[colour=deepskyblue][centre][h1]The Princes of Fragrance[/h1]
[h2]Chapter 2: Desert Misadventures[/h2][/centre][/colour]
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Thankfully for the duo, King Safron’s threat of casting them into the Sun Wastes was only really true if one were to follow the canyon mouth northward, which would lead you to the Bone-Ridden Pass and, subsequently, to months, maybe even years, in endless, waterless deserts which only salt crabs could hope to survive. This was known to both Cinna and Gale, so they had chosen the less threatening route and headed due east, where the vegetation was deceptively scarce to start off with, but would slowly grow denser and denser as the moist southern gusts brought rain and relief to the island’s southern half. While water and food were issues in the beginning, the jungle was quick to offer them both in the form of fruits and dewy leaves. After days of travel, they eventually reached their first destination.

The Fennel Glen was as promised, a glen filled with fennel plants circled by mighty trees easily hundreds of years old. Flitterlings clouded the canopies while Thumblings worked on the ground and in the stumps that were hollowed out into homes. Gale had left Cinna alone with the only night elf resident of the glen, a young woman named Butter. The two had found a spot by a surprisingly regular sized stone well, their backs pressed against the cool stones -- with the princling soaking in the surroundings and the otherwise disinterested Butter toying with a stick she had found lying nearby. 

“So, remind me again - why do you live with these, these…” Cinna, sweaty and just barely rehydrated after days of walking, struggled to find a good synonym for vermin. “... Pests anyway?”

Butter looked up from where she was digging her twig into the dirt. Her wide eyes narrowed and she frowned, “Pests?”

“Isn’t that what they are? If we see any, they’re usually pilfering through our biscuit crates or, or stealing the shroomer’s harvest!” He made hard eyes at a bypassing thumbling farmer. “... I call such things ‘pests’.”

Butter eye'd the same Thumbling and sat up a bit more straight before whispering harshly, "That's my Dad; could you not be such a prick? It's embarassing sitting with you enough as it is."

“Oh, I’m sorry. I’ve been taught to call an adze for an adze, so that’s what I do. Forgive me if I’m a being a bit of a ‘prick’, but I just lost my heritage, family and home, so leave me alone. It’s not like I -want- to be here, either.” The boy slid down the rugged well wall until only his head was propped up against it, the rest of his body resting spitefully on the dry, earthy ground. 

Butter took the opportunity to prod him with the stick, "Then why are you here?"

Cinna’s cheeks flushed a dark purple and he rolled over to face away from Butter. “W-well, because I have nowhere else to go! This is just the lesser evil compared to the Bone-Ridden Pass or the Sun Wastes…” He waved his hand clumsily after the stick poking at his back. “Also, stop that!”

"Are you going to stop being a prick?" Butter said in a rather indignant tone, the stick poking into Cinna's shoulder.

“Owowowowow, stop it!” He twisted back over to face her and tried to snatch the stick from her hands but she quickly held it out of his reach and tilted up her chin, waiting. “Tch… Fine, if it stops you being so annoying.” He rolled back over, propping his head up on a fist instead.

"Say the whole thing," She held the stick menacingly. 

"Cinna," Gale's voice called out. The Thumblings was walking up to the pair, a rather portly flitterling by her side.

“Wha-what?” replied Cinna, arms held high to block an incoming strike. 

"Jasper here has a job for us." Gale said with a glance towards the Flitterling. Jasper rolled his eyes and mouthed something. 

Cinna dug a pinky into both his large ears. “Sorry, what was that? Did you say something?”

“I said Jasper has a job,” Gale reiterated, “We do it and you can stay in the glen, isn’t that great?” It was Butter’s turn to roll her eyes.

“Yes, you, you said something like that… What sort of job is it?”

“We just got to pick up something,” Gale said excitedly, her voice hushing just a little as she continued, “Back in the desert we just crossed.” 

Cinna blinked. “You know those’re Sun Wastes, right? Nobody - and I do mean nobody - survive the Sun Wastes.”

Jasper seemed about to say something before Gale spoke up, "Pbbt, none but the best." Butter seemed to scoff at 'best' but Gale continued, "...Us. It'll be real quick and simple."

“What kind of job -is- this? There’s nothing out there but snakes, buffalo and those copper mines my father always keep sending guards to…”

"We are just picking something up," Gale reiterated, "Very simple. Remember hands?"

“Of course, I--!” The young prince growled. “And I take it -I- don’t get to know what this ‘something’ is, do I?”

“I’ll tell you later,” Gale promised behind a viper’s grin, “The details aren’t that important.”

“Speaking of details,” Jasper finally spoke, “I want you to take Butter.”

“What!?” Gale and Butter said at the same time.

“Consider it buyers insurance,” Jasper folded his hands behind his back, “No negotiations... Gale.”

“Wait, we’re bringing her?” Cinna sneered. “Why?”

“Yeah!? Why!?” Butter all but whined. 

Jasper just gave the two a hard look, “I’m not taking questions from a couple of blueberries.” With that he plucked a pipe between his lips and nodded at Gale, “Get to it.”

“Couple of--!” The prince breathed in sharply. He lifted a tight fist, holding it quiveringly as his expression twisted and turned. He eventually lowered his fist again upon seeing the rest of the glen turning to stare. Jasper shook his head and began to walk away, his useless wings twitching as he left.

“It’s not worth the debate,” Gale patted his ankle, “Let’s just do this; in and out, then the world is our oyster. You ever seen an oyster?”

“You mean those shellfish that the Akua usually sell?”

“Yeah sure, kid,” Gale smiled and tapped her foot on the mossy carpet below, “Give a lady a lift?” The former prince’s sneer intensified and he reluctantly lowered an open palm to the ground. Gale hopped on, and by time Cinna looked back up, all he saw was Butter’s scowling face.

“I’m impressed Cinna,” Gale settled on the former prince’s shoulder, “You have a knack for making friends, don’t you?” The prince didn’t respond beyond a low growl. 

“Let’s just make this quick,” Butter turned away.

[hider=Sumsum]
Gale and Cinna reach Fennel Glen, stay there for a while and Cinna meets Butter, a nelf raised by thumblings. They hang out with shared contempt for one another before Gale returns and says they have a job to do. Tbc in the next Princes of Fragrance: Kai.
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