🌊🪐Vastrals | Pretty Kitties Litter

[hunny.milk.tea]

I'm doing the monthly prompt!
username + id: hunny.milk.tea + #737998
co-op archive: here (3
monthly prompt: "how does your vastral usually spend their day? Do they hang out with friends, forage, swim or something else?"
entry:
☆ ☆ ☆
the soft morning call of songbirds lifts buckwheat sleepily from his heavy slumber. spring has just started to peak her gentle warmth over the chill of winter's grasp and the brute couldn't be happier. with a wide yawn and a stretch he leapt out of the straw bed, ready to start his day. this typically began with waking up his sister, who was curled up on the other side of the small barn. she liked to sleep as close to the stars as possible, the old yet charmingly rustic barn having a small gap between the roof that allowed her to peer up at the galaxy before she dozed off. buckwheat padded over to the wooden stairs and gave a soft holler up to huckleberry.

“wakey wakey eggs and bakey sis! cmon time to get up, the sun is rising and the birds are chirping!” buckwheat called enthusiastically. he heard his sister shuffle around in the hay pile before a familiar brindled grey face peered over the ledge. timidly a small drowsy smile came across her snout and she responded in such a quiet tone buckwheat had to strain to hear.

“coming! good morning bucky” huckleberry said. buckwheat smiled at the nickname she used, having earned it way back in the pairs’ childhood days as a term of endearment. buckwheat trotted out of the barn, leaving his sister to slowly wake up. the sun was already starting it's slow rise over the crest of the mountains. the light cast vivid orange, yellow and pink cascades of color to paint the morning sky. with a deep breath the male closed his eyes and soaked it all in. a beautiful spring day with his sister to romp around and spend, oh the possibilities! he was interrupted from his thoughts when he felt huckleberry pad up next to him. again he couldn't help but let a wide grin spread across his maw.

“there you are berry! gosh extra sleepy this morning hm?” buckwheat teased lightly. huckleberry gave a soft snort and a playful bump of her shoulders against buckwheat's before nodding. the two faced the rising brightness of morning, the day laid out in front of them to explore. 

“bucky, may we go to the stream this morning?” huckleberry asked gingerly. his timid and yet deeply empathetic sister pulled at buckwheat's heartstrings as he gave a smile in return.

“why of course we can, the day is ours. maybe the ducks will be down there, maybe there will be feathers for your collection” this brought a bigger smile to huckleberry's maw as she lit up. buckwheat beamed in return and the pair started off towards the stream near their humble barnyard home. 

the pups had a wildly fun-filled day racing around the fields of their home. they first went down to the stream to watch the ducks play in water, with spring ahead there was even ducklings about. buckwheat relaxed by the water as huckleberry waded into the water and swam near the ducks. though weary, the ducks were used to the two siblings often coming down to the stream and so in turn weren't worried. after a slower morning by the stream, and some feather collecting by huckleberry, the pair headed off to the garden patches to collect their brunch. tomatoes, strawberries, blueberries and more were made into a fruit salad and buckwheat collected some eggs from the free range chickens to add as a side dish. the pair snacked and watched the breeze blow wildflowers back and forth along the fields. after the short brunch they then headed towards the market to exchange goods and trinkets with others. they spent their time at the market exchanging pleasantries, huckleberry more shyly than buckwheat. they got some painting supplies for huckleberry and a new record for buckwheat’s player back in the abandoned barn. by now it was starting to turn into afternoon and buckwheat led his sister back towards the barn area. huckleberry went outside to utilize her new paint supplies and buckwheat put on his new record to listen to. strange voices echoed out of the horn of his record player and he closed his eyes, allowing himself to be transported to a different place. when he came back to and went to flip the record over he noticed huckleberry was almost finished painting what now appeared to be an outlook at their fields and garden patches. he gave a soft smile and took a quiet moment to appreciate his sister's talent. that's when he noticed she was no longer painting and in fact, was nowhere in sight. buckwheat padded outside and glanced around, not seeing her stark brindled fur anywhere by the barn or the garden patches. 

“berry? berry where are you!?” huckleberry called out. it wasn't like her to go off without saying something. however not enough time even passed to allow worry to creep into the brute as the fae soon reappeared. in her grasp was a small decorated strawberry cake. buckwheat grinned ear to ear as huckleberry shyly explained she had been out baking it in the stone oven over by the broken down mill. the two shared cake as fireflies soon began to flicker around them. it was a fun filled sibling day.
(876 words)
☆

(note this is not part of the entry, this was just for fun! wanted a little doodle of the siblings c:)
code: prompt 1

[hunny.milk.tea]

Monthly Prompt Results:
☆ ☆ ☆
"woah, look at all these wonderful responses berry!" buckwheat beamed widely. huckleberry nodded in agreement, producing a knapsack filled with... sand dollars! "time to hand out the goods!"

@nio + #1444888 - huckleberry shyly smiles at latte. "mushroom foraging is a great way to organically collect materials for cooking or medicines!" she offers gently. she pulls out some sand dollars from her bag. enjoy!
+13 sand dollars has been added to your inventory! (fullbody + color + one character)

☆

@Hanna + #1105401 - buckwheat admired the carefully structured koi pond as the group recounted their story to him. he had no idea that briar rose possessed any form of magic and his eyes widened in surprise. "now that's a neat trick!" buckwheat exclaims, turning to blu raspberry now. "good to see a fellow gardener as well, can't beat the home grown stuff can you?" buckwheat did a formal, albeit wobbly, bow to hotaru before exclaiming to the group "sounds like you lot had a fun day!" he pulls out some sand dollars from the bag. enjoy!
+44 sand dollars has been added to your inventory! (max word count + four characters)

☆

@kobieface + #1105594 - though a bit more on the timid side, huckleberry listened to lucero retell his happenings of the day, and found herself swept up in his adventurous spirit. the breakfast 'feast' reminded her of her own family gatherings, many vastrals running about around the big farmstead and cooking up loads of goodies. he also described things she had never even heard of before, mangroves, a clay pot that must be so stunning, drying flowers. she took note to look into some of these things later. "happy to hear from another fellow painter... maybe one day we could try painting together?" huckleberry asked gingerly. she smiled and reached into her bag, producing some sand dollars. enjoy!
+44 sand dollars has been added to your inventory! (1000-1300 word count + four characters)

☆

@Netsuii + #1101268 - buckwheat stood back watching the artist take hold of their canvas- a tree this time around. if any vastral found this odd it sure wasn't buckwheat. he had watched his sister many times use different surfaces for her canvas. what a beautiful display of creativity! "wow, you and my sister should be pals! I'm sure she'd share her paints with you!" buckwheat grinned at dotty. he reached into the bag and handed out some sand dollars. enjoy!
+35 sand dollars has been added to your inventory! (fullbody + color + background + shading + one character)

☆

@redtruck + #701230 - huckleberry listens to the trio share the story, ears perked at attention. she silently closes her eyes for a brief moment, picturing what ocean waves might sound like when crashing against the surf. how peaceful. clearly the trio was close, sharing in banter as they race across the sand. the colorful crabs and shells really make huckleberry's eyes light up. "that sounds like such a beautiful place you all live by... and did I hear you dabble in trinkets?" she directs this towards monodi before forgetting herself and covering up an embarrassed flush of her face. quickly she reaches into her bag and pulls out some sand dollars. enjoy!
+39 sand dollars has been added to your inventory! (1000-1300 word count + three characters)

☆

hunny.milk.tea + #737998 - "hey... wait a minute, is that us?" huckleberry asks in confusion. buckwheat stands face to face with himself before grinning. "if it is boy am I handsome!" huckleberry rolls her eyes playfully. best not to think about it too hard. enjoy your sand dollars past hunny ):D!
+27 sand dollars has been added to your inventory! (750-999 word count + two characters)

[opaquii]

A new monthly prompt has been posted!

[hunny.milk.tea]

I'm doing the monthly prompt!
username + id: hunny.milk.tea + #737998
co-op archive: here (3
monthly prompt: "your vastral visits marlin gulf, a small fishing town, what do they do there?"
entry:
☆ ☆ ☆
☆ ☆ ☆
a cry of a gull snaps buckwheat back into focus, his eyes shooting open as the sun beams down on him. spring was surely well on its' way now, the weather continuing to get warmer and the rain letting up every so often. though the brute enjoyed the springtime the chores that came along with it he could do without. less rain meant more watering of the crops and garden patches back at the farmstead. longer days meant keeping up with the chickens and rebuilding any wear on the fencing. it also meant his allergies would begin to kick up again. despite the name buckwheat, the male was highly sensitive to wheat and hay, especially during the springtime. but as he pads towards the distant sounds of the sea birds all of that melts into the background. his sister, huckleberry, trots alongside him with a far away look in her eyes, most likely day dreaming about the beach. ever since she heard the stories from traveling vastrals last month she insisted the pair head to the beach. buckwheat had asked around at the farmers market a week prior, trying to map out where exactly this 'ocean' was. that's when the name marlin gulf came up, and like an ear worm getting a favorite tune, that was all huckleberry could talk about since.

"wouldn't it be nice, to visit one day? just to see what is out there, meet some new friends... see all the wonderful colors..." huckleberry had said. buckwheat had snorted as he dusted off his record player with his tail. it wasn't that he was opposed to going, in fact it sounded rather inticing to explore this little town that had different wares and trinkets than what he was used to. goodness knows he was desperate for a new vinyl. but it was the fact that he liked his routine at the farmstead. he had things to do, animals that needed him, a sister that worked in tangent with him. it all made sense, it fit together perfectly, like a shovel and a dirt patch. what if they went to this new town and saw all these new things, new faces. what if huckleberry decided she liked it there, liked it more than the farmstead. it wasn't like buckwheat was scared of losing her. right? they were both growing up, they would eventually have their own lives to head off to. but... she was his best friend. what would happen if she moved away and he was left all alone at the farmstead.

"bucky? did you hear me?" a timid voice reaches through the clouding doubts and yanks buckwheat free. he shakes his head and a feigns a smile.

"oh, no, sorry berry! what did you say?" huckleberry furrows her brow at this response but casts her gaze ahead, ears perking.

"I think it's up ahead! come on, I brought some paintings to trade, maybe they'll have a new record for you!" huckleberry exclaims with an enthusiastic hum. buckwheat inwardly smiles to himself, his usually soft spoken sister having such a big personality when she was around him. he adores seeing her express her interests as her pace quickens and he follows after her. the soft grassy plain gives way to a much warmer sandy terrain. buckwheat feels himself sinking into the earth more, his ears now perking as well as the new sights and smells fill his senses. the heat of the sun off the sand and the bold sharpness of salt fills his nostrils. his pelt bustles in the breeze of the sea, waves crashing over each other. it is so bright and vibrant. for a moment he slows to a stop to take it in, a town decorated in colorful glass orbs and tiles takes his voice from his throat.

"woah... have you ever seen anything like it bucky!?" huckleberry says, her eyes lighting up at the sight. buckwheat's worry grips his chest momentarily and suddenly it isn't only his voice that has been sucked out from him but the air in his lungs too. he hadn't seen anything like this before... it was beautiful.

"come on! let's go check it out!" huckleberry says as she trots off. buckwheat tries to command himself to move, to take a step, but something keeps him rooted in place. his chest tightens and suddenly the crashing of the waves grows overbearing. the calls of the gulls becoming screeches that ring directly in his ears. his breathing quickens as he watches his sister heading off towards the town. he was losing her. he was going to lose-

"hey there friend! you alright? you look like you're about to be seasick... pale around the gills as they say." an unfamiliar voice barks from beside him. buckwheat scrambles over his feet and tries to whip around to see who it is, spraying sand everywhere in the process. he is met face to face with fae taller than him, wearing an outfit unfit for the current season. she seems to clock his thoughts as she snorts down at him.

"hey listen, I'm only wearing these muffs and scarf because I run cold, and that's the honest truth. the name's bunni, you heading two heading into town?" buckwheat was met with confusion at the last part until he noticed huckleberry was back at his side. there was hints of worry speckling across her face and he reassures her with a bump of the shoulder.

"oh yeah! sorry... I think I got overwhelmed by it all. it's our first time traveling out here! my name's buckwheat, this is my sister huckleberry. it's nice to meet you." and just like that buckhweat was back to his charismatic social self. the trio walks into marlin gulf all together, sharing bits and pieces of their stories to each other. huckleberry is more shy with the newcomer but is quickly taken over by her interest in the sea glass and goods that are displayed in some of the town's shops.

"oh you both have to meet bambi, she's a real doll! she'd get a kick out of you two, I'm sure she's got plenty to trade for one of your pretty paintings." bunni exclaims and huckleberry smiles gingerly.

"that's very kind of you to say, we don't mind meeting her!" she answers bunni quietly. buckwheat continues to take in the town's sights and smells, it now smelling more of fish and gulf air than anything else. they head towards a shop when buckwheat spots someone he thinks looks familiar. he thinks because they have the same face, same build, and yet everything about them is... different? he squints his eyes and pauses as bunni and huckleberry continue towards the shop. he shakes his head and blinks a couple of times. he must be going crazy, he was too in his head today. he tries to brush it off and races to catch up to the girls when they enter this shop. a bell attached to the door jingles as they all enter. huckleberry and buckwheat look around with jaws agape, taking in the scene. so many cool trinkets and doodads were gathered on shelves and table tops. there was glass blown scultures of animals they had never seen before hanging from the ceiling. pots, bowls and other kitchen items had paintings of the sea with sunsets and milky stars. there were shells and strange rocky shapes in woven bags sitting on counter tops. in the middle of the shop a soft squeal rose into the air.

"bunni!!" a sing-song voice calls out. buckwheat watches a small vastral rush towards bunni and wrap her paws around her. the two embrace in a hug and bunni giggles. huckleberry looks to the floor shyly as this happens and buckwheat smiles to himself at the display. bunni introduces the siblings to who they now know to be bambi. a white speckled fae with a can-do attitude and a welcoming warmth almost as bright as the sunshine outside. bambi gets straight to work with huckleberry, chattering about what to trade in exchange for a painting or two. as this is happening buckwheat is stealing glances out the window for the mysterious vastral he had seen, the one that looked familiar but not.

"looking for someone?" buckwheat jumps at the sudden voice and a rough chuckle comes from bunni.

"didn't mean to spook you, sorry! you're a jumpy one aren't you?" she questions him with a quirked eyebrow. buckwheat shakes his head and gives a light puff of air.

"actually not usually... just today I've felt off. I mean you saw early. I get too in my head about things, I was even worried about coming to this town. for selfish reasons really, I was scared that huckleberry would... I don't know, want to stay... you know? like have you ever been scared of losing a best friend? one that you've known your whole life and the thought of... them going somewhere or doing something different just puts you on edge. oh wait.. uh- sorry I didn't mean to share." buckwheat realizes he was dumping this information out freely to bunni. a vastral he met not even a few hours ago. he really was losing it. but to his suprise bunni's smile gave way to a much gentler expression of understanding.

"no I totally get it. change is scary! when I moved from the tundra up here I did it to be closer to bambi. we both are from a much colder place than this town. one day she says she wants to explore the world, experience what life has to offer. I tell her what good is that if life was already great where we were. we didn't agree on it for a bit, but sometimes... even if change is scary, it can be beautiful. if she hadn't suggested exploring I wouldn't have half the experiences I do now. I wouldn't trade those for anything. change may be a part of life, but it doesn't have to be a bad part. your sister seems to really care about you, you wouldn't lose her. even if she did come out here more or explore, you guys have a bond that just won't break. change is really a wonderful thing. give yourself time, you'll get there." bunni says and lightly claps buckwheat on the back. his looks up at her stunned. he couldn't formulate the words to even utter a thanks for the wisdom she drops onto him. buckwheat steps outside of the shop to grab some air after that. his eyes turn towards the ocean, taking it all in. bunni was right... he could never truly lose huckleberry. they would always be best friends, no matter where they were at. the heaviness sitting in his heart moments before now slowly ebbs away at this understanding. that's when he spots the vastral again, the one that looks familiar. they are walking along the coast, the breeze whipping at their pelt. he suddenly remembers that they are a friend, with a different color coat now. he remembers them from the meadows, laughing and gathering foliage from the fall, their striking blue and white coat now giving way to a rich brown color. bunni was right. change was beautiful.
(1,882 words,, help I got way too into it,,)
code: prompt 1

[IceWorm]

I'm entering the Raffle!
Username + ID: Iceworm × 1097765
Vastral ID(s): All
Co-op Link: Yipee yo and yipee yeah!
Codeword: snakes everywhere

[tenor]

I'm entering the Raffle!
Username + ID: tenor 668461
Vastral ID(s): all !!!
Co-op Link: Forum/viewtopic.php?p=148323242#p148323242
Codeword: snakes everywhere

[obliviousally]

I'm entering the Raffle!
Username + ID: obliviousally | 25446
Vastral ID(s): ALL! 🐍
Co-op Link: here!
Codeword: snakes everywhere

[Meredy]

I'm entering the Raffle!
Username + ID:
Vastral ID(s): all :>
Co-op Link:boop
Codeword: snakes everywhere

[VashTheStampede]

I'm entering the Raffle!
Username + ID: VashTheStampede | 832949
Vastral ID(s): All
Co-op Link: <3
Codeword: snakes everywhere

[sniffs]

I'm entering the Raffle!
Username + ID: sniffs 780672
Vastral ID(s): all!!
Co-op Link: bonkk
Codeword: snakes everywhere