[PRP] Fairy Tale (Stargarden x Celery)

[Appeal]

[imgright]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... _crane.png[/imgright]

Thickets, cliffs, and fast current rivers were no match for a pair of wings. Did Stargarden know where he was going? No. It was just a coincidence that he was able to pass the natural boundaries of the Fairy Zone and stumble into its limits thanks to his own personal crane form preferences. He stood leg deep in the swallows of the river, looking around rather forlorn. Perhaps a fish would spark some happiness? It was definitely a thought that passed through his mind as he stood there in the river, watching some fish swim nearby.

Yeah, a fish sounded good.

He splashed around, his motions rivaling that of any other crane. Of course, when he finally caught a fish he changed his mind, gingerly letting it go.

Nah, he wanted berries. Surely there were some around here?

The crane walked, wings flapping beside him with each step. He was looking around carefully, looking for any glimpse of a berry bush. Where were the winterberries? He was feeling... peckish. Yeah, Stargarden squawked a little as he internally laughed at his own joke. It probably sounded a little weird outside of his mind though, given he was a crane.

@Anhelisk

[Anhelisk]

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... uncert.png[/imgleft] Celery's heart belonged here, at home. Despite the fact that she'd been away from the Fairy Zone for some time to help pair some of their burgeoning overpopulation problem with their forever homes, she'd ached for this place, where the water ran clear and fast, and the pond was filled by only the sweetest rainfall, and the grasses and bushes lay thick and relatively undisturbed.

The doe had always been adamant about the visitors to this place: unless they were tending to the creatures who lived here, they were to limit their intake of food to what was offered, and avoid stripping this place of its natural resources. Of course, she did what she could to encourage some species to proliferate past what they naturally would-- particularly a specific species of fungus.

It was a hardy thing, but the dragons who loved to fly around-- chasing off most bats and birds while they did so-- had a particular taste for their ilk, as their venom seemed somewhat reliant on its component in their diet. They did their best tucked in shelves here and there around the cliffs, but planting them was difficult and dangerous work, so she did what she could to encourage it to grow where she could reach-- on virtually every rocky surface that could lay partially hidden from the drakes.

Today, though, she was mostly just taking a tour around the place, to reacclimatize the residents of her presence, and to help clear away the last stinging pulls of heartsickness and worry about having left this place at all. So when she saw the graceful arch of a crane's neck, she couldn't help but be attracted, smiling gently as she began a slow, circling approach.

Hopefully she could get a good look at this one before they swept off-- or maybe she could even acquaint herself!

[Appeal]

The dragons flew around occasionally and Stargarden watched them with curiosity from the ground. Momentarily, he envisioned them as flying berries and was tempted to chase them but he shook his head, reigning in his thought and focusing on his task at foot.

Stargarden's hard work had paid off in the end. Before he knew it, he had found a lovely bush full of berries. He picked one off with his beak and then had a little snack. It was when he was finishing up his snack that he heard the rustling of someone behind him. He craned his head back and caught sight of an acha, pink with the slightest dash of green. He shuffled his feet under him, digging up the top layer of dirt slightly before leaning in to pick up another berry out of the bush.

Instead of eating the berry, he carried it over toward the acha, dropping it down in front of her and then hopping backwards, his wings taking flight momentarily before he landed again. Glowing and bright eyes watched patiently, waiting to see if his gift would be accepted.

@Anhelisk

[Anhelisk]

Hmm. Something about this crane's demeanor-- and its glow-- twigged a feeling in Celery. Something was unusual about this animal-- something she couldn't quite put her hoof on, but something nonetheless. "For me?" she said, stepping forward. The bird wasn't acting much like a standard crane, that much was certain... and those... glowing eyes...

This was a test. What did it mean? She didn't know, but she did know that she'd been tending these lands for quite some time. If anyone had the right to a snack like this, it was her... but her belly was full, and beyond that, if this wasn't some random animal....

She worried at the topsoil, gently planting the fruit, then covering it with the dirt she'd moved.

"This place is a refuge for those who need it most," she said. "I nurture this place, and I do take from it when I need to-- but right now, what I need isn't to take from it-- I need to give back." Would they understand? She couldn't know for sure.

[Appeal]

The crane watched the doe intently, their sparkling gaze observing her motions. The crane stood still and unmoving as the vision of the doe burying the berry under the soil played out in front of him. The berry was covered and protected underneath the earth when the doe spoke about caring for the land and watching over it. The crane seemed to nod its head in response, taking in the knowledge with purpose.

[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... peal-1.png[/imgleft]

It was then when the form of the crane shifted as it spread out its wings, taking the form of a stag. His horns created a crown on his head, and his body mimicked the very night sky that blanketed the swamp. The same piercing blue eyes that watched the doe as a crane watched her again in this form.

"Young blossom," he said, his voice deep and reassuring, stepping forward to examine the buried berry. He leaned down, softly pressing his nose into the soil where the berry had been buried. He lingered on it, his breath whispering gently into it.

"Because of you, one day this will grow into a magnificent form and it will continue to support the life here."

(( Stargarden's gift of a name grants Celery the temporary effect of smelling like a flower. ❤ ))

[Anhelisk]

Oh! She had been right. Celery stumbled back a bit as the form of the Crane grew and swelled, sprouting a beard and horns and legs all the while, until before her stood a very... grand-looking buck.

She inhaled slightly in shock, then giggled. Young Blossom? Who was this? Did the folk in the swamp think this was... elegant or something? It felt silly, and she couldn't help but titter to herself a bit with startled laughter.

"Plants... they normally do that when planted, yes," she finally settled on responding. It would be rude just to laugh at him, after all! "Um... welcome to the Fairy Zone, by the way!"

[Appeal]

Laughing flowers? There was nothing strange to Stargarden about that. If anything, the stag found it to be incredibly endearing. He nodded his head, smiling at Celery with enthusiasm.

"Sometimes they need a little help," he replied, his eyes looking around the area.

"The Fairy Zone?" He asked, some excitement on the tip of this tongue. He didn't know the places of the swamp had names. What an exciting revelation for him!

"I'm honoured to be here," he said, his hooves gingerly tapping on the ground as he slowly spun to take a look around. His neck craned up, and his crown of horns leaned back as he looked above. He took in the sights of all his surrounding him. It definitely featured some things he hadn't seen before or didn't remember seeing before. It was all very interesting and he was sure his Moon would like it here.

"Do you live here all alone?" He wondered outloud. He didn't normally see flowers alone. Was she the last of the season?

[Anhelisk]

What a strange stag! Celery smiled, shaking her head in response to the second question the buck asked. "I have two close friends who help me look after the lands and the animals who live here," she said. "Grassrustle is a brusque buck, but he cares a lot more than he seems to, especially with our more... unique friends." Surely he had enough furbodies latch onto him.... "And then there's Mewling! He does his own thing, but he's such a wonder to be around-- we've been--"

Her stomach fluttered for a moment, like the ground had dropped out from beneath her.

"Um. You're not here for any particular reason, are you?"

[Appeal]

Stargarden listened intently, perhaps a bit too much so when Celery had mentioned a particular friend. His ears perked up, his tail swished under him and he leaned in a little with hope. Was he here for something else? The thought was definitely exciting for him. Behind him, the crane's form appeared in spectral form, its glowing eyes also looking at Celery with curiosity. The two of them watched her for a moment before the crane form dissipated again.

"Do you like big families, too?" He asked, his voice practically sparkling with excitement. "Everyone should have a big family."

There was a pause, his eyes looking to the sky as he thought about his Moon.

"I felt drawn here," he said. There wasn't a particular reason on the tip of his tongue but it felt like an interesting question.

[Anhelisk]

Ah. A big family... Hmm. "I'm really less concerned with how big the family is and more how happy we are," she said, after a moment. "And besides, this place isn't meant to support too many kin. Maybe just... one or two small clutches, or one big one...?" She couldn't meet his eyes-- not his, not his ghostly crane form's... not while she was musing on this.

"But it's... we've been waiting a while, and trying to relax and not worry about things. We work nicely as friends! I don't-- we have to stay friends. If you could help, maybe make things come a little easier, maybe... maybe it would okay."

[Appeal]

Stargarden nodded his head along as he listened to her but his eyes watched the sky. There were quite a few things living here and he couldn't help but watch. His attention was split but how could he ever forget about the topic of families? He couldn't. One thought of his Moon and he remembered it all fondly.

Stargarden made an obvious 'hmmm' sound as he thought about her request. The forest could definitely benefit from some more flowers! The least he could do was try to contribute.

"Consider it done, young blossom," he said.

[Anhelisk]

That was it? That was all? Celery didn't feel any different, did she? The doe paused, tilting her head and letting her eyes flutter closed... and smelled the bright, springy scent of flowers as she inhaled.

Well, if there was going to be any sign of the stag's power, that was it. He was the one with experience, and if he said it was done, then... she guessed it was done!

"Thank you," she murmured quietly.

[Appeal]

The stag seemed happy, absolutely lost in thought as his eyes scanned the skies.

"You're welcome, sweet blossom," he replied, his eyes following the skies as if looking for something. After a moment, his gazed returned toward her. "Tell me about those flying mongoose. I've never seen one before."

He was, of course, referring to, the dragons that called this place home.

[Anhelisk]

The question the buck asked bewildered Celery for a moment. "Flying mong-...?" Certainly she'd never seen a mongoose fly, and besides, there were no mongeese-- or. for that matter, sugar gliders-- living anywhere near here. If that was the case, it would have to be something else flying...

"Um, do you mean the dragons?"

[Appeal]

Stargarden pondered for a moment as his brain tried to comprehend the term.

"Dragons?" He questioned. New words were weird but Stargarden nodded his head to confirm that they were indeed the flying mongoose.

"I've never seen one before," he said with a hint of disbelief. "Can you tell me about them?"