[Winter Shores]

username --Winter Shores
buttermilk w/ link -- Antheia
day -- 3
choice -- Right - The clouds above this path almost seem lighter, and the wind isn’t blowing as hard...is that possible? Does your buttermilk believe in miracles?
prompt (317 words) --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. The next choice was between left - getting soaked, straight - getting assistance, or right - not getting soaked. Ultimately. Antheia chose to go right. She never liked getting help from others and she did not want to get soaked either. Right seemed like a miracle. The clouds seemed lighter and the wind was not blowing as hard as the other directions. She started walking down the path and noticed other moos choose this path as well. She didn't keep any mind to them, she stuck to herself and her thoughts. She had never really imagined going to a farmers market. But this decision was one of the best ones she had ever made and she was glad that she made the choice. She had so many fun things she could do throughout the whole entire day. She could try and help catch the duck or play fun games, even meeting new people and help them out. She enjoyed it so much and hoped that it would come around next year or sometime soon so she could take on of her friends. Maybe she could make friends at the market as well. All the owners of the booths seemed so friendly and the moos who attended them seemed kind as well. All Antheia knew is that the seven days the farmers market was open were going to be a blast. She would be able to do new fun things every day and try to help everyone out as well as make friends?! It seemed like a packaged deal to her and it was for free!

[fawn-]

username -- fawn-
buttermilk w/ link -- Elle
day -- 3
choice -- Straight
prompt (200 words min.) --
The bright blue sky seemed to darken quickly, with storm clouds rolling in above Elle. She quickened her pace, anxious to complete the maze; she didn’t want to be soaking wet while trying to avoid making the wrong turn. As she approached the next crossroad, she saw Betsy up ahead, and although it meant she wasn’t farther ahead than everyone else, she felt relieved that she wasn’t the only one still in the maze. Elle noticed Betsy giving a few other cows some umbrellas, but just as she thought that would weigh her down, a rumble of thunder shook the ground and a few rain droplets began to fall. Elle wasn’t the best at admitting she might need help, but those umbrellas Betsy had were pretty enticing right about now. She never liked the rain because it stuck to her hair like glue. Elle hated the feeling of being half dry and half wet. Being damp from a drizzle but still dry enough to feel every droplet add moisture to her coat was the worst feeling. Wanting to avoid this, she headed towards Betsy and picked out a bright yellow umbrella. At least standing under it would make it seem like the sun was still out.

[Yodel]

username -- Yodel
buttermilk w/ link -- Skylar
day -- 3
choice -- Left
prompt (200 words min.) --

Hooves coming to a halt, Skylar knew the drill, pick one of the three paths and arrive at the next intersection. At this point, Skye had developed a habit to look left first so she just let it happen. Oh boy, those angry clouds did not look good. Along with the clouds, the heifer also noticed that the corn stalks seem somewhat taller in this direction, odd.

The next choice was straight ahead, there was ol' Betsy again, but this time she seemed to be handing out umbrellas to any cows who passed by. Now, Skylar would appreciate an umbrella, especially with how close the clouds were getting.

The last choice was to the right. The difference in lighting immediately caught Skye's attention, glancing upwards. Huh? The clouds didn't look nearly as dark, she didn't trust that one bit. Surely the dark clouds would move into that area eventually, and if not, who was to say she wouldn't be turned in back towards the dark clouds anyway.

Skylar was definitely not going to the right, it just seemed pointless to her. But the decision between left and straight was a little bit harder than that. Skye really was not a fan of getting wet, the only exception is when she finds an opportunity to get muddy and cause a little bit of minor chaos, but she always cleans herself up and dries off right after. That being said, she hates needing to rely on others and would much rather be independent, even more than she dislikes getting wet.

So there was her answer, and just in time too, she thought as the first raindrops began to land on her nose. Shaking her head, she headed left and for the first time, not 100% sure about the choice she made. Skye prayed the corn was tall enough to at least somewhat protect her from the incoming downpour, but also that they weren't tall enough to be a hazard with the possibility of lightning.

The ground began to shake with the first rumbling of thunder, and Skye was growing anxious. She very strongly disliked thunderstorms and began to somewhat regret going this direction, seemingly right into the heart of the storm.

Inevitably the cow began to desperately pick up the pace, but while previously it was out of disrespect for the rules, now it was to try to get out of this maze before disaster struck.


(404 words)

[Venatici]

username -- Morghettio
buttermilk w/ link -- The Holy Trinity
day -- 3
choice --=
Right - The clouds above this path almost seem lighter, and the wind isn’t blowing as hard...is that possible? Does your buttermilk believe in miracles?
prompt (200 words min.) --

While it was not the fact Morgan believed in miracles that brought him to the right, Morgan did have another reason. He had no inclination that made him want to go into the left path, as going into the dark and tall stalks did not seem appealing to him, and going to grab an umbrella was pointless in his mind. Someone who had equipment that could not get wet, or someone who was afraid of the rain, would need an umbrella more than Morgan. Regardless, he did not mind getting wet.

Taking the right path made more sense, because he knew the clouds should (theoretically) move past this way and the wind would pick up. Given this, Morgan also realized that anyone who was outright afraid of rain probably took this path too, because he fixed he may be able to help someone that got caught in the rain.

Even if it were rain, the rain calmed him. Being out in the rain often reminded him of the home he grew up in: while he got shelter when he needed it from the rain, given he had his own little camp, but sitting out there while he got soaked was calming. It kept him humble, remembering that nature would always be around him regardless of where he was, and also that nature took care of itself.



[ 226 / 200 words ]

[mtuan,]

username -- mtuan,
buttermilk w/ link -- Abby
day -- three
choice -- right
prompt (200 words min.) -- Staring at the path before her, Abby notes how the path seems to be lighter than the other options, how the wind doesn't blow as hard in that direction. While there's a storm coming in every other way, it seemed like... this was the right way to go. Abby's shoulders sag with the weight of yet another decision- she isn't sure quite what she is supposed to be doing at this point but- maybe this would be the correct- the right- decision once again? At the very least, if she stayed away from the winds, it would not be as cold as if she had followed a different path. But was this path a miracle? Did Abby believe in miracles? The young girl wasn't so sure- sure she could say she believed in such but what was the real answer? To be completely honest, in that moment, yes, Abby did believe in miracles. Not so much in her every day life, no- she didn't. In fact, Abby was quite the pessimist when it came to such things, but- in the light of this maze? Well, yes. She would believe in this one miracle if it could just get her out of the sticky situation-. [204 words]

[Northstar.]

username -- Northstar.
buttermilk w/ link -- Nalu
day -- 3
choice -- left
prompt (200 words min.) --

Thunder growls and dark clouds roll. The sky is a stormy sea, and lightning is it's veins. If only hoverboards were real, then Nalu would surf above. She'd catch serious air.

As beautiful as the sky was, nothing would compare to her sea. No one would ever convince her otherwise. It's salty depths held more mysteries than the groundworld, she's sure.

It's the thunder that calls Nalu to the left path. For a second she'd tempted toward Betsy - an umbrella would be nice. Or the right path? Nearly inconceivable. But no, no. She does not mind a little rain.

She's not afraid as thunder booms; her heart beats with it. The air is static charged with electricity. Nalu can practically taste it. When a few drop of rain sprinkle down, she relishes it. It's cool and refreshing after wandering around the maze for so long.

Corn stalks wave in the wind, the taller side serving as a slight wind block. A few stragglers, heavy with corn, droop and whip around with every gust. Nalu avoids one smacking her in the forehead, but misses the next one that hits her in the funny bone. It really, really isn't all that funny.

The wildness of the storm surges and recedes - saltwater waves on rocky shores. It's almost like Nalu's home.

(218)

[bluex]

username -- bluex
buttermilk w/ link -- Rhea
day -- 3

choice -- straight
prompt (200 words min.) -- Rhea's rate of breathing was almost to the point of dangerous, her movements quick and irrational. Pushing through the maze at random turns, she desperately tried to escape the rain. She came to another three paths, and whipped her head back and forth between her three options. Peering through the haze of the weather, she noticed Betsy handing out umbrellas. Thunder erupted from behind Rhea and the drenched heifer bolted forward without further hesitation. After reaching Betsy, she gratefully took an umbrella, muttered a breathless 'thank you' and found a corner to crouch in. Despite her legs being completely submerged in the mud, she stayed put, her whole body shaking in fear against the cold wind. She heard a gentle voice from above her umbrella, and she pulled it back to see Betsy staring down at her in worry. Rhea shook her head and clamped her eyes shut, flinching as another clap of thunder rolled through the sky. She listened to Betsy's words of comfort and reassurance, but she blocked them out. To her, the black and white heifer's words were empty, void. They wouldn't help Rhea now. Rhea wasn't scared of the rain, the thunder, even the lightning. She was afraid of that night.

Before her herd abandoned their brilliant plateau, tensions were high. Rhea was the eldest of the calves, and as such was welcomed into the arguments between the matriarch and her closely ranking heifers. There were no bulls left in the herd, but even if there were he could not compete with the matriarch. Her body was broad and well-muscled, her neck thick and her horns long and sharp. She hadn't lost control of her herd for the past 11 years, and would not lose them today. As if her voice shook the sky, a harsh wind swept from behind her, grey clouds slowly closing in on the plains.
"We leave tonight. Now rest. I don't want anymore arguments from a single one of you." With that the herd separated, settling down in the general vicinity of the calves' cave. Rhea crept back into it, finding her spot at the front, and settled down to sleep with one eye fixed on the entrance.

She woke up to an accidental kick to the back. The sky had opened and thunder was rumbling, heavy rain pouring from the clouds. The calves were running away, and were jumping over her to scramble out of the cave. The cows were calling out through the storm, their offspring joining them at their sides. The matriarch's tiny calf found her way to the front by weaving through the legs of the bustling cattle. As soon as her head brushed against the leader's flank, the herd started to move. Rhea quickly checked behind her, noticing one little calf dazed as he slowly awoke from his slumber. She quickly ran over to him, nudging his rear with her nose, panicking as she heard less commotion; the herd was almost gone. He blinked the rest of his sleep away, his eyes immediately widening. He looked back at Rhea in surprise, who pushed him towards the exit in a hurry. They clambered out of the entrance, running towards the herd as the last of their tails disappeared into the fog. The bull calf gave out a desperate cry, weaving between the sparse trees in attempt to reach his mother. Rhea followed close behind, not noticing the large branch that had been left on the ground by the storm winds. It was all a blur. She clipped her back hoof and she tumbled, her face plummeting into the ground and her legs slamming onto the dirt. Quickly, she looked up, ignoring the grazes left on her knees as she lifted herself. She spun around, disoriented from the fall, and cried out into the open air. No response. She tried again. Silence. Her calls grew weak as she felt her heart quiver, tears beginning to fall from her eyes and she let her body slump to the ground in defeat.

Rhea snapped out of her trance and almost took out Betsy with her umbrella, her face coated in tears as she looked up at her.
Rhea wasn't scared of the rain, the thunder, even the lightning. She was afraid of that night - the night she was left behind.

(721 words)

[honeybunchesofoats]

username -- honeybunchesofoats
buttermilk w/ link -- Alberon
day -- 3
choice -- Left
prompt (200 words min.) --

Alberon looked above her at the sound of rolling thunder. She surveyed her options and hurried towards the left. Now that she was surrounded by taller corn, she felt better about potentially getting struck by lightning. She didn't have a problem with the thunderstorm looming overhead though, she was actually quite excited about it.

She remembered being back home, all of the people she lived with practically cowering in fear at the sound of thunder, but Alberon was the first person to want to run to the middle of the field and let the rain soak her. Something about the sound almost...soothed her. She had always liked the rain. It made her feel refreshed and she absolutely loved the smell.

Once, when she was on her travels after leaving the farm, she hadn't taken a break in quite some time and she was just about to cave in and set up to sleep when the skies opened up and heavy rain began to pour down. Most would have gotten discouraged here, but not her. Alberon beelined it into the woods, dropped her bag under the cover of a nearby tall tree, slipped off her shoes, and ran. She ran around in circles, shouting happily and laughing while the rain pelted her skin. This was the first time she felt free enough to let herself go.

By the time the rain stopped, she was soaked to the bone but the biggest smile sat upon her face. She made her way back her belongings, slung them onto her back, and set back off on her journey. (264)

[Namida_☾]

username -- Namida_☾
buttermilk w/ link -- Jesse
day -- 3
choice -- right
prompt (200 words min.) --
”I don’t need an umbrella, I’m not made out of sugar, the water won’t hurt me”, Jesse said to herself before looking at the other two paths. “Well, the clouds on the right path are lighter. I think I’m going that way. Not like I care about getting wet, but I don’t really need to get struck by a lightning”, she said while looking to the left path, which was defined way darker than the right one. “I don’t think there will be a thunderstorm when I follow the right path and nobody can tell me that those light clouds look like thunderclouds. Maybe there’ll be a thunderstorm if I follow the left path, but definitely not on the right one.” But did that mean that she really believe in miracles? Well, yes but also no. Of course she didn’t believe that from one moment to another, a miracle could happen and everyone would be safer from whatever danger was threatening them. But she did believe in nature, as a miracle itself. She always said, “Nature is beautiful and holds many miracles we might not understand quite yet.” She believed that nature was incredible and that incredible things were possible, which nobody would ever expect.
[205 words]

[Areater]

sunflower seeds are scattered across each path - you pick up a few before you reach the next intersection. you can trade these for prizes later!

the following users get 6 sunflower seeds each! --
certified
knickknacks
DarkestWerewolf
Cactologist
ptarmigan
♔Voltaire♔
acadicus
BadgerBuddies
Ravendarus
paopu
Desmond
ceance
Pufferheart
Bluebird-
Black.Wings
sprig
BiscuitTheDog
Winter Shores
fawn-
Yodel
Morghettio
mtuan,
Northstar.
bluex
honeybunchesofoats
Namida_☾

prompt three has been posted! please let me know if i missed you <3