The Empire of Flowers (Bellosh & Zeig)

[Zeig]

 

Great Jarl indeed, hmph. A great Jarl that could not withstand a few whiffs of pollen.

 

Oh, but Lími did sound so noble as he spoke of her, almost like a western knight of old, stalwart and staunch in his fierce protectiveness of his princess. And the sun, now beginning to start its decent towards the horizon, washed his face with a number of fetching colors as he looked off into the distance, undoubtedly thinking many deep and insightful thoughts of great importance as he pondered his loyalty to his traveling companion. This great Jarl Sigrun was obviously a Reindeer - perhaps a pony?... - that her Lími held in high esteem, and for all her annoyance, Mei could not fault the young Reindeer for his duty.

 

Knowing that she could not, however, didn't stop the agitated twitch of her tail as it flicked up and down, akin to the flicking of a cat's tail as it soaked up the sunlight. Perhaps it was selfish of her - alright yes, it was fairly selfish of her, but to think that Lími's condition for a longer stay was denied primarily, if not solely, by a rather ridiculous affliction for any pony to suffer was...a bit vexing. And really, sneezing? His traveling companion didn't have to go near the meadow, she would simply need to stay in the town. And, away from the flowers that lined the road. 

 

And also, away from the wildflowers that grew sporadically across various yards. 

 

Aaaaand, the plethora of potted plants lined up on neighboring windowsills. 

 

...And also, that one vine that draped over the western gate, and boasted a rather complex set of pink flowers interwoven among its edges.

 

Alright, so, maybe, the floating particles of pollen were just a little bit thick in Garden Gait...though still, if this Sigrun remained within the town itself where the pollen was less, perhaps a simple tonic would alleviate her affinity for sneezing at beautiful flowers. In fact, Mei thought as she sat up a little straighter, she could attempt to brew something right now - except, oh, what would she use? Lavender vapors were usually useful in comforting seasonal allergies, with perhaps a light application of sesame oil over the snout...but would that work on a Reindeer? She had no idea. What if her usual aromatherapy techniques just made it worse for Lími's companion? 

 

"I understand," the blue Qilin eventually said, after what seemed a few minutes of silence but was probably no longer than a brief pause, "sacrificing your own desires for your traveling companion is, indeed, the most noblest course of actions." If the words came out a bit mulishly, then that was no one's business but her own, and Mei wrinkled her snout slightly as a light breeze tickled at it, caught from the top of the cliffside and undoubtedly picking up speed as it plummeted into the basin on the valley. 

 

Well...drat. 

 

"...Well!" Mei suddenly spoke up again, perking upwards from where she'd been leaning against the Reindeer's side, "you'll simply have to get as much done as possible, right now! Come," she demanded, getting back onto her hooves to move away from the cliffside, lest any parchment Lími had be swept off the edge. "I shall help you write! Tell me, what inspiration do you have, right now, in this very moment?"

[Bellosh]

 

There was no mistaking the tone of harshness in Lián Mei’s voice. Lími could not decide whether it was a good or bad thing that this was so. While it gave the caribou buck hope that Mei regarded him with an equal level of fondness, Lími also couldn't shake the feeling that he had disappointed the qilin mare with his answer.

That made Lími feel... weak.

Although he was no stranger to fear, or self-doubt, or feeling like an outcast amongst his own kind, the antlered lad paradoxically never considered himself weak; just... different in a way not widely embraced by most viking caribou. Lími could put up with those things, but being unable to do something as simple as keep Mei happy, that made Lími’s gut wrench. If only he had the power to make things right.....

If there was a proper way to solve Lími and Mei’s woes, it would have to wait. Mei had her own plan in mind; to rush Lími into finishing his poem now, with what remained of the day’s light. Lími started hyperventilating at those demands; trying to finish his poem now would be next to impossible. The dragon mare might as well have asked Lími to personally slay the Great World Serpent, the largest and most terrifying monster to have ever lived!

For one thing, Lími had never once written a poem or any part of his saga in the company of others. Writing was an activity the caribou did alone, away from prying and critical eyes. Trying to compose a poem with somebody else watching him... no, expecting him to finish a work within a limited time frame would only result in Lími’s mind turning into a nervous half-functioning wreck. And with two, maybe three hours tops before sunset, there simply just wasn’t enough time to complete a poem before the light faded, and that wasn’t taking into account various other potential distractions that could happen between now and dusk.

Worst of all... all this cliffside sightseeing and spending time in the company of the most treasurable Mei had ensured that flowers were the absolutely LAST thing on Lími’s mind. Truth be told, he was more in the mood to honor his qilin companion in writing rather than finish his earlier project... at least the poetic lad would if he wasn’t currently suffering from a mental breakdown. If his sore hooves hadn’t done enough to make the situation clear before, Lími finally understood that he was consumed in a world of pain.

Yet Lími would not admit defeat to Mei just yet; that’d only upset her more, perhaps even displease the mare enough to regret ever befriending the pure-hearted caribou with her now. No... Lími needed to do everything he could to forestall his doom. That meant wincing in pain every time he took a step away from the edge; without pleasant thoughts to soothe the young buck’s soul, the aching of his hooves became unbearable. In his weakened state, Lími moved at a glacial and hesitant pace, cautious to avoid adding further his limbs.

“Oooooooooohh... right now,” the panic-stricken caribou strained inch-by-inch, step-by-step towards the object of his endearment; “I’m inspired... to make my legs feel rejuvenated again.” Sensing her master’s distress, Hammer whimpered from the place on the grass where she rested, but the canine’s legs too needed R&R after the climb. Hmmm... it seemed like Lími was getting more than he bargained for trying to fulfill Mei’s desires.....

[Zeig]

 

If her Reindeer companion didn't look liable to keel off the edge of the cliffside at any moment, she might have found his stunted movements amusing.

 

As it was, her Reindeer companion looked liable to keel off the edge of the cliffside at any moment, thus prompting the blue Qilin to let out a short exclamation of surprise, before rushing forward to help usher Lími further away from an ungraceful and rather messy end of his life. Now that would have been disastrous, and why hadn't she noticed his fatigue earlier? He'd been fine when they'd approached the crest of the cliff - or wait, no, she assumed he'd been fine, as she herself had been busy gazing at the magnificent and poetry-inspiring view she'd offered him. 

 

...Oh dear. The dog seemed just as worried as she was at the moment - and perhaps just as tired as her master? She looked to be resting her furry paws. 

 

Well now, this wouldn't do at all. How would Lími complete his poem if his every bone ached with a simple movement? 

 

No, this would not do. What would do, however - aside from a long rest - was some spectacular show of magic that could, magically, heal all of his fatigue. One she could perform herself, with much aplomb and grace, and simultaneously show off the extensive and mysterious magic of the Qilins, to suitably impress the young Reindeer even further than she already had. 

 

...Yes, this would do quite nicely. 

 

"Lay still, LÍmi," Mei commanded with a flick of her mane, shuffling backwards a few steps to better situate the slumped Reindeer in front of herself, "as I shall cure your ails." The deep breathing as she closed her eyes wasn't strictly necessary, as her healing breath was something she had mastered long ago - but, the few seconds of pause allowed the wind to ruffle her mane and tail quite nicely, as if magic was indeed stirring around her. And all that, before her eyes shot wide, her head rear backwards, then propelled forwards to -

 

FWOOOOOSH!

 

Her healing breath, stronger and more powerful than her subtle manipulations of temperature, expelled in the form of a shimmering, white mist tinged with just a smidgen of pink, almost as if a cloud were conjured from her gut and out through her throat. Parts of it swept past the Reindeer in front of her, but most of it she controlled just right, coming to rest around him in a thin layer that remained shimmering and semi-opaque, even as Lími undoubtedly began to feel pressure along his body. The pressure was soothing, unwinding, as if soaking into a hot bath after a long day's work - and all of it, lasting only a few seconds, before the cloud dissipated, as Mei drew back to breathe and recover from the expenditure. 

 

And also to flick her mane again, a wide smile on her face as her bells chimed merrily. 

 

A nearby shine drew the Qilin's attention back to the Reindeer's dog, who, if she was correct, was also feeling a bit sore from the climb upwards. Mei cleared her throat and turned sideways, her entire profile on view as she repeated the breath, the not as hard, seeing as its recipient was quite smaller than the last. It took hardly no thought at all to finish up, her healing breath as second nature to her now as her horns were, and Mei turned back towards the Reindeer to settle back on her haunches in the grass, idly brushing out the tuft on her tail as she curled it around herself.

 

All in a day's work, no big deal. 

 

"Now you are ready to focus on your poem, are you not?" Mei asked smugly, and rhetorically. Her healing breath couldn't fix everything, of course not - but by all accounts and her own experiences, it rejuvenated and reenergized, soothed away lingering aches and pains like a simultaneous massage and good night's rest. It was an amazing tool to use when administering her aromatherapy techniques, one that always left her clients relaxed and melting like butter, and Mei could only imagine what else she could learn to use it for.

 

Aside from showing off to appropriately impressed Reindeers, of course.

[Bellosh]

 

Initially surprised that Lián Mei was personally leading him onward, Lími yelped when he noticed just how close to the cliff’s edge he was. Had the caribou really been an inch away from tumbling down the precipice? No matter the truth, Lími was glad to be in Mei’s caring hooves right now. Little did the young buck know just HOW much he’ll come to appreciate that care.

With Mei’s assistance, Lími laid down on the ground as he was told to do. Although his aching legs kept testing his pain tolerance, the promise of relief filled the adolescent lad with hope... and curiousity. Was Mei a healer? How could she soothe Lími’s ills without having brought anything up with her to the vista? Why did the dragon mare look like an angelic goddess made flesh as the wind blew around her fire-kissed hair?

WAIT; why’s Mei posing like she’s about to incinerate Lími with a FIRE BLAST???

Before the wide-eyed caribou could second-guess his qilin companion’s true intentions, he found himself enveloped in sparkling mist. That was no fire at all, nor any other obvious element! Mei’s breath could only be... magic. Indeed; whatever the mare’s spell did, it was causing the soreness to subside it had never been there to begin with. Even though Lími’s tomes back home spoke of qilin sorcery, he never anticipated anything so blissfully wonderful as this.

Gazing rapturously up at Mei once the magic mist dissipated enough, Lími’s only regret was that the spell didn’t last longer. Oh, the things he’d do to experience that every day for the rest of his life. Nonetheless, the caribou contented himself with the scene of Mei smiling as her bells chimed with a mane flick. Another sight that Lími would be more than happy to witness over and over again.

If Hammer’s enthusiastic licking of Mei’s cheek was any indication, the canine also highly praised the healing magic used on Lími and his dog.

“Eh heh heh... alright girl, that’s enough.” Getting back up with no sweat, Lími summoned the dog back to his side while trotting toward Mei. The caribou couldn’t sputter out any words to express his amazement and gratitude; fortunately, his beaming grin and awe-struck eyes did all the necessary talking.

It shouldn’t have came as a surprise then when Mei asked if Lími was ready to continue writing his flower poem. Aside from restoring the painlessness of the caribou’s legs, Mei’s healing breath somehow managed to relax the toil within Lími’s mind. Able to think straight without panicking, Lími made note of three important facts.

Firstly: if it wasn’t crystal clear by now, Lián Mei wasn’t going to let anything get between Lími and his flowery composition, for motives still unknown. Next: there was no further point in persuading Mei that the poem that was promised can be finished before Lími’s scheduled departure tomorrow morning. And last: considering everything Mei had done for Lími so far, the caribou owed her a tremendous debt. To leave Garden Gait without providing Mei the Promised Poem she wanted to help with so much would be the ultimate stain on Lími’s honor, his Jarl’s, and of his clan.

All those elements considered, there was only one path left for Lími to maintain his honor without further subjecting his Jarl to the pollen of Garden Gait. “Mei…” the buck built up his courage with a deep breath, knowing the boldness of the actions he planned to do; “It will not be possible for me to compile my verses ere the break of the coming day... but THIS I can promise.”

It took every ounce of valor within Lími to do what next needed to be done; delicately taking one of Mei’s forehooves with two of his own. It felt... wrong profaning the qilin’s coat with his touch, but this needed to be performed in the earnest way possible. After an agonizing perpetuity of extending Mei’s foreleg, Lími’s gaze once again focused on Mei’s face, revealing to the mare the tender determination expressed by the caribou’s green orbs. “I swear, by all the Ancient Ones, that I shall not depart from Garden Gait until my task is done..... To write... our poem.”

A fierce burst of wind bellowed down on the two companions right at that exact moment, as if the very gods heard Lími’s proclamation and were binding him to it. There was no turning back now; Jarl Sigrun would have no choice but to honor Lími’s oath, and leave him behind in Garden Gait for as long as necessary. And most oddly of all, the young buck felt no misgivings about being away from his guardian.

Then again, it was hard for any misgivings to surface when Lími was busy holding the hoof of the amazing Lián Mei.....

[Zeig]

 

Now that was gratitude for you!

 

The bright blue Qilin did her best the stifle the smug smirk that threatened to worm its way onto her lips, and was unwittingly helped along by the sudden laving of canine affection that came with her companion's companion's thankfulness over her skills. Mei reared back slightly, spluttering at the feeling of saliva sticking to her cheek, but the dog was awfully cute, and properly grateful for her healing breath. She satiated the creature with a few strokes to her head that nonetheless pushed the dog and her enthusiastic tongue away from herself, though she needn't have bothered as Lími recalled his pet back to his side, allowing the Qilin to focus on her companion again. And his near rapturous gaze in her direction. 

 

Well, then. If he was going to look at her like that, what else could she be expected to do?

 

Mei returned to grooming the tufts on her ankles and tail, chest puffed outward as she carefully listened to Lími's deep breath.

 

Ah...maybe...maybe she would become his new inspiration! A beautiful Qilin decked in royal garb, standing atop the spread of a thousand flowers as the shining towers of Canterlot gleamed in the backdrop. Maybe he'd change the subject of his poem from Garden Gait to her! And while Mei sincerely hoped the Reindeer would complete his epic to aptly describe the beauty of her chosen home village, well...the thought of being such a wondrous inspiration to inspire flowering words of grace and beauty in the heart of a poet as almost too romantic a thought to comprehend. After all, how many sonnets and poems were composed over the ages, on an Empress' striking looks or an Emperor's handsome profile? It happened all the time.

 

She deserved at least one, especially in a country where she stuck out like a sore hoof!

 

But just before she was wrapping her head around the idea, Lími's spoken words sent a cold dash of reality over her, cleanly knocking the Qilin from her sudden daydream. Worse than her imaginations running rampant in her mind - Lími was adamant in his inability to complete his poem! Even knowing how fickle a mistress inspiration was to the creative, Mei couldn't help the sharp stab of disappointment that ran through her at the admission.

 

"I...I see," she tried, words falling flat as she struggled to accept defeat - and then they really did fall flat, broken off in surprise when Lími met her gaze, eyes determined.

 

And slowly, carefully, delicately - took her hoof.

 

“I swear, by all the Ancient Ones, that I shall not depart from Garden Gait until my task is done..... To write... our poem.”

 

Who these Ancient Ones were, Mei was uncertain, but a deaf pony could have heard their capitalization, and the subsequent silence that rang like a gong on a clear summer's night. 

 

The sun, beginning to bleed into reds and oranges and purples, struck a patch on Lími's check, shifting across his face to set his green eyes blazing bright. The wind fell down upon the cliffside, ruffling up the inordinate amount of fluff that made her companion an exceedingly comfortable mass to reside against, and far, far below them, a ringing bell sounded in Garden Gait, most likely from Farmer Green Hoof's lush garden, erected to scare off birds of opportunity from his greens. 

 

Mei was distinctly aware that her face was flushed to an uncomfortable degree. 

 

"Mmpglrh," she said, or tried to, but it mostly came out in an splutter, words caught on her tongue and spilling out in undignified and intelligible syllables. Mei didn't even have enough pretense to clear her throat and try again, because there was an earnest, determined, and utterly dashing young Reindeer giving her an oath that was undeniably held in high esteem by his species...and all...all because he was dead set on carrying out her own wish to see his poem completed. 

 

Th...their poem...

 

It was several more seconds that passed, all of which consisted of Mei's continued silence as she turned her head away from Lími and towards the wind, attempting to cool down her still flushed cheeks. She made no move to retrieve her hoof from the other's grasp however, content to leave it there as she finally trusted herself enough to turn back towards the Reindeer. "If you're sure," Mei intoned, though it came out more of a squeak, prompting her to clear her throat and try again. "If you're sure - " better, "then...then I swear, in the sight of my ancestors, that I shall help you finish our poem. For...as long as it takes." 

 

Ah-hah...ah. All her friends back home had young stallions brandishing their weapons and breath attacks to impress...and here she had a wandering poet of flowering words and deep intellect, dedicating his work in honor of her...of them.

 

She was a bit dizzy, Mei determined - or was that giddy? - but even still the Qilin didn't bother reclaiming her hoof, still staring at the young Reindeer before her. "Do you," Mei questioned softly, as if afraid a long voice might cause something to break, "Do you have lodgings? If you are to stay until your - our poem is completed." There was something significant about her reason for asking, she was sure, something about Lími and his traveling companion only being travelers through Garden Gait, and the town itself being small and closely knit...but honestly, Mei was having a bit of difficulty concentrating. Lími could probably figure out the significance, whatever it might be.

[Bellosh]

 

What seemed to Lími like the honorable thing to do at the time may have instead brought ill effects upon Mei. The warm hues of the setting sun weren’t enough to subdue the reds invading the qilin’s cheeks. More alarming though was how the dragon mare, an assertive force for virtually the entire day, suddenly became incapable of comprehensible speech. Mei seemed so flustered by Lími’s oath that she could no longer meet the caribou’s gaze. Did Lími... somehow bring hurt to Mei through the power of his sacred covenant?

The son of Whitescar lacked any frame of reference for how to deal with this situation. The viking caribou were a proud race, and not one was known to have be reduced to babbling upon another making an oath. It wouldn’t have occurred to Lími to think of romantic situations either. As with many aspects of viking society, courtship involved a demonstration of a caribou’s will and strength; showing signs of weakness (such as blushing) was something that just wouldn’t be done.

Growing concerned, Lími tried to figure out what was up with the qilin and her mysterious ways. “Are you feeling well, Mei?” the young buck softly squeezed the mare’s foreleg to provide assurance; “Please, speak to me..."

Mei actually turned out capable of speaking again, although for a moment Lími wondered whether the fire inside his companion had burned out. Thankfully this didn’t turn out to be the case as Mei offered a sacred oath of her own, pledging her service as an assistant to the antlered poet. In response, Lími grinned out of both gratitude and relief, understanding that Mei merely needed a little courage of her own before making a promise in the presence of a higher power (the qilin’s ancestors in this case).

For the first time since meeting her, Lími regarded Mei not as a bewitching goddess atop a lofty pedestal, but rather... relatable. It had been incredibly rare in Lími’s normal life to find other caribou (besides Sigrun) he could relate to, who didn’t readily project any outward emotion aside from bravado and complete self-assurance. Yet with Mei..... at least Lími could count on her not calling him a milk drinker for the crime of not being the most confident caribou in Whitescar.

Meanwhile, Lími still hadn’t realized he was still clutching Mei’s foreleg. The adolescent was too absorbed with the dragon mare’s eyes, taking extensive notes of how the light of sunset highlighted the richness of her pink orbs. Oh, and how the wind blew Mei’s hair around, accentuating the pristine features of face unlike any other Lími’s had the pleasure of beholding.

Warm feelings were steadily brewing inside the caribou when a brutally mundane inquiry from Mei put an anticlimactic end to the moment... yet the caribou still held on to the qilin. “Ummm, of course I do,” Lími confusedly explained, not sure why the question needed to be asked; “Jarl Sigurn secured room and board at the local inn for our company to stay the uhhh, night, and ummhmh.....”

Lími trailed off, his face now expressing abject embarrassment; “.....Odyrr.” Trying to look anywhere else but Mei’s eyes, the adolescent buck finally realized his hooves were still entwined with Mei’s leg, bringing redness back to the caribou’s cheeks. He really should have set her leg down long ago.

Right now though, Lími wanted to quickly assure his new partner that he and his dog would be fine. “It’s... it’s perfectly alright,” Lími carefully set Mei’s appendage back onto the ground; “Hammer and I can find a suitable site for sleeping under the stars. A night in the Equestrian outdoors is vastly warmer than nights in my own bedroom back home.” Lími awkwardly chuckled as he met Mei’s eyes, just glad to have somehow come up with a clever solution for his problem without requiring the usually lengthy deliberation. Hopefully he wouldn't regret it; “There is, ha ha, no reason for concern.....”

[Zeig]

 

As if the haze of pink lights and sunlit eyes had been doused with a cold bucket of water, Mei froze. 

 

Only for a moment, before something that felt suspiciously like indignation began rising in her belly, distracting enough for her to not even notice as Lími set her hoof back onto the ground. Because how could she notice anything except that indignation rising and flaring outward, and not on her own accord no, not while she was still feeling some high on the storybook perfect moment despite its cold dousing. 

 

No, it was for Lími. Indignation on his behalf.

 

'No reason for concern', hmph! As if her newfound companion, sleeping outside on the cold, hard ground under skies that were mercurial and volatile by nature should be of absolutely no concern for her. Oh well and good, the skies might start out pleasant and warm enough, but even a brief burst of a chilled wind could startle a pony from a comfortable slumber, cause them to shift and huddle and search for comfort in order to fall back asleep. And rain! Even in a dry season, the valleys around Garden Gait were extremely fertile for a reason - a light shower, courtesy of a Pegasus speeding past and high above their small town, could happen at a moment's notice, because the valleys needed the extra water to maintain such a vast, natural garden. It was all too common, too frequent, and there certainly was not no reason for concern!

 

"Nonsense," Mei exclaimed, stomping her reclaimed hoof against the ground as her tail swished lightly in agitation, "you will be my prolonged guest in Garden Gait! And a noble Emp - hmm, noble host would never allow their guest to take their sleep in the middle of a field, no matter how beautiful." The bright blue Qilin began to pace unconsciously as she spoke, moving around in a tight circle as she cast her gaze in the direction of the small town below them, quaint and humble and a bit too small.

 

The easiest solution would be, of course, for Lími, or perhaps this Jarl of his, to simply purchase an extended stay at the inn - though, Mei had a sneaking suspicion that the young Reindeer would have already mentioned such, if that solution really was the easiest. No, Lími and his traveling companion had only been prepared to stay and pay for a single night, thus his mention of sleeping out under the stars. Mei could attempt to seek out a place for him to stay from one of her neighbors, too...they were kindly folk, apt to open their doors for her and - she would wager - anyone she asked them to shelter for a while. But no, that wouldn't work either, because Lími was her guest, and it wasn't quite proper to house a guest with someone else, otherwise why invite them to stay?

 

That left her own home, and even as she thought about it, Mei felt a skittering of trepidation run up her spine. Oh, but her home was so small, hardly a home at all. A small little cottage with the two main rooms, living and bed, and only a bathroom besides. Would he think any less of her? And she didn't have mattresses either, not like the ones her neighbors used. She was accustom to futons, rolled out and spread along the floor each night, and while she was adamant they were more comfortable than a night on hard and unyielding ground, she also knew they were not really...expected. 

 

...Still. It was better than the alternative, and with her mind made up, Mei abruptly spun back around to face the Reindeer.

 

"You will stay with me," she said decisively, with a nod of her head. "I've enough space for you and your pet. Plus, we'll be together more often, to finish work on our poem!" Mei finished, a pleased smile on her face. Yes, now that she had thought everything through, this was the clear and obvious solution. No need to spend money at the inn, no need to sleep outside, and even more time for her presence to inspire Lími with his poetry. 

 

Wánměi!

[Bellosh]

 

Looking back, Lími supposed that this inn business could have easily be solved by asking Jarl Sigrun for a stipend to stay in a room for several days longer. That way, the caribou wouldn’t have to place more excessive burdens on Mei as he lingered around Garden Gait to complete his... no, their poem. Mei deserved as much credit as the poet himself for going so far out of her way to fill Lími with inspiration.

And now came the point of no return, where Lími’s time to suggest paying more at the Inn had passed. Like a flame rekindled by added fuel, the Dragon reawakened within Mei, who insisted on keeping Lími as a guest in her home. The young buck wanted so desperately to claim that he lacked the means to repay any debt, but he knew better than to open his mouth. Just like Lími, Mei had also sworn an oath; to assist Lími no matter what it took. Doubtless, one such way for Mei to fulfill her oath was providing free lodgings for the caribou and his canine companion throughout their extended stay in the village of flower gardens. Who was Lími to deny Mei her chance to shine as an oathkeeper?

Especially when she wore that endearing smile of determination on her face.

Filled with determination of his own, Lími returned the dragon mare’s grin. “That arrangement sounds most wonderful,” the caribou replied earnestly, before casting his gaze toward the village down below, covered in the deepening shadows of twilight. “I’ll... have to provide word to the Jarl of our new intentions. Perhaps now is an appropriate time,” he glanced back at his Sworn Helper; “To make the descent back to Garden Gait?”

Night was rapidly approaching, and with it, the dinnertime feast. Ideally, Lími wanted to make it back before hunger got the better of him. It was most fortunate indeed that Sigrun insisted on her ward eating a big early lunch before setting off to write his poem. Otherwise, Lími would already be starving.....

[Zeig]

 

Lími was staying longer in Garden Gait, her guest would have accommodations, and a poem would be created in honor of their valiant struggle for inspiration.

 

Everything was coming together quite nicely, if Mei's own humble opinion.

 

The bright blue Qilin fairly beamed at the young Reindeer, pleased at his easy acquiescence to her request for him to stay in her home, instead of out in the fields. Seemed like a request no one in their right mind would actually refuse, but for some reason Mei had had a feeling Lími might balk at the suggestion to stay in a young mare's home, out of modesty's sake. Lími most definitely seemed the old fashioned, noble sort who did gentlecolt-ly things like holding out his hoof to help a maiden down a steep slope, or lay down his garments to safely escort her across muddy ground...he just had that air about him, a quiet sort of nobility that suggested a chivalry not quite so common in these parts. 

 

But Mei was complaining, not in the slightest, and that fact should have been apparent in the wide smile on her face, even as her companion made a very fair suggestion. "Yes, we should descend the trail before it gets too dark," she agreed, and didn't even sound put out at the idea of leaving one of her favorite locations for the evening. 

 

Because, after all, she had a guest to make ready for!

 

Picking their way down the trail in the setting sun made conversation even less likely than before, though in truth, Mei's mind was churning its gears with too much ferocity to concentrate on talking anyways. They had traveled up to the clifftop from the afternoon, and now the sun was setting - surely Lími would be at least a little hungry. She was certainly feeling a gnawing ache in her belly. And she knew exactly what she'd be making - but oh, she didn't have any dog food, and she could forget about Lími's fluffy pet. The Blossom family had a pet shepherd, perhaps she might ask to trade for some food...

 

...But other than that, she had everything else she needed, Mei was certain of it!

 

 Their descent seemed to go much faster than their climb, which was almost always the way of things, and Mei had already turned onto the East Road when she remembered, flitting back around for her watering can. A shove of her hoof soaked the water into the ground, pleasantly enough for the flowers there she supposed, before the Qilin grasped the can in her mouth, a far lighter burden. "This way, my home is down here, " she exclaimed, only briefly turning back towards the Reindeer before she was off again, mind still racing with everything she needed to put together. 

 

She didn't have much time to think, as her home was near the center of the entire village - which was to say, no more than a few minutes of brisk trotting. It was a humble abode, Mei thought a big self-consciously - but, at least the outside was suitably impressive. A medium sized willow tree stood guard in her small yard, and the walkway up to her home boasted several flowers of varying colors and shapes. The eastern wall of her home, too, held a small vegetable patch which wrapped around the building to expand further into the back of her yard, a suitable garden to grow her own fresh vegetables. 

 

Except for artichokes. They were a terror.

 

Mei trot straight up to the front of her door, spitting out the empty watering can before turning back 'round to her companion. "This is it," she stated unnecessarily, tail swishing back and forth in unconscious nervousness as the Qilin glance backwards towards the small cottage, "this is where you shall stay! Go inform your - your Jarl, of your change of plans, and then come back here for dinner! Just look for the willow tree," Mei explained, with a nod towards said tree standing dutifully in her front yard. Not that it was the only willow tree in Garden Gait, of course, but none stood vigil in front of other ponies' homes. Most had pines, or maples, or spruces in their yards, if any.

 

Not her. Willows were much more...flowy. Elegant. 

[Bellosh]

 

The trip down into the valley was for the most part quiet and uneventful, giving Lími plenty of time to think. This mostly entailed second-guessing his actions up on the vista. Had the caribou been rash by offering a solemn oath as payment for a deed that may not have actually required an oath in return? Could Lími have used more time to deliberate an alternate way to maintain his honor without being left behind by his clansbou? How would he ever explain all this to Jarl Sigrun anyway without getting chastised? And whatever happened to the adolescent’s usual habit of taking his sweet time to deliberate the wisest course of action?

 

Would Lími’s hastiness be worth it; to placate an admittedly-interesting qilin he’s barely got the chance to know?

 

With all that doubt infesting the caribou’s mind, he almost didn’t realize that they had arrived at Mei’s home in the village. With only the barest of sun left until it completely vanished behind the mountains, there wasn’t enough light to truly appreciate the plot of land, but Lími did thought the strange tree planted in the front, with branches appearing to weep leaves, conveyed a subtle sense of mystery. The encroaching darkness only added to the effect.

 

At the least, finding something new to think about, if only briefly, meant Lími wasn’t a complete ball of nerves when Mei told him to return here for dinner. “I uhhh, well,” the young buck started to protest, as he expected to dine with Sigrun as originally planned. But that nagging conscience reminded Lími; don’t he dare disappoint Mei. The caribou gulped, now understanding the obviously correct response the mare wanted to hear; “O-of course! I shall meet with my Jarl, and then return without delay...”

 

-------------------

 

*ONE DELAY LATER*

 

All things considered, telling Jarl Sigrun the “good news” could have been a lot worse. However, Lími’s foster mother demanded to know what on earth possessed her child to swear an oath, in the name of the Ancient Ones, for the sake of completing a simple poem. After drawing the truth out of Lími, something about Sigrun’s demeanor changed... for the weirder. Not only did she insist that the adolescent take a bath before going out for dinner, but to then wear that fancy cape Lími packed instead of his usual traveling cloak. Lími furiously protested; the cape was intended to be worn for his and Sigrun’s audience with Princess Celestia in a few days’ time, NOT for spending time at a mare’s house.

 

For the life of him, Lími couldn’t grasp what drove Sigrun’s sudden obsession with making him look presentable for a simple dinner with Mei. All Lími did was describe how amazing Mei’s soothing breath was... and how generous she was to donate her time to give Lími the poetic inspiration he needed... and how Mei’s mane and tufts resembled a fire burning with magic... and how her belly scales were as tough as any caribou armor.

 

Maybe Sigrun knew something that Lími didn’t. Either way, the Jarl seemed rather proud of her ward as Lími, wearing the special green cape, departed for Mei’s house alone, without his animal companion (who’d keep Sigrun company instead).

 

Even though Lími looked just like a regal, foreigner prince plopped out of a cheap mass-market paperback, he was as tense as ever as he rediscovered the house guarded by the willow tree. The caribou had promised that he’d return without delay, but that had been about a hour ago. Night had fallen upon Garden Gait by now, and Mei was probably concerned to death that her dinner guest would be a no-show. Would Mei be furious that Lími didn’t return on time like he promised?

Lími inhaled deeply; only one way to find out. Timidly, he knocked on Mei’s door, just softly enough that the host would be forgiven for failing to hear it.....

[Zeig]

 

Lettuce, check.

 

Rice Paper, check.

 

Apples, pears, noodle, cilantro, sesame leaves...all check!

 

...Aaaand, dog bowl filled with a humble serving of equally humble kibbles. Check!

 

In fact, the only thing she was missing was her errant dinner guest, and subsequent sleeping guest, and Mei threw another glance out her front window, easily viewed from the kitchen. The day had fully succumbed to nighttime outside, making it difficult to see past the few hanging lanterns adorning the entranceway, already lit and spreading a warm glow into the darkness. But be that as it may, no exceedingly furred Reindeer was making his way up to her front door, causing the bright blue Qilin to let out a light huff, before walking the few steps from kitchen to living room to better admire the meal she had prepared. 

 

And it was quite a lovely meal, if she did say so herself. Spring rolls, as they were commonly called, were a favorite of hers - and moreso if they were homemade. All the ingredients had been chopped very fine, thin strips of apples and lettuce and cucumbers and carrots, because thinner was fancier, more elegant. And the bowl of warm water (re-heated twice now) used to wet the rice paper stood at the ready on her low table, surrounded by four vibrant cushions to sit upon. With all the ingredients splayed out in such an extravagant fashion, it was almost easy to imagine herself sitting in the royal palace, head held high as a feast was prepared right in front of her face. 

 

Though, feasts were always better served with others to enjoy it with, and the thought was enough to send another huff gusting out from Mei, pink eyes glaring at her front door. Lími had only mentioned needing to speak with his...Jarl, and had not protested her instructions at all. What could be taking him so long, then? And truth be told, Mei was glad he hadn't returned immediately - his delay had given her time to get the entire meal ready, rather than become stuck in the middle of it and needing to awkwardly ask help from her guest. 

 

...But still. Empresses should not be kept waiting!

 

Which is exactly when the faintest noise came rapping at her door, causing Mei to startle upwards from where she'd been lounging on her cushion. The noise was so faint that she thought she might have imagined it, but a quick peek outside her window revealed a familiar brown shape just barely in view. Finally! "A moment!" Mei called out, retreating back to her living room, where she proceeded to simply strut about for a few seconds, as if she had still been working when the Reindeer had knocked. Couldn't answer the door too eagerly after all, as if she'd had nothing better to do while she waited. 

 

But those few seconds soon tested the ends of Mei's patience, and in no time she had made her way to the door, quickly brushing down her mane once before flinging it open. 

 

"LÍmi," Mei greeted warmly, "come in, come in! Dinner has already been prepared - though the water has gone cold," she explained, a faint touch of reproach coloring her voice as she made way for the young Reindeer to enter. Intriguingly, Lími was sporting a new cloak - different from his other one, it looked much more expansive and elegant, with intricate work that expressed some association with formal wear. And he smelled rather nice, too! Perhaps he had cleaned up after their hike up and down the mountain, just as she had. A quick washing with some herbal soaps had done for her just fine, however, whereas Lími seemed freshly groomed, scented, and fluffed. 

 

Clearly gone through some effort for a simple dinner, and whatever annoyance Mei might have felt at his extravagant delay was stymied by the Reindeer's obvious desire to make said effort. "Take a seat," Mei instructed her companion, moving to take her own seat on one of the cushions and smiling expectantly at Lími - who was alone, she just now realized. "Where is your pet dog?" 

 

 

[Bellosh]

 

Whew! It sounded like Lími had managed to arrive not so late that he had kept Mei waiting around, doing nothing but hoping for the guest from the North. Lími stood silent on his vigil by the front door as he waited for his host to finish whatever thing needed to be done; it was impossible to determine for sure with that door being shut and all. After several seconds of patience, the caribou was finally rewarded by the sight of Lián Mei welcoming him inside.

 

And my, how sweet Mei smelled to Lími’s senses. The qilin appeared bedazzling already, but apparently she found time to bathe in a tub of flowers before dinner. Well, that’s how Lími would describe this sort of thing; an expert on herbal fragrances he was not. Regardless, the young buck thought Mei’s new scent nicely complemented her. Hopefully in the mare’s eyes, Lími’s attempt at cleaning up was just as successful.

 

On an unfortunate note however, Lími learned that he indeed arrived late enough that the water had gotten cold in his absence. His first instinct would have been to apologize, but there wasn’t an ample opportunity as Mei wasted no time in bidding the caribou to the table... which looked quite off to Lími. Since when were tables built this low to the ground? And instead of chairs, cushions laid in their place. Granted, they appeared rather comfy, but it didn’t change the fact that for Lími, it was all so surreal on account of never sitting by such a short table in his life.

 

Still wondering whether this was either a personal quirk of Mei’s or a cultural attribute of the ponies of Garden Gait, Lími appeared to break out of a stupor when the mare asked about his canine companion. “Oh uhhh,” Lími inelegantly spat out, snapping his gaze away from the peculiar table; “Hammer is keeping my Jarl company while we eat. Don’t worry; she shall stay with me during my... extended stay in Garden Gait.”

Noting where Mei sat down, Lími found a suitable cushion directly opposite of her, taking a glance at the food Mei prepared. Already accustomed to eating strange Equestrian foods like “pasta” and “nachos”, the dishes laid out didn’t phase out the caribou one bit. Curious to try Mei’s cooking, Lími politely smiled; “It looks like you’ve prepared a lovely feast for us this night.....”

[Zeig]

 

Ah-hah, so the dog was away. Excellent!

 

Not that she had had anything against the furry creature, and she had been perfectly well behaved - and very grateful for her Healing Breath! - but still, Mei couldn't help but feel a bit relieved to learn that Lími's companion wouldn't be spending the night. As wonderfully as the grey dog had acted during their trek, there was simply no telling how pets behaved during the still hours of the night, whether they continuously got up to roam around the house or howled at passing lights flickering through the window.

 

Howling dogs were a terror on her beauty sleep.

 

Though from the sound of it, she would have to get used to the creature in the days to come, howls or no. That revelation in itself wasn't too bad, as it came on the end of an even greater one, causing Mei to perk up slightly as the Reindeer took his seat. Lími's Jarl was, it seemed implied, going to leave said Reindeer in Garden Gait, if Hammer would be joining her master for the duration of his stay. And perhaps it was a bit unsightly, but Mei couldn't help but feel some sense of jubilation from the implication. Even though he had vowed to remain in Garden Gait to finish their poem, a grudging presence standing over his shoulder, sneezing at ridiculous things like flowers and pollen, might have put a strain on his creativity, blocked his chi with negative energy. The fact that this Jarl would not be staying in town only constituted good things, in Mei's opinion, as now, Lími would be able to fully concentrate on their poem with little to no distractions.

 

...Except the ones she herself would give him. There were plenty more poetry-inspiring spots in Garden Gait to show off, after all!

"Thank you," the blue Qilin said graciously, puffing up a bit at the Reindeer's compliment to dinner. It had been a feat to put together. Not that any one piece was overly complex - they were mostly raw, sliced vegetables, after all - but the sheer amount of small pieces added up to a rather elegant spread of food across the low table. "It did take some time to put together, but a guest must be properly hosted, especially on their first night!" 

 

And doubly especially, when the one doing the hosting was in a particular mood for some rice paper.

 

"It's quite easy to put together, too. Er - " Mei suddenly faltered, glancing surreptitiously at the Reindeer. Ah...she'd been so eager to put together this grand feast that she hadn't stopped to consider how Lími might view it. It was not a conventional dish, by Equestrian standards, as each dinner participant was required to roll up their own rice paper with whatever ingredients they so chose. She hadn't thought anything of it at all, but now, faltering on the instructions, Mei wondered if Lími might have been expecting something more...ready to eat? 

 

"Now, take a rice paper," the blue Qilin went on courageously, and demonstrated by picking up one of the delicate, round slips, "and dip it in the water. Not too long, otherwise it will get too soft." Warning given, Mei continued by doing so with her own rice paper, dipping it briefly into the bowl of water. With just a quick dip, the rice paper became more malleable, and the Qilin eagerly splayed it out on her plate in a perfect circle. "Then you simply put in whatever you like!" Even as she spoke Mei was reaching for the red lettuce, settling it in the middle of her plate before taking some noodle and cilantro to go on top. Apples, pears, carrots and cucumbers soon followed, though she left the bell peppers and other assorted vegetables alone for now. A small bowl filled with a menacingly red sauce boasted two spoons for the both of them to use, and Mei wasted no time applying liberal amounts of sauce on top of everything before she was finally satisfied. "Carefully roll it up..." By this point, the rice paper had gotten soft and rather sticky - easy to get it stuck on itself - but Mei was an expert in this art, and with a few quick rolls and tucks, a perfectly rolled rice paper wrap was held triumphantly in her hooves, causing the Qilin to beam over the table at Lími. 

 

"Go on!" Mei instructed, taking her own first bite. Immediately the familiar taste hit all the right spots, so much so that the Qilin could only concentrate on the wonderful food and not the nagging thought in the back of her mind that she had forgotten to tell Lími something...something about the sauce, maybe...

 

[Bellosh]

 

So much of Lími's brainpower had been invested into analyzing the mystery of the low dinner table that he only just now realized the perplexing nature of how the food was arranged. Yes, all the presented food looked tasty and filling, but why was all of it (save for what looked like grains forged into round paper sheets) finely chopped and divided into dainty, stylish piles instead of thrown together into a bowl? Lími supposed there was an aesthetic sensibility into the layout, but then again, why go through such labors when the ultimate fate of food is to be simply shoveled into one’s mouth?

 

But then another, far more important question reared its head; why keep questioning Mei’s cooking choices? Whatever she had had planned, it was something special enough that the qilin wanted to share it with her guest. And Mei seemed especially proud of the results. Perhaps Lími needed to be more patient while he listened to Mei explaining how to-

 

Mei seemed to stumble in the middle of her sentence, giving Lími a strange glance. The caribou was not sure what had come over the dragon mare, but in an attempt to get her to continue, Lími encouragingly nodded in Mei’s direction. That apparently did the trick, as the qilin went right back to explaining how to eat her dish.

 

Lími obediently followed Mei’s instruction to the letter, moistening the rice paper by the right amount before selecting the ingredients. Without consciously thinking much about the choices on hoof, Lími reflexively grabbed the same stuff that Mei put onto her own roll. That included covering his food with an ungodly amount of a red-colored red sauce. So far, so good; seemed simple enough.

 

However, rolling everything into the rice paper proved to be deceptively difficult. Mei made it look triflingly easy, but just looking at her hoof movements (while trying not to glance too long at the qilin’s fire-kissed ankle tufts) wouldn’t suffice to grasp the challenges involved. Underestimating the durability of the transparent paper, Lími pressed too hard during the rolling, causing some of the ingredients. The young buck grimaced; his sloppy work a sacrilege compared to the culinary masterpiece crafted by Mei. If there was any comfort to be found, it was that the roll wouldn’t be long for this world before being consumed.

 

Deciding that his roll would disintegrate upon take one bite, Lími took several seconds to deliberate on what to do next. Figuring that he could catch the escaping ingredients if he kept the plate close to his chin, the caribou took a small hesitant bite out of the roll... and it didn’t taste all that bad! Rather flavorful actually, as his tongue came into contact with the sauce and-

OHMYGODSBURNINGHOTFIRE!!!!

 

“HOT HOT HOT!!!” screamed Lími, steam inexplicably billowing from his tongue and ears as a phantom fire burned at it; “WATER! NEED WATER!!!”. In a panic, the adolescent dropped everything in his hooves as he reached for his glass of water, splattering the rest of his spring roll in the process. Lími instinctively gulped down his drink, which proved to be a foolish action. All it did was move the chunky remains of his bite down into his stomach, enabling the rest of the caribou’s upper digestive tract to wither in agony.

Fire; there was nothing there but fire! And it would consume Lími!!! “My throat!” Lími choked out, eyes bugging out of his sockets as he struggled to breathe; “The water does NOTHING!!!”

[Zeig]

 

OH SWEET ANCESTORS WHAT EVEN -

 

The sauce, the sauce, of course, it was super spicy and she hadn't even said anything that's what she forgot to mention.

 

Mei was vaguely aware that she was shrieking alongside the Reindeer's own cries of agonized fiery pain as remnants of fruits, vegetables, and sauce ended up splattering every which direction, her own meticulously rolled up spring roll falling apart as it dashed against her plate. The Qilin could only guess at what her neighbors might be thinking as she shot to her hooves as well, wildly grabbing her own glass of water as if to force it down the young Reindeer's throat. Though that notion quickly proved pointless as Lími protested even more loudly against his own glass of water, now emptied but apparently doing nothing to soothe his senses, and she was quickly beginning to lose her head and this was not how an Empress handled a crisis!

 

Because that was what this dinner was, a complete disaster! Oooh, how had she not remembered to warn Lími about the spiciness of the sauce? It hadn't even registered - she was so accustomed to this meal and its specific tastes, and the spicy sauce, she supposed it just hadn't even occurred to her...though now, in a bit of panicked retrospect, Mei did remember thinking about it while she had actually been preparing the whole meal, pouring the sauce into the bowl. It was why she'd had that nagging feeling during her demonstration, but she had been so flustered at the idea of Lími disliking the entire concept of the dish that the sauce had completely slipped from her mind and the steam wasn't stopping.

"THE TEA, JASMINE TEA," Mei squealed, hooves already automatically reaching for the tea pot and cups present on the floor next to the table, placed there due to the overabundance of dishes and plates already taking residence on the table's surface. A hastily filled cup was shoved across the table at the Reindeer - but even though hot tea worked wonders in cooling down an enflamed tongue, the problem was getting it down enough, because scalding hot tea combined with already overheated spices provided a potent remedy but also a rather painful one. It was natural to want to take tiny, insufficient sips of a piping hot beverage, but that would be nearly useless for the sensitive Reindeer! 

 

Gah, no ice, she'd used the last of it to crisp up the lettuce! No way to cool down the water into something more tolerable. Oh, if only she had some -

 

- some sort of cooling breath -

 

"H-Hold still!" the bright blue Qilin cried out, and before the Reindeer across from her could even protest, Mei reared back her head and let loose her chilled water breath, straight into Lími's face.

 

 

[Bellosh]

 

Almost a minute into this painful ordeal, Lími no longer feared death. Rather, he feared that nothing would never come to deliver him from the torture inflicted on his inwards by the spicy hot sauce. Mei did the best she could to help, firstly by hurriedly pouring her tormented guest a cup of jasmine tea. Lími didn’t dare touch the stuff though; to ordinary eyes, a brew that billowed smoke was NOT an intuitive solution for cooling down an inflamed throat. Odyrr... the young buck was truly done for, wasn’t he?

 

In this dark hour, Mei attempted another way to save the day... or as it initially appeared to Lími, putting him out of his misery. That was first thing to automatically come across the caribou’s mind as the dragon mare craned her head upwards, and he prepared to speak in an attempt to dissuade- too late. The next thing Lími knew, his mouth was hit with a well-aimed shot of ice water, far colder than the glass he devoured earlier. The adolescent buck wasn’t concerned over how Mei could exhale both fire and water; all he cared about was how the Qilin’s trick somehow succeeded in making the phantom burning subside.

 

Of course, this victory came at great cost. Much of the table on Lími’s side suffered the effects of collateral soaking; most sadly the small cup of jasmine tea that Mei tossed to him, which billowed smoke no longer. The caribou’s head and much of his chest floof were drenched too, leaving him a sopping mess. The more that Lími’s breathing rate returned to normal, the more he perceived the sorry state of the dinner table.

 

And it was all his fault.

 

All the hard work Lián Mei had put into making dinner for the two of them... destroyed by a careless caribou ignorant of what he was doing with his food. Thanks to Lími, Mei now bore the burden of slaving away to clean the mess that he created. This night was all but ruined, and the caribou suspected that his qilin companion wanted nothing more to do with a walking catastrophe... at least, once they had fulfilled their hastily made vows from a few hours ago.

Filled with guilt, all that Lími could do was dejectedly look downward at what had once been a poorly made spring roll. “I’m... ...I’m so sorry Mei.....”

[Zeig]

 

Absent the panicked squeals and pained shouts, the sudden silence seemed almost deafening.

 

Broken only by their harsh breaths as the mayhem subsided, the silence settled around the interior of the small hut, blanketing everything within its cocoon, as Mei finally got enough control over her own head to take stock of the situation. Lími was...well, he wasn't fine, but he was recovered from his spicy ordeal well enough, no longer in danger of burning in the pits of Taurtarus. Though her attempts to cool him off had, while successful, also brought about the unthought of consequence of drenching half of the Reindeer's front, rendering his previous grooming rather obsolete. 

 

And then there was the food...

 

The blue Qilin couldn't help but stare rather blankly down at the table, where her thirty minutes of preparation or so now laid in ruins. The mist she'd breathed hadn't been detrimental at all - like a faint misting from a waterfall that chilled all the vegetables - but everything before that...she'd splashed around the water bowl in her panic, sending a good deal of said water onto the waiting rice paper. Most of which were now damp and sticking together and unfit for consumption. Splotches of sauce were settled in almost every portion of the table, falling onto vegetable slices, dissipating in the water bowl - even her tea pot hadn't been spared. And rice paper fillings were strewn about everywhere, it felt like - apples slices near her cushion, lettuce wilting on the floor, and a particularly sad looking piece of noodle hanging, inconceivably, from the edge of her counter top, like a limp, grey worm.

 

It...it wasn't too bad, right? This...she could, salvage, this...

 

"This is awful!" Mei burst out, a delayed reaction rather than a prompted response. Panic from LIMI's distress was slowly being replaced by consternation over the ruined dinner that she had spent so long putting together for her guest, and the bright blue Qilin didn't even hear the Reindeer's muttered apology over her growing shouts. "It's ruined," she bemoaned, never minding the generous amounts of filling still in tact - the rice paper was soaked, and it would be impossible to separate the pieces now, they would stick to each other and tear holes when pulled apart and what was the point of rice paper rolls without the rice paper. 

 

"And you," she suddenly exclaimed, whirling onto the easier target of the Reindeer sitting dejectedly on his cushion, "why put so much sauce if no like spicy? Can you no think of yourself?" Her words tripped over one another, the foreign language she'd spent years mastering slipping further away under the rapid fire accusations and veritable current of sentences. "Aiya, what mess, no sense of brain - " the Qilin went on, hooves flailing through the air in short, punctuated gestures - and froze, a look of disgust overtaking her features as she realized it was in her fur. 

 

A long moan drifted out between her clenched lips as Mei abruptly whirled back around towards her kitchen sink, immediately turning on the water and shoving her hooves underneath the steady stream. The red sauce dissipated from her fetlocks easily enough, especially with the addition of soap and some furious scrubbing, but would the smell linger? Ooh - she'd have to draw water from the nearby spring and lug it back to her bathtub before the night was done, because she was not going to bed with the fur on her hooves smelling like hot spices, and the thought of heaving those several buckets of water was already making her legs ache. 

 

Next time, she was serving jasmine rice and seaweed!

 

[Bellosh]

 

Well... that was that. Lími bungled up dinner big time (and it only took a single bite before everything went completely wrong), and Mei wasn't happy with his failure at all. The young buck should have known things would go wrong the moment he trusted in faulty split-second instincts instead of lengthy deliberation. How foolish he was to waste a sacred oath over a silly poem! And now, the Ancient Ones were punishing the faint-of-heart caribou for his poor judgement. To think that all of this would have been avoided if Lími had the willingness to leave Garden Gait without giving Mei the false hope that she'd ever get to hear the adolescent's poem.

 

As if Lími was actually capable of writing a poem that someone other than a caribou would be pleased with, anyway.

 

If he was correct about the displeased temperament of the divine guardians of the Viking Caribou, then Lími still had a chance to just walk away from it all; to leave Mei, tell Jarl Sigrun a white lie about how it turned out his host was actually very frightened of caribou once she learned the truth, and then get the heck out of Garden Gait... and never come back. Wounds always healed with time; by the time the buck returned to Whitescar, he'd be so preoccupied with fretting over figuring out how to pass the Will Test that tonight's blunders with the qilin mare would completely fade from memory.

 

Besides, why would Lián Mei want anything more to do with a catastrophe-causing caribou after tonight's events?

 

But alas, there was that nagging voice inside Lími's head telling him that he couldn't run away now, and leave Mei to her misery as she cleaned up Lími's mess. If nothing else, it would be dishonorable to renege on a vow without first being released from it. At least if it was indeed true that the dragon mare wanted Lími out her hair forever, the young buck shouldn't have to live with the added shame of cowardice.

 

With immense trepidation, Lími trotted over to his host, who was exerting great effort to wash herself. "Y-y-you're right," the caribou verbally tripped over himself to avoid antagonizing Mei further; "I- errr, I should have been... more cautious when trying... well, t-the sauce. Never before... have I dreamed that food could... b-burn one's insides!"

Lími needed a moment to take a deep breath before continuing; "If there is anything... anything I can do to redeem myself... I will do it. If you would rather be rid of me," he looked down on the floor; "...Then all... all I ask is that you release me from my oath... and I shall trouble you no more..." Even before the forlorn buck had completed his sentence, he was already reflexively turning his body towards the way out.....

[Zeig]

 

Was it all out? She had to be sure, because otherwise it would set into her fur and she would smell like spices for days.

 

Though halfway through her vigorous rinsing of fur and tuft, a quiet and mournful voice broke her concentration. Perhaps it was the morose tone in the Reindeer's voice, or the halted words that seemed to trip over themselves in penitence, but Mei found her repeated motions slowing down as she tuned one ear onto the voice behind her, though she deigned to turn around. LIMI was, despite his earlier blunders, taking responsibility for the mess he'd made of her living room and beautifully crafted dinner - and even more appropriately, offering reassurances to make up for the incident. 

 

And also attempting to sneak out the door, if the sounds of shuffling were any indication, and that simply would not do. 

 

"Oh, do sit down," the vivid blue Qilin commanded with an explosive sigh, throwing the towel she'd been using to carefully wipe off her hooves into the sink, "or better yet, chop these up for me." Mei was already rummaging around in her modest refrigerator, pulling out a bundle of green onions along with some cilantro. More sounds followed, indicating the Reindeer complying with her instructions, and despite herself, Mei couldn't help the slight smile the rose across her face as she turned to face him proper. 

 

A regular gentlecolt, he was...even if he liked to spill sauce all over the place. 

 

The next thirty minutes or so provided nothing more than sincere and precise actions, however, the two of them falling into a silence that was continually broken by her instructions to the Reindeer. As a last minute resort, she had some noodles laying around, and leftover broth that would a rather splendid pho. All that was really required of them was the cooking of said noodles and the cutting of a couple of vegetables, the latter of which was easily handled by LIMI. In short order, Mei was instructing him to carry the bowls of pho back to the table, now cleared of the disaster from earlier. 

 

Mostly cleared, at any rate. The stain along the corner of the table would need some extra scrubbing to get out.

 

"Read it to me," Mei said succinctly as they sat back down, the first words she had spoken that hadn't involved cooking. Whether or not LIMI was confused at the sudden no sequitur, she didn't notice, purposefully tilting her head upwards as she shifted her chopsticks around a bit. "After you've completed our poem, you must recite it to me like a proper bard. In the middle of the fields!" she extrapolated, struck by sudden inspiration. "Then I shall forgive you." Because while listening to a poem about herself being recited in her home would be all well and good, that would be nothing compared to an elegant delivery give to her in the midst of blossoming flowers. 

 

Flowers that certain Reindeer could then, perhaps, reach for, and make comparisons between their beauty and...ahem. Certain Qilins, at that. Yes, she wouldn't mind that at all.

 

And if the slowly blossoming smile across the dinner table told her anything (aside from a sudden worry against spices as a curl of heat bloomed in her belly to rush towards her cheeks), neither would he.

 

[[ END ]]