Great. You can use this one here." Star shoved the watering can she was holding into Azelf's hands and grabbed his shoulder. "This row of floranges needs to be watered. Go easy on the smaller ones, though, we don't want to drown them. I'll be over there, two rows over, harvesting those shishkafruit. They're at their peak and if I leave them on the vine too long, they'll roast in this heat. And not in the good way. Oh, and if your pail runs out of water, just run back to the lake to refill it. Any questions?" This was probably more than Azelf bargained for.

[Blue]

Azelf took a gulp of air to steady himself. "Nope, got it!" Sure that may had been a lot to take in, but he was ready and very excited apparently. Off he went to begin on the task that was given to him, starting with the almost dried-out floranges. "These fruits look thirsty..." At first, he was a little afraid to make a move with the watering pail in hand. "I sure hope I don't make any mistakes in this... No, don't jinx yourself, Azelf, don't you do that." He shook his head to get him focused. "You can do this!" he slowly watered one. The soil had become moist. "Okay, one down!" He flew above the fields, like it was sprinkling rain over the fruits, while also making sure the little ones don't get over-watered. "Ah, just like the old times..." The blue shoyru continued on happily as he did so.

[Maddie]

"Great, good luck!" she said as the two parted ways. As Star approached the ripe row of shishkafruit and began to pick, she at first did not notice what Azelf was up to. She was too busy wondering why a stranger had approached her looking for work. If he was seeking compensation for it, it would not have been unusual. Only he didn't ask for money. So what reason would someone, let alone a child, have to work for free? Especially considering how pushy she was being about it?

This flow of thought was only interrupted after Star felt the mist of Azelf's man-made rain stick to the back of her neck, and she turned around to see what was going on. "Woah..." she gasped to herself, staggering backwards. She watched him soar through the sky, the sun reflecting off each little droplet he poured down onto the land. She was thoroughly impressed by Azelf's cleverness - this was much more efficient than watering each plant manually. Perhaps he only was working out of kindness. "Hey!!" she called up to him, waving to get his attention. "Great work!" She flashed a thumbs-up and a wide grin.

[Blue]

The watering pail had begun to run out of water. Azelf shook it to see if there will be more water left, but it had already been used up. He notices Star calling out to him, giving him a thumbs-up and stops in midair. "T-thank you...!" He responded gently, enough to be heard by her. The blue shoyru seemed very giddy to see Star smiling from the distance. He flew over to her nervously.

"H-have I watered it enough? What else do I need to do?"

[Maddie]

"Well," Star thought, adjusting the basket full of shishkafruit under her arm. "With your help, we just tackled two things at once. Normally that would have taken me at least another half hour." She began to hum in thought, digging her finger in her ear. Sure, it would have been great to get even more work done, but Star was still curious behind the whereabouts of this helpful stranger. Perhaps now would be a good time to take a break and ask him some more questions. Who knows, maybe there really was some ill intent behind his assistance. Good to figure that out early and not later.

"Why don't we take a quick break? I know it might seem early for you, but I've been working hard for the past couple hours. Let a girl catch her breath, yeah?" Star grabbed a couple shishkafruits from her bundle, set the basket down, and walked over to the lake. Once Azelf met up with her, she handed him one of the fruits and began to eat the other, taking a drink of water from the lake as well. "So, what brings you here to my little ol' farm?" she asked with her mouth full of food. Her entire mannerism was very... rustic.

[Blue]

Azelf shyly took a bite of the shishkafruit. It tasted sweet and tangy even from a just little nibble. Who knew Star would actually share one of her crops, despite him being a stranger. Even so, he probably may had found a friend in her now. "I'm just visiting one of my favorite places here in Meridell." The shoyru began to feel sentimental, staring blissfully at the lake.

"I know it's kinda... strange I just suddenly uh... helped out and stuff. I just really love farming." He shrugged with a smile and closed his eyes. "...My mom and I used to live in this land, and near a farm when I was littler. We would work all day, while under the sun... getting mud on our faces and still have fun. She too was a fantastic farmer... but then... we got separated--she went missing one night. It's a long story..." The young shoyru opened his eyes, with a sad look in his face. He gazed upon the sunny skies. "But in the end, my big brother--he's actually a kacheek--found me in the woods and took me in. We all live in Maraqua now. Though I never saw my mom again." Azelf paused for a moment.

"Sorry, i-is it getting too sad? S-sorry!" The shoyru blushed while fidgeting his hands. "I don't often talk about that out loud before... B-but that's really why I come here. This place always reminds me of those days we spent farming together. I do miss her though..." His heart felt a little lighter, as he finally was able to share what was on his chest the whole time.

[Maddie]

Star appeared shocked for a moment. With how farfetched that story was, Azelf had to be telling some extent of truth. Kids don't typically lie about something of such a serious nature. Star felt silly, and even a bit guilty, for suspecting anything malevolent in Azelf's helping out.

"Sheesh," she exhaled in disbelief after processing all he had said. "That... that's really crummy, Azelf. I can't imagine what it's like to lose a family member. Especially at such an early point in life. You have my condolences." She took another bite of the fruit, but this time with more consideration, chewing thoughtfully. "I'm glad I'm able to remind you of your mom," Star added with some afterthought, smiling warmly. "The fact your comparing her to me must have meant she was a really great farmer."