Username: cyberdragon725
Name: Lati & Kara
Gender for Breeding: Female
It started out as an ordinary day for Latikara. The viscet of the duo looked out among the street, waiting for one of her best customers and closest friends to arrive. Kara shifted anxiously behind her, the fly trap that served as her tail opening and closing it's mouth, eagerly taking in the fresh air of the greenhouse. Lati smiled softly at the tail but gasped with joy when she saw the dog like cet running towards her door. Pushing open the greenhouse entrance, Molly rushed inside. "Lati! You won't believe it! This could be our big break!" The usually quiet cet was remarkably loud as she embraced her, causing Lati to laugh with amusement. "Calm down Molly, what's got you all wound up?" Molly looked towards her friend with an excited grin. Lati swore she could see the stars in her eyes, just as she see's in Tabitha's whenever the rock star and her family head on stage. Before Molly spoke another word, she handed a flier to her friend... or attempted to anyway.
Feeling neglected, Kara snaps up the paper, holding it tightly in it's grip. "Hey! Give that back!" Lati cried, trying but failing to reach the fly trap and retrieve the stolen flier, causing Molly to simply laugh at her friend's predicament. With laughter in her voice, Molly approached the tail. "I'm sorry, Kara. I forgot to say hi. It's lovely to see you again." Content with being acknowledged, the tail returned the paper to molly's waiting hand where she then gave it to Lati. On the front were the words, 'Floral Fanatics, A Group for The Green Thumbed.' Eyes Widening, Lati read over it with growing excitement. When she reached the bottom of the page, she looked to Molly with glee. "This is perfect!" she exclaimed, pulling the paper into a hug and bouncing on her feet. "Not only could a club like this help us get more people interested in shopping from your greenhouse, but it could allow me to get more plants and flowers for my shop, not to mention how much fun it's going to be. We have to do this, Lati!" Molly exclaimed.
Nodding quickly, She agreed with Molly. "We'll definitely have to go all out though. We need to make a great impression on everyone else. What kind of garden should we make? Oooh, We could do a hydroponics system, or maybe a raised garden!" Molly nodded with excitement. "What about those upwards gardens! We live near the city something like that would definitely be helpful." Grinning Lati spoke, "Why not both?" Molly grinned similarly, nodding with agreement and the two began to plot out their upwards hydroponic garden.
Of course, the two knew it wasn't going to be easy. Hydroponics were a relatively new topic in the science industry, where it had only just been developed and put into effect. Using only water, a gardener could add the nutrients needed for a specific plant, allowing it to grow without soil and living only in the water mixture running through the system. While a hydroponic garden needed absolutely no soil, the water needed to be able to flow through a system and continually move so as to not rot the roots of the plant. Keeping this in mind, the two sisters developed their own system where the water would run from a large holding tank held at the bottom of the wall and would cycle through the various tubes to reach each level of plants in the upwards garden. To begin testing their system, the pair decided to plant some beans, lima beans to be specific, as they were one of the larger and faster growing of plants. With a mess of tubes and troughs, they tried to connect the water system to the sprouts without making the water flow too fast. The first time they ran water to the small bean plants they got from the nursery, the nutrient pockets holding the needed feed for them burst, causing the water to be blocked off. When they returned to the garden at the end of the day, the ground was covered in mush and water was pouring from the sides of the hydroponics system. Devastated, the two friends rushed to try to fix their system.
When they finally got the water to stop flowing and turned off the pumps which pushed out the water, the two looked upon their raised garden with horror. All the little sprouts had been absolutely flooded! The roots were shredded, leaves were torn because the supports of the plants had been torn down leaving them to the mercy of the overflow. Tears pricked at molly's eyes as Lati felt rage fill inside of her. Turning on her friend, she shouted, "I thought you said it was working! The system was fine the last time I checked it and you were the last one to add the nutrients. This is all your fault!" Molly flinched at her yells as tears began to pool from the florists' eyes. Hurt filled Molly's heart as her friend turned all of her anger towards the dog-like cet.
"I-I only w-wanted us to spend time t-together. We can f-fix it!" Molly tried to reassure Lati but she would not calm down.
Sensing the rising fury in the viscet, Kara latched itself onto a nearby table, hoping to keep Lati from doing something she would later regret. "Together?! Yeah right! You did this to get more plants for your shop! If you really wanted to do something together, you should've been more careful not to ruin everything!" Lati snapped as she took step towards Molly causing her to step back in fear. At the harsh words, Molly let out a sob, pushing through the door and slamming it closed as Lati watched with contempt.
"Latiiii- That was meaaannn." Kara spoke as it let go of the table it had gripped. Lati snarled at the tail.
"She deserved it. We've been working out butts off for months to build the best garden around! We were going to be amazing! And she just ruined it!" Snapping, she slammed her hand on the shelves causing even more plants to fall into the soggy mess of the ground.
"But Latiiiii- Molly just wanted to have some funn. Lighten upppp-."
Lati scowled, "That was a stupid way to have fun. She shouldn't have even bothered, I should've known it would end up like this. It always does."
"With an attitude like that, you bet it." A sudden voice from behind caused the trap tail to snicker and the viscet to freeze in fear. Big sister had come. As Tabitha stepped into the greenhouse with Cadence following behind her, the sight was certainly intimidating and by the looks on their faces, Lati knew they weren't happy. "You have five seconds to explain why my little sister just ran out of here with tears in her eyes, or else you'll find out just how protective we big sisters can be."
Scrambling to find an answer to calm Tabitha, Lati buried her head in her hands with a sense of failure. "I really messed up, didn't I..." Cadence snorted.
"A little late to be figuring that out." Putting a calming hand on Tabitha's shoulder, Cadence met the eyes of her mate and the two seemed to have a silent conversation before Tabitha seemed to give in. Sighing, she turned back to the door. "I'll go keep an eye on the kiddos. You have ten minutes, Cadence."
The fox tail grinned at her mate, nodding in both acknowledgment and an effort to calm the other one. Situating herself on the ground beside Lati, she gave a calm smile. "Now why don't you tell me everything that happened..."
As Lati explained everything, Cadence nodded in understanding. "Lati, awnser me this. Why were you growing this garden? Think about it." Lati shook her head in confusion. It was obvious, wasn't it? They wanted to be in the gardening club. When she told this to Cadence, the elder cet smiled. "Why did you want to join the gardening club? Surely there was a reason behind you and Molly's decision." Lati was quick to respond, "That's easy. We wanted to make some new friends who shared similar interests."
Cadence was nodding slowly, seeming to wait for something to click in Lati's mind. Trying to help her with her train of thought, Cadence said, "But what about the friends you already have? Are you willing to tear apart your friendships for a little club who may or may not be what you're looking for?" Jumping to the defensive, Lati growled, "I'm not..." but was quickly cut off by Cadence. "You are. You've made a mistake and you know it." Casually leaning back, Cadence tilted her head with curiosity. "Now the real question is, how will you fix it?"
"I don't know, ok? I messed up but I can't fix it." Gesturing around her with frustration, she felt her voice crack. "Our hydroponics system is ruined and there's not enough time to fix it before the seasons change. The heating system is completely shot too so there's no way, even if I did somehow manage to get some plants sprouting, to keep it warm enough in here so they could survive the winter and I highly doubt Molly will help after all that I said to her."
Cadence was thoughtful when Kara interrupted. "Why don't we allll have some fun?" Rolling her eyes, Lati batted the tail away with irritation. "Seriously, Kara? They don't know how to grow a garden and there's not enough time to try and teach them."
While Kara looked saddened, Cadence's eyes had widened with realization. "I may not be able to garden, but I do know my way around technology. Meanwhile, Tabby and the kiddo's spent a lot of time with uncle charlie on the farm. Surely they can help out. Of course, it sure as heck won't be whatever crazy system you two were trying to build in here." Cadence smiled widely. "Nothing wrong with a good old-fashioned garden, after all. And I'm sure Uncle has some sprouts or flowers out by his farm. At least wildflowers if not anything else."
Lati's eyes had widened with amazement as Cadence seemed to be figuring out how she could fix the garden. She froze when the other females eyes met hers. "Of course, that leaves you to the actual gardening portion as well as finding some way to get Molly back here. Think you can do that?" She flushed with embarrassment and the teasing tone in Cadence's voice.
"Of course I can. Who do you think I am?" moving quickly to defend herself, Lati crossed her arms and pouted.
"Then get to work," Cadence said with a snort. Stepping outside to get her toolbox, Cadence left Lati in the ruined greenhouse by herself. She felt a familiar sense of helplessness fill her, fueling the rising frustration and anger within her again. The sound of the door opening again drew her attention and she moved to scowl at whoever entered. Her look softened at the two visclings that rushed over to her, laughing with excitement. "Auntie Lati, we're here to save your butt!" Zana exclaimed, embracing the other cet as Eli watched on with amusement at his sister.
The young base player looked around the greenhouse with a whistle, taking in the damage. "Looks like your green-house is a little... washed up." Zana groaned at her brothers pun and Cadence practically cackled as she and Tabitha stepped back inside.
Heading past the flooded heating system, the two nodded to each other before Cadence set down her tools and began to work on pulling out the ruined parts. Tabitha, much calmer than before, turned to Lati. "Zana and I will take the left side of the greenhouse. You and Eli can take the right. We need to clean up as much of the hosing and plants as possible until the old man gets here with some soil and some plants." Though her pelt bristled a bit at the command Lati relented, turning to the viscling who still sat there with a grin. "What'cha waiting for, Lati? Pick up those roots and get to work."
She heard Karas snicker as she groaned. Deciding this had to be part of Tabitha's punishment, she set up to work alongside Elijah, carrying busted hoses and bent metal towards the front of the greenhouse. The friends continued to work well into the day until, as Zana carried the last hose to the front, a loud truck horn brought their attention to outside. With wide eyes, Zana and Eli looked at each other before rushing to the door with an excited shout, "Grandpa!"
As Charlie pulled down the tailgate to his old beat-up truck, he grinned at the kids as they quickly jumped into his embrace. "Someone call for some plants?"
With the added help of Charlie, the three had finally managed to fix up the greenhouse. Small trees, flowers and plants lined the walls with a stone walkway coursing through the middle. When Lati set up the layout, Charlie looked to her with curiosity. "you know, with this setup, there ain't a way for you to sell any of those plants. At least not until they get big enough to cut."
Lati just grinned. "That's the plan."
By noon the next day, everything had finally been finished. The time had come for Lati to find Molly and bring her to the garden. Needless to say, Lati was scared. Stepping up to the florist's shop, she frowned at the closed sign on the door. Feeling grateful Molly had given her a key, she quickly unlocked the front and stepped into the dark shop. Walking past the counter, she moved into the kitchen where the young florist sat with a tray of cookies and her legs pulled up to the table. "What'ya want. leave me alone." Molly mumbled around her cookie.
Despite the feeling of guilt in her chest, Lati couldn't help but smile with a bit of amusement. Molly always had her country accent come back when she was upset and the added cookies made her friend look like a pouting child. Sighing as she shook the thought from her head, Lati stepped forward took Molly's cookies from her. Eyes widening as the cookies were taken, Molly tried to reach out and grab them but frowned when she was too slow. Instead, she glared at the trap tail and cet, flinching when Lati offered her a hand. "Come on, Molly. I've got a surprise for you." Lati's words were soft, far different from the harsh words she had used earlier and with Kara eagerly seeming to nod behind her, Molly found herself giving in.
Taking lati's hand, the trap tail cet pulled her from her chair, pulling her towards and out the front door. Molly seemed nervous but followed anyway. After all, this was far better than sitting inside and moping. Soon Molly began to recognize their destination and felt apprehension bubble up inside of her. "L-lati... what"
With a wide grin, Lati cut her off. "shhh, it's a surprise. You'll see when we get there."
Leading her to the door, Lati pushed her gently inside where Molly
gasped in shock. "Surprise!" Molly looked upon her family, all pitching in to help her and her friend. As her face split into a grin, she launched herself at Lati with a laugh.
"You fixed it! Oh, it so gorgeous!" She exclaimed and Lati smiled as her ears fell back. "L-look Molly. It wasn't fair of me to yell at you like that. It wasn't your fault and I should never have said those things to you. Can you..." She looked into Molly's eyes with a hint of desperation. "Can you ever forgive me?"
Molly wiped the tears from her eyes with a soft laugh. "You big goof. I already have."
Smiling at their embrace, Tabitha pulled Cadence close and Charlie ruffled the heads of the to visclings beside him before pushing them towards the exits. The couple followed behind, allowing the two friends the time to admire the garden.
When the time comes for the garden club to visit, they were amazed. Stepping into the garden, they found an environment that had flourished, fertilized by the love of a family and the spirit of friendship. Following the soft stone path, they reached the midway point where a small bench rested among some small bushes and trees. Admiring the bench, one of them pointed out a small saying engraved on the wood.
'Plant a Seed of Friendship and Watch as it Grows,
Water with Sympathy and Reap What you Sow'
- latikara.jpg (176.5 KiB) Viewed 219 times
Molly; Closest friend of Lati and owner of a nearby florists shop, Molly and Lati became fast friends when Molly moved to the city. Most of the supplies for her shop come from the fly trap tails greenhouse.
Tabitha and Cadence; Molly's sister and sister in law, not only are these two members of one of Lati's favorite bands, they are also the ones always willing to give Lati the truth, no matter how brutal or honest they need to be. Still, these two certainly know how to throw a party and still get their work done.
Zana and Elijah; The adopted children of Tabitha and Cadence, Zana and Elijah love to spend time with Aunt Lati. The two love to tease Lati and Eli absolutely adores Kara as the trap tail is one of the few who can fully appreciate his puns.
Charlie; An old farmer, Charlie is not only Molly's adopted father, though he told her to call him uncle. Charlie is a source of strength and financially has become one of Lati's largest sponsors. He's always willing to give a bit of advice on what to grow and when to grow it and he's more than willing to go out of his way for a friend, something Lati appreciates more than anything.
All viscets owned by me aside from Latikara
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