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 Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2026 2:41 pm
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2026 2:53 pm
The year had certainly been generous to Maleficarum - her garden had downright erupted since it had first started blooming in spring. Some parts had grown so dense that she'd been blessed with plenty of flowers to participate in the fortune trend that had been going through the Kawani lands a few moons ago, and had more to spare still. It was always nostalgic as the cold season drew near to look back and think of all those who'd touched your life since the crow moon, when all the migratory birds returned from their winter homes. There had been many visitors in that time, but one in particular lingered in her thoughts this particular season.
During those early moons, she'd made a new friend. Someone who hadn't been intimidated at first glance by her more unsettling traits, and had looked beyond that to instead offer a mutually beneficial trading relationship. As a result, her garden had grown healthier than ever, with more variety than she could have hoped to achieve on her own. And as she spent the day harvesting the last of the herbs and foods that wouldn't survive the first frost of the season, she could only hope Vega visited soon so she could offer the mare her thanks.
And perhaps share the last bounty of the season with her.
Word Count: 221
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2026 4:58 pm
Autumn loomed, ready to drape heavyset and low-hanging clouds like a fine blanket over the land. Fortunately, today was still sunny, still balmy, and her garden was still lush. Plentiful. Even so, Vega could tell through the changing weather that it would be best for her to start harvesting what she could.
And with that in mind, it would also be quite kind of her to share her bounty. And share she would, as she'd already done. Fragrant flowers, stored seeds, crunchy and varied vegetables, given away for the most part. She'd kept enough for herself, and for the gift she would make for her friend.
Humming to herself, Eli in tow a few steps behind, Vega plodded along to a garden she was coming to know as much as her own, woven baskets hanging from a thick strap over her back, and carefully balanced between the two. Produce, flowers, seeds.
She hadn't seen Maleficorum for some time, and was actually disheartened to miss her when she was reading flower fortunes in the height of summer...
But that just meant that now was the perfect time. And when she saw her rather monochromatic friend, her eyes brightened and her steps quickened, the flowers still in bloom within her mane bobbing with every trotted step.
"My friend, hello!"
217 words
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2026 5:29 pm
This season proved to be almost as busy as the prior two, especially when you're as busy as a bee. Even more-so when you've a herd hive to help tend to. With how plentiful indeed the weather had graced so many, Claribelle as well sought much bounty in her own gardens and her own private little outcropping amidst the forests where she grew her own garden of flowers.
Alas, one cannot get the variety that she holds in her sidebags without taking from others, which she's grown very accustomed to either bartering or becoming lucky enough to sneakily swipe (in exchange for something, of course! She would never just fully take... that would be rude!) some new fruits or flowers or vegetables or-what-have-you.
In fact, one of the ways she adored to give back to the 'community' for taking when no one was about was to spread her own flowering seeds she knew would do well once the winter wave had come and gone. She knew well that there were certain times indeed to plant in preparation for the next years harvest, and this was one of those times with the seeds she had prepared.
What she did not expect however was for said garden to actually be inhabited this time around-- nonetheless by multiple mares. Stopping just shy of taking a prepared sack of seeds to toss about the garden, she looks back as she realizes that she is not alone.
Taking a small half-step back, she straightens up as she realizes that she had been staring at them for a fair second without speaking a word, and after a small fumble of syllables something of a sentence manages to break free from her maw.
"Oh-- er uh-- hello! Am I perhaps interrupting something?"
WC 299
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2026 5:47 pm
What luck it was that right as Maleficarum's thoughts had turned to her newfound friend, the mare chose that very moment to appear. It was difficult to say that her eyes brightened - there was very little one could express when their gaze was solid white, after all. But her expression clearly lifted in surprised delight when Vega greeted her, and she turned from her work to regard the mare with a visage sunny enough that she might have bloomed flowers all on her own were one's expression alone enough to cast such magic.
"Vega! I'd been hoping you might visit soon," she began, moving away from her current work to pluck a basket she'd set aside just in case from the ground with her clawed foot. "I wanted to thank you for all your help expanding my garden this year. I've set aside some of my harvest for you."
It was likely their exchange would've been a short one, in the grand scheme of things. Thanking one another, exchanging their harvests with one another, and then parting again. But the appearance of another mare interrupted that familiar routine, causing Maleficarum to tilt her head curiously. She couldn't say she recognized the flaxen-coated mare, but there was something about her that reminded her of Vega. Nothing so obvious as their shared Flutter traits - rather an aura of one who simply... Belonged in a garden. Like it was as natural to the both of them as breathing.
"Not at all. We were just sharing our garden harvests with one another. You're welcome to look through mine to see if there's anything you'd like - the soil was quite generous this year and provided me with much more than I could ever make use of alone."
Word Count: 292
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2026 6:00 pm
It filled her with a sort of sunny joy that Mal seemed just as happy to see her as her own delight in seeing her friend. As friendships should be, she acknowledged. There was a pep in her step as she pranced towards the darker female that had no doubt intimidated others before her. But while Vega was quite aware that Mal's appearance could be unnerving, it was no different than a rose hiding its thorns. What was fair might be foul, and though the leather-winged mare before her might have been perceived as scary on the outside, she'd ever been sweet to her.
And sweet was proven again as Mal revealed she had kept some of her own harvest aside for the flutter. She laughed, the sound trilling.
"It seems we think alike, for I have brought you some of my own, as well." She came to a soft pause, standing still with her wings positively buzzing. The new voice drew her attention and she turned her head, ears perked. Another friend of Mal's?
Apparently not, by the response given.
Still, Vega turned her sunny expression onto her fellow flutter. "Oh, a harvest exchange, then? Why not. My name is Vega, and this is Maleficarum. And this..."
She craned her head around and dipped it slightly, towards the familiar that came to a halt beneath her, sheltered and safe. "Is Eli."
Vega relaxed, hind hoof cocked and resting the tip upon the ground. "I'd be delighted to trade with you, if you'd like."
217 words
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471 total
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2026 6:30 pm
Claribelle was rather open minded when it came to taking on opinions of the looks of others, and her own bumbling mostly came from her own slight embarrassment of being caught off-guard by the other two mares in general. Thankfully their responses to her presence eased her own mind, especially given how Vega pranced to Mal in greeting. She was always delighted to have another flutter in her presence, the familiarity of those buzzing wings akin to the small buzzing ones that she adored to hear.
"It appears this is a proper harvest exchange," she chuckles and nods at the introduction, already stepping closer as she treads through with careful paws. They may have been large, but she certainly understood her way about with them. Once closer, her head tilts just enough to catch Eli and she could not help but to breathe another soft chuckle. "Claribelle of the Clovers, a pleasure to meet you all-- and to finally meet you as well Maleficarum!"
Her smile seemed almost cheesed but she absolutely meant the cadence in her words, "I admit I've come through these gardens once or twice and I've left items in exchange of course-- but I was not quite aware of whom was caring for this place."
Craning her neck back, she slips into one of her side bags and pulls free that small bag of various seeds that she was intending to spread, carefully speaking as to not yet puncture nor drop it if she can help. "I actually come baring my own flowering seeds in exchange for what I've accrued over this last year-- our hives adore these once they bloom."
WC 275
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2026 6:47 pm
As soon as Eli hopped forward to settle beneath Vega, Maleficarum offered the rabbit a polite nod in greeting. He hadn't been with the mare the first time they'd met, but she'd come to know him since. Truly he was a perfectly matched companion for the mare - as if they had been born to befriend one another.
There was immediate recognition on her face when Claribelle mentioned having come through before - not of the mare herself, but of her deeds. Certainly there were plenty that helped themselves to her garden, but there was a difference between squirrels and rabbits nibbling at her herbs and the meticulous collection of a reasoned being. Someone had helped themselves, and while Maleficarum had never minded it, she had wondered.
"Well it's good to finally put a name and face to one of my garden's admirers," she replied, motioning to the basket she'd retrieved that held the share set aside for Vega. "This is what I have available to choose from. I'd be happy to put together a basket of anything you fancy. And I'd certainly love as many of those seeds as you're willing to offer. I believe I spy some clover in the mix?"
Word Count: 201
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2026 7:06 pm
A proper harvest exchange indeed. If Vega could have transformed like the Angeni, she would no doubt be clapping her hands in soft, excited little claps. In lieu of that, her wings sufficed: happy little flutters that conveyed her upbeat attitude.
"Claribelle? What a lovely name," She chimed, looking between Mal and their new acquaintance. Her ears perked at the mention of clovers, too. Another type of flower to add to her own garden.
"Perhaps we should exchange seeds every year and make it our own tradition." She offered, a flick of her tail to go along with that, and another thought. "Or several times a year. It would be lovely to see you both more often."
She was careful to not damage her own wing as she craned her head back to carefully tug the two baskets and strap free from her back, only to deposit it upon the ground.
"Feel free to choose what you would like. I do have some more back at my garden, so if you both like something in particular there is more to be had."
217 words
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653 total
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2026 7:23 pm
Her own wings fluttered in excitement upon mention of the clovers, and she nods eagerly as she finally sets down the bag. "You are correct, and a few other fun surprises in there. Nothing that will harm your gardens of course." While she speaks, she looks about the basket and her eyes light up at some of the spoils, knowing they would go to a very good home.
"And thank you-- you've both lovely names as well," A quick nod, and once seeing the additional spoils he does a bit of an excited wiggle in place herself.
"Oh my, yes! The Hive will accept all gracious donations and exchanges, and perhaps our next meeting I may be accompanied by some of my children," She does intentionally leave that open ended, as her own companions are practically her children as well, she turns to the opposite sidebag of hers and lifts the latch on it, showing off mostly spoils of different flowers and herbs. "You're both free to take what you wish of my own gardens' spoils as well, I've mostly medicinal flowers and herbs in preparation for the upcoming colder weather."
Truly if she had known she would have run into this exchange, she would have brought extras to carry back more than what she could in both of her bags on her sides or had come with her bears, but alas it is how it goes. "Perhaps before the cold settles in we could find time for one more exchange? I think that would be delightful."
WC 257
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2026 7:31 pm
"A seasonal exchange sounds like an excellent tradition to start. After all, harvests aren't limited to just the beginning of the cold season. Plenty of herbs and flowers are at their peak during the warmest moons of the year," Maleficarum agreed, nodding her heads towards Vega with a smile. And if the past year was anything to go by, she expected her garden would need such regular exchanges to remain healthy, lest it overgrow and choke the life out of itself.
The mention of mostly medicinal flowers and herbs made her laugh softly, and the black and white mare regarded Calribelle fondly. "It's no wonder you were drawn to my garden, then. I primarily cultivate medicinal plants and anything that can be used in spellcraft." Her expression pulled into a playful smile, and she offered both mares a conspiratorial wink. "I am a witch, after all. And I'm happy to offer my services as a favor to friends."
Friends, old and new, no less. She truly did have a great deal to be thankful for this season.
Word Count: 177
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2026 7:32 pm
Eli moved up between her forelegs and leaned against one, nose twitching, clearly sniffing at the scents the newcomer brought with her.
"It would be fun to meet your children," Vega nodded with a dip of her head. She paused, then lowered it still more to nuzzle Eli briefly before glancing towards Mal with what amounted to a smile gracing her features. She was relaxed, and she shifted her weight to encourage her rabbit to straighten so she could walk forward to inspect the basket Claribelle brought. What an intriguing mix of herbs and flowers. Some even she had yet to encounter.
"I hope you don't mind my questions." For she would have some. Her bright eyes beheld both, and she gave a happy sigh. "To new friendships and traditions. I'm thankful that I know both of you. I can only imagine what good friends we will come to be!"
217 words
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803 total
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