Lilly's moment of peace was splintered by a cry that knifed through the tranquility of her farm like a shard of ice. It was an animal's plea, a desperate and disconsolate wail. It sounded like it was coming from the stone-carved mouth of the antiquated well near the boundary between her farm and the forest. She knew she should have covered it; but with so much needing fixed up on the farm, it was low on her priority list. Now some poor creature was paying the price for her neglect.
As Lilly hastened toward the well, the hair on the back of her neck suddenly stood on end. A dreadful cackling yowl echoed around the area, bouncing off the thick trunks of the surrounding forest and chilling her to her very core. There were many dangers of the Briarhaven wilds that Lilly, a human without any type of magic herself, was learning to defend against. This was different. Skulking around the well was a creature of nightmares—a glawackus.
Lilly had only heard tales of such creatures around hushed campfires, their mention generally serving as the climax of a thrilling tale of woe. The glawackus was a thing of terror, wrapped in spiky black fur, with fangs that glinted ominously in the sunlight and an imposing frame as large as a bear’s. Its eyes, cold and black as a moonless night, were said to have the power to strip memories from those unfortunate enough to lock gazes with it. Lilly recalled the chilling anecdotes of an inventive cousin, who’d suggest their eyes were harvested to erase memories of prisoners—a thought that sent another shiver down her spine.
Lilly’s heart pounded in her chest as she observed the creature circling the well, its cackling laughter making the leaves on the trees quiver in response. The pitiful cries of the trapped creature inside the well were still audible, sending twinges of despair through Lilly’s heart. The task before her seemed insurmountable. How was she supposed to rescue the poor beast trapped inside the well with a glawackus prowling the vicinity? With no memory, would she even be aware if she failed?
Drawing a deep breath, she decided she would not be deterred. Whatever the cost, she was determined to help the creature in distress. As a farmer, she was no stranger to confronting challenges head-on, even when they seemed impossible.
It wasn’t that long ago she had taken on the biggest wolf she had ever seen with a small vial of shrinking potion. Lilly knew she had to help; she just had to figure out how. She really wished she still carried her layman’s bag of protections against magical creatures, but she had grown comfortable here—and maybe a little cocky, as well.
Lilly stood frozen for a moment, taking in the intimidating sight of the glawackus. A plan began to form in her mind; and while it was by no means perfect, it was the only one she had. She knew she needed to be big and loud; but without the use of any props, she would have to rely solely on her voice and body.
She drew in a deep breath, puffing out her chest and raising her arms wide, stretching herself to her full height. She began to stomp her feet heavily on the ground, the rhythm akin to an ancient warrior’s drumbeat. Sweat dripped down her forehead as Lilly prayed this worked.
"HEY! GET AWAY FROM HERE!" Lilly bellowed at the top of her lungs, her voice echoing in the air, amplifying against the surrounding woods. Her voice, combined with the stomping of her feet, was creating quite a ruckus. She began clapping her hands above her head, adding to the noise while making herself appear larger.
The glawackus halted its pacing, its head swiveling toward Lilly. Its large body seemed to tense, then shrink back, startled by the sudden spectacle.
"GO ON! GET!" Lilly continued, her voice unyielding and strong. She stomped and clapped harder, the noise growing louder.
The glawackus, evidently disturbed and frightened by the loud, large human, turned on its heels and, with a quick dart, disappeared into the undergrowth.
Lilly, now alone with her racing heart and the distressed cries from the well, lowered her arms, her voice dying down to pants of exertion. Despite the simplicity of her approach, it had worked. She had managed to scare off the glawackus; and now, she could turn her attention to the rescue mission at hand.
With the imminent threat of the glawackus out of the way, Lilly hurried over to the well, her heart pounding in her chest as she peered into its deep, dark abyss. She could hear the plaintive cries of the trapped creature; but in the dimness, she could see nothing. To her relief, there was no sound of splashing—a small silver lining, indicating that the well was dry.
With the scant information she had, Lilly swiftly hatched a plan. Retracing her steps back to the barn, she selected a large feed bucket; its rim looked narrow enough to pass through the mouth of the well with a bit of room to spare. Durable and wide, it could hold a fair-sized creature without discomfort. She found some thick, sturdy ropes and fastened them to the handles of the bucket, tying secure knots that wouldn’t slip under strain.
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Balancing the bucket precariously on the well’s edge, Lilly slowly began to lower it into the obsidian abyss, the ropes creaking under the bucket’s weight. She murmured soothingly, “Easy now, little one. I'm here to help.” The creature’s piteous cries seemed to echo her sentiments, its distress painfully palpable.
Gradually, the bucket disappeared into the darkness. She lowered it slowly until she felt her rope wiggle and heard a thunk as the feed bucket banged against something. She heard the animal make a cry of surprise and hoped that it wasn’t too injured. If it didn’t climb into the bucket, she wasn’t sure what she would do. She doubted Yorik would let her ride one of his precious flying pigs down there. She would probably have to tie off the rope and climb down into the darkness.
Lilly held her breath, waiting for any indication that the creature was in the bucket. She felt a slight jostle in the ropes, then a heavier weight. It had worked! Her heart thudded with anxious anticipation as she began to hoist the bucket upward, her muscles straining with the effort.
The bucket emerged slowly from the well, swaying slightly under the weight it now bore. With a final heave, Lilly pulled it clear of the well’s mouth, landing it safely on the dew-kissed grass. She hurriedly looked inside, her breath catching at the sight.
Nestled inside the bucket was a baby alpaca, peering up at her with wide, frightened eyes. Its fur was a riot of colors, hues of the rainbow merging and blending into each other. Even in its distress, it was an enchanting sight to behold. Lilly reached out gently, offering the alpaca a comforting touch. It didn’t shrink away but moved toward her hand. Lilly’s heart swelled with relief and affection. She had successfully saved a life today.
Despite the early morning excitement, she felt a warm smile tug at her lips as she walked back home, the alpaca nestled comfortably in her arms. The small town of Thornwood was just a short distance away, and she planned on posting a notice at the general store, a hub for all kinds of news and lost property. If anyone was missing a rainbow-colored alpaca, they would know where to look.
But first things first. She needed to ensure the creature was safe, comfortable, and well-fed. Holding the alpaca closer, Lilly made her way to her barn, all the while wondering how she was going to take care of such an extraordinary creature.
Once they had safely arrived in the barn, Lilly carefully set down the alpaca beside a pile of hay and pulled out the new book that she’d recently discovered—The Practical Guide to Magical Farm Animals. Flipping open its pages, she began to search for anything that might provide information on caring for a magical rainbow alpaca. She knew the task would be challenging, but the spark in her heart told her it was all worth it.
Rainbow alpacas are a magical breed of the standard alpaca, well-known for their vibrant, spectrum-spanning wool. These creatures are not common; and caring for their young, known as crias, requires an understanding of both their physical needs and magical aptitudes.
Much like their non-magical counterparts, rainbow crias need a balanced diet of grass and alfalfa. However, due to their inherent magical properties, they also require a supplementary diet of starclover, a magical plant known for its luminescent, star-shaped flowers. This plant is known to imbue growing crias with the necessary energy to maintain their vibrant wool and magical aura.
Rainbow crias also need plenty of physical care and social interaction. Make sure to groom the cria daily to keep its radiant wool clean and shiny. As highly social creatures, they need frequent companionship, whether from their own kind or from caring human caregivers. Mental and emotional well-being play a significant role in the growth and health of a magical creature, just as it does in non-magical ones.
Remember, the bonding process is essential. By spending quality time with the cria, you will not only build trust but also form a magical bond. This bond will allow you to better understand your cria’s needs and may even unlock the ability to perceive some of its innate magical abilities.
As a warning, caring for a rainbow cria is not an easy task. They are playful and energetic, needing plenty of space to frolic and jump. Also, as they mature, rainbow crias may begin to exhibit unexpected magical abilities related to their vibrant color spectrum, which can be a challenge for the unprepared.
For example, an alpaca that has a lot of red may display bursts of astonishing speed, as this indicates a high vitality. Orange, a color often linked with sociability and playfulness, can sometimes allow the alpaca to emit a captivating hum that can calm even the most anxious of creatures. Indigo and violet are often associated with intuition. It is said that alpacas with these colors in their fur have a deeper connection to the magical realm, sometimes showing prophetic abilities.
Finally, when it comes to housing, the same principles apply as to a non-magical alpaca. They need a warm, dry, well-ventilated space with access to fresh water at all times.
While the care of a rainbow alpaca cria may be demanding, the rewards are abundant, ranging from the tangible—their rainbow wool is a precious resource—to the intangible—the bonds of friendship and trust that you will form with these remarkable creatures.
Putting down the book, Lilly studied the cria for a few moments. Right now, she was a mix of all kinds of colors. Only time would tell what color her fur would be. The thing Lilly was more concerned about was where in the world she would find starclover. She had never even heard of it, and she needed some to properly care for this creature. It felt like her journey into caring for magical farm animals was only just beginning.