Fleet

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Pine Branch Organics Easily mistaken for a Fir Branch. 15

. .⟦ Fleet ⟧ | #49 | Gardener and Cook

Fir Branch Organics Easily mistaken for a Pine Branch. 15

Fleet loves cooking and savory dishes are her specialty. She owns and operates a small stall in a market nearby, while also offering free meals to dragons in need. Having grown up in a war-torn clan, Fleet understands the true significance of a warm, home-cooked meal. Her generous nature doesn't leave her with piles of treasure, but she is more than content living a simple life without a lot of material possessions. In her opinion, helping others is the greatest treasure of all.

"gaoler is the new gif"

awakened: curse, luna mith / cursesii, creeping cluster / shanty, wood ear deer / lyssie, garden watcher / mirmir, mith bruiser / regis, spring glade lord

fleet -> esperanza -> arlan -> lorear -> mesmerize -> charm -> unnamed -> unnamed

THE GARDEN: a short fleet-centric story started 05/23/23

1. Czekoladzie

Czekoladzie leaned down to sniff at a pot full of red flowers. "What's this one?"

Fleet set down her half-filled basket and glanced over. "Oh, that's a chrysanthemum! They repel snakes, so I planted a few near the hatchery to keep the young ones safe- they can get big here, and I've heard stories of them eating dragon eggs."

Czekoladzie grimaced, but he tilted his head in what Fleet recognized as his thinking expression. "Was that in the Shrieking Wilds?"

"Yes?"

"Might just be there, then- megafauna are more common there." At her furrowed brow, he added, "Big animals. Can you eat these?"

"They make tea, I think," Fleet replied doubtfully. "Represent- friendship and well-being, I think?"

Czekoladzie made a humming sound, looking up when she held out the shears. "Clip off the ones at the base- the wilty ones? Yes, those. It'll make the others bloom for longer."

She turned back to her tomato harvest, which was going particularly well. A bee buzzed by her ear, and she closed her eyes to bask in the sunlight. She only noticed that the dull snipping of the shears had stopped when she heard Czekoladzie step closer.

She opened an eye to see her friend hovering in front of her, holding a chrysanthemum in his partially outstretched talon.

"They mean friendship and well-being, right?" His eyes were warm as a comforting hearth. "Well, I'm glad to be your friend. And you seemed stressed when I joined the Clan, if you don't mind me pointing out? But nowadays you seem much happier."

Fleet beamed at him and ducked her head so Czekoladzie could tuck the flower into the band of her hat.

2. Jasper

"Times are changing," someone announced without preamble.

"And yet polite society still starts a conversation with a hello," Fleet replied, scowling down at her petunias.

Jasper came to hover over her shoulder, and she observed that it only took a glimpse of blue wings in her periphery to ruin any sense of peace she'd cultivated over the past half hour. Pompous butterfly.

"You haven't noticed it?" he asked disdainfully. "The tensions in Council meetings lately? The whispering, the politics?" He's trying to get a rise out of you, Fleet reminded herself. "Really, driada-"

She abruptly stood and pinned him with the foulest glare she could manage. "That doesn't work on me anymore. Get out of my garden and keep that name out of your mouth."

"You're no fun," Jasper whined.

Fleet waved her trowel threateningly in his direction, and he yelped. "Out."

3. Sora

Someone flopped into her planting bed and let out a muffled groan.

"Hello, dear," Fleet greeted, dusting off her talons.

An unintelligible noise that was the product of trying to speak with dirt smothering you, followed by sputtering. Fleet grabbed a broom and swept up the soil that spilled when Sora lifted her head.

"Your son is being stupid," she informed Fleet. "Crane started it, don't get me wrong, but he's being stupid and both of them are being weird and Em's away at the Archives again and Mor's acting weird."

Oh, this was going to be a long one, wasn't it?

Fleet picked up her water bottle and headed into the shade. "I'm all ears."

Sora propped her head on her talons. "Okay, it all started when Crane got back from that trip.."

4. Lioness

Fleet smiled pleasantly at the disgruntled Obelisk cub glaring at her.

The glare turned into a nasty scowl. Fleet was, on principle, unaffected by dirty looks- raising multiple generations will do that to a dragoness- but even she had to admit that this one was particularly furious. A great deal of murderous intent. She was rather impressed.

"She started a fight with the other yearlings," Venus informed her, leaning against the railing. Fleet recalled the young dragons she was referring to- there was that adventurous one, the cub in front of her, and... three older ones, who were not only gifted mages-in-training but former mercenaries (allegedly, of course). That explained the already-bloody bandage wrapped around her forearm.

"We thought it would do her some good to get away from them for a bit? Gardening's therapeutic, and you seemed like you could use the extra help." Venus looked expectantly down at her young charge. "You won't give her any trouble, will you?"

The cub didn't answer, too busy channeling all of her ire into glaring at a nearby pea plant. Fleet was surprised it didn't wither into dust.

"Lioness?" Venus prompted gently.

"Wouldn't dream of it," she ground out. Neither adult was fooled.

5. Wisteria