There was a scent to the air as Mynx stepped out of the section of the caves they slept in. Could cool crispness really be described as a scent? She was unsure, it was more of feeling she got in her nose, but it was good enough to count as a scent for her. Mayhem and their newest companion Maya would be waking up soon-ish. As she stretched her wings spreading wide, hooves planted firmly in the ground, she took in the gardens before her. The seeds for most of them that needed to be collected were already done, some would need to be ripped from the ground and turned into mulch or a select few would need to be carefully dug up and moved in side the caves that didn’t hold Mayhem’s prized mushroom.
As far as she was aware they had no clients coming today, which meant she should have a bit longer than normal before Mayhem awoke and then his grumbling would wake up Maya. Beginning her trek through the sprawling garden of poisonous plants, she kept a keen eye out for any plants that might need extra care or watering. While most who saw this place avoided it with a wide berth. Those who needed what Mayhem held domain over knew how precious theses seemingly innocent but deadly plants could be. She had no idea exactly how old Mayhem was, the stallion refused to answer many things about himself. But none the less she was so grateful she had.. well honestly she’d forced her way into being Mayhem’s apprentice. The grumpy old stallion hadn’t wanted any one’s help, most of the time he didn’t seem to want any one else around at all. But as she’d gotten to know not just his skills, and deep knowledge of these deadly plants, but also the stallion himself. She had found something she had been missing, a deep connection with another. There love was not perhaps the sweeping love stories some soquili had but it was right for them. Two lost Rosary peas finding the right pod together.
Lifting the bucket they used to water the plants with her mouth, she turned heading towards the little pond that was nearby Mayhem’s home. The feel of something tickling her lip made her stop and set the bucket down. Looking closer she spotted the strand of deep purple hair wrapped around the bucket’s handle. Shaking her head she did her best to nose the hair down the handle so it was more off the the side. The sight of it made her smile, it belonged to the newest member of their … group? Whatever they were, Maya. The girl had endless energy and always seemed to be so excited about everything.
Picking the bucket up again, her mind wandered as her body trotted the path it new so well. Neither she nor Mayhem were really sure how Maya had found them, Maya claimed she followed the scent of mushroom, like some sort of little truffle pig. Mayhem didn’t seem to believe her, Mynx herself was unsure. It seemed plausible, just a bit far fetched at the same time. At first Mayhem had refused to even interact with Maya, completely ignoring the young mare. But just has Mynx had done, Maya had refused to give up. And slowly Mayhem’s will had been worn down,
It had amazed Mynx the first time Mayhem had allowed Maya into the mushroom caves. She could easily admit she had been a bit jealous but more so she had simply been amazed, Maya loved mushrooms just as much as Mayhem did. She herself was learning to like them but it was still a growing thing. But with Maya, Mayhem had found some one who shared his special interest almost as deeply as he did. In some aspects Mynx would have said Maya cared about mushroom even more than Mayhem did. Not that she’d admit that out loud, Mayhem so easily shut down when he though he, his plants, or his mushrooms were being judged. Maya had picked up on this fact almost instantly and for that Mynx would be forever grateful. When she and Maya were alone, some times the younger mare would admit to not caring so much about some of the mushroom kinds Mayhem grew. But when she was with Mayhem she hung off every word he said about every mushroom. It brought out a side of Mayhem that rarely got to see the light of day. The side of the old stallion, that was free to go on endlessly about his mushroom babies.
At the edge of the pond she lowered the bucket, allowing it to slowly sink under the surface of the water and fill up with water. Making sure the handle stayed above the water surface so she did not lose it. Mynx lifted her head, eyes close she tossed her mane into that air just now gaining the crispness that came with cool fall weather. “Thank you” she whispered softly, she did not know who she was thanking but she did know why. To whatever was listening she thanked it for bringing her to Mayhem, and Maya to her and Mayhem. She thanked it for allowing her to find her place, a family of her own. Looking down at her reflection in the water, she wondered truly deep down in her heart would she be this happy if she had not met Mayhem, if Maya had not forced her way into their lives? Peering at her own face she knew the answer instantly, no she would not have been. This was simply were she was meant to be in life. Anything else would have been a poor imitation of the happiness she felt here. The face staring back at her from the surface of the water told her so.
Speaking of family, she could hear her half brother, Marek yelling for her as he neared Mayhem’s lands. Grabbing the bucket, she smiled widely as she raced towards where her brother was coming from. Another person she’d be forever grateful for. If Marek had not told her about then introduced her to the angeni he’d met growing wild poisonous plants out in the depths of the woods, she may have been stuck forever searching for her life’s calling, Laughing she slammed into her brother’s side hoping to shut him up before he woke up the two soquili who had taken up residence in her heart.
WC; 1083
