Merci didn’t know where the barn was; however she assumed it was the red wooden building with open doors and a few cows out front.

“Merci!” Zarro shouted as soon as she began to head towards the structure, “Get your ass over here!”

Merci felt a pull of fear race through her. He sounded angry. So she ran towards the barn.

In a huff. “What is it father?”

“About time you got here child! Now milk the cows and feed the horses. I have to examine our crops.”

“Yes father.”

“The buckets are next to the cows. Be gentle, they can kick.”

Merci nodded and walked over to the first cow. This cow was black and white and the utters on it appeared full. How do I milk a cow? Merci questioned herself as she examined the set of utters and the bucket.

Well it can’t be that hard right? She grabbed the bucket and placed it next to the cow and reached for the utter. With the first one she reached for the utter and gave it a squeeze. The cow moved slightly with the pull and a bit of milk was produced.

Well that answers that question. Merci began to milk the cow by pulling on the utters. After ten minutes the first cow was milked and two buckets were full. She walked into the barn and grabbed two more empty metal buckets and moved to the second cow.

This cow appeared more uneasy as it mooed and side stepped as she approached. She knelt down carefully and began to slowly milk this black and white cow.

“Easy, now,” she whispered to the cow in hopes to calm it down. “It’s alright.”

The cow mooed and began to stir.

If only I had a way to communicate with the cow. To let it know I mean no harm.

However, that idea seemed too good to be true.

“Utilize Animal Communication.” The male voice spoke in a calming nature.

If that were possible I would. Merci thought to herself.

“You can. There is still some magical essence left. Just speak the name Animal Communication and it should work.”

The male voice sounded confident that the idea of magic and spells were real.

Well it is worth a shot. Merci thought.

With a shrug she whispered, “Animal Communication.” As soon as the words left her mouth she felt a surge of energy, one she hadn’t felt before building up in her body. A pulse wave of the same energy emitted from her body and nothing appeared to have happened.

“Yeah, like that did anything.” She spoke.

“Did…anything?” An unknown voice spoke, startling her.

“Who’s there?” Merci asked in a low but panicked voice.

“Velma,” a female voice spoke.

“Where are you?” Merci’s voice was unchanged.

“I am…right…here…you touched my utters.”

Merci glanced at the cow she was just attempting to milk. “Holy milking cow!” She shouted and jumped back from the cow, “You…you can talk?”

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“Yes…” Velma the cow said.

“How in the holy world is this possible?”

“You…tell…me,” Velma responded.

Merci’s heart felt her pulse increase as her heart raced. After a few moments of clarity. “Wait! The voice…” she quickly realized how loud her voice had become. So she lowered it. “He told me to cast a spell. So magic…is it real?”

Merci felt her mouth drop at the realization that she just utilized a spell. An actual spell! Calm Merci. She thought to herself.

She did a few deep breaths to steady her heart and mind. “Velma, I think I just cast a spell. Is magic real?” Merci said low and slow. As if trying to decide if she believed it herself.

“How am I…to know? I am just…a simple cow.”

“Fair enough,” Merci said. After a few minutes passed Merci felt calm enough to walk back to the cow. “May I resume milking you?”

“Yes…utters…pain.” Velma the cow spoke.

“Just don’t kick me okay?”

“I will try…not to.”

“Thank you, Velma.”

Merci was able to milk Velma without trouble thanks to some soft friendly conversation with the cow. Mainly about the area and what the weather is like.

“Two suns….remain at high…noon after six…days,” Velma said. “Owners seem…not bothered.”

“Are you concerned?” Merci asked Velma as she brushed her with her hand.

“Not normal. Something is wrong.”

The cow that stood next to them remained silent until now, “Agree.”

The new voice caused Merci to jump until she sighed once she realized it was the other cow. “What is your name, girl?” Merci moved and began to pet the other cow.

“Bella.” The first cow spoke.

“Merci. Nice to meet you.”

“You…toooo!” Bella responded.

Merci remained petting both cows until she felt the essence fade from her body as the spell no longer was active. “I guess I should get to the horses now.”

“Moooo!” Both cows said as Merci walked towards the barn to care for the horses that resided.

Inside the barn, it was warm and inviting. There was a much different feel to the barn than Merci’s own room. There were six stalls. Two for the cows out front, two for two horses, one had four sheep, and the other had two pigs. The stalls seemed spacious and comfy. e

Well, I suppose I can give this spell another go? She thought to herself.

“Animal Communication,” she said in a whisper and felt the same surge of energy she did before.

“Now let's get this underway shall we?” Merci said cheerfully as she started to tend to the horses. Listening to their care instructions they were giving her. After a few minutes she moved to the sheep and then the set of pigs. Listening to each set of care instructions they were telling her. The spell faded after a while as the barn began to fill with various animal noises.

Once finished Merci went to the four buckets of milk that sat outside and began to carry them to the house. She made two trips carrying one in each hand and sitting them on the counter and waited for further instruction.

“Merci!” Zarro’s voice ranges from outside.

She darted back out the door, to see her father standing just off the front porch. “Yes?”

“Are all of the animals taken care of?”

“Yes, the ones in the barn.”

Merci looked at him confused. She did as she was told. He hadn’t told her to take care of anything else. Did he? Merci thought back to what he ordered her to do, cows and horses. I did all the animals in the barn. Was I not supposed to? They were all hungry.

“Why didn’t you come find me afterwards?” Zarro questioned. “I need you to harvest some of the crops that are ready to be picked.”

“Can I rest before I do it?” Merci asked hesitantly.

“No. Follow me and I will show you what crops to harvest.”

Merci held her head down low and walked behind her father. “Sorry for not finding you sooner. I wanted to bring the milk in before it got bad.”

“Excuses. The milk would have been fine.” Zarro grumbled.

The rest of the walk was silent.

They reached the crops in less than five minutes. “These two rows of beans need to be picked. They go as far as the wooden post. Just these two. Then take a look at the cucumbers, zucchini, and tomatoes to see what needs to be harvested from there. I will go and take care of the milk.”

Merci looked over at the vast vegetable garden that seemed to stretch for miles. The two rows of beans that Zarro wanted her to pick were at least a half mile long each and they were full.

“What am I supposed to put the crops in?”

“The boxes sitting over there. If you have any more questions, don’t ask.” Zarro began to walk to the house, leaving Merci alone in the garden.

Merci looked over and saw several brown boxes along the barn side. “Yes, father,” Merci said and went and grabbed a box and walked to the first row of beans. With a sigh she began to pluck away.