#The Recipe Book
For most people who wander into Thicketdown Forest, they assume that because they understand how most animals spend their time, every day is a constant hustle of making sure you have enough food, that you have shelter, and that your loved ones are safe and well. It’s a forgivable misconception, but a misconception nonetheless. In fact, most times there are plenty of hours in the day left to spend at one’s leisure, and if one is particularly efficient, several days’ work can be done in a single sunrise to sunset, leaving the next day perfectly free to do whatever you please.
Something that comes in handy for two particular denizens of the forest.
The Fogmoss Tree, with its place next to the Draymack River, is an ideal spot for one to spend one’s free time, especially given its proximity to so many other locales of the forest. For Cassava Mouse and Pyro, it is home.
“Cassava Mouse,” Pyro asks as the two of them perch on top of the roots, “may we bake today?”
“Bake?” Cassava turns to look up at the dragon. “What for?”
“We were able to clean the burrow much quicker yesterday and I remember you stating that baking is a full-day affair. Also…” Pyro shuffles its wings. “Must we need a reason to want to bake?”
“I suppose not.” Cassava gets up and scurries back to the burrow. Pyro follows her in. “What would you like to bake?”
“I am afraid I am not experienced enough to know what choices there are.”
“That’s okay! I can help.”
Above the flat wooden surface of the kitchen, there is a little alcove in the root. Cassava stands on her hind legs and reaches into it.
“Careful,” Pyro says, quickly shifting its snout to give her something to lean against, “do not fall.”
“I won’t!”
A little book comes free in Cassava’s paws as Pyro gently lowers her to the ground. She carries it carefully to the table, mindful of Grand-Mouse’s warnings to //hold it gently, child, or the wind’s likely to snatch it from you.// The bark has worn a little thin over the years, but the writing inside is still legible.
“Okay,” Cassava says as Pyro looks over her shoulder, “we can make...”
[[Hearty Acorn Loaf]]
[[Rose Petal Honey Pie]]
[[Grilled Insect Salad]]
[[Acorn Cap Stew]]
[[Blueberry Moss Tea]]
[[Maple Bark Tea]]
[[Spiced Acorn Loaf]]
[[Maple Snow Pie]]
(append: ?sidebar) [$invHAL $invRPHP $invGIS $invACS $invBMT $invMBT $invSAL $invMSP]
#Hearty Acorn Loaf
“This,” Pyro rumbles, nudging the page with its snout, “looks delicious. Is this what you brought me the first time we ate together?”
“Oh, yes! I believe it is. Have you not—well, I suppose no, you have not had it since then. I’m sorry.”
Pyro swings its head around to look at her. “Why are you apologizing, Cassava Mouse? You have not done anything wrong.”
“Well, you enjoyed it so much and I haven’t—”
Pyro watches as she rubs her paws together.
“...I didn’t realize you would...miss it.”
“But that is precisely it, Cassava Mouse. You did not know. And it is not something I have expressed.” It nudges her shoulder in a gentle chiding. “Therefore you do not need to apologize.”
“Thank you, Pyro.”
“Of course.” Pyro turns its attention back to the book. “What will we need? I recognize a few of these ingredients from the stores.”
“Yes, we have a lot of the berries and the base ingredients, we just need to gather the rest.” Cassava squints at the pages as she turns them, looking for the right recipe. “Oh, here they are. Let’s see...we need acorn caps, pine nuts, oats, and walnuts.”
Pyro shuffles, hiding its head behind one wing. “I am afraid I do not know what some of those are, Cassava Mouse.”
“Oh, that’s alright! I can show you.” She fetches her coat and basket and they make their way outside. “We can get the acorn caps from the branches of the Fogmoss Tree, the pine nuts and oats from the Meadow Dip beneath Crescent Hill, and the walnuts from the bushes in the field.”
“I see.” Pyro ruffles its wings as Cassava climbs carefully onto its back. “Where would you like to go first?”
<img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825">
[[Go to the Fogmoss Tree.->Fogmoss Tree HAL]]
[[Go to the Meadow Dip.->Meadow Dip HAL]]
[[Go to the Field Bushes.->Field Bushes HAL]]
(set:$acapsHAL to 0)
(set:$pnoatsHAL to 0)
(set:$hookHAL to 0)
(set:$wnutHAL to 0)
(set:$completeHAL to 0)
#Rose Petal Honey Pie
“This,” Pyro says, nudging part of the book, “looks delicious. Is it a...a pie?”
“Rose petal honey pie, yes, that’s it.” Cassava turns the worn pages until she arrives at the right one. “Yes, this one I can only make at certain times...the roses won’t stay good all year round.”
“Is this the right time of year?”
Cassava giggles at how eager Pyro sounds as its wings ruffle back and forth. “Yes, this is the right time of year. Will you help me get the larger basket down from the storeroom?”
“Of course.” Pyro lets her climb on top of its head and lift, waiting patiently until she can grab the basket and put the straps over her back. “Is this for the roses?”
“Sort of. We need to get the honey too and this one has the special bit in it that will hold it properly.” She pats Pyro’s side as they walk out of the burrow. “I’m going to need you to help me carry the roses.”
“I would be honored. Is that where we’re going first?”
“Well, we need to go to the beehive for honey, the Tree Grove for the cinnamon, the Meadow Dip for sorrel, and then the field bushes for the roses.”
“I see.” Pyro balances itself against the root as Cassava carefully climbs onto its back with the basket in tow. “Where shall we go first?”
<img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825">
[[Go to the Bee Hive->Bee Hive RPHP]]
[[Go to the Field Bushes->Field Bushes RPHP]]
[[Go to the Tree Grove->Tree Grove RPHP]]
[[Go to the Meadow Dip->Meadow Dip RPHP]]
(set:$honeyRPHP to 0)
(set:$rpetalRPHP to 0)
(set:$cinnRPHP to 0)
(set:$hookRPHP to 0)
(set:$sorrelRPHP to 0)
(set:$completeRPHP to 0)
#Grilled Insect Salad
“What is grilled insect salad?”
“Oh, that one’s easy,” Cassava says as she flips through the book, “we have a lot of the stuff for that already, we just need to gather the river mites from the Draymack River, birch bark and spotted white fern from near Bristle Birch, and then get some maple leaves.”
“And how do we bake it?”
“You cook—well, normally I cook the insects on the ledge outside with the sun, but I suppose you could grill them using your fire.”
“Mm, and then do you add them on top of the salad when you’re finished?”
“Exactly.”
“Well, I would like to try it.” Pyro adjusts its wings. “It is not something I have ever tried before.”
“Sure! Let me get my coat.”
“Coat?”
“I don’t want to get very wet when we go to the river.”
“Ah, I see. Will...I will not need one, will I?”
“No, you’ll dry off much faster than I will.”
“Wonderful.” Pyro waits outside the burrow for Cassava to climb onto its back. “Where shall we go first?”
<img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825">
[[Go to the Draymack River->Draymack River GIS]]
[[Go to Bristle Birch->Bristle Birch GIS]]
[[Go to Maple Tree->Maple Tree GIS]]
(set:$inGIS to 0)
(set:$bbGIS to 0)
(set:$mleafGIS to 0)
(set:$hookGIS to 0)
(set:$completeGIS to 0)
#Blueberry Moss Tea
“I must admit,” Pyro says as they turn the pages of the book, “I do not feel particularly hungry, but I would still like to make something. Is that alright?”
Cassava nods. “Why don’t we try one of the more exciting teas? Those will still take the same amount of time to make since we have to go gather the ingredients, but it won’t be so much food. Besides, we have enough food in the stores if we do get hungry.”
“That sounds lovely.” Pyro noses at a picture of a delicate blue flower in the middle of a page. “What is this one for?”
“That’s for blueberry moss tea,” Cassava explains, pointing to the right part, “it’s something that Dr. Moonlight grows that helps the tea taste sweeter.”
“Would we have to go see Dr. Moonlight to get it?”
“Yes, I think Twilight Hollow is still the only place it grows around here.”
“Then yes, let us make this tea.” Pyro shuffles its wings as Cassava picks up her basket. “What else will we need?”
“We need to go to the Tree Grove to get tea leaves, we can get the blueberries from the bushes in the field, we can get moss from the Fogmoss Tree, and then we can make the tea.”
Pyro puts its nose down as a breeze ripples across the clearing, ruffling Cassava’s fur as she climbs on its back.
“Where shall we go first?”
<img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825">
[[Go to Twilight Hollow->Twilight Hollow BMT]]
[[Go to the Field Bushes->Field Bushes BMT]]
[[Go to the Fogmoss Tree->Fogmoss Tree BMT]]
[[Go to the Tree Grove->Tree Grove BMT]]
(set:$roseBMT to 0)
(set:$blueBMT to 0)
(set:$mossBMT to 0)
(set:$tleafBMT to 0)
(set:$hookBMT to 0)
(set:$completeBMT to 0)
#Maple Bark Tea
“I am afraid I am not nearly hungry enough for any of the more elaborate creations,” Pyro rumbles, its head drooping sadly, “yet I would still like to spend the day baking with you.”
Cassava tilts her head. “Why don’t we make one of the special teas, then? That way we can still spend the day together but we won’t have to eat so much at the end of it.”
“Yes, that sounds wonderful. Which tea would you like to make?”
Cassava turns the pages of the recipe book. A particular page catches her eye and she goes back, laying it flat on the table. “What about maple bark tea?”
“Maple bark tea?” Pyro leans closer to have a look. “That looks splendid. What will we need to gather for it?”
“Well, we’ll need maple bark, obviously—”
“Obviously.”
“—and some maple leaves as well. Then we’ll need some ground ferns from around Twilight Hollow and your favorites—” Cassava pats Pyro’s wing— “veronicas.”
The dragon’s head perks up. “Veronicas?”
“Yes, those will taste very good. And tea leaves from the Tree Grove.”
“Well.” Pyro shuffles its wings back and forth in excitement. “This will be a good day, then.”
“I hope so too.” Cassava quickly tugs her basket down from the shelf and climbs on Pyro’s back outside of the burrow. “Where would you like to go first?”
<img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825">
[[Go to Maple Tree->Maple Tree MBT]]
[[Go to Twilight Hollow->Twilight Hollow MBT]]
[[Go to the Tree Grove->Tree Grove MBT]]
(set:$mtMBT to 0)
(set:$thMBT to 0)
(set:$tleafMBT to 0)
(set:$hookMBT to 0)
(set:$completeMBT to 0)
#Spiced Acorn Loaf
As Cassava turns the pages of the recipe book, another page falls out of the spine.
“Oh, dear,” Pyro says, leaning down to pick it up, “did it break?”
“No, no, that doesn’t look like it was originally sewn in.” Cassava examines it. “No, see? It must’ve just been loose. Nothing to worry about.”
“Is it a recipe? Something else we could make?”
“No, it’s…” Cassava trails off as she scans the page. Her eyes widen. “Pyro, how long has it been since the full moon?”
Pyro tilts its head. “About fifteen days, I believe, for what?”
Cassava swallows. “My grandmouse is coming to visit today.”
“Oh.” Pyro glances around. “Does that mean we will not get to bake today?”
“No, in fact we—we //have// to bake today,” Cassava says, quickly rifling through the book, “and we have to make this.”
“The spiced acorn loaf?”
“Yes, it’s her favorite. We need acorn caps, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.”
“Those do not seem too difficult to gather.” Pyro peers over her shoulder. “The acorn caps we can gather from the Fogmoss Tree, and the others, perhaps, from the Tree Grove?”
“Yes, let’s—let’s get going.”
“Cassava Mouse,” Pyro calls gently, stopping her before she reaches for the basket, “are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m—I’m fine,” she says, resting against Pyro’s wing, “I just—Grandmouse is very particular and I don’t want to mess it up.”
“I see.” Pyro shuffles its wings. “Where shall we go first, then?”
<img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825">
[[Go to the Fogmoss Tree->Fogmoss Tree SAL]]
[[Go to the Tree Grove->Tree Grove SAL]]
(set:$acapsSAL to 0)
(set:$tgSAL to 0)
(set:$hookSAL to 0)
(set:$completeSAL to 0)
#Maple Snow Pie
“What is //that?//”
Cassava follows Pyro’s gaze to see a picture of a pie topped with a swirl of cream and dusted with snow. “That’s maple snow pie.”
“It looks beautiful.” Pyro nudges her shoulder. “Can we make that? Please?”
“Yes, yes,” she giggles as the dragon continues to nudge her, “we can make it.”
“Excellent.”
“We’re gonna need to move fast, though,” she says, “we have to collect ice from the top of Crescent Hill and that will only be there for so long.”
“What else will we need?”
“We’ll need some maple sap, some honey, and an orchid from Clover Meadow.”
“An orchid?” Pyro tilts its head. “For decoration?”
“For flavor! It tastes really sweet.”
“Like a berry?”
“No, like—like—” Cassava huffs in frustration. “I don’t know how to describe it.”
“I suppose I shall just have to wait and find out.” Pyro shuffles its wings. “Will you take the special basket, then?”
“Yes, I just need your help packing the blanket inside.”
“Of course.”
Cassava tucks a special blanket into the basket, pressing it into the nooks and crannies to ensure the inside is completely covered. “Alright, that should hold the ice now.”
“Where shall we go first, then?”
[[Go to Crescent Hill->Crescent Hill MSP]]
[[Go to the Bee Hive->Bee Hive MSP]]
[[Go to Clover Meadow->Clover Meadow MSP]]
[[Go to Maple Tree->Maple Tree MSP]]
(set:$iceMSP to 0)
(set:$honeyMSP to 0)
(set:$orchMSP to 0)
(set:$sapMSP to 0)
(set:$hookMSP to 0)
(set:$completeMSP to 0)
“Let’s get the acorn caps.”
“As you wish.”
Pyro flaps its wings and the two of them fly toward the branches of the Fogmoss Tree. The air around them grows lighter, slightly sweet, as they near the plants all but dripping off of the branches of the elderly tree. It beckons them closer, drawing them into the folds of the foliage until they can land on one of the higher branches.
“It’s best to get the acorn caps when they’re still attached,” Cassava explains as she begins to tap them lightly with her paw, “when they fall to the ground they dry out so quickly.”
Pyro nibbles carefully at a branch with its teeth. “Is that why you use them as mugs?”
“Yes! That way every tea I make won’t taste like acorn.”
“And what,” Pyro asks as it places the caps in the basket, “is the matter with acorn?”
“Nothing. But when I make blueberry tea I don’t want acorn tea.”
“But blueberry acorn tea is delicious.”
“For //you,// perhaps.”
“Well, next you will tell me that you prefer your tea without the stems.”
“Wait, you drink the tea with the stems inside?”
“They provide an excellent bitterness.”
“Blueberry tea is bitter already!”
“That is because you enjoy each cup of tea with a generous amount of honey.”
“Honey works with everything.”
“That is funny,” Pyro says as Cassava climbs onto its back, acorn caps in tow, “I do not recall you holding such a sentiment when the honey spilled all over your quilt and we spent a day washing it in the river.”
“Pyro!”
Pyro’s chuckle rumbles through Cassava as she clings to the dragon’s back. “Where shall we go next?”
(set:$acapsHAL to 1)
(if:$acapsHAL is 1 AND $pnoatsHAL is 1 AND $wnutHAL is 1)[(set:$completeHAL to 1)]
{
(if:$completeHAL is 1) [ [[Home->Ending HAL]] ]
(else:) [ "We still need to gather some other things," Cassava says.
<p> <img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825"> </p>
(if:$pnoatsHAL is 0)[ <p> [[Go to the Meadow Dip.->Meadow Dip HAL]] </p> ]
(if:$wnutHAL is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Field Bushes.->Field Bushes HAL]] </p> ]
]
}“Let’s go to the Meadow Dip,” Cassava says as Pyro tilts its wings, “we can get the pine nuts and the oats.”
They fly between the trees, over the bushes, and out into the open air as the hill begins to crest downward. The sunlight gleams off the grass as the shadow of Bristle Birch looms before them.
“Hey, I think that’s them!”
“Ask them, ask them!”
“Hey! Hey, Cassava! Hey, Pyro!”
“Up here, up here!”
Cassava looks around. “Did you hear something?”
“Hey! //Hey!//”
“Look,” Pyro says, beginning to ascend, “I believe it is the swallow twins.”
Cassava looks up just as two blue blurs emerge from the top of Bristle Birch and dart toward them. Pyro lands on one of the lower branches as the blurs come to join them.
“Hello, Thyme. Hello, Tassel.”
“Hey, Cassava!”
“Hey, Pyro!”
“We’ve been waiting for you to pass by,” Thyme says, his feet hopping back and forth on the branch, “we have a question for you.”
“A question, yeah!” Tassel flares her wings as she lands. “What kind of animal has ears longer than Tessa Bunny’s?”
Cassava blinks. “Well, I think—”
“No, no,” Thyme interrupts, “who’s got legs longer than June’s?”
“Longer than June’s?”
“Yes! They were standing so tall and leaning over—”
“No, no, no!” Tassel shakes her head. “They were lying down and their ears were sticking up!”
“But they weren’t floppy, so they have to be legs!”
“But they didn’t bend, they have to be ears!”
“I do not believe,” Pyro mumbles to Cassava, “that either of them saw whoever this was properly.”
“Guys?” The twins look at her. “Do you—where did you see whoever this was?”
“Down by the bushes,” Tassel says as Thyme nods, “they were rooting around behind the old boulder.”
“If you go by, will you tell us who it is? We want to say hello!”
“Yes, hello, and welcome to Thicketdown Forest!”
“That’s my line!”
“If we see whoever it is,” Cassava says, “we will pass on your greetings. For now, have you found any pine nuts around here?”
“Oh, yeah!”
“Go down the curve of the hill and there’s a bunch at the bottom. The good ones rolled down.”
“Thank you,” Pyro says, bowing its head with a formality that makes the twins flutter.
“What’re you two gonna make?”
“The hearty acorn loaf—”
“Oh, that’s our favorite!”
“Yeah, Cassava’s incredible.”
“And easily embarrassed,” Pyro says, gently nudging the flustered Cassava with its tail, “but I assure you she thanks you for the compliment. Would you like to come over to enjoy it with us when we have gathered everything?”
“Oh, you mean it?”
“We’d love to, thank you!”
“Good luck finding everything!”
“Hey, that’s my line!”
Pyro chuckles as they take off, waiting until they’re out of earshot to ask if Cassava is alright.
“Yes, yes, I’m fine, thank you, they just—” she rubs her paws over her face— “they can be a lot.”
Pyro hums in agreement, landing at the base of the grass so they can collect the pine nuts. Cassava scurries over to the oat plants and stores the grains in the basket. Pyro spreads its wings to keep the wind from blowing them away before she can close it tightly.
“Is there anything else we need?”
(set:$pnoatsHAL to 1)
(set:$hookHAL to 1)
(if:$acapsHAL is 1 AND $pnoatsHAL is 1 AND $wnutHAL is 1)[(set:$completeHAL to 1)]
{
(if:$completeHAL is 1) [ [[Home->Ending HAL]] ]
(else:) [ "We still need something else, yes."
<p> <img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825"> </p>
(if:$acapsHAL is 0)[ <p> [[Go to the Fogmoss Tree.->Fogmoss Tree HAL]] </p> ]
(if:$wnutHAL is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Field Bushes.->Field Bushes HAL]] </p> ]
]
}“The best walnuts are under the bushes in the field, we should go there next.”
“Should we go back to the ones near the Fogmoss Tree?”
“No, let’s go to the ones nearer the blueberry patch.”
“May we eat blueberries when we get there?”
“I thought you wanted the loaf?”
“I may snack.”
Oh, the idea of a snack //does// sound delicious. As the bushes come into view, Pyro dips a little lower and snags a blueberry in its claws. Cassava lets out a small yelp as the dragon lands and she almost loses her grip.
“My apologies, Cassava Mouse, I did not anticipate the landing being so rough.”
“It’s alright, I’m not hurt.” She sets down her basket and scurries closer. “Did you get a good one?”
“You will have to try it with me to find out.”
The blueberry is perfectly juicy, the last of it staining the edges of Cassava’s nose as Pyro rubs its snout on the grass.
“That was excellent, Cassava Mouse, don’t you—oh.” Pyro tilts its head. “There is juice on your nose.”
It bursts out laughing when she tries to lick it off.
“I do not believe your tongue is long enough for that, Cassava Mouse.”
“I can try.”
“And how is this going for you?”
“...badly,” she admits, forgoing the juice and picking her basket up instead, “there, I can see the walnuts.”
Pyro uses its sharp claws to crack open the shells, letting Cassava scoop out what parts they need and place them in the basket. The clearing fills with the rich smell of nuts as the sun warms their backs.
(if:$hookHAL is 1) [Just as Cassava finishes putting the last nut inside, something moves. Pyro turns, looking over its shoulder, and quickly wraps its wings around her, shuttling her into the safety of the bushes.
“Be still,” it whispers, “I do not know what that was.”
“Do you think it’s what Thyme and Tassel saw,” she whispers back, “that whoever it was is back?”
“Perhaps. Can you see them?”
Cassava climbs onto Pyro’s head and Pyro lifts her up, letting her peek her little mouse eyes out over the bush. She scans the clearing but doesn’t see anything.
Except for a long, thin silhouette on the other side of the bush.
“Pyro,” she hisses, “Pyro, I see their shadow.”
“A shadow? Are they moving?”
The lines on the grass stay still. “No, I don’t think so.”
The dragon shifts. “Should we go and say hello?”
“It would be polite.”
The shadow lingers. Long, thin, reaching impossibly high, stretching impossibly long. Are they ears, like Tassel said, but then how long must they be? Or maybe they’re legs like Thyme said, and oh, oh, they would be so //tall…//
“Cassava Mouse?”
She jumps as Pyro calls her name and Pyro lowers her to the ground.
“I’m afraid,” she whispers, “I...I haven’t met someone like this in...well, since I met you.”
“New things are scary, Cassava Mouse,” Pyro agrees, “but I will be right behind you.”
Pyro’s shadow is comforting as they walk slowly out of the bush. Cassava nervously tucks her basket under her arm. She takes a deep breath as they turn around the tree and—
A shattered tree stump looks back at them. Several pieces of wood stick out from the stump, extending high into the air. Cassava tilts her head.
“Oh,” Pyro says over her shoulder, “well...I am afraid I do not know how to make friends with a tree stump.”
Cassava giggles. “No, no, neither do I.”
“Nothing lost, nothing gained, it seems,” Pyro says as they take to the air once more, “what shall we do now?”
(set:$hookHAL to 2)
]
(set:$wnutHAL to 1)
(if:$acapsHAL is 1 AND $pnoatsHAL is 1 AND $wnutHAL is 1)[(set:$completeHAL to 1)]
{
(if:$completeHAL is 1) [ [[Home->Ending HAL]] ]
(else:) [ "We've still got things to gather."
<p> <img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825"></p>
(if:$pnoatsHAL is 0)[ <p> [[Go to Meadow Dip->Meadow Dip HAL]] </p> ]
(if:$acapsHAL is 0) [ <p> [[Go to Fogmoss Tree->Fogmoss Tree HAL]] </p> ]
]
}“How can I help,” Pyro asks as Cassava unloads the ingredients onto the kitchen table, “what do we need from the stores?”
“Could you collect the berries and the little pouch by the entrance?”
“Of course, the one that hangs by the cord?”
“Yes!”
She begins to mix the oats and the walnuts as Pyro goes to the stores. She has the mixtures in the acorn bowls by the time the dragon returns.
“Is this everything?”
“Yes, thank you, could you mix the berries with the oats and caps?”
“In here?”
“Yes, exactly, just like that—yes, that should be good.”
“Do these need to be put into your pans to bake?”
“We need to let them sit for a moment, but yes. Do you—I don’t remember where I put them.”
“They’re just over your head, let me.”
“Oh, thank you!”
“Should we divide the mixtures first?”
“No, we need to pour that one into this one first, can you—yes, hold it just like that.”
“This smells wonderful.”
“Oh, just wait until we’ve baked it.”
No sooner have they set aside the pans to sit, they hear the flutter of two sets of wings from outside. Cassava helps Pyro clean off the last of the acorn bowls and goes to meet the twins.
“Hey, Cassava!”
“Where’s Pyro?”
“On its way out,” Cassava says, “it’s good to see you.”
“You too!”
“Even though we saw you a little while ago!”
“Yeah!”
“Ah, yes, hello,” Pyro greets as it comes to join them, “we must wait for a little before we can bake, but I am sure this will not be an issue.”
“No, not at all.”
“Yeah, it’s good to just hang out with you guys.”
The four of them sit outside the burrow, talking as the sun moves lower and lower in the sky. When Cassava brings the pans outside, Pyro quickly tells the twins to wait on top of the root.
“Wait, are you gonna bake them now?”
“But the sun’s too low!”
“We have a solution to that.” Cassava sets the pans in the dirt and scurries up to watch with the twins. “Ready!”
//“Whoa!”//
“That’s so cool!”
“It’s so bright!”
“You’re incredible!”
Cassava giggles at how flustered Pyro looks from the twin’s compliments and it quickly shoves the loaves toward them with a push of its snout. “Shall we eat while they’re warm?”
“Yes!”
“They smell so good.”
Cassava agrees, her mouth watering at the sight of the freshly baked loaves. She only just manages to not singe her tongue as she bites into it. The twins happily scarf down an entire loaf between them as she and Pyro split the second.
(if:$hookHAL is 2)[“Oh,” Tassel says, looking up with her beak full of food, “did you find who it was?”
“Yeah!” Thyme rubs his wing. “And why their legs are so long?”
“Ears!”
“Legs!”
“Tree stump.”
The twins look at Pyro. “Huh?”
“The ‘friend’ you expected,” Pyro explains, “it was the shadow of a tree stump. And I am afraid I do not know how to make friends with a tree stump.”
“Oh.” Tassel looks down at the ground. “Well...we could try.”
“We could.”
“I’m sure you’ll do great,” Cassava says, leaning against Pyro with a full belly.
“Well, it’s like Mother always said, you should—”
“You should really watch your chirp when the winds blow.”
“That’s my line!”
(set: $invHAL to (a: ))
(set: $invHAL to $invHAL + (a: "🌰"))
(append: ?sidebar) [$invHAL]
]
[[Retry?->Intro]]“We should get the honey,” Cassava says as Pyro flies through the air, “before the bees go to sleep.”
“Do all of them sleep at the same time?”
“I don’t know, but there seem to be considerably less of them when I visit closer to sunset.” A chill breeze ruffles through Cassava’s fur and she shivers. “And it’s not a good idea for mice to be out after dark.”
Pyro pauses, then a low thrum runs through the dragon’s body and warms her. “You need not fear the darkness, Cassava Mouse.”
“I know.”
They fly toward one of the old hollow trees. Before they even reach the wood, they can hear the buzzing. Pyro sets down a few paces away and waits patiently as Cassava scurries into the bottom of the tree.
She looks up at the hive and lifts herself onto her hind paws, nibbling at a small section of the honeycomb. It comes free in her paws and she scurries back outside.
“Did you get it?”
“Yes!” She holds up the glistening comb for Pyro to see. “Can you help me get it in the basket?”
Pyro carefully takes the comb between its jaws and lowers it into the basket as Cassava holds it open. The honey sticks slightly to the old wicker of the basket but not enough to prevent the latch from closing.
“Alright, ready to keep going?” Cassava looks up when Pyro doesn’t reply right away and giggles at the dragon trying to get a drop of honey off of its snout. “Do you want some help?”
“No, no, I have got this.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, quite sure.”
“Because it looks like you’re not quite getting there.”
“Hush. You are disturbing my concentration.”
Cassava folds her paws politely and sits, waiting for Pyro to finish licking the honey from its scales. Then she shakes her head at its antics and climbs back between its wings.
“Where to next?”
(set:$honeyRPHP to 1)
(if:$honeyRPHP is 1 AND $rpetalRPHP is 1 AND $cinnRPHP is 1 AND $sorrelRPHP is 1) [(set:$completeRPHP to 1)]
{
(if:$completeRPHP is 1)[[Home->Ending RPHP]]
(else:) ["Let's gather something else."
<p> <img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825"> </p>
(if:$rpetalRPHP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Field Bushes->Field Bushes RPHP]] </p>]
(if:$cinnRPHP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Tree Grove->Tree Grove RPHP]] </p> ]
(if:$sorrelRPHP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Meadow Dip->Meadow Dip RPHP]] </p>]
]
}“The field bushes are just through the trees.” Cassava points. “Let’s get the roses.”
“Ah, yes, the ones I will help you carry?”
“That’s right.”
“Which roses are we looking for,” Pyro asks as they swoop low over the bushes, “the biggest ones? The brightest ones?”
“The ones with the most petals.” Cassava squints to try and count from the air. “Those ones will have the most flavor and give us the best chance of making something.”
“If we make a mistake, you mean?”
“Yes.” She shifts a little on Pyro’s back. “Mistakes are part of baking, you can discover something delicious that way.”
“You are not encouraging me to refrain from making mistakes, Cassava Mouse.”
She giggles. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
The best roses grow near the tops of the bush, you know, but it’s terribly difficult to get the right leverage to nibble through the branches. And there’s no guarantee that those roses will have the most petals. So they must take several laps of the bushes, looking at each one, just to make sure they’ve picked the best roses.
Cassava has to laugh at how determined Pyro looks when she gives it roses to hold between its jaws. The dragon’s eyes look as sure and sturdy as the Fogmoss Tree and yet every time she sees the roses, she has to hold back a giggle. Which, of course, makes Pyro tilt its head at her to ask what’s so funny, and the roses will flop a little to one side and she’s giggling all over again.
“It’s nothing, it’s nothing,” she squeaks once Pyro helps her fasten the roses to the top of the basket, “I just—you looked so serious carrying the roses and it made me laugh.”
Pyro’s head tilts. “Was it not something to be taken seriously?”
“No, no, that’s not what I meant, I’m explaining this badly.” She ties off the last of the rose stems. “It was...it made me happy to see how much you cared about getting it right and I’m—I’m really happy about that.”
“Oh.” Pyro nudges her with its snout. “Then I am happy to be serious if it makes you laugh.”
“Not all the time, though, right?”
“Only when I am carrying the roses.”
They laugh as they take off again.
“Where shall we go, Cassava Mouse?”
(set:$rpetalRPHP to 1)
(if:$honeyRPHP is 1 AND $rpetalRPHP is 1 AND $cinnRPHP is 1 AND $sorrelRPHP is 1) [(set:$completeRPHP to 1)]
{
(if:$completeRPHP is 1)[[Home->Ending RPHP]]
(else:) ["Let's go gather something else."
<p> <img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825"></p>
(if:$honeyRPHP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Bee Hive->Bee Hive RPHP]] </p> ]
(if:$cinnRPHP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Tree Grove->Tree Grove RPHP]] </p> ]
(if:$sorrelRPHP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Meadow Dip->Meadow Dip RPHP]] </p> ]
]
}“Let’s fetch the cinnamon sticks.”
“Are those in the Tree Grove?” Pyro turns around a falling leaf. “I do not believe I have been there before.”
“I can show you where it is, don’t worry.” Cassava leans a little closer, muttering directions in Pyro’s ear as the pair twist and turn through the forest. “There, do you see that group of trees?”
“Yes, is that the grove?”
“Right there.”
They set down on the soft, springy grass and walk under the branch of the nearest tree. As soon as they cross into the shadows, Cassava’s little mouse chest grows lighter.
The air is a little cooler in here, just because of the proximity of the trees. Spiders like to spin their webs here, covering the tips of the branches with a gossamer elegance. When dusk falls, bathing the clearing in soft light that reached gentle fingers out to paint thin blue shadows along the ground, the cool air feels weightless, blowing effortlessly through each strand and setting it to tingle. Everywhere a strand vibrates, a single drop of dew forms a single crystal in the half-dark. A glittering hub.
The shadows make it easier to breathe.
“This is beautiful,” Pyro’s rumbling voice says beside her, “I can see why you like it here, Cassava Mouse.”
Cassava just nods, not trusting her voice yet, as she looks around for cinnamon. They spot it growing near one of the bigger trees and scurry over. Pyro holds the basket open as Cassava pulls three sticks and puts them inside. She closes the latch tightly and goes to climb on Pyro’s back.
Before she gets all the way up, she spots something else.
“Cassava Mouse?” Pyro turns its head to look at her. “Is something wrong?”
She doesn’t reply, setting the basket down and scurrying over to the base of another tree. There’s something there, lying on its side, partially covered by grass.
“Cassava Mouse?”
It looks...white. She scurries closer.
“Cassava Mouse, are you alright?”
She pulls away the blades of grass. She stops. She falls to the ground with a tiny thump.
“Cassava Mouse!”
She doesn’t stop staring at the gaping holes, the white, the similarity.
“Cas—oh.” Pyro’s rumble comes to a stop behind her. “Oh, I see.”
A wing comes up to block her view of the mouse skull and turns her into a warm, smooth chest. Pyro’s wings wrap around her as it nuzzles her head with its snout.
“It is alright, Cassava Mouse,” it soothes, “the winds cannot get you here, I have you.”
Cassava closes her eyes and rests her head against the warmth. Pyro rumbles, its breath ruffling the fur on top of her head.
“Would you like to stay here for a moment?” She nods. “Alright. Let us stay here, then.”
The grove breathes with them, the breeze blowing through the glistening strings of web.
It’s quiet.
After a while, Cassava places her paws on Pyro’s chest, feeling the strong heart beneath the scales, and looks up. Pyro looks down at her, its head tilted in concern.
“Is there anything I can do, Cassava Mouse?”
“...will you stay with me?”
It dips its head to press their foreheads together. “Nothing could make me leave, Cassava Mouse.”
“Thank you.” She notices the basket perched against the other tree. “We should—we should keep going. That pie sounds really good now.”
“I am glad.” Pyro helps her gently onto its back and they leave the grove, the sunlight warming Cassava’s fur. “Where shall we go next?”
(set:$cinnRPHP to 1)
(set:$hookRPHP to 1)
(if:$honeyRPHP is 1 AND $rpetalRPHP is 1 AND $cinnRPHP is 1 AND $sorrelRPHP is 1) [(set:$completeRPHP to 1)]
{
(if:$completeRPHP is 1)[[Home->Ending RPHP]]
(else:) ["Let's...let's go get something else."
<p> <img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825"> </p>
(if:$rpetalRPHP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Field Bushes->Field Bushes RPHP]] </p> ]
(if:$honeyRPHP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Bee Hive->Bee Hive RPHP]] </p> ]
(if:$sorrelRPHP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Meadow Dip->Meadow Dip RPHP]] </p> ]
]
}“Let’s go to the Meadow Dip,” Cassava says, “the sorrel should be there.”
“Is that the one I like?”
“Yes, that’s the one you like.”
“Mm.”
“You can’t eat all of it before we make the pie!”
“I will not, I will not.”
Cassava giggles as the dragon alights next to the patch of sorrel and lowers its wing so she can slide off. //And// so Pyro can stretch its neck out and take a big bite out of the sorrel.
//“Pryo!”//
“One bite, that’s all.”
“A slippery slope, my dear.” Pyro swings its head around to watch as another figure lands next to them. “But I trust your restraint.”
Pyro bows its head in greeting. “Aliyah Hoot, a pleasure to see you.”
Cassava bows too, hearing the gentle chuckle from above her as feathers shuffle themselves into place.
“There’s no need for such formality, my dears,” Aliyah says, “we are all friends here, aren’t we?”
“I would hope so.”
“Yeah! Yeah, we’re—we’re friends.”
Aliyah bows her head to greet them. “Please, do not allow me to disturb you, I am only fetching some herbs for myself.”
“Oh! What are you making?”
Aliyah shakes her head. “I am afraid your culinary skills far exceed mine, my dear. I’m just eating what I enjoy. I will, however, ask you what you’re making.” She nods to the basket. “I can see you’ve both been very busy.”
“Rose petal honey pie,” Pyro says, “I am told it is delicious.”
Aliyah smiles and hoots, long and low. “It is, Pyro, it’s //incredible.// I daresay it will become your new favorite food.”
“Would you like to come over and have it with us, then,” Cassava offers, “before you hunt tonight?”
“Spoil my dinner with the kind dessert offer from a dear friend?” Aliyah winks. “How could I refuse?”
Cassava giggles as Aliyah helps Pyro pick a good batch of sorrel. “I look forward to it.”
(if:$hookRPHP is 1)[As Aliyah watches her fumble slightly with the latch, she tilts her head. “You seem a little less yourself today, Cassava.”
“I’m…” Cassava sighs. “I suppose yes, that’s true.”
The sun gleams off the owl’s white feathers. “Would you like to talk about it?”
Cassava worries a stem between her paws. “It’s nothing you need to worry about, but thank you.”
“You are my friend,” Aliyah rebukes gently, “if something is upsetting you, I worry.”
Pyro rumbles in agreement. Cassava looks up at the owl and swallows.
“I...I saw a mouse skull when we were gathering cinnamon.”
Aliyah makes a noise of understanding. “I can see how that would shake you.”
Cassava nods, resting against Pyro’s warm weight. The owl gently bids her to look up and she does as the owl smiles.
“What was it that startled you?”
“Just...just that it could be me. I could be...I could go to the forest bed. Gone.”
“We all go to the forest bed, Cassava,” Aliyah says softly, “that’s a part of life.”
“But what am I supposed to do?” Cassava’s little paws clench. “I don’t—I don’t know.”
“You’re not supposed to do anything. You’re just supposed to live.” Aliyah leans down and tucks a bit of Cassava’s fur back into place. “You’re supposed to wake up in your cozy burrow and feel at home. You’re supposed to feel the sun on your fur. You’re supposed to laugh with your friends and let them comfort you when you’re upset. You’re supposed to spend the day gathering ingredients so you can bake with the ones you care about.”
Pyro nudges her shoulder gently.
“You’re //supposed// to live, Cassava,” Aliyah finishes with a warm smile, “and if you think it’s getting a little harder, well...dust yourself off and try again. You have friends to help you.”
“Can I hug you?”
“Oh, of course, my friend, come here.” Aliyah wraps her wings around Cassava’s little mouse body as Pyro rumbles happily. “I suppose that pie must sound very good right about now, hmm?”
Cassava smiles and discreetly wipes her eyes. “Yes, it most certainly does.”
“Well, then.” Aliyah taps her beak. “Back to it, then.”
“Thank you, Aliyah.”
“Anytime, my dear.”
Pyro’s scales are sun-warm as she nestles between its wings. It feels her squeeze with her paws and takes off, rising into the blue sky.
“Where shall we go, Cassava Mouse?”
(set:$hookRPHP to 2)]
(set:$sorrelRPHP to 1)
(if:$honeyRPHP is 1 AND $rpetalRPHP is 1 AND $cinnRPHP is 1 AND $sorrelRPHP is 1) [(set:$completeRPHP to 1)]
{
(if:$completeRPHP is 1)[[Home->Ending RPHP]]
(else:) ["Let's get the last of the ingredients."
<p> <img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825"> </p>
(if:$rpetalRPHP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Field Bushes->Field Bushes RPHP]] </p> ]
(if:$cinnRPHP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Tree Grove->Tree Grove RPHP]] </p> ]
(if:$honeyRPHP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Bee Hive->Bee Hive RPHP]] </p> ]
]
}“We’ve got everything we need, let’s go home.”
“Ah, yes, time to bake!”
Cassava giggles as Pyro shoots through the forest, weaving around the trees until it sets down in front of their burrow. “If you want to get the pit of leaves ready, I can go mix everything up?”
“That sounds wonderful.”
Cassava scurries inside with her basket as Pyro begins to pack the leaves into place. She sets the basket down by the kitchen and quickly rifles through everything she needs. The roses are peeled petal by petal and set aside to air out as she mixes the sorrel and the filling with the honey. She shreds the petals carefully with her teeth and pours everything into the acorn husks to be baked.
She scurries back outside to see Pyro digging a small hole to set it inside. It looks up and backs away, letting her ease it into the ground and scurry up on its back.
“Ready?”
“Ready!”
A low //thwoompth// as a rush of warmth makes her shudder and the slight crackle of burning leaves. Pyro nudges her and she scurries down, smiling at the slight bubble of the filling as the husk browns around the edges.
“I would not touch it yet,” Pyro warns, “it will still be very hot.”
“I know, I know…”
“Patience,” it scolds, knowing perfectly well it has no right to, “shall we get the next one?”
“Yeah, yeah.”
As they bake the second pie, a flutter of feathers and Aliyah lands on top of the root. She laughs at the way Cassava startles so badly, she falls from Pyro’s back.
“Oh, dear, I didn’t mean to do that.”
“No, no, I’m fine, will you please come in?”
Aliyah hops down and joins them as Pyro takes the second pie out of the ground. It holds it out to her and gestures for her to have the first taste.
“Oh, but you’ve never tried this before,” she says, nudging it back, “and I’m afraid if //I// have the first bite, I may eat all of it.”
“And if //I// have the first bite, I definitely will.”
“Which is why,” Cassava says as she scurries back outside, “I got enough for three!”
“Well, stand back,” Pyro says as it bakes the third pie in a slow rush of flame, “there. Now we will each have enough pie.”
They look over at Aliyah only to see her with her beak full of pie already. “Sorry, was I supposed to wait?”
Cassava breaks into peals of laughter. “No, no, not at all. Dig in.”
Pyro, of course, takes her instruction with great enthusiasm and soon the dragon is devouring the pie. Aliyah does the same and Cassava isn’t one to miss out.
The pies are gone in scarcely more than a firefly’s blink and Aliyah sighs.
“Well, that was //excellent.”//
Pyro gobbles up the last of its pie and flops onto its side, rumbling happily. “You were correct, Aliyah Hoot, that may be my new favorite food.”
“I suppose we’ll have to agree, hmm?”
Cassava giggles. “You’ll have to join us next time we bake.”
(if:$hookRPHP is 2) [“I would be honored.” She ruffles her feathers. “Well, the night is almost here and I’m afraid I have places to be. I wish you both a good night’s rest.”
“Good luck on your hunt!” Pyro waves a wing as Aliyah takes off, rolling over to look up at Cassava. She sighs. “We should go inside.”
“Are you alright, Cassava Mouse?”
The last of the sun warms Cassava’s fur and she smiles.
“Yes, Pyro, I’m alright.”
“I’m very glad.”
(set: $invRPHP to (a: ))
(set: $invRPHP to $invRPHP + (a: "🌹"))
(append: ?sidebar) [$invRPHP]
]
[[Retry?->Intro]]Cassava tugs her coat a little tighter around herself as they get closer to the river. Pyro stops just before they get to the bank.
“What do the insects look like?”
“They’re about the size of my paw,” Cassava says, holding it out so Pyro can see, “and they’re a greyish brown.”
Something scurries through the dirt near the bank.
“There!”
Pyro’s claw shoots out in a blur and the mite rests at its feet not a second later. “This is what we are searching for?”
“Yes, that’s—wow. That’s cool.”
“I am good at hunting things, Cassava Mouse.”
“We’ve played hide-and-seek more than enough times for me to know that.” She scurries down to the bank as Pyro puts the mite into the basket. “This will go much faster, I hope.”
“How do you normally find enough?”
“They sometimes have nests that I can wait at, but—” she looks over and Pyro already has another in its mouth— “well, you seem to be doing just fine on your own.”
“How many do we need?”
“Another three, I think. To be safe.”
“Safe is good.” And there’s another mite in Pyro’s claws.
“Wow.”
“What?”
“Nothing, it’s just...you’re really good at this.” Cassava smiles. “I’m really proud of you.”
The dragon hums in delight. There is something very satisfying indeed about watching someone just be very good at something, and Cassava finds herself smiling giddily at Pyro as the dragon effortlessly catches all the mites they need. She applauds as the dragon sets the last one into the basket. Pyro bows.
“An honor, Cassava Mouse.”
“Well done indeed,” she giggles.
(if:$hookGIS is 1) [Something flashes out of the corner of her eyes. For a moment, she thinks it’s just the sunlight reflecting off of the water. Then she sees it again.
“Look!”
Pyro turns. “Is that—”
“Yes, I think so, wait, we have to hurry!”
A necklace on a piece of brown thread is carried down the river, the shiny pendant winking in the sun. Pyro scoops Cassava onto its back and takes off, beating its wings to get ahead of the current.
“A little lower,” Cassava encourages, “before it gets to the rapids!”
The spray of the water hits her coat and she squints through it. The necklace is almost out of sight. They have to get lower.
“A little lower.”
“I do not want to drop you, Cassava Mouse!”
“You won’t!” She leans over the dragon’s side and reaches...reaches…
//“Cassava Mouse!”//
//“Got it!”// She yanks the necklace free of the current just as Pyro turns and dives toward the grass, twisting so its body hits the ground first and rolling to keep her head from colliding with any stones. //“Oh!”//
“You were about to fall,” the dragon says worriedly, “are you alright?”
“Yes, yes, I’m fine, thank you.” She holds up the necklace. “We did it!”
“Yes, we did.” Pyro nuzzles her head. “Congratulations, Cassava Mouse.”
“Shall we put this in the basket for safekeeping?”
“I do not know,” Pyro muses, nudging the pendant, “it looks quite nice on you.”
Cassava giggles. “It’ll get caught on something, and it’s not mine to keep.”
Pyro sighs. “I suppose you’re right. Come, let us get back to work, then.”
With the necklace stored safely in the basket, Pyro urges Cassava onto its back once more.
“Where to next?”
(set:$hookGIS to 2)]
(set:$inGIS to 1)
(if: $inGIS is 1 AND $bbGIS is 1 AND $mleafGIS is 1) [(set:$completeGIS to 1)]
{
(if:$completeGIS is 1)[[Home->Ending GIS]]
(else:) ["Ugh...let's go gather the other things."
<p> <img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825"> </p>
(if:$bbGIS is 0) [ <p> [[Go to Bristle Birch->Bristle Birch GIS]] </p> ]
(if:$mleafGIS is 0) [ <p> [[Go to Maple Tree->Maple Tree GIS]] </p> ]
]
}“Let’s get the bark and the ferns next,” Cassava says, “those will be at Bristle Birch.”
“Right away we go.” Pyro swoops down to land at the foot of the tree. “What type of bark are we looking for?”
“It should peel away really easily.” Cassava takes a strip of bark between her paws and pulls, peeling it from the trunk in a long strip. “See?”
“How long should it be?” Pyro noses at the trunk.
“As long as you can make it.”
“Shall we see who can peel the longer one?”
“You’re on!”
Cassava has been doing this for many years. She knows how to spot the bits of bark that have yellowed at the edges and will come loose easily, knows how to pull just gently enough with her paws that it will come loose from the trunk but not fall apart. But Pyro is larger than she and it can fly, giving it better leverage when it comes to pieces higher up.
When they’ve peeled enough bark from the tree, they lie their bark strips side by side. Cassava’s has fewer cracks, but Pyro’s is just a little curlier, making it perfect for the salad.
“You win!”
“Only because you have taught me so well.” Pyro presents the spotted white fern to her as a token of good faith. “Is this enough.”
“That’s perfect, thank you, Pyro.”
“Of course.” Cassava tucks the bark and the ferns safely into her basket. “Where to next, Cassava Mouse?”
(set:$bbGIS to 1)
(if: $inGIS is 1 AND $bbGIS is 1 AND $mleafGIS is 1) [(set:$completeGIS to 1)]
{
(if:$completeGIS is 1)[[Home->Ending GIS]]
(else:) ["Let's go gather the other things."
<p> <img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825"> </p>
(if:$inGIS is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Draymack River->Draymack River GIS]] </p> ]
(if:$mleafGIS is 0) [ <p> [[Go to Maple Tree->Maple Tree GIS]] </p> ]
]
}“Let’s collect the maple leaves,” Cassava says, “we need a few small ones and a few big ones.”
“Do we have enough baby leaves in the stores?”
“I think so, we only collected those two days ago.”
The maple tree reaches its branches out to greet them, leaves blowing in the breeze. Pyro lands deftly on one of the higher branches where the leaves have yet to finish growing and holds its wings out to steady itself. Cassava scurries along the branch, mindful of the breeze, and begins to nibble through the stems. Some of the bigger leaves catch the wind and blow Cassava off balance, but she dutifully makes it back to Pyro with three in tow.
Then, on the way back with the fourth, a sharp gust of wind blows her off the branch.
//“Cassava Mouse!”//
“Whoa, there, watch the wings!”
Something catches her by the back of her coat and sets her carefully back on the branch. Pyro bustles over, wrapping its wings around her and tucking the maple leaf into the basket before anxiously fussing over her.
“Are you alright? You are not injured?”
“I’m—I’m good, Pyro,” Cassava says, “just—just a bit out of breath.”
“I’ll say, you look like a pincer’s pinched your tail!”
They turn and look in the direction of the voice. Christian Magpie lands on the branch, ruffling his feathers and tucking a stray one back with his beak. He huffs and looks at them.
“Here I am, just minding my own business, and suddenly there’s a mouse flying at me!” He shakes a wingtip at Cassava. “I know flying’s incredible, darling, but you must be more careful than that.”
“I didn’t do it on purpose,” Cassava promises, “but thank you for saving me. The wind wanted the leaf more than I did!”
“Well, then I sure am glad I helped you show it a lesson!” Christian shakes his head. “Why are you gathering leaves so high up?”
“We are collecting ingredients for grilled insect salad,” Pyro explains, showing Christian the basket, “and these leaves are the correct size.”
“Oh, //darling,// you’re going to love it,” Christian crows—magpies?—in delight, “it’s simply marvelous and I must ask if you have any leftovers to send them to Crow’s Nest.”
“I have a better idea,” Cassava says, “why don’t you come and join us at sunset?”
“An invitation? Oh, darling, you’re too sweet.” Christian covers his face with a wing. “You’ll make me shed.”
“I insist!”
“And she’s insisting, well, now I simply //must// come.” Christian sighs. “But I’m afraid I’m a little preoccupied at the moment.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Oh, haven’t you heard?” Christian sighs dramatically. “My necklace has gone missing!”
“Your...necklace?”
“Yes, mine.” He gestures to his empty chest. “It looks simply marvelous against my feathers and now it’s missing and it’s an utter travesty.”
Cassava remembers such ‘travesties’ from encounters past. A shiny piece of metal that simply //had// to go on the wall of the nest, or a sparkly rock that was a crime when not next to the door to Crow’s Keep. She promises that she’ll keep an eye out as Pyro nods.
“You’re both darlings.” Christian takes off again, promising to see them at sunset.
Pyro shakes its head and checks once more that Cassava is alright. She pats the dragon and climbs onto its back, holding tight.
“Where shall we go next? Preferably somewhere a little less high?”
(set:$mleafGIS to 1)
(set:$hookGIS to 1)
(if: $inGIS is 1 AND $bbGIS is 1 AND $mleafGIS is 1) [(set:$completeGIS to 1)]
{
(if:$completeGIS is 1)[[Home->Ending GIS]]
(else:) ["Yes, we've still got something to get."
<p> <img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825"> </p>
(if:$bbGIS is 0) [ <p> [[Go to Bristle Birch->Bristle Birch GIS]] </p> ]
(if:$inGIS is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Draymack River->Draymack River GIS]] </p> ]
]
}“Shall we go home, then?”
“Yes, let’s.”
Cassava leaves Pyro with the mites outside as she returns to the burrow to prepare the salad. She fetches the green baby leaves from the storeroom and begins to wrap them and the spotted ferns in the birch bark. She adds a few berries and nuts from the small pouch hanging by her left ear and sets the lot of it in a large acorn bowl.
It takes both of her front paws to carry it outside and by the time she manages to get there, Pyro has grilled the mites to perfect.
“Be careful,” she says as she sets down the bowl, “it’s heavy.”
Pyro picks up the mites one by one and lays them on top of the salad. It smells wonderful.
“I’m not late, am I?”
“Christian?”
“Who else, darling?” Christian Magpie lands on top of the root and caws. “Oh, darlings, you’ve done so well, I can see that from here.”
“I am excited,” Pyro says, “this does indeed look delicious.”
“Let’s eat before it gets cold!”
(if:$hookGIS is 2) [The salad is wonderful, just as she’d hoped. Christian takes several pauses to describe how he saw Theodore Urtle just the other day, or how Dr. I Guana is inventing a new way of treating the wind blisters they get from the blizzards, or how the swallow twins keep stealing one of his new objects.
“Oh,” Pyro says as he finishes lamenting, “we have found your necklace.”
“You did?” Christian gasps, putting the cord around his neck. “Oh, you did, you magnificent things, just look at it!”
Indeed, the pendant does look very good against Christian’s black feathers. Cassava giggles as he turns this way and that, preening at the way it catches the last of the sunlight.
“Well, I’m off home, the others will want to see it!” He wipes his beak with his wing and thanks them profusely for the meal. “You’re both gifts, you know that?”
“Gifts to what,” Pyro mumbles as he flies away.
“I think that’s his way of saying he likes having us as friends.”
“Is our friendship a currency to him?”
“I don’t think so.” Cassava leans against Pyro. “I think it’s just how he says things.”
Pyro is quiet for a moment. Then it nudges Cassava with its snout. “I still prefer to give you gifts than to think of you as the gift.”
“As do I, Pyro.”
“May I give you the gift of cleaning up?”
“I was just about to give you the same one.”
“Let’s do it together, then.”
“Now that’s a good gift.”
(set: $invGIS to (a: ))
(set: $invGIS to $invGIS + (a: "📿"))
(append: ?sidebar) [$invGIS]
]
[[Retry?->Intro]]“Let’s go visit Derrick.” Cassava climbs up to nestle between Pyro’s wings. “I’m sure he’d be very excited to meet you.”
“I am very excited to meet him as well.” Pyro flies through the trees, coming to a stop just outside a cluster of oaks where plenty of voices can be heard. “Is it just through here?”
“Yes—oh,” Cassava says, quickly turning to the dragon, “I should warn you, some of the little ones can be quite rowdy, especially if this is the first time they’re meeting you. If you get overwhelmed, please let me know.”
“I will do so. May I stay close to you?”
“Of course.”
No sooner has Cassava entered the grass field in the middle of the trees, a dozen young squirrels prick their tails up and rush toward them.
“Cassava Mouse! Cassava Mouse has come to visit!”
“Did you bring us snacks? Who’s your friend?”
“I grew taller, Cassava! Look!”
Behind her, she can feel Pyro tense up a little, drawing its wings closer to its body and crouching down as if to hide behind her little mouse form. She holds her paws up to stop them from getting too close but the babbles don’t cease. Not until another voice booms out across the clearing.
“Alright, alright, let’s give ‘em some room to breathe, won’t we?” An older squirrel with grey streaked through its tail carefully nudges the younger ones aside. “Well, well, well, Cassava Mouse, haven’t seen you since the moon was full.”
“Derrick Squirrel,” Cassava says with a smile, “it’s so good to see you again.”
“Likewise, m’lady.” He looks at Pyro. “And who might this one be?”
“Greetings, Derrick Squirrel,” Pyro says, its head bowing low, “my name is Pyro.”
“Pyro, eh? You new around here?”
“Fairly new, yes.”
Derrick nods. “Well, welcome to the forest. Can’t imagine you getting a better host.”
Cassava blushes and quickly moves on to asking Derrick if they could have some squash and potatoes for the stew.
“Sure you can, no fur off my tail.” Derrick turns to the crowd of little ones still hanging on their every word. “Tell you what, you all go fetch Miss Cassava all the ingredients she needs and then come back, hmm?”
“Can do!”
“Ooh, ooh, let’s get the orange ones!”
“No, the yellow ones are better!”
“Potatoes aren’t yellow.”
“The //squash!”//
Derrick chuckles as a ripple of brown and grey fur streaks across the clearing. “Ah, energetic young things, aren’t they?”
“Quite.”
Derrick looks around to see Pyro still a little shaken as Cassava pats one of the dragon’s wings. “Sorry about them, they’re a lot even for me sometimes, they’ll behave.”
“There is no apology necessary,” Pyro says, starting to relax now, “none of us have been harmed.”
“Mm.” Derrick sighs. “Listen, I hate to do this, especially ‘cause I just met you, but, uh, are you guys gonna be running around the forest for a bit?”
Cassava tilts her head. “Why?”
“One of the littlest ones went missing,” Derrick says, “scurried off about the time the sun started to dip and we haven’t been able to find them.”
“Oh!” Cassava holds her paws up to her mouth. One of the little ones? Out alone in the forest? Oh, they must be so scared… “We can keep an eye out for them, do you have any idea where they might be?”
“They really like climbing.” Derrick’s tail twitches back and forth. “Maybe you can look for ‘em up high?”
“We will look,” Pyro says solemnly, “and send them back to you if we find them.”
“Thanks, guys.” No sooner has the question been answered, a thundering of paws as the young ones scurry back over with the squash and potatoes, cut up into pieces courtesy of the rest of the squirrel family. “And there you are, that should be enough, yeah?”
“That should be plenty, thank you.” Cassava holds the basket open. “Shall we see if we can fit all of the little pieces in here?”
“Me first!”
“No, no, me!”
“Don’t knock Miss Cassava over,” Derrick warns as they pack the ingredients into the basket, “now say goodbye.”
“Goodbye!”
“Bye!”
“Bye-bye!”
“Good to see you!”
“It was good to see you as well,” Cassava says as Pyro bows its head, “I hope to see you all again soon.”
They make their way out of the group of trees and Pyro takes a deep breath. “That was...more people than I was expecting. Thank you for warning me.”
“Do you want to have a break for a moment?”
“May we start going to the next place? It will be better once I cannot hear them.”
“Of course,” Cassava says, climbing back onto Pyro, “where shall we go next?”
(set:$obACS to 1)
(set:$hookACS to 1)
(if:$obACS is 1 AND $acapsACS is 1 AND $inACS is 1) [(set:$completeACS to 1)]
{
(if:$completeACS is 1) [[Home->Ending ACS]]
(else:) ["Shall we gather something else?"
<p> <img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825"> </p>
(if:$acapsACS is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Fogmoss Tree->Fogmoss Tree ACS]] </p> ]
(if:$inACS is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Draymack River->Draymack River ACS]] </p> ]
]
}“Let us gather the acorn caps,” Pyro suggests, “because we are quite close to the burrow.”
“Let’s go up to the higher branches, they’ll be easier to find intact.”
The two of them fly up to the higher branches of the Fogmoss Tree, ducking under a curtain of hanging plants to get at the acorns. Pyro nibbles carefully at some of the thicker twigs as Cassava twists the acorns off.
“Is that enough?”
“Let’s get one more.”
“Alright, which one should we pick?” Pyro nudges a large acorn with its snout. “This one?”
“What about this one?” Cassava taps a darker acorn with her paw. “The color is very nice.”
“Are you intending to eat the stew or just look at it?”
Cassava bursts out laughing. “That’s a good point. Though I’m not sure how easy it will be to carry the larger one.”
“Then let us take that smaller one.” Pyro nudges Cassava toward an acorn near the trunk. “It looks perfect.”
“Will you hold the basket open for me?”
“Yes.”
(if:$hookACS is 1) [Just as they’re about to take off, they hear something coming from inside the trunk. Cassava scurries forward, peering around the gap in the bark to see a swatch of brown and grey fur.
“Miss Cass’va?” A little squirrel pokes its head out. “It is you!”
“Hello,” Cassava says, “you’re an awfully long way from home, aren’t you?”
“I wanted to go explore,” the little squirrel replies, “I got lost.”
“I can see that.” She holds out her paws. “Why don’t you come outside, then we can point you in the right direction home?”
The little squirrel pokes its head out and startles. “Miss Cass’va! There’s someone behind you!”
Pyro tilts its head. “Hello, little one. My name is Pyro. I will not hurt you.”
“...promise?”
“I promise.” Pyro shuffles its wings, making itself look a little smaller. “I understand that meeting new people can be scary. I was afraid when I met Derrick Squirrel and your family.”
“Really?” The little squirrel pokes its head out again. “But they’re not scary.”
“You have known them much longer than I,” Pyro says, “to me, they are brand new. And there are many of them.”
“Yeah...that can be scary.” The little squirrel comes out of the hollow. “I’m not so scared now.”
“I am glad.”
“I’m glad too.” Cassava points toward Oak Bark Hole. “Can you follow the sun? It’s just over the ridge and through the trees, if you follow the red mushrooms you can find your way home.”
“Thank you, Miss Cass’va!” The little squirrel swishes its tail at Pyro. “Thank you, um—thank you, new friend!”
And the little squirrel is gone, scurrying down the tree. Cassava smiles, Pyro watching over her shoulder.
(set:$hookACS to 2)]
(set:$acapsACS to 1)
(if:$obACS is 1 AND $acapsACS is 1 AND $inACS is 1) [(set:$completeACS to 1)]
“I believe we have everything we need from here,” the dragon says softly, “shall we move on?”
“Yes, let’s.”
{
(if:$completeACS is 1) [[Home->Ending ACS]]
(else:) [
<p> <img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825"> </p>
(if:$obACS is 0) [ <p> [[Go to Oak Bark Hole->Oak Bark Hole ACS]] </p> ]
(if:$inACS is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Draymack River->Draymack River ACS]] </p> ]
]
}“Let’s go to the Draymack River. We need to get the mites.”
“As you wish.” Pyro takes off and lands at the bank of the river, dirt rucking up slightly from the gust of wind from its wings. “What are we looking for?”
“They won’t be very big, probably only about the size of my paw.” Cassava leans down and starts to look for their nest or tracks. “They’re dark-colored, probably around here somewhere…there!”
A thin set of tracks in the dirt where little feet have scuttled back and forth across the ground. Cassava leans down, putting her nose to the dirt as she sniffs along. Not here, not there, ah, //there// it is.
A small mound of dirt surrounds a hole in the ground. She sets her basket carefully to the side and crouches, waiting. Pyro hovers over her shoulder, watching.
A mite scuttles up from the ground and she pounces, snatching the mite in her jaws. A bit of dirt gets on her nose as she deposits it carefully into the basket.
“You are quite good at hunting these, Cassava Mouse.”
“Thank you. I’ve had lots of practice.”
“I can see that.”
Pyro watches as she catches three more, holding the basket open for her as she sets them inside. After she’s finished, she scurries over to the river and carefully washes her face, dipping her paws into the crystal clear water and wiping herself dry on the blades of grass.
“Excellent work, my friend,” Pyro says as it walks up to her with the basket.
“Thank you!” She takes the basket and climbs onto Pyro’s back. “Where shall we go now?”
(set:$inACS to 1)
(if:$obACS is 1 AND $acapsACS is 1 AND $inACS is 1) [(set:$completeACS to 1)]
{
(if:$completeACS is 1) [[Home->Ending ACS]]
(else:) ["We've still got something to get."
<p> <img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825"> </p>
(if:$acapsACS is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Fogmoss Tree->Fogmoss Tree ACS]] </p> ]
(if:$obACS is 0) [ <p> [[Go to Oak Bark Hole->Oak Bark Hole ACS]] </p> ]
]
}“I believe that is everything we need,” Pyro says as they set down in front of the Fogmoss Tree, “shall we begin?”
“Yes.” Cassava frowns. “Though I don’t know how we’re going to cook this. Your fire is very good at heating things up quickly, but slowly...”
Pyro tilts its head to the side. “If I may, Cassava Mouse, if you wish to get everything ready to cook in one of your wooden bowls, I believe I have a solution.”
Cassava nods, going inside to mix everything together in a larger wooden bowl. It was given to her by her grand-mouse and she can hear her voice muttering //easy does it now, child, that’s it, hold it steady// as she taught her how to bake. She finds herself smiling as she carries the stew, ready to cook, back outside.
She stops.
Pyro, in the time she’d been getting ready, has dug a large hole in the ground and lined it with leaves. Inside, the dragon has somehow poured water from the Draymack River, creating a tiny pond.
“If you set the bowl here,” Pyro says, motioning to the center of the pool, “I can heat the water more slowly and it will not cook as fast.”
Cassava does as told, scurrying up to Pyro’s back. Pyro rests its head on the ground and begins to breathe fire only at the pool, and not at the bowl at its center. Indeed, as steam begins to rise from the pool, she can see the ingredients bubbling away inside as the stew cooks.
“You’re incredible,” she whispers to Pyro as it works, “absolutely incredible.”
She has to wait until the stew is done for Pyro to thank her—a little out of breath, but thankful nonetheless—and the dragon carefully nudges the bowl over to the edge of the pool with its snout.
“We must wait for the water and the bowl to cool,” it says, “but it should be finished.”
“I can’t wait.”
(if:$hookACS is 2) [“Hey! Hey! New friend!”
Pyro turns and a little squirrel comes darting into the clearing, followed by Derrick. The older squirrel shakes his head as the little one runs right up to Pyro, chattering excitedly about its journey home.
“Talked and talked about this new friend,” Derrick murmurs to Cassava, “should’ve figured who it was.”
“They’re very sweet, aren’t they?”
“Sure are.” Derrick nods to the bowl. “You make dinner?”
“Oh, yes, you two are welcome to stay and have some.”
“You sure? We’d hate to impose.”
They both look at Pyro, who now has the little squirrel curled between its front legs as they talk about the forest. Cassava smiles.
“You wouldn’t be imposing at all.”
(set: $invACS to (a: ))
(set: $invACS to $invACS + (a: "🐿️"))
(append: ?sidebar) [$invACS]
]
[[Retry?->Intro]]“Let’s go and visit Dr. Moonlight,” Cassava suggests, “he’ll be in his cave at this time of day.”
They twist and turn above the forest branches until they spot a small hill made almost entirely of rock and stone. The stone is dark brown, bleached by the sun where the rocks flatten out into larger plateaus. On one side, away from the hanging plants with the roots in the crevices, is a cave. Pyro lands at the mouth of the cave and Cassava climbs off its back, scurrying inside.
“Hello?” Her little mouse voice sounds like ten mice in the echo. “Dr. Moonlight? Are you here?”
“Well,” an old voice rings from somewhere deep in the bowels of the cave, “that sounds like my dear friend Cassava Mouse.”
“Yes, it’s me and Pyro!”
“Two visitors, yes, yes, very good.” A distant sound of flapping wings. “Come deeper into the cave, my child, the sunlight is still too harsh for me to come to you.”
Pyro’s footsteps thunder softly as the dragon pads into the darkness. Cassava’s eyes don’t adjust to the dark nearly as fast, so she hangs onto one of Pyro’s wings, clutching her basket in the other.
“Yes, oh!” A soft //click// and a glowlamp turns on, revealing an elderly bat with little spectacles perched on the end of his nose. “There, now we may all say hello to each other.”
“Dr. Moonlight,” Cassava says, letting the doctor touch his nose to hers in greeting, “it’s very good to see you again.”
“Yes, yes, very good.” The doctor rubs his nose and leans up to do the same to Pyro. “And you, my larger friend, also good to see you. You look very well.”
“Thank you, Dr. Moonlight.” Pyro bows its head. “It is good to see you as well.”
“‘Dr. Moonlight,’” the bat huffs, “always, always so formal! We are friends, my children, you do not have to be. Ernest, that is my first name.”
“Ernest,” Cassava says, quickly correcting herself, “we’ve come to ask if you could spare a blue moonlight rose.”
“Ah!” Ernest turns and flies a short ways to a small planter that glows with gentle blue light. “Come, come, my friends, and pick your rose.”
Cassava scurries over, her eyes widening at the pale blue flowers. Light seems to curl up off of the petals like steam, fading and disappearing into the darkness of the cave. It takes her little mouse breath away.
“They’re beautiful,” she whispers, “thank you, Ernest.”
“You are still kind, my child, never change.” Ernest turns to Pyro. “Which rose do you think will suit your purposes?”
“We are making blueberry moss tea, I do not believe I am the expert.”
“Can we have that one?” Cassava points to a rose about the size of a pinecone.
“Yes, yes, that will be wonderful.” Ernest reaches out and carefully snaps the stem with one of his wings. “A gift for you, my child.”
Cassava holds it carefully between her paws. “Thank you, Ernest.”
“And if I might be so forward as to ask,” Ernest says, “a small favor in return?”
“Of course, what do you need?”
“The Tree Grove holds several herbs that I need to make my own teas. But the Tree Grove is too far away for me to reach during one night and sadly, there are no other caves in Thicketdown. If you would be so kind, might you gather them for me, if and only if you have time?”
“We can try!” Cassava looks up at Pyro, who nods. “Do you want to come by the burrow anyway to have some tea after sunset?”
“After sunset, yes, yes, very good.”
Pyro bows its head. “We will see you there, Dr. Ernest Moonlight.”
“Ah! How is it that you have become more formal? No matter, no matter.” The bat waves them off. “Go, you have a day to gather things, I will see you when the sun no longer despises my existence so.”
They leave the cave and blink for a few moments in the bright light. Cassava’s incredibly grateful for the fact that she can ride on Pyro instead of trying to find her own way into the sky.
“You cannot fly, Cassava Mouse, and I am happy to carry you.”
“I’m happy to be carried.” She shuffles her basket into place. “So...where next?”
(set:$roseBMT to 1)
(set:$hookBMT to 1)
(if:$roseBMT is 1 AND $blueBMT is 1 AND $mossBMT is 1 AND $tleafBMT is 1) [(set:$completeBMT to 1)]
{
(if:$completeBMT is 1) [[Home->Ending BMT]]
(else:) ["We've got something else to gather, I think."
<p> <img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825"> </p>
(if:$blueBMT is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Field Bushes->Field Bushes BMT]] </p> ]
(if:$mossBMT is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Fogmoss Tree->Fogmoss Tree BMT]] </p> ]
(if:$tleafBMT is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Tree Grove->Tree Grove BMT]] </p> ]
]
}“Let’s gather the blueberries,” Cassava suggests, “they’re close to where we are.”
Pyro lands next to one of the blueberry bushes and tilts its head. Cassava realizes Pyro isn’t following her and pauses.
“Is something wrong?”
“This…” Pyro’s wings slump to the ground. “This is where we met.”
Cassava looks back at the bush. Her eyes widen.
This //is// that bush. Where she had been rooting around for acorns and stumbled across someone curled up in the middle of the bush. Where Pyro had raised its head and looked at her, eyes wide and curious. Where they had become friends, tucked away in the vaulted ceiling of the blueberry branches.
“Well,” Pyro rumbles, ambling to join her beneath the leaves, “shall we, for old times’ sake?”
Cassava sets down her basket and carefully climbs on Pyro’s head, letting the dragon lift her up to the top of the bush. A small cluster of blueberries is right next to her left ear.
“I’ve found some!”
“Excellent, do I need to move?”
“No, I’ve got it.” She prods a few of them to test for juiciness before carefully taking each in her paws and twisting so the berry comes free. “Can I drop them down to you?”
“Yes, I can gather them.”
One by one, the berries drop and Pyro puts them in the basket. It lowers Cassava back to the ground and they leave the bush.
“I enjoyed coming back here with you, Cassava Mouse,” the dragon confesses as they venture back into the sunlight.
Cassava smiles and places her paw on the dragon’s front leg. “I did too.”
“Where shall we go next?”
(set:$blueBMT to 1)
(if:$roseBMT is 1 AND $blueBMT is 1 AND $mossBMT is 1 AND $tleafBMT is 1) [(set:$completeBMT to 1)]
{
(if:$completeBMT is 1) [[Home->Ending BMT]]
(else:) ["Let's go gather the other things."
<p> <img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825"> </p>
(if:$roseBMT is 0) [ <p> [[Go to Twilight Hollow->Twilight Hollow BMT]] </p> ]
(if:$mossBMT is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Fogmoss Tree->Fogmoss Tree BMT]] </p> ]
(if:$tleafBMT is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Tree Grove->Tree Grove BMT]] </p> ]
]
}“How shall we gather the moss,” Pyro asks as they land near the trunk of the Fogmoss Tree, “I do not wish to destroy any of it before we get to make the tea.”
Cassava points to part of the trunk where the moss is growing particularly bushy. “Can you see the parts of the bark where there’s a lot of moss?”
“Yes, I see it.”
“If you can get your claws under part of the bark, we can take that and leave the moss on it until we’re ready to make the tea.”
“I see.” Pyro carefully pries up one end of the piece of bark. “Is this enough?”
“Let’s find out.”
Pyro takes a breath and begins to pull. Dragons have quite impressive strength for their size, you know. It wouldn’t do to rip too much bark off.
“That’s good,” Cassava says as Pyro takes a piece of bark and offers it to her. “Here, put it in the basket.”
“Do we need any more?”
“I don’t think so, we can set them out to dry for a little once we’re all done.”
“That was simple.”
“You’re good at it,” Cassava mumbles, letting herself smile when she sees how pleased Pyro looks.
“Thank you, Cassava Mouse.” It bows its head so she can clamber onto its back. “Where shall we go next?”
(set:$mossBMT to 1)
(if:$roseBMT is 1 AND $blueBMT is 1 AND $mossBMT is 1 AND $tleafBMT is 1) [(set:$completeBMT to 1)]
{
(if:$completeBMT is 1) [[Home->Ending BMT]]
(else:) ["Let's go gather something else."
<p> <img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825"> </p>
(if:$blueBMT is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Field Bushes->Field Bushes BMT]] </p> ]
(if:$roseBMT is 0) [ <p> [[Go to Twilight Hollow->Twilight Hollow BMT]] </p> ]
(if:$tleafBMT is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Tree Grove->Tree Grove BMT]] </p> ]
]
}“Let’s gather the tea leaves,” Cassava says, “they should be in the Tree Grove.”
“I understand.” Pyro turns and sweeps in a large circle, aiming for a group of trees near the horizon. “Is there a specific type of tea leaves that we need?”
“Do you remember the ones that Helena Rattlesnake showed us?”
“The ones that crumbled into the black dust?”
“Yes, those ones. Those are the ones we need.”
Pyro lands with a thud outside of the Tree Grove and they scurry inside, the glistening webs overhead showering them with soft drops of dew. Pyro shakes its head a few times, surprised when the dew hits its eyes.
“Oh! Are you alright?” Cassava takes its face in her paws. “You’re not hurt, are you?”
Pyro shakes its head. “I am alright, Cassava Mouse. Come, let us gather the tea.”
Cassava gathers the tea in close, careful sweeps of her paws, trying to aim for the stems of the plants lest the leaves crumble in her arms. Pyro holds the basket open, nudging everything out of the way so the leaves can stay as intact as possible. Eventually, they’ve packed enough leaves into the basket and Cassava takes care not to catch any in the latch as she closes it.
(if:$hookBMT is 1) [“Shall we gather the herbs for Dr. Moonlight while we are here?”
“Oh, yes, excellent idea.” Cassava begins to look around. “Do you see yarrow anywhere?”
“Yes, is this it?”
“Perfect, we need the stem, leaves, and flowers.” She giggles as Pyro looks at the plant and proceeds to rip it out of the ground, roots and all. “That’s good.”
“Anything else,” the dragon mumbles around the plant.
“Um—” Cassava can’t stop giggling— “I don’t—Pyro—”
“I do not see what the problem is,” Pyro says, still around the plant, “I am simply asking what else we need.”
“Elder—elder berry, peppermint—Pyro, put it down, you’re—”
Pyro sets its head on the ground, the plant //still in its mouth.// Cassava topples over, still laughing.
“I do not see what is so funny,” it says, the words slightly slurred from the plant still in its mouth, “do we not need anything else?”
Eventually, Pyro takes mercy on the now gasping Cassava, dropping the plant and nuzzling its snout into her tummy.
“I am glad that was entertaining for you.”
“You’re //mean,//” she manages, swatting at Pyro’s snout halfheartedly, “and //you// can gather the peppermint and elder berry yourself.”
Pyro huffs a laugh and by the time she’s caught her breath, the dragon has tucked the ingredients into the basket and is crouched next to her, ready to go.
“Where to next,” the dragon says as it takes off, “or are you all tired out?”
//“Mean.”//
The dragon just laughs again.
(set:$hookBMT to 2)]
(set:$tleafBMT to 1)
(if:$roseBMT is 1 AND $blueBMT is 1 AND $mossBMT is 1 AND $tleafBMT is 1) [(set:$completeBMT to 1)]
{
(if:$completeBMT is 1) [[Home->Ending BMT]]
(else:) ["We're going to get something else now."
<p> <img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825"> </p>
(if:$blueBMT is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Field Bushes->Field Bushes BMT]] </p> ]
(if:$mossBMT is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Fogmoss Tree->Fogmoss Tree BMT]] </p> ]
(if:$roseBMT is 0) [ <p> [[Go to Twilight Hollow->Twilight Hollow BMT]] </p> ]
]
}“What was that about me being tired,” Cassava teases when Pyro flops over onto its back as soon as they land outside the burrow, “hmm?”
Pyro lazily flaps a wing. “Easy for you to say when you are not the one flying.”
Cassava giggles and takes the moss out of the basket. “I’m going to set this on the ledge to dry, why don’t you get to work clearing it away so we have room for the acorn cups?
“As you wish.”
Inside, Cassava carefully takes her wooden measuring spoons and crumbles the tea leaves into the right places. She measures out the tea and the blueberries before taking the blue moonlight rose and carefully setting it inside her teapot. She sprinkles the tea and blueberries on top and closes the pot.
She carries it carefully outside to measure the moss as Pyro finishes dusting off the ledge.
“We must wait a little longer,” Pyro says, “the moss has yet to fully dry.”
“Alright. Can you help me get the water, then?”
“Of course.” Pyro scoops the bucket into its mouth and carefully dunks its in the river. Cassava holds its steady and pours the water into the teapot. “Is that enough?”
“Yes, that’s plenty.”
“Shall we start the tea while the moss is still drying?”
“I think so, it will be good to make sure the moss doesn’t steep for too long.”
“So,” Pyro declares, flopping back onto its side, “it is time for a break.”
Or, at least it will be when Cassava stops laughing, as the bucket had still been somewhat full and had spilled its contents into the dragon’s spluttering mouth.
“How is it that I am the one being called mean,” Pyro grumbles when it can breathe normally again, “when you take so much pleasure at my misfortune?”
They do eventually get to take a proper break once they’ve set the tea to steep and the moss to dry. They curl up together in the bed of leaves, watching the clouds go by. The sky is blue, the clouds are white, and everything makes sense, even if only for this small moment.
When the sun is low in the sky, Cassava gets up and scurries to the teapot, pleased to find it warm and ready to pour. The moss crumbled in to steep for the last few minutes as Pyro fetches the acorn mugs from inside.
“Friends, friends, yes, and the sun no longer despises me.”
“Dr. Moonlight!”
The bat lands at the entrance of the cave with a swish of wings. “My friends, it is so good to see you.”
“The tea is almost ready,” Cassava says, “please have a seat. Would you like to come in?”
“Come in? Well, yes, I would, thank you very much.” The bat sits in one of the leaf chairs around the table. “Your burrow is still as wonderful as I remember.”
“You’re too kind.”
(if:$hookBMT is 2) [“Here,” Pyro says, nudging the sack of ingredients toward him, “these are the ingredients you asked for.”
“Ah! Very kind, very kind.” He peers inside. “And you managed to get me yarrow root as well! How did you manage this?”
“No,” Pyro says firmly, taking the teapot from Cassava’s grasp, “if you are going to laugh, you will not do it when you can spill tea all over our guest.”
Pyro’s efforts turn out to be well-founded when both Cassava and Dr. Moonlight cannot refrain from laughing at her description of Pyro with the whole plant hanging out of its mouth.
“Well, well, yes, very good.” Dr. Moonlight shakes its head. “Wonderful.”
“I hope you like the tea,” Cassava says as she pours the tea, “your rose was beautiful.”
“I am sure I will,” Dr. Moonlight says, “you are my friends, that does give it a special flavor.”
“Is that your opinion as a doctor?”
“Indeed it is, my friends, indeed it is.” He raises a finger. “And if in doubt, ask the moon. She has a way about these things.”
“Can the moon drink tea?”
“She can do many things, my child.”
(set: $invBMT to (a: ))
(set: $invBMT to $invBMT + (a: "🦇"))
(append: ?sidebar) [$invBMT]
]
[[Retry?->Intro]]“Shall we collect the maple bark and the maple leaves first?”
“Let’s do it.” The wind fluffs the fur on Cassava’s head as Pyro flaps its wings, making her crouch a little closer to Pyro’s back. Wind can be very cold for mice, you know. “It should be just over—oh!”
Pyro quickly turns to land a little further away from the tree to avoid accidentally landing on top of June’s back. The fawn swings her head around to look at the sudden landing, tilting her head.
“Cassava? Pyro? Is that you two?”
“Yes, it’s us.” Cassava quickly climbs down from Pyro’s back. “What’s going on? Are you alright?”
June looks down between her front legs. Cassava scurries forward, spotting a clump of damp feathers on the ground. She gasps, feeling her little mouse heart clench at the sight of the newborn bird squeaking on the ground.
“Oh, hello,” she murmurs, “are you alright? Did you fall?”
The bird squeaks again, looking up into the maple tree. Cassava squints. Sure enough, she can see a nest on one of the branches, and hear the calls of a distressed mother looking for her baby. It must be someone new to Thicketdown, she’ll have to invite them over some time. She looks back down at the bird.
“Is anything hurt,” she asks gently, “can you still move everything?”
The baby flaps its wings and nervously tests its legs. They won’t support its weight so young but they don’t seem to be broken.
“I’ve been trying to help the baby back up to the nest,” June says, dipping her head down to lap soothingly at the bird, “but I’m not tall enough to reach.”
“Maybe Pyro can help?” Cassava turns to see Pyro setting the basket down, having already gathered the bark and leaves needed. “Pyro?”
But as soon as Pyro starts to walk over to them, the bird shrieks in terror and tries to flap its wings to get away.
“No, no,” Cassava says quickly, “it’s alright, Pyro won’t hurt you—”
It’s too late. The poor thing is terribly frightened and tucks itself behind June’s face. The deer looks at them sadly.
“Perhaps if you can find something else to help,” she suggests, “then the little one won’t be so scared.”
“We can try,” Cassava says, quickly climbing onto Pyro’s back, some part of her hoping that will show the baby that there isn’t anything to fear, but it won’t look up again and, well, her chest hurts a little at that. “If we can find something, we’ll come back.”
“Thank you, dear friends.”
Cassava rubs Pyro’s wings as the dragon takes off again. “I’m sorry, Pyro, I didn’t know that would happen.”
“It is alright, Cassava Mouse,” Pyro says quietly, “I did not expect to be...your kindness was a surprise to me, as have other kindnesses been.”
“Pyro…”
“I have you and our friends,” Pyro says, a little warmer now, “I will be alright.”
Cassava tries her best to hug the dragon, even as they fly. Pyro rumbles contentedly. “Where shall we go next?”
(set:$hookMBT to 1)
(set:$mtMBT to 1)
(if:$mtMBT is 1 AND $thMBT is 1 AND $tleafMBT is 1)[(set:$completeMBT to 1)]
{
(if:$completeMBT is 1)[[Home->Ending MBT]]
(else:) ["Let's go gather something else."
<p> <img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825"> </p>
(if:$thMBT is 0) [ <p> [[Go to Twilight Hollow->Twilight Hollow MBT]] </p> ]
(if:$tleafMBT is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Tree Grove->Tree Grove MBT]] </p> ]
]
}“Let’s go to Twilight Hollow,” Cassava suggests, “so you can pick the veronicas.”
Pyro flies a little faster and she giggles. They land with a flourish next to the mouth of the rock cave and Pyro leans down to sniff at the small patch of purple flowers growing from the crevices.
“I’m going to gather the ferns,” Cassava says, “you take your time.”
Indeed, it’s a pleasure to watch Pyro be so focused on gathering the right flowers. As she picks the ferns and puts them into the basket, Pyro’s wings fold against its back, and the two ridges above its eyes furrow, its snout flaring as it sniffs and noses at the flowers. After a while, she watches Pyro move to another clump, repeating the process. Out of each clump, it plucks maybe two flowers and tucks them under one of its wings for safekeeping.
Cassava ends up resting against one of the warm boulders near the base of the rock hill, watching Pyro move meticulously over the flowers with the same intensity that she sweeps the burrow clean. The dragon’s scales gleam in the warm sunlight as it works. She finds her mouth turning up in a smile.
Eventually, Pyro returns, proudly offering a small bunch of veronicas. “A gift.”
“Thank you,” she says, accepting the flowers with a smile, “they’re lovely.”
Pyro ducks its head, flustered, as Cassava giggles and puts them away.
“Shall we move on?”
“Yes, let’s.”
(set:$thMBT to 1)
(if:$mtMBT is 1 AND $thMBT is 1 AND $tleafMBT is 1)[(set:$completeMBT to 1)]
{
(if:$completeMBT is 1)[[Home->Ending MBT]]
(else:) [
<p> <img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825"> </p>
(if:$mtMBT is 0) [ <p> [[Go to Maple Tree->Maple Tree MBT]] </p> ]
(if:$tleafMBT is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Tree Grove->Tree Grove MBT]] </p> ]
]
}“How many tea leaves will we need?”
“Hopefully not too many,” Cassava says, “it just depends on how big the plants are that we find.”
They land outside the Tree Grove and walk inside, Pyro’s gaze traveling upwards to take in the sight of the glittering webs strung above them. Dew glistens off of the strands, sending little artifacts of light around the trees. It sparkles in the sun. The dragon lets out a breath and lies down, staring upward.
“Are you going to help me,” Cassava asks without bothering to hide her amusement, “or shall I gather these myself?”
“Will you not come to lie with me for just a moment?” Pyro opens one wing, “it is so beautiful.”
Cassava sighs, making Pyro chuckle as she sets the basket aside and lays down, her head pillowed against the strong part of Pyro’s wing. It is beautiful, truly, and something she could get lost in...for hours...and hours…
She shakes herself. “Come on, tea leaves.”
“Alright,” Pyro sighs, getting up and shaking itself off, “how may I help?”
“The plants are just over here,” Cassava says, pointing to the corner of the grove, “can you pick a few of them and put them in the basket?”
Pyro plucks several leaves from the plants and Cassava holds the basket open as it places them inside. She closes it and latches it tightly.
(if:$hookMBT is 1) [Cassava turns only to trip over a large branch.
“Cassava Mouse!” Pyro catches her by the scruff of her neck. “Careful, are you alright?”
“Yes, yes, just—just a little startled.”
“That is quite a big branch,” Pyro says as she picks up the basket, “I wonder how long ago it fell.”
Cassava shakes her head. “I don’t know. It’s very long. Perhaps it broke during a storm?”
“Perhaps.” Pyro takes one end of it, flapping its wings to fly up, carrying one end to stand it to its full height. “It is quite tall!”
It pauses, then tilts its head.
“Do you think we could carry it?”
Cassava eyes the branch. “Carry, no, drag, perhaps. Why?”
“Maybe we could use it to help June get the baby bird back into its nest.”
Cassava raps it with her paw. “It’s quite sturdy. Shall we try?”
“I will not be able to fly with it, we will have to drag it.”
It takes a bit of effort to get everything balanced just so, but they manage to drag the branch out of the Tree Grove.
“What shall we do now?”
(set:$hookMBT to 2)]
(set:$tleafMBT to 1)
(if:$mtMBT is 1 AND $thMBT is 1 AND $tleafMBT is 1)[(set:$completeMBT to 1)]
{
(if:$completeMBT is 1)[[Home->Ending MBT]]
(else:) ["Let's go grab something else."
<p> <img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825"> </p>
(if:$thMBT is 0) [ <p> [[Go to Twilight Hollow->Twilight Hollow MBT]] </p> ]
(if:$mtMBT is 0) [ <p> [[Go to Maple Tree->Maple Tree MBT]] </p> ]
]
}(if:$hookMBT is 2) [June turns, looking at them in surprise as they make their way back over to the maple tree. “Why are you on the ground? Did something happen?”
Then she notices the tree branch they’re dragging with them.
“That’s a very large branch! How—how did you manage to—where did it come from?”
Cassava lets her end drop, panting as she sets the basket down too. “It’s from the Tree Grove. We—oh, I need to sit.”
“Yes, please,” June says, looking her over, “you look exhausted, my friend.”
“Cassava Mouse,” Pyro says, coming up beside her, “are you alright?”
“Yes, just—just tired.” She looks up at Pyro. “How are you not tired?”
It shrugs. “I am a dragon, I am used to carrying things that are almost my size for food.”
“Right.” Cassava shakes her head to clear it. “We thought it might help with the baby bird.”
“Oh. Oh, that’s clever!” June looks back down at the baby, still tucked up against her front leg. “Does that sound alright, little one? Can you hold onto a branch for me?”
The baby squeaks a little when the branch is brought closer, but doesn’t scoot away from it. Cassava reaches out to coax the bird to sit in the crook of the end.
“Hold on,” she encourages, starting to lift the branch, “June, can you—?”
“Yes.” June carefully takes the end of the branch in her mouth and lifts, propping it up against the tree. “Hang on, little one.”
The bird holds on as June lifts the branch higher and higher, using the trunk of the maple tree for leverage. She stands on her hind legs, lifting, lifting, until the baby is able to flap back into the nest. The branch falls to the ground with a clatter as June pants.
“That’s quite a workout!” She shakes her head. “Thank you, Cassava and Pyro, that was wonderful.”
“It was all Pyro’s idea.”
The dragon ducks its head. “It was the least we could do. I...I know a bit about what it is like to not be able to fly home safely.”
“Won’t you come have tea with us,” Cassava offers, “we’re making maple bark tea.”
“Ah! My favorite!” June lies down. “Let me give you a ride.”
They climb gratefully onto the back of the fawn as she walks through the trees. She lays down outside the Fogmoss Tree and Cassava thanks her.
(set: $invMBT to (a: ))
(set: $invMBT to $invMBT + (a: "🍁"))
(append: ?sidebar) [$invMBT]
]
The ledge outside of Cassava’s kitchen window is warm, the sun’s rays perfect for making tea. She goes inside as Pyro clears away any other leaves that may have fallen, putting everything in the teapot. She passes it to Pyro as the dragon leans its snout closer to the leaf curtain.
“How long shall we leave it for?”
“Until the sun sets, I think.”
“Perfect.”
The friends gather near the root outside the burrow, their heads together in the late afternoon sun. Cassava closes her eyes and feels the warmth on her face, sheltered by the presence to her sides.
//Yes,// she thinks, //perhaps not a day for eating a large meal, but a rest day. To enjoy a cup of tea in the evening light. That is the perfect thing for today. //
She reminds herself to commend Pyro for the suggestion later.
[[Retry?->Intro]]“Let’s gather the acorn caps.”
They fly up to one of the higher branches and begin to twist the acorns from the branch. Cassava taps the edge of each acorn with her paws, loosening the caps and storing them carefully in the basket.
“How many do you think we’ll need?”
“I do not know, I have never made this before,” Pyro says, “but I believe if we gather about five more we should be able to make anything.”
“Alright. Can you help me with the taller ones?”
“Yes. Here, climb on my head.”
Cassava balances carefully atop Pyro’s head as the dragon lifts her up. She manages to twist four of the acorns from their branches without difficulty, but the fifth one puts up a bit of a fight.
“Here.” Pyro sets her down and stands on its hind legs to reach for it. “Let me try.”
The dragon twists the branch between its jaws, trying to pull the acorn loose. It leans back. The branch holds. It twists again.
The acorn comes free, but Pyro is leaning too far back.
The acorn topples from its jaws and out into the open air.
(set:$acapsSAL to 1)
[[Chase?]]
[[Don't Chase?]]The Tree Grove is silhouetted in golden light as they fly through the forest. The tree branches part as Pyro lands in the small patch of grass. Cassava climbs down from the dragon’s back and sets her basket on the ground.
“What do we need from here?”
“Cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.”
“How much of each?”
Cassava sighs. “As much as we can fit in the basket, honestly.”
“Very well.” The dragon begins to take the cinnamon from its small tree and place them in the basket. “Tell me if you need more room for the nutmeg and cloves, yes?”
“Yes, I’ll tell you.”
The breeze ruffles around them as they gather the ingredients, as if posing its own conversation with itself. //Hello, good day, how are things? The trees say hello, you are welcome here, take what you need. You look well, it is good to see you. It’s been a frightful time when we couldn’t see you, hello, hello, hello. //
Cassava glances over her shoulder. The sun is getting lower in the sky. “We should go, the loaf will take a while to sit.”
“As you wish.”
(set:$tgSAL to 1)
(if:$hookSAL is 1)[As they turn to go out of the clearing, Pyro nudges her shoulder. “You seem upset, Cassava Mouse, is there anything I can do for you?”
She gives herself a little shake. “I just—sorry, I’m a tad preoccupied.”
“With what, my dear?” When she doesn’t reply right away, the dragon hums. “Is it the visit?”
Cassava nods, clutching her basket a little tighter. “It’s not that I don’t want to see her or that she’s—she’s //unreasonable//, I just—she—I’m sorry.”
“There is no need for apologies. Come, sit with me for a moment.” Pyro opens its wings and gathers Cassava close to its side. “Would you like to explain why she makes you so anxious?”
Pyro’s scales warm her side and she lets her eyes slip closed. “She...Grandmouse is very...she likes tradition.”
“Tradition?”
“‘Keep your burrow clean so your whiskers don’t shrivel,’ ‘don’t go outside during the winter to keep your ears on straight,’ that sort of thing.”
Pyro’s experimental nudge of her ears brings a smile to her face.
“She likes to do things properly, and I guess...I’ve never really been as ‘proper’ as she would want.” She looks up at Pryo. “I don’t...want to disappoint her, I guess?”
“You are her kin,” Pyro rumbles, “will she not care about you more than rules that are not written down?”
“I’m sure //she// has them written down.”
“But you do not,” the dragon says gently, “and they are not as important for you as they are for her. She is coming to //your// home, to your space, and you are allowed to be comfortable in your own home.”
A lump appears in Cassava’s throat and the words blurt out before she can stop them. “I don’t know what she’ll think of you.”
“Ah.” The dragon shifts. “I suppose I am quite far from what your Grandmouse would consider ‘proper.’”
“Yes.”
The breeze swirls around them both.
“I will not grow to dislike you based off of your Grandmouse’s opinions of me,” Pyro says after a pause, “and I can assure you that she cares more for you than she does the rules.”
“I...I don’t know.”
“Are there things you can do to help yourself feel better?”
“Can we…” Cassava shifts. “Can we clean the burrow when we get back?”
“Of course.”
(set:$hookSAL to 2)]
(if:$acapsSAL is 1 AND $tgSAL is 1) [(set:$completeSAL to 1)]
{
(if:$completeSAL is 1) [[Home->Ending SAL]]
(else:) ["Let's go, shall we?"
<p> <img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825"> </p>
(if:$acapsSAL is 0)[[Go to the Fogmoss Tree->Fogmoss Tree SAL]]
]
}Pyro dives through the open branches, claws and jaws agape to try and snatch the acorn from the air. It leans closer, closer, closer—
It catches the acorn as carefully as it can between its front claws, trying not to catch the cap between the sharp talons. As it swoops back up into the tree, it catches sight of something on the edge of Clover Meadow.
Another mouse, riding on the back of someone Pyro’s never seen before.
“Oh, you did catch it!” Cassava claps her paws. “Well done, my friend.”
“Thank you, Cassava Mouse.” Pyro tilts its head. “Tell me, do you know a large animal with brown stripes and a long tail?”
“That sounds like Tabby Cat, did you—” Cassava’s paws still as she puts the acorn in the basket — “did you see her? Was there a mouse on her back?”
“Yes, just coming into Clover Meadow.”
Cassava swallows and Pyro shuffles closer, nudging its snout against her head. “She’s coming,” Cassava murmurs, “we should—we should hurry.”
“What shall we gather next, then?”
(set:$hookSAL to 1)
(if:$acapsSAL is 1 AND $tgSAL is 1) [(set:$completeSAL to 1)]
{
(if:$completeSAL is 1) [[Home->Ending SAL]]
(else:) ["Let's go gather everything else."
<p> <img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825"> </p>
(if:$tgSAL is 0) [<p>[[Go to the Tree Grove->Tree Grove SAL]]</p> ]
]
}“Don’t,” Cassava says, holding out a paw to still Pyro before it can take off, “we’ve got plenty, I’d hate for you to hurt yourself.”
“If you’re sure,” Pyro says, still looking as if it wants to dive after the acorn, “you did ask for my help to get it, I hope that I have not ruined it for you.”
“It’s just an acorn, Pyro, you’re more important than an acorn.”
Pyro ducks its head, suddenly shy. “You are important to me as well, Cassava Mouse.”
She pats the dragon’s side. “Let’s go gather the other things, yes?”
(if:$acapsSAL is 1 AND $tgSAL is 1) [(set:$completeSAL to 1)]
{
(if:$completeSAL is 1) [["I believe we have everything we need."
<p> [[Home->Ending SAL]] </p>
(else:) [
<p> <img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825"> </p>
(if:$tgSAL is 0)<p>[[Go to the Tree Grove->Tree Grove SAL]]</p>
]
}(if:$hookSAL is 2) [The patchwork quilt is tucked to precision, the food stores are swept as neatly as they can make them, the table coin is polished until Pyro can see itself in the reflection, and the last of the dirt is swept away.
“Is that better, Cassava Mouse?”
“Yes, yes, I think that’s better.”
(set:$hookSAL to 3)]
“Shall we begin making the loaf?”
“Yes. Can you grab the sack over there?”
“This one?”
“Yes, empty it into this bowl. Just like that, that’s perfect.”
“Shall I go clear the leaves to bake the loaf while you finish preparing it?”
“If you wouldn’t mind.”
“I would not.”
Pyro has the leaves cleared and a small hole dug in the ground when Cassava carries out the loaf to be baked. She scurries up Pyro’s back and closes her eyes as the flash of light and rush of warmth illuminate the base of the Fogmoss Tree in the evening light.
“Goodness, now, what is that?”
“Grandmouse!”
Indeed, coming around the corner of the Draymack River is an elderly mouse, an acorn bag slung over one shoulder and a set of spectacles balanced over her nose. Cassava scurries over, quickly offering to take the bag as she escorts her closer.
“Yes, yes, child, it’s good to see you too.”
“Grandmouse, this is Pyro. It lives with me.” Cassava gestures up at Pyro who bows its head low, wings tucked politely behind its back.
“It is an honor to meet you.”
“Oh, it talks like the mountains,” Grandmouse says, “and how long have you been staying in my granddaughter mouse’s burrow?”
“A little over a year now.”
“Mhm, you two got //very cosy.”//
Cassava’s face heats up. “Grandmouse!”
“No, don’t get your tail in a twist, I did expect you to settle down at some point.” She pats Cassava’s arm. “Just didn’t expect it to be with an iguana.”
“Pyro is a dragon, Grandmouse.”
“Tomato, potato.” Grandmouse sits down at the entrance to the burrow. “Now, then, are we going to eat in the open or are you going to invite me in? Your whiskers look just as straight as I remember, good, good, I did miss your burrow’s smell.”
“Of course you can come in, please.”
“Excellent. Oh!” Pyro uses its snout to carefully tuck Grandmouse’s chair under the table. “You’re a very polite thing, you are, yes.”
“You are a guest,” the dragon says gallantly, “it is my job to make you feel welcome.”
“It may not be a mouse, but you’ve done very well for yourself, haven’t you, Cassava?”
“Here,” Cassava says, serving the loaf, “careful, it’s a little warm still.”
“Don’t you go warning me about things being warm, not when you were so eager to set your own backside on fire chasing the sun.”
“Grandmouse!”
“It’s true, I used to have to tie her to poor Tabby Cat so she couldn’t run away.” Grandmouse takes a bit of the loaf. “Mm. Could use more salt next time. Bring the flavors out, really.”
She sighs, a small smile coming to her face. She makes eye contact with Pyro and rolls her eyes fondly.
“And don’t roll your eyes at me, little miss.”
“Yes, Grandmouse.”
(if:$hookSAL is 1) [Cassava shifts a little in her leaf chair and Pyro stretches out a wing. She curls her paw around it and breathes.
“Now, what’s gotten into you?” Grandmouse puts her slice of loaf down. “Is it your vapors again?”
“What? No, no, I’m alright.” She plasters a smile on her face. “Is everything to your liking?”
“Now don’t you go putting that on for me, I know you too well.” Grandmouse wags a finger at her. “You tell me what’s worrying you, yes?”
She hesitates. “I...I just want to make sure that you’re...happy.”
“Happy? Why wouldn’t I be happy?”
“I...I…”
“Oh, Cassava Mouse,” Grandmouse sighs, “I’m not here to rassle your whiskers like I do your mother’s. I’m here because you’re my lovely little grandmouse and you are a much better baker than she is. Even if the place is a bit of a mess.”
“O-oh.”
Grandmouse smiles a little kinder at that. After a moment, Cassava smiles back.
“Now, what does an elderly old mouse have to do to get some tea around here?”
]
(if:$hookSAL is 3) [“I was right,” Grandmouse says as she glances around, dragging a paw across the coin to check for dust, “you do keep quite the tidy house. Seems you did learn something after all.”
Cassava’s tail twitches. “I’m glad.”
Grandmouse must hear something because her nose twitches. “What was that?”
“I just said I’m glad.”
“Hm.” She leans closer. “And what aren’t you telling me?”
“Nothing, nothing.”
“Cassava Mouse.”
Cassava takes a deep breath. “I suppose I was just...scared you wouldn’t like it.”
“Like what, dear, your spiced acorn loaf? It’s not the best I’ve ever had, but it is delicious.”
“...me.”
Grandmouse sets down the loaf with a thud. “Now, what on earth put that silly thought into your head? You’re my lovely granddaughter mouse, of course I like you.”
“I know, I know, you...you just have very high standards.”
“Yes, because you’re very important to me and I want the best for you.” Grandmouse slides out of her chair and comes to give Cassava a hug. “You are worthy of good things and that means that sometimes, you have to put a little bit of work into getting them, hmm?”
Pyro rumbles in soft agreement as Cassava hugs her tight.
“...I missed you, Grandmouse.”
“I missed you too, my dear, even if you are still a weepy dandelion bloom.”
“Grandmouse!”
“It’s the truth, dear.”
(set: $invSAL to (a: ))
(set: $invSAL to $invSAL + (a: "🐁"))
(append: ?sidebar) [$invSAL]
]
[[Retry?->Intro]]The top of Crescent Hill sparkles in the early morning light. Dew drops turn to frost the higher they climb, toward the trees that stand atop as sentries in the dawn. As Pyro swoops closer, rocks come into focus out of the shadows under the trees. They land with a soft rush of the breeze, looking for the larger chunks of ice that form in the lea of the rocks. The air thins just the slightest bit, making their breath condense into small clouds.
“It is cold,” Pyro warns as Cassava starts to reach for the ice, “allow me, please.”
Cassava holds the basket open as Pyro chips carefully at the parts of the ice frozen directly to the rock. //Tink. Tink. Tink.// The piece of ice comes free with a sharp crack, falling into the waiting basket.
“Hello? What was that? Is someone here?”
Cassava turns quickly. A tuft of brown fur sticks up from a rock a few paces away. After a moment, a pair of long ears emerges.
“Oh! Cassava! Pyro!” Tessa Bunny jumps to the ground and hops over to them. “Good morning! What are you two doing here?”
“Gathering ice.” Pyro nods to the basket. “We are making maple snow pie today.”
“Oh, that’s my favorite!” Tessa’s ears flicker back and forth. “It’s the best dessert to eat, it tastes like ice cream.”
Cassava tilts her head. “What’s ice cream?”
“Christian Magpie talks about it all the time. I haven’t actually had it but he says that it tastes like maple snow pie.” Her nose twitches. “So it must be good.”
“I cannot argue with that logic.” Pyro stretches its neck out to lightly knock its forehead to Tessa’s in greeting. “Would you like to join us to eat it this evening?”
“Yes, absolutely, I would love to!”
“Wonderful.”
“What are you doing so far from Clover Meadow so early,” Cassava asks, “it’s not like you to be out of your burrow before the sun is in the middle of the sky?”
Tessa’s ears droop. “I was playing with a dandelion fluff and it blew away. I thought it might’ve come up here.”
She lowers her nose and begins to snuffle around near the base of the rocks.
“I hope you find it.”
“Well, just keep sniffing until you have to sneeze,” Tessa says, voice muffled by the grass, “that’s how it goes.”
As they fly away, Pyro cranes its neck to look back at Cassava. “Do dandelions grow on Crescent Hill?”
Cassava shakes her head. “But the wind blows things up there all the time.”
“Mm.” Pyro turns back toward the forest. “Where shall we go next?”
(set:$iceMSP to 1)
(set:$hookMSP to 1)
(if:$iceMSP is 1 AND $honeyMSP is 1 AND $orchMSP is 1 AND $sapMSP is 1) [(set:$completeMSP to 1)]
{
(if:$completeMSP is 1) [[Home->Ending MSP]]
(else:) ["Let's gather the other things."
<p> <img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825"> </p>
(if:$honeyMSP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Bee Hive->Bee Hive MSP]] </p> ]
(if:$orchMSP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to Clover Meadow->Clover Meadow MSP]] </p> ]
(if:$sapMSP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to Maple Tree->Maple Tree MSP]] </p> ]
]
}“Let’s gather the honey,” Cassava suggests as they swoop between the trees.
The buzzing of bees fills the air as they near the hive. Pyro lands a few paces away, crouching down and watching as Cassava gets closer to the hive. She scurries under the hole in the bottom of the tree.
The hive buzzes above her, the bees hard at work. She stands carefully on her hind legs and breaks off a small piece of the honeycomb. As she scurries back to Pyro, she places the comb inside the basket and latches it shut.
(set:$honeyMSP to 1)
(if:$hookMSP is 1 OR 0) [
(if:$iceMSP is 1 AND $honeyMSP is 1 AND $orchMSP is 1 AND $sapMSP is 1) [(set:$completeMSP to 1)]
{
(if:$completeMSP is 1) [[Home->Ending MSP]]
(else:) ["Let's gather the other things."
<p> <img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825"> </p>
(if:$iceMSP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to Crescent Hill->Crescent Hill MSP]] </p> ]
(if:$orchMSP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to Clover Meadow->Clover Meadow MSP]] </p> ]
(if:$sapMSP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to Maple Tree->Maple Tree MSP]] </p> ]
]
}
]
(if:$hookMSP is 2) [As they take off, the dandelion fluff catches the light and the buzzing suddenly gets louder.
“What’s that?”
“I do not—look out!”
Pyro swerves in mid-air to avoid a bee. Then another. Then another.
“They want the dandelion,” Cassava realizes, “we have to lose them!”
[[Fly up?]]
[[Fly down?]]
]
“Let’s go to Clover Meadow.”
“Ah, yes, for the orchid?”
“Yes.”
“What does an orchid look like,” Pyro asks as they swoop through the sky, “I do not believe I have seen one before.”
“They’re kind of shaped like a star,” Cassava says, “with green leaves coming out of the base of the flower. The flower is yellow, normally, though I’ve seen it be purple every once in a while. It’s quite a long flower—almost as long as me.”
“Ah.” Pyro glances over its shoulder. “Will it fit in the basket?”
“It should. And if not, we can carry it easily enough. We won’t need the whole thing.”
They crest the hill into the sunlight, the rolling green hills of Clover Meadow opening before them. They land softly, the clover giving way like a carpet under Pyro’s weight.
“It smells wonderful.”
“Doesn’t it?” Cassava begins to make her way through the clover, small drops of dew on her fur. “This way, I can see one just over here.”
“This one?” Pyro nudges a thin yellow flower. “It smells divine.”
“Yes, that’s the orchid. See the pods? That’s what we need.”
“I see. Yes, those should fit neatly into the basket.”
“If I hold it open can you—”
“Yes.” Pyro carefully extracts the pods and places three in the basket. “Wonderful.”
(if:$hookMSP is 1) [Just as they go to turn away, Cassava catches sight of a dandelion. “Look!”
Pyro turns. “Is this what Tessa Bunny referred to?”
“Yes!” Cassava scurries over to grab it. “Let’s take it with us, then we can play with her after pie.”
Pyro eyes it warily. “If you think you can keep a hold of it.”
“I’ll do my best.”
(set:$hookMSP to 2)]
(set:$orchMSP to 1)
(if:$iceMSP is 1 AND $honeyMSP is 1 AND $orchMSP is 1 AND $sapMSP is 1) [(set:$completeMSP to 1)]
{
(if:$completeMSP is 1) [[Home->Ending MSP]]
(else:) ["Let's get the rest of the ingredients."
<p> <img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825"> </p>
(if:$honeyMSP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Bee Hive->Bee Hive MSP]] </p>]
(if:$iceMSP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to Crescent Hill->Crescent Hill MSP]] </p> ]
(if:$sapMSP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to Maple Tree->Maple Tree MSP]] </p> ]
]
}“Let’s get the maple sap,” Cassava suggests, “we’re quite close to the tree.”
“Of course.”
Pyro lands with its claws digging into the bark of the trunk as Cassava leans over to catch a drop of sap in the basket. The drop glistens in the sunlight, looking more like a piece of jewel Christian Magpie would covet than maple sap.
"Wonderfully done, Cassava Mouse."
"Thank you. Lots of practice."
"Time well spent, if you ask me."
(set:$sapMSP to 1)
(if:$hookMSP is 1 OR 0) [
(if:$iceMSP is 1 AND $honeyMSP is 1 AND $orchMSP is 1 AND $sapMSP is 1) [(set:$completeMSP to 1)]
{
(if:$completeMSP is 1) [[Home->Ending MSP]]
(else:) ["Shall we gather something else?"
<p> <img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825"> </p>
(if:$iceMSP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to Crescent Hill->Crescent Hill MSP]] </p> ]
(if:$orchMSP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to Clover Meadow->Clover Meadow MSP]] </p> ]
(if:$honeyMSP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Bee Hive->Bee Hive MSP]] </p> ]
]
}
]
(if:$hookMSP is 2) [As it falls into the basket, Cassava leans over to close it, letting go of the dandelion fluff for just a moment.
Just as a strong breeze kicks up around the tree.
[[Burrow into the bark?]]
[[Spread wings to ride it?]]
]
“This isn’t like the other pies,” Cassava says as they land back by the burrow, “we don’t ‘bake’ this one.”
“We do not?”
“No, we freeze it.”
“Freeze it?” Pyro glances around. “But we do not have a place to freeze it.”
“That’s why we have the ice.” Cassava points to a spot under the main kitchen window. “There’s a box under there, can you drag it out while I get the ice?”
Pyro takes the handle between its jaws and tugs, letting the box clatter to the floor. It noses the top off as Cassava takes the ice, still wrapped in the blanket, and settles it in the bottom, covered with a thin layer of dried grass.
“There. Now we just have to mix the pie and set it on top.”
“Would you like my help?”
“If you could take the last piece of ice from the basket and shave it down into snow?”
“Of course.”
They set to work, Cassava mixing the ingredients together to make the pie as Pyro worries at one end of the ice block with its claw, scraping off bits until a small pile of snow forms at its side. When they’re finished, Cassava sprinkles the snow on top of the finished pie and sets it in the box, pulling the lid on top.
“There, now all we have to do is wait.”
“Hello? Anyone home? Is it time for pie yet?”
“Tessa Bunny!” Pyro ambles outside to follow Cassava as she hugs their friend. “It is good to see you again.”
“Yeah! It’s only been a day but it feels like forever.” She snuffles into Cassava’s shoulder. “You smell good, did you just finish baking?”
“Yes, we’ll have to wait a little before the pie is ready.”
“That’s okay! I still get to spend time with you.”
And spend time they do, sitting and chatting in the fading light as the pie chills in the box. Too soon, Pyro looks over and nudges the top off, pronouncing the pie ready.
“Yay!” Tessa eagerly bites into the slice Cassava offers, only to yelp when it hits her tongue. “Cold!”
“Be careful,” Pyro chuckles, “do not hurt yourself.”
“I won’t, it’s just really good!”
“Pyro’s never had it before,” Cassava says, taking her own slice.
Tessa’s eyes widen. “You haven’t? Oh, I can’t wait for you to try!”
Pyro bites into it carefully and Cassava giggles at the way its wings flare out to the side. She barely has time to ask if the dragon enjoys it before it’s going back in for another bite.
“I guess that means it’s good?”
“It is incredible, Cassava Mouse,” Pyro mumbles through a mouthful of pie, “thank you for helping to make it.”
“My pleasure.”
“You better eat yours quick,” Tessa says, “before we decide to eat the rest of it too!”
They tuck into the maple snow pie as the sun begins to set behind the horizon.
(if:$hookMSP is 3) [“We did try and find a dandelion bloom to play with,” Cassava says, “but it blew away.”
“It happens.” Tessa snuffles at the last of her pie. “That’s okay. We’ll find one at some point that won’t get away so easily.”
“In the meantime…”
“Hey!” Tessa swats lightly at Pyro as it steals the last of the pie from the shell. “I was going to eat that!”
“You were talking, I assumed you were finished.”
“Well, now //you’re// talking, so you must be finished.”
“Only because it is rude to talk with one’s mouth full.”
Cassava giggles as her friends bicker. Truly, the best type of dessert to enjoy with friends at the end of a long day.
]
(if:$hookMSP is 2) [“Oh, I almost forgot!” Cassava takes the dandelion bloom. “Will you play with us?”
Tessa hops up to the top of the root, standing on her hind legs. “Yes! Yes! Toss it to me!”
Cassava discovers she’s at a bit of a disadvantage for this game, not being able to jump or fly, but she does enjoy scurrying along the root to snatch it from the air before Tessa or Pyro can grab it. Of course, then it dissolves into her running around with the bloom in her mouth as they try furiously to catch her. It ends with Pyro swooping her up and Tessa bowling them over into a pile of leaves.
“It’s much more fun with you guys,” the bunny laughs breathlessly, “we should play again sometime.”
“Not tonight!” Cassava’s little mouse heart is still racing. “I’m too tired.”
“I agree.” Pyro tucks its head against her side. “Let us rest, then, and watch the sunset.”
“That sounds wonderful.”
(set: $invMSP to (a: ))
(set: $invMSP to $invMSP + (a: "❄️"))
(append: ?sidebar) [$invMSP]
]
[[Retry?->Intro]]“Hold on!”
Pyro beats its wings against the wind and climbs higher, higher, higher, high enough that Cassava has to clutch its back and bury her face in its neck.
The buzzing fades slowly as they break through the canopy into the bright sun. The dandelion fluff is still held tightly in Cassava’s grasp.
“That was close,” the dragon rumbles, “shall we stay away from the bees for the rest of the day?”
“Yes, please.”
(if:$iceMSP is 1 AND $honeyMSP is 1 AND $orchMSP is 1 AND $sapMSP is 1) [(set:$completeMSP to 1)]
{
(if:$completeMSP is 1) [[Home->Ending MSP]]
(else:) ["Let's go grab something else."
<p> <img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825"> </p>
(if:$iceMSP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to Crescent Hill->Crescent Hill MSP]] </p> ]
(if:$orchMSP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to Clover Meadow->Clover Meadow MSP]] </p> ]
(if:$sapMSP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to Maple Tree->Maple Tree MSP]] </p> ]
]
}“Hang on!”
Pyro goes into a steep dive, careening toward the forest floor. Cassava squeaks and clutches its back as they weave in and out of the bees. Something rips the dandelion fluff from Cassava’s grasp and she yelps, turning to try and grab it only for it to disappear.
“Oh, no!”
The bees, their prize in hand, quickly retreat to the safety of the hive, leaving the two to fly away unharmed.
“I am sorry, Cassava Mouse,” Pyro says, “I did not mean to.”
“No, no, I’m the one who let go.” She pats Pyro’s back. “It’s okay. It’s just a dandelion fluff.”
“Mm. And we will still have maple snow pie to enjoy with our friend.”
(set:$hookMSP to 3)
(if:$iceMSP is 1 AND $honeyMSP is 1 AND $orchMSP is 1 AND $sapMSP is 1) [(set:$completeMSP to 1)]
{
(if:$completeMSP is 1) [[Home->Ending MSP]]
(else:) ["Let's go grab something else."
<p> <img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825"> </p>
(if:$iceMSP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to Crescent Hill->Crescent Hill MSP]] </p> ]
(if:$orchMSP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to Clover Meadow->Clover Meadow MSP]] </p> ]
(if:$sapMSP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to Maple Tree->Maple Tree MSP]] </p> ]
]
}Pyro tucks its wings securely against its back as Cassava tries to make herself as small as possible. The wind rushes around them, reaching chilled fingers into Cassava’s fur. She shivers, trying to get even closer to Pyro’s warmth.
“Are you alright, Cassava Mouse,” Pyro asks as the wind finally fades, “not hurt?”
“No, not hurt.” She pats the basket. “The basket isn’t hurt either.”
“And the dandelion?”
“It’s—oh!” Cassava’s chest tightens. “Oh, no, I must’ve—I didn’t hold onto it!”
“That is alright,” Pyro says as they start to fly away, “I am sure Tessa Bunny will not be too upset.”
“And we still get to have maple snow pie, right?”
“We still get to have maple snow pie.”
(set:$hookMSP to 3)
(if:$iceMSP is 1 AND $honeyMSP is 1 AND $orchMSP is 1 AND $sapMSP is 1) [(set:$completeMSP to 1)]
{
(if:$completeMSP is 1) [[Home->Ending MSP]]
(else:) ["Let us go get something else, shall we?"
<p> <img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825"> </p>
(if:$iceMSP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to Crescent Hill->Crescent Hill MSP]] </p> ]
(if:$orchMSP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to Clover Meadow->Clover Meadow MSP]] </p> ]
(if:$honeyMSP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Bee Hive->Bee Hive MSP]] </p> ]
]
}Pyro’s wings flare out to the side as its claws come loose from the bark of the trunk. The wind buffets them back, sending them careening through the trees. Cassava shuts her eyes and holds on tight.
//Flap. Flap. Flap. //
“Hold on, Cassava Mouse,” she hears faintly.
Pyro’s body twists and turns under her, navigating the wind like it was born to it. The smooth warmth under her never falters, even when she feels them land high up.
“You can open your eyes, now,” Pyro says, “we have landed.”
Sure enough, when Cassava peeks over the edge of its wing, they’re perched on a branch at the top of the maple tree. The dandelion fluff nudges at the end of her whiskers.
“Well done, holding onto that.”
“Thank you. Great flying.”
The dragon bows its head. “I do my best. Shall we continue?”
“Let’s.”
(if:$iceMSP is 1 AND $honeyMSP is 1 AND $orchMSP is 1 AND $sapMSP is 1) [(set:$completeMSP to 1)]
{
(if:$completeMSP is 1) [[Home->Ending MSP]]
(else:) [
<p> <img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825"> </p>
(if:$iceMSP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to Crescent Hill->Crescent Hill MSP]] </p> ]
(if:$orchMSP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to Clover Meadow->Clover Meadow MSP]] </p> ]
(if:$honeyMSP is 0) [ <p> [[Go to the Bee Hive->Bee Hive MSP]] </p> ]
]
}
#Acorn Cap Stew
“What about this?” Cassava points to one of the recipes. “I don’t think we’ve ever made stew together before.”
Pyro leans down to peer at the recipe. “No, I do not recognize most of the ingredients here. What is a stew?”
“A stew is when you mix together a bunch of things and cook it slowly under the sun. Or—” Cassava tilts her head— “I guess it would be kind of hard to do under your flame.”
“I believe I could do it.” Pyro nods its head. “I have been practicing holding my breath for a very long time, I suppose I could try and do a longer flame.”
“Oh, really?” Cassava claps her paws. “Then yes, let’s try the stew!”
“What do we need? I do not know where we can get...most of these things. These two in particular.” Pyro noses at the picture of the squash and potatoes. “I have never seen them grow naturally before.”
“Oh, those are what—oh, what does he call them?” Cassava shakes her head. “We’ve got to go see Derrick Squirrel over in Oak Bark Hole, they’ve got a whole operation going on over there.”
“They do?”
“Their family is //huge,//” Cassava says, “they eat a lot of food and they have competitions to see who can grow the best food.”
Pyro blinks. “That is impressive. I look forward to seeing that. Where else do we have to go?”
“Well, we need acorn caps from the Fogmoss Tree and then some of the little mites from the Draymack River.”
“I see. Where shall we go first?”
<img id="fjord" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/bbc1da5b36576738acf251ed3d52b7b6/d96d40edf036e07a-b5/s2048x3072/8212ac5e6dd69f9310f34da30fa0692c4738f3df.jpg" height="552" width="825">
[[Go to Oak Bark Hole->Oak Bark Hole ACS]]
[[Go to the Fogmoss Tree->Fogmoss Tree ACS]]
[[Go to the Draymack River->Draymack River ACS]]
(set:$obACS to 0)
(set:$acapsACS to 0)
(set:$inACS to 0)
(set:$hookACS to 0)
(set:$completeACS to 0)