Teacher, Teacher [Memory]

[Alyssum Crow]

Glade 8th, Year 106, Age of Steel

Alyssum didn't mind the mountains really. They were pleasant enough considering she could fly, making the trek up them a bit less strenuous than it might have been. The majority of her time though was spent with her eyes trained on the ground, flying close to it or just outright walking. She kept her eyes peeled for plants that were familiar and plants that were new. Interesting things she could notice that might be useful later down the road. The rocks stretched out all around her, the ground sloped and lacking in the same green as Atinaw. That being said, there were still powerfully stubborn plants that lined the ground, some of which grew to rather amazing sizes and heights.

It was starting to get a little later into the day, around the time she'd start thinking about setting up a camp. The terrain wasn't exactly camp friendly though, and she'd left a lot of her supplies with a prior employer who she considered trustworthy. He'd promised to keep an eye on her stuff until she got back into the general Threndos area. She was currently pretty far away from Threndos all things considered, but she'd been living relatively without too much trouble. Traveling for stretches of time with various Druids she stumbled across and creating her own shelters. Lean tos and the like. The mountains weren't exactly the best place for that kind of shelter though... Which meant she was either looking for a cave or some kind of civilization to stay the night.

If necessary she could pedal some of her skills for a temporary stay. Education was guaranteed to all children under 16 who could get to the designated public schools around Atinaw, but for Hopsfel and Grimholdt it was a bit harder to get to that education, just because of the nature of the terrain. Hopefully, that meant her services could at least prove marginally helpful.

If all else failed she could fly around for a while looking for some kind of suitable cave or a relatively flat area she could hunker down in for the night. Assuming she took on her faunis form she wouldn't have any terrible issues when it came to finding a place to rest. It would just be uncomfortable. The good thing about it being early Glade was the fact it was finally starting to warm up enough that there wasn't he risk of her suddenly freezing. The tail end of the cold season was survivable but not particularly pleasant. She still had yet to experience a day as cold as the one where Isra left her for the first time, but that had been a particularly terrible day in Atinaw history, so she hoped she'd never see something similar to it again.

Just as she was starting to resign herself to the fact she might end up hunkering down in a cave she caught sight of what had to be buildings in the distance. Spreading her wings, she pushed herself a little higher into the air in order to get a better look at the thing. Yeah, those were definitely buildings.

It was a small village from the looks of things. Emphasis on small and village. Probably no more than 30 people, not all of them permanent residents no doubt. She flew a bit closer before landing and hesitantly making her way closer towards it. It didn't take long for people to start taking note of her. The question was really just if they'd be friendly or not.

[Canna]

Sometimes, Canna wished his parents had a real job. One not too tedious and at the same time nothing fast paced. The Hytori Parents are old so they’re not capable of much, but he didn’t want them to be bored or tired. Really, anything would do. As long as it could stop him from following and participating in this trade system both his father and neighboring households have created to sustain each other. It was a weird system too — Certain families grew certain crops, some houses having better soil nearby than others, and they would trade the crops based on the real value of it. Some houses also had a member or two that enjoyed traveling to the city for personal reasons. They would bring back items bought with real money and trade that too.

Canna often envied these households. He felt his parents could have very well done the same thing, however, they refused. He didn’t get it...how could two travelers refuse to stop by one city for one day? He would curse them under his breath when they refused. The halflings couldn’t help it but to get upset. All this talk of being explorers and excitement of seeing the world yet house Kul’Sylmera hadn’t stepped foot outside this small town since he was a babe. From what he’s heard, the old man and lady had coin to spare too. They could afford to see the city for one day, maybe two!

Canna-Mhyreage had spaced out with many a thoughts about his parents. It infuriated his neighbor, who had already done what he had came there for in the first place. While he had spaced out, she made the swap. Two ears of corns for a ripe tomato. He did not seem to even feel the corn fall into his little satchel let alone hear his neighbor shoo him away. Despite being neighbors for so long, the mountainous people have always treated each other like strangers or better yet pests. Usually people greet each other when they see one another but that seemed to be the complete opposite here. When they see someone they expected to visit or drop by, the doors of their homes just open and the guest is expected to walk in and say what they have to say.

That’s how Canna-Mhyreage ended up lost in his thoughts. However, the sharp yet subtle pinch that his neighbor placed on his shoulder surely snapped him out of it. He smiled at her and began on his way out. He was hardly out the door before she slammed it shut.

Canna scrunched his face before sucking his teeth and walking off.

Carefully slinging the bag of corn over his shoulder, he started walking home. He wondered why his mother needed corn. A slightly chubby child who enjoyed eating and glanced at their cabinet often, he couldn’t possibly imagine what she could pair with corn. They did not have any potatoes left and a neighbor refused to give them meat this week. So that meant she wouldn’t be able to make stew. And Canna refused to eat any vegetarian options. He absolutely hated it but he knew during this season, that’s usually what’s offered.

”Maybe she just wants the cob. It’s a sweet treat.” He said to himself.


Canna did not notice it before but the area he lived in wasn’t very quiet at the moment. He was starting to hear hushed tones, almost like a group of ghost were in the area. He lifted his head to look around and noticed that the houses weren’t as dark as they usually would be at this time but slightly glowing from the inside as shadows were being casted over the windows.

What was the meaning of all this?