[Open] Keeper Of The Flock

[stitch_witch]

WHO: Lark, Open
WHERE: The Livestock Nursery
WHAT: Caring for the Glownies
WHEN: March 7th
WARNINGS: N/A

She had seen the news this morning, when she had gone into her communicator to send a message to invite a friend to join her at a picnic and to plan when to shear the sheep. A name, and the friend is represented, gone.

It had been a sad thing, but there would be time to be sad later. Instead Lark knew there were things to be done, and so she had summoned her strength, put on the new green robe she had recently finished, and moved to gather up her things. Time had been taken to go to the greenhouse and gather bundles of fresh mint, trimmed both from the sort she liked for tea, and also the sort the glownies liked.

Then she had gone to the structure where the animals were kept. A brief time was spent gathering tools to help care for the glownies, to gather their bundles of dried food, to get bags to fill with loose wool that might seek her out.

Only then did she step into the fields, whistling to send Little Bear out. They'd been working on this, and the wolf-hound did as he was supposed to, racing off to try and get behind the glownies to herd them to her. He wasn't great at it yet, but with time...

"Hello my sweet ones. It seems I am no responsible for you until we can find another who would love to care for you."

Comments

[newmemorywhodis]

It was the whistle that had attracted Link's attention. Naturally he was curious about who was whistling - and to what. Turns out that both were familiar, as he soon recognised Lark and Little Bear when he came to the edge of the fields.

The glownies were new and unfamiliar, but very curious. Fluffy like a sheep, but shaped like a small horse? Definitely something that piqued Link's interest.

"Can you ride them?" he asks, as he sidles up next to Lark. He eyes one of the nearby glownies. If he comes up behind one slowly...

[stitch_witch]

Ah, there he is again, and so soft on his feet, very good at sneaking it seems. Lark smiled and started to spread the mint in her supplies out over the grass, which encouraged the little glownies to rush even more eagerly forward.

"I would think not, except for perhaps Quintet or Salem, or little Omega. They are very small, too small to serve as a proper ride I would think. And they get shy over such things I should think, as they are quite shy already."

[newmemorywhodis]

"...Oh." And now that he's closer, and can look at them properly, Link can see that she's right - much to his disappointment.

He misses horses.

"They're fluffy," he observes. At least they still have that going for them.

[stitch_witch]

"Indeed," she agrees with a nod. And that was part of the value of them.

"The woolen things I made for you? They were made of the wool of these glownies. They are such lovely creatures for it. And less hard headed and rude than actual sheep can get."

[newmemorywhodis]

"Useful," Link observes. And he has to admit - the clothes Lark made for him are very nice. Soft, and comfortable.

He reaches out a hand to one of the glownies. He can't ride them, but will they let him touch their woolly coats?

[stitch_witch]

She would be glad to hear that they were good.

"They're very friendly," Lark said, but the glownies are still shying away a little. After a moment of consideration she fetches out more mint and holds it out to him. "Offer them this, palm out flat. When they come to nibble, then you can pet them."

[newmemorywhodis]

Mint! Link recognises the plant - he’s one of the ones he uses sometimes, for cooking. He’ll have to try and find some himself.

For now, though, the mint is offered to the glownies, palm open and flat as instructed. He crouches down, so he’s more on their level, and waits.

[stitch_witch]

"They do so like this stuff," she says with a smile as one of the glownies came closer. Soon it was nibbling of the offered mint, close enough to touch.

[newmemorywhodis]

"Mint's nice." Makes sense that animals would like it too, really.

Link lets the glownie nibble for a moment, before reaching out to stroke the side of its neck. It's a spot he knows horses often like; perhaps it's the same in glownies.

[stitch_witch]

"There's a whole mess of it in the greenhouse. It was this that brought them here," she says with a smile.

As for the glownie, it allows the petting, even seeming to enjoy it so long as mint is there.

[newmemorywhodis]

Link looks over towards the greenhouse. Immediately decides that he's going to have to collect some.

And then, of course, there's also that datapoint Link mentioned...

"The agricultural datapoint is in there?" he says. And although he's distracted, he doesn't stop petting the glownie - or holding out the mint.

[stitch_witch]

"Yes, it is," she says as she reaches out to scratch the glownie's neck as well. Which is just as good because there's almost no mint left with how quickly the glownie had munched on it.

[newmemorywhodis]

Link looks at the glasshouse building. He could go get that datapoint.

He could go get it right now.

So the glownie is given one final pat, his remaining mint is pressed back into Lark's hands, and Link just...runs off towards the glasshouse.

Some time later, he emerges having collected not only the datapoint, but a sack full of various foods. Including one in particular.

"I have more mint," he declares, after running right back towards Lark and the glownies. As if he hadn't just disappeared on her without a word earlier.

[fatedsacrifice]

Noctis had gone fishing earlier in the day and once he'd cleaned up, he thought he might just see what he could find. But soon enough he heard Little Bear and went moving in that direction.

There he saw Lark in her green robe and thought it was kinda pretty and Spring-ish. It was a colour he himself wouldn't wear but it looked nice on her. He stood for a few moments watching Lark work with whatever she was doing until he made enough noise as to not startle her.

"Hey, need a hand?"

[stitch_witch]

Ah, the sound of someone there. Lark turned her attention to the voice and she offered a fond smile.

"Yes, Noctis, I would appreciate that. I fear these sweet ones will be more my responsibility now than they had been."

[fatedsacrifice]

He knelt down to see if the wolf would come over to him, but he looked up at Lark half concerned. "So why do they need more tending? Did something happen?"

[stitch_witch]

Of course Little Bear would come over. He's just such a sweet dog, even if being a wolf hound made him look big and intimidating.

"Shiro is gone. He did must of their care before."

[fatedsacrifice]

Noctis smiled at the wolf and scratched him lightly. "Hey boy." But Lark's voice made him stop for a moment and he nodded before resuming. "So you're not too busy for it or anything?"

[stitch_witch]

The hound's tongue lolled out as he panted, clearly delighted from the attention.

"I'm quite busy, but there is nothing to be done for it. Someone must care for them.'

[fatedsacrifice]

Noctis continued to pet the dog and smiled at the fluff ball. But at the mage he had to ask. "Every animal herd here needs a keeper?"

And as he asked that, he didn't know if he and Gladio would have time with hunting and fishing, but he was considering it.

[stitch_witch]

"These ones do," she says, as they needed fed and watered, and this place does not provide it on its own. Perhaps if there were drones to mind them it would work, but she doubted it would come.

[fatedsacrifice]

Noctis sighed. "How often do they need fed or looked after?" He was genuinely curious and trying to see if he and Gladio could help out.

[stitch_witch]

"Fed? Daily of course. To supplement the grazing."

She doesn't know as much about tending to animals as others might, but she knows that much. "The water needs looked to twice a day in the winter."

[fatedsacrifice]

"Right." Noctis replied, nodding his head.

He continued to dote on the hound with pets, but had to ask. "So..do you want some help with that?"

Gladio might kill him.

[stitch_witch]

"Yes," Lark answered easily. "From those who might enjoy to do so. They are sweet creatures after all, and like attention."

And glow a pleasant shade. Is that a plus?