I don't really remember where I was led at the time. I was so confused, and lost in a daze, I don't remember anything from that time. In fact from that point till now it is mostly a blur. I know I made many friends in that year. More than I had ever made in my original world.
To earn my keep I teach earth history, or at least what I can remember of it. I help Moon's wife on their farm. Moon says I have magic, but I still have no clue how to use it. I have just been happy to be part of a community that truly wishes the best for all.
I finished a day of farm labor, and I'm in my cabin relaxing. I fixed it up a bit. When I got it there was a lot falling apart. Now it is a cozy little one room cabin with a large fireplace. Oaky lives with me, but doesn't require much. Most of the time she is outside helping with plants. She never sleeps, so when she gets bored she cleans.
Some days I can eat off the floor without a worry. This evening she is out visiting with a local tree spirit on the edge of the forest. He has been infatuated by her. I think he is even younger than her. Tree spirits live as long as their tree, so some are very old.
I have found that most races here live in the hundreds of years, not in decades. I feel like a pup in this town. I am lying in the softest bed I have ever been in. A young fairy insisted she make my mattress for practice. She is studying to be a seamstress. I always thought that was just for clothes, but here a seamstress makes many things. I asked her what she used as filling and she told me the first down of the young Roc. I made a fool of myself and said I thought rocks were stone. She explained to me that a Roc is a very large bird.
I have found out they also line their fireplaces with shed dragon scales. I was told if you can get some baby scales, they work the best because they interlock better. I am hoping tomorrow to see a dragon. Shade of Night, Moon's nephew, wants to take me to see his best friend who is a dragon. Shade of Night says dragons stay more to the east in the caves and mountains.
As a kid I always wished they were real, and now I might get to see one up close. I try to imagine what one would be like up close, but my imagination fails me. I feel butterflies in my stomach as I fall asleep.
I wake to Oaky's voice calling my name. “Jode, Jode, wake up.” she says.
“Oh morning Oaky, did I oversleep again? I hate not having an alarm clock.” I say.
“No, I was asked to wake you early. Gushes at Dawn needs your help again.”
“He does know his name doesn't require him to be active at that time?” I ask, getting up.
Oaky giggles, “The water buds are nesting in him again.”
“You know if he would quit playing in the sink hole he wouldn't have that problem.” I say as I step into the small shower. I used to have problems being nude in front of her but after she tried to explain how tree spirits reproduce I told her, okay I will get used to it if she doesn't try to explain it again. She just giggled and agreed.
“I told him that, but he says it's just too much fun. He says the occasional infestation is well worth it.”
“He would, little plant bugs biting my innards would deter me.” I say.
“He doesn't feel pain. For him it is just an annoyance.” she says and I hear her moving around the room gathering my clothes for the day. She is very fastidious about keeping me on schedule and neat as possible.
Sometimes I get dirty just to see her get upset and turn brown then start flaking. Her flakes give a sweet fruity smell when I burn them in the fireplace. She gets embarrassed when I do that though. I guess that is part of her essences smell her people use when they mate. I tell her it’s the same as me stripping in front of her, so she tolerates it only for me. She refuses to let me use them with others in the room. So we have a mutual agreement on it.
I step out and she is holding a towel for me to dry off. She waits patiently as I towel off. When I am done she takes the towel and hands me some silk underwear. She says they are made from the worms of the mountains. The silk of their cocoons are left after they transform, so it is collected for clothing. I made the comment that there must be a lot of them to make all the clothes.
She tells me that there aren't a lot of them. They are the size of a large man or two so just a few is enough for the whole town for a year. One layer of the silk is generally used for clothing that is for everyday use. But if they make it two layers or more, it is tougher than most metals.
She returns with socks, a shirt, and some pants. She says they weave the silk with a plant to create what I think of as spandex with the feel of the finest silk in the other world. After a year here I now think of my home world as the other world. It's strange how I feel more at home here then where I was born.
We leave the house and head in the opposite direction of where I first entered the town. All the buildings look alike. But after a year of fumbling, I got the layout enough in my head to know the main houses I visit.
We enter the newest part of town, and the houses are more sparse here. Gushes at Dawn's house is one of the newer buildings. He was actually one of the first settlers here, but he likes the edge of town better. He gives his home away and rebuilds when enough houses are built around him to make him feel cramped.
I hear water slap against the door just before it opens. Gushes at Dawn stands in the doorway with different colors of flowers floating around in him. “Will you stop slapping at them,“ I say, “That just aggravates them and makes it harder to get them.”
“Yeah, Yeah, I know, but they just irritate me.” he says as he walks out of his home. I have gotten used to his voice. It still sounds like a drowning man, but with tones now.
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“Well lay down,” and he obliges. “I just think you like to look festive for me,” I say smiling.
“Ha, Ha, human. It's just you are the only one that can get them easily.” he says. He started calling me human to try and irritate me, but I just called him water spout instead. After a while we just use those now as pet names for each other.
“I think I just taste good to them.” I stick my hand in his body. I wiggle my fingers slowly and catch a few of the things attention. After a few seconds they dart to my fingers and clasp on with their petals. They can't penetrate my skin or do me harm, but they sure try.
I pull my hand out with the things attached to my five digits. I turn to Oaky who has a water bag waiting. Oaky keeps the water warm almost hot to put them to sleep. I stick my hand in the bag and feel them release. It takes ten times to get all of the critters
“Damn water spout, what did you do, put up a vacancy sign?” I ask after he gets up.
“No,” he says defiantly, then changes to an embarrassed tone, “I fell asleep in it.”
I laugh, “What was at the bottom?” I ask.
“Just a cave, not even glow moss. Disappointing actually.” he says.
“Well what do you expect, the moss isn't dumb. It knows you love its taste.” I say.
“I guess you're right. I just haven't glowed in the dark for months.” he says depressed.
“It's not as good as wild but talk to Moon’s wife, she always has extra.” I say.
“Oh yeah. Sounds good, see you later.” he says and spins off.
“Why doesn't he ever thank you?” Oaky asks.
I look at Oaky, “He does in his own way. Where do you think I get the spiked water you like so well?” I say.
Her face turns an autumn red and says, “Oh.”
“You are just so cute, Oaky, when you blush. The perfect autumn leaf.” I say and watch the color flow down to her shoulders.
“How long till we meet Shade of Night?” I ask.
“After I drop off these at Myst over the Sun. I think she was hoping you would form a few bushes for her again. I accelerated a few last night. She's preparing for spring equinox.” She says.
“Of course for Moon’s wife I would do whatever I can. If not for them I would be a blubbering idiot around here.” I say teasing. I know how it irritates her when I put myself down.
“Jode quit that, it isn't nice even to yourself.” She says sternly.
“Your right Oaky, Bad me.” I say sarcastically.
She gives me a very stern look. “Your teasing again.”
“Yep.” I say and head off.
We head to the eastern end of town. The pavilion where my life really began is in a southerly direction from the town. The buildings grow sparse at the eastern end as you get to the farms. There are several farms, but Myst Over the Sun is the largest and farthest out of town.
You can't miss her farm because before you even get close you see all the different plants. Just to name a few; corn, sunflowers, wheat, rice, moon flowers, and melons. She likes to experiment with all the plants to see what new plants she can come up with. She successfully crossbred a sunflower with a morning glory. Now she gets mini sunflowers on a very sturdy vine. The only strange side effect is they only bloom and propagate on the full moon. She's still trying to figure that one out.
I knock on her door which she opens and says, “Oh good, does this mean you don't mind sculpting?” she asks me.
“Of course I will. It doesn't take long.” I say.
Myst over the Sun looks at Oaky, “Oh dear, Gushes at Dawn got infested again didn't he?”
“Yes Mrs Myst over the Sun. we got over twenty this time.”
“How sweet. But Oaky please call me Myst or Myst Sun.”
“Oh no Mrs Myst Over the Sun that would be inappropriate. You are a mother.” Oaky responds.
“You are so sweet Oaky,” she says then raises her voice, “It would be nice if my daughter would learn some manners.”
“Whatever mom,” comes a young female voice from the house.
Myst sighs, “Well let's get those little buggers a home.” She says and closes the door. We walk around the cabin. Several barrels are lined up behind the house. She goes to the second row fifth one over. She opens the barrel to reveal it is full of water with one flower floating on the surface.
“The last hot wave killed most of them. I forgot to put the lid back on. This one is the last and very lonely.” She says and takes the water pouch from Oaky.
She dumps water and all into the barrel. The original flower starts zooming around the others as Myst closes the lid. She then turns and heads through the barrels. I have gotten used to weaving to catch up with her. She always walks slowly so you can always catch up easily.
We walk to the far end of the farm. From here I can no longer see their cabin. Two rows of bushes line the end of the farm. There are twenty bushes in each row. Several of them look like eggs. One looks like a bunny and two look like baskets. That leaves four unshaped bushes.
“I just need two more baskets and two Greek shaped pillars.” she says.
“They are not big enough for a full pillar though.” I say.
“That's okay I just need the shape. Then I can keep the shape as they grow.” She says.
“Oh okay.” I say and head to the first one.
I picture the image of a Greek pillar in my head and put my hands inches away from the leaves. As I concentrate I feel my hands tingle as the bush begins to shake. After several seconds the bush slowly moves and reshapes itself into a pillar. It is only half the size of a decent pillar. But it is okay for now. I head to the next one and repeat the process. This one must have been slightly larger than the other, because it is about two inches taller than the other.
“The difference in size won't be a problem will it?” I ask.
“No honey, I will work on that. They look perfect. You're getting better.” She says.
“Well you give me plenty of practice. By the time I'm done helping I could probably make a town out of them.” I say.
“That sounds wonderful. I will have to make plans,” Myst says in thought.
“Me and my big mouth.” I say as I work on the next bush. Myst chuckles.
I picture a large basket in my head and hold my hands an inch from the leaves. It first forms the bottom. Then the center pules toward the side as it forms two extensions on opposite sides of the bowl. They continue up and curve at the top to connect and make the handle.
The basket takes a couple of seconds which is over twice as fast as the pillars. I had more practice with the baskets, then the pillar. I repeat the process on the last bush.
“Thank you sweetie, they look great. I should have about four more bushes and have what I need.” She says in contemplation.
“No problem just call me.” I say.
“Mm-Hm,” she sounds, but concentrates on the bushes.