[lucas tazmily]

username -- Pufferheart
buttermilk w/ link -- Beth
day -- two
choice -- left
prompt (200 words min.) --

Beth looked out at her three choices. It had only been a few minutes, but she was already at another three way split.

She knew she definitely wouldn't be going the way that went right. That was where Betsy was heading. Beth was determined not to follow her the whole way. It also looked like the Buttermilks over there were sharing stories. Beth definitely didn’t want to do that.

The straight way was covered in garbage and trash. It looked really nasty to Beth. The Buttermilks heading down that direction seemed to be picking up the trash. A chore on a day she was supposed to be having fun? No thank you. Beth crossed the straight direction off her list.

Her stomach rumbled. Hungry already? she thought. I even made sure to eat before entering the maze!

Beth had high hopes for the left direction. She definitely didn’t want it to be as bad as the other two.

Her hopes were rewarded. The left direction was covered in bright, fresh corn growing off the sides. It looked absolutely delicious. Beth walked over to the first stalk and started to munch on it.

As she was snacking, Beth thought about her favorite food, strawberries. They were so delicious even better than this corn. I’ll have to remember to buy some before I leave the farmer’s market, she thought.

Beth finished her snack and headed back on her way.

[237 words]

[Black.Wings]

username -- Black.Wings
buttermilk w/ link -- Ghostly
day -- 2
choice -- Right
prompt (200 words min.) - 214 Total

It was Betsy! Ghostly ran up to her and lightly bumped into her. "Howdy there chicky!" Ghostly smiled and nodded a greeting to her. "So, are you liking the maze so far?" "Yeah! Sadly I saw a bunch of litter on that other path. Some cows just have no respect for others' hard work." Betsy said nothing but appeared to have a change in mood. She seemed almost sad now. "But hey, no worries I saw some others cleaning it up. So, it's not all bad now!" The mood lighted almost immediately. "Oh! good." Betsy exclaimed. She went on to explain how the world was covered in trash and litter but how all kinds of organizations were working to clean up the earth. Ghostly listened intently, in awe at all the knowledge Betsy knew about climate change and the world they live in. They started to come to another opening in the maze and Betsy stopped to look at the sky. "The ozone layer is healing itself all the time here." Ghostly looked up to the sky and continued to listen to Betsy. "Other places aren't so lucky, it's so thin I don't understand how they don't burn there." Betsy continued through the maze but ghostly just stood there and stared at the sky.

[Venatici]

username -- Morghettio
buttermilk w/ link -- The Holy Trinity
day -- 2
choice -- You see litter scattered across this path. How rude! Is your buttermilk the type to help clean up someone else’s mess, literally or figuratively?
prompt (200 words min.) --

Suddenly thankful for the fact Morgan is not the only buttermilk who decided to help find Betsy, when he reaches a bit of a clearing with more paths, he is confronted with another choice. However, seeing Betsy sharing stories while right dead ahead he can see just... trash.... it makes the bull unable to ignore the now more important problem. While finding this missing cow, or in Morgan's eyes potentially missing, was originally the main priority... it seems he has had a change of heart. And a change of gears, because he hones in on the litter all laid out in front of him.

Completely ignoring the prospect of some yummy food, Morgan's mission became cleaning up this trash.

"I mean, truly... they left it right in the center for someone to see!" Scoffing under his breath lightly, Morgan hoped his husband was somewhere behind him to help clean up the trash- though in the back of his mind, he figured Wulfe might get enticed and get food while cleaning up the litter. While he definitely did not blame him, Morgan was not hungry at that level and felt that the litter was of more priority than his own slightly rumbly stomach. (After all, a meal is only well earned when work is done)!

Proceeding to shove sunflower seeds in his mouth, and dumping the rest in his pockets, Morgan stooped down and began to use his now empty sunflower seed cache in order to collect the trash. Trash was not uncommon for Morgan: people littered in the woods all the time. Except now Morgan had a mission, and he is sure by the time his husband finds him, he will be like a kid in a candy store: shoving everything in his pockets until things start falling out.


[ 299 words ]

[fawn-]

username -- fawn-
buttermilk w/ link -- Elle
day -- 2
choice -- left
prompt (200 words min.) --
Elle trudged along and turned left again, the path was bright with sunlight and almost a sweet scent beckoning her in. She followed the faint odor as it reminded her of the sweet smell of strawberries. She could go for a whole mouth full right about now. Strawberries were the perfect combo of sweet with a little bit of tang. Elle loves to eat them as an afternoon snack, but they also go wonderfully with breakfast or dessert. Eating them right off the vine was the best, and Elle would snack for hours if her stomach didn’t catch up with her mouth. Elle admits the beautiful ruby red color does add to the enjoyment of her favorite food. The redder, the riper, the juicer. Their shape adds to the attraction as well; they’re not round like most other fruits, but cone shaped, making them even more fun to eat. Elle also loves strawberries because she can make so many things with them like jam, tea, and her personal favorite, sorbet. Even walking down the path with no fruit in sight Elle could almost taste the sweet berries in her mouth. She realized she had closed her eyes in her flavorful dream so she powered on, hoping a snack break would be at the next turn.

[Winter Shores]

username -- Winter Shores
buttermilk w/ link -- Antheia
day -- 2
choice -- Straight - You see litter scattered across this path. How rude! Is your buttermilk the type to help clean up someone else’s mess, literally or figuratively?
prompt (200 words min.) --

Had she finally made it to the end of the path? She had to make sure her eyes weren't playing tricks on her. She ran down the path as fast as her legs would take her until she skidded to a stop. There in front of her read a sign same as before, Left, Right or Straight?. She did not want to go left again in case it brought her around in a circle. She breathed deeply and looked between the paths. On the right bath she could see Betsy and other moos. Antheia did not want help making it out of the maze so the only logical direction was straight. She smiled and nodded her head, confirming her decision to herself. She walked around the scarecrow that held the signs and followed that path that lead forward. Walking down the path Antheia couldn't help but notice how messy it was. How could a corn maze end up full of litter? She sighed deeply, she was not the type to leave someones mess laying around. Walking down the path she picked up whatever trash she could hold in her hands. Looking down at her hands she was disappointed that it wasn't a lot but maybe after she finished the maze she could come back and pick up. She hated seeing nature being treated harshly. The land provided for everyone and they just thought, 'Oh lets fill it with trash that doesn't decompose.' Even if it wasn't all of the trash on the path is indeed was a start to something. When she looked up from the trash in her hands she hadn't even noticed she made it to the end of the path. She was happy it wasn't as long as the previous path or she would have felt worse about all the litter. After all she was the one who cleaned up others mistakes.

(Word Count: 317)

[bluex]

username -- bluex
buttermilk w/ link -- Rhea
day -- 2

choice -- straight
prompt (200 words min.) -- Rhea brushed through the corn stalks, ignoring the leaves as they batter against her face and sides. She was winding around corners, eyes fixed on the path ahead until it split into 3. The brown heifer blinked as she looked up, her amber eyes glittering with intrigue. She peered to the left, seeing the ears of corn and immediately sticking up her nose. Despite her growing hunger from the mere sight, she wouldn't be distracted from the task at hand. Rhea looked the the right and saw Betsy, and smiled. She knew she wouldn't join the black and white heifer, but seeing her safe and making progress made her happy. Without any other thought, Rhea charged forward, initially not noticing the litter swarming around her hooves. Rhea stomped on a small empty plastic bag, and lowered her head to pick up an empty can as the breeze dragged it across the dirt. She'd always been the kind to help out where she's needed. Being the past sole protector of her herd's old plains, she's dealt with far worse than a sea of litter, but she always looks at the bigger picture. Though not as much of an advocate for the environment as other residents at her current barn, she's still eager to protect the Earth and the voiceless ecosystems that exist within it.
(223 words)

[honeybunchesofoats]

username -- honeybunchesofoats
buttermilk w/ link -- Alberon
day -- 2
choice -- Left
prompt (200 words min.) --

Alberon soon came to another fork in the maze and began to contemplate her decision. It didn't take her long because as soon as she laid her eyes on the corn, her stomach began to gurgle quite loudly. She grabbed it and hushed at herself. She realized it had been a while since she stopped to eat anything. Boy oh boy did she wish she could have some fried eggs. This might seem like a strange favorite food but when she closed her eyes and pictured soft and runny yolk surrounded by the pristine whites it transported her back to her home, her original home.

While she despised most things about the place she was from, the hen's eggs were one thing that would always be a pleasant memory for her. No matter what mood she was in, the anticipation of hearing the sizzle of them cooking in a pan placed a smile to her face. They were fine alone sure, but placed atop freshly buttered toast and seasoned with salt and pepper was her preferred way to eat this meal. She could honestly sit and eat nearly a dozen eggs in one sitting (she had on a couple occasions) but they made a rule restricting how many each cow could have an she knew this was because of her.

Alberon opened her eyes, her stomach still rumbling but a soft smile on her face. She grabbed an ear of corn and shoved it into her pocket to snack on later. It wasn't eggs, but at least it was something.
(260)

[mtuan,]

username mtuan,
buttermilk w/ link Abby
day -- two
choice -- left
prompt (200 words min.) --
Abby seems to find herself a little lost at the next intersection, scrambling through the tall stalks of corn as she comes to another cross in the road and suddenly, she is not so sure where she is meant to go next. A left? Yeah sure. Why not? Strutting through the path, Abby makes her way to a left turn, heading down the road with no idea where she'd be heading into next. Unsure of how to find her way around, she finds herself nosing in and out of the stalk. At this point- would it be cheating to simply run through all of these corn stalks? Shaking her head, Abby seems no longer as confident in herself. The first path had been an easy decision, but now- what if she was making a wrong turn and there was no way for her to find her way back anymore. Stuck in between two intersections, any one could lead her in any direction and oh, what a mess she'd gotten herself into. She sighs quietly and continues down the path, stopping by to nibble on some corn here and there before heading away. She tries to keep a little dance in her step to keep her morale high. [207 words]

[Yodel]

username -- Yodel
buttermilk w/ link -- Skylar
day -- 2
choice -- left
prompt (200 words min.) --

Skylar came to a halt upon reaching the second intersection she encountered in the maze. Her first instinct was to look to the right again, but when she did, she saw Betsy again, and she appeared to be sitting and waiting for someone to come by. "What a silly way to try to get through a maze" she whispered to herself.

The next path was straight ahead. Ew! It was all covered in litter, some selfish, thoughtless cows must have left it behind. Oh well, it wasn't her problem to deal with. Finally, she looked to her left, at first glance it appeared to be the perfect choice! Her gaze went across the ripe yellow corn poking out. The sight made Skye's stomach grumble a little. When was the last time she ate?

Skylar took a last look at all her options, which only further confirmed her decision to go to the left. She turned swiftly and once again picked up her pace once she realized that she was out of sight from the black and white spotted heifer. As hard as she tried, Skye couldn't keep her eyes off of the fresh corn, and after considering how long it could be before she got out of this labyrinth, figured a nibble or two couldn't hurt.

After checking once again that she wasn't seen, Skylar leaned forward and started chomping away at the cobs lining the path. It didn't take long for her to spit it all out. Yuck! Raw corn! What was she thinking? That was not as good as she had hoped. Sticking her tongue out and continuing on her path, Skye began to imagine sinking her teeth into one of her favourite meals when she got home, apple slices.

Now, this may seem ordinary, just some old apple slices, but more specifically Skylar enjoys granny smith apples for their tartness, paired with syrup for its sweetness. After the thought popped into her head, she was unable to get rid of it, that was until she finally approached the next intersection.


(343 words)

[Northstar.]

username -- Northstar.
buttermilk w/ link -- Nalu
day -- 2
choice -- Right
prompt (200 words min.) --

"Betsy! Hey Betsy wait up!" Nalu skids to a stop before the other heifer.  "You look kinda bored. Me, too.  So let's tell stories to pass the time!"

It was a black stormy day on the beach.  Blacker than night, Nalu swears. Lightning bursts in hairline fractures, blinding and beautiful and deadly.  Thunder growls and stirs the sea into rolling waves.

Nalu isn't afraid, even when her heart pounds heavily. A great swell crests and her hands clench her surfboard tighter in anticipation. This... this is she'd been searching for. Adrenaline pumps in her veins and she makes her way out to sea.

She waits.

The ocean is still, calm, between the cresting waves. She waits for the right one. Her perfect wave.

It comes all at once.

Her breath catches as the sea rises up- and she with it. Nalu paddles with the flow. The wave breaks.

And she catches it.

Fifty feet of water she glides through like butter. She whoops, arms up in victory, as lightning sets the wave aglow. For a second she thinks she sees something - a shadow? Of what? Then her mind is back on riding the wave.

"You know what I think that shadow was?" Nalu grins. "A mermaid."

207 words