She stood in her kitchen, looking at her new tools, and felt a surge of satisfaction.She'd done it!She'd gone to town, made trades, established connections, avoided getting scammed, and come home safely with everything she needed.
Well.Most of what she needed.She still had 499 silver to go for that shield upgrade, but it was a start.
Outside, the afternoon sun was warm.Her trees rustled in the breeze.The dandelions prowled peacefully.
Not bad for a day’s work.
Chocolate Vine
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WREN WOKE TO BIRDSONGand morning light filtering through the shutters.For once, she felt rested and grateful to be alive.
She was excited to make a proper breakfast with her new cookware, but she suddenly realized that a frying pan needed a flat cooking surface.As she stood there, frowning at the stone fireplace, the tree came to her rescue.The stone oven morphed, becoming a wood burning oven with a stone cook top.She wasn’t sure what kind of stone it was, but she decided to trust the process.In went a fresh sunflower in the firebox, and she set the cast iron frying pan on the top.
Soon she had perfectly cooked eggs and toast fried in butter with honey, and tea with cream.The metal made such a difference.No more burnt offerings or hot rock disasters.Heating water on the stove with a kettle was super helpful, and she felt somewhat like a very pampered pioneer.Obtaining food was definitely the easiest part of her day, and fun besides.If she had to milk a cow or grind flour, things would be a lot harder.
Walter joined her at the counter, nibbling on pecans."What's on the agenda today, madam?"
"Blue bulbs," she said."But I'm not going this time."
She went outside where her dandelions were gathered and spoke to the largest one—her scarred survivor, the one she'd come to think of as the leader."I need you to get blue bulbs today.During the safe window—eleven to two.Can you do that?"
Three pairs of golden eyes fixed on her.The leader made an affirmative sound.
"Great!Thank you.Bring them back here, and install them in the fence."She didn’t think it would be hard for them to put them in the fence post slot.It was no harder than putting trash in a garbage can."You can carry them in your bodies like last time, right?"
The leader butted its head against her hand.Yes.
Relief flooded through her.She didn't have to risk herself.They could handle it."Awesome!Be safe, and let me know if you need my help installing the bulbs."She was so grateful she didn’t have to face the monsters.As fond as she was of the dandelions, they were only plants.
The dandelions settled in to wait for the safe window.Three hours until eleven.They were going to more than earn their keep.Maybe she could get them a special fertilizer or something as a thank you.
Wren looked around her property, at her grove of trees, and thought about what else she could grow.What else she might need, or want.She'd been so focused on survival items like food, shelter, warmth and safety.But now that those basics were covered...
She reached into her purse, letting her fingers drift through the seeds.So many possibilities.
