Ferendolia

Strange

   Ivy skipped breakfast that morning, assuming she would be able to buy something from the markets.

   The first spring harvest had arrived from the Southern Groves, the only part of the elven kingdom which had escaped winter's frost. The harvest was always a highly celebrated event, heralding the warmer months to come. However, spring wouldn't truly begin until Blooming Day, when the fairies emerged and flocked to the meadows. Ivy was reminded of Lynn's garden. The three of them hadn't discussed their plans for the Blooming Day festival yet, but it was clear that they all had their hearts set on a quiet day, secluded in the garden while the rest of the Ringlet were led to the meadows for the traditional day of peaceful observation. Their only hiccup was the matter of Kandice noticing their absence... But still, the taste of nectar was too sweet. The dream of a lazy afternoon in the garden with Lynn was too good to pass up, especially with the Assessments drawing so close. It seemed a day to unwind was everything Ivy needed.

   Checking the time, she decided she could spare a quick trip to Junho's shoppe before the Seventh Ringlet met for the day. Her mood was sweetened further when she saw the familiar figure of a tall, scruffy-haired boy leaning by the entrance.

   "Hey," she said, reaching up to ruffle his hair.

   "Hey," he grinned, then nodded toward the group of elflings gathered inside. "Junho's telling about the merrifolk she met."

   "Shhh!" an elfling whirled in their seat, a finger pressed to their lips.

   Their eyes widened when they found themself face to face with two Seventh Ringlet elves.
Ivy felt a flicker of amusement as the elfling snapped their attention back to Junho, carefully edging away from them. "I suppose we look pretty menacing," she noted, watching the elfling scurry away.

   Junho let out a dramatic sigh when they approached her after the story. "First you won't come to my shoppe and now I can't keep you away," she cried. "What curse is this?"

   "The curse of two Sevenths who have nothing better to do." Ivy replied with a look of mock apology.

   "Woe is I." Junho hummed.

   "Woe indeed." Wren chuckled, nodding. "Do you need any help with anything?"

   "Not particularly." Junho said. "Unlike you elflings, I can keep my workspace clean. I shudder to think how cluttered your rooms are." She mistook Wren's reaction to the word rooms as acknowledgement to her statement and said, "Oh, don't worry, they'll be alright once you've got your own place to worry about. Charming your home to have a little extra space wouldn't be a bad idea either, though." Junho chuckled at her own joke. "I remember when my house was charmed, I forgot the closets. Everything was just laying around on the floor."

   Ivy laughed heartily. "Do tell us, wise herbalist." She taunted. "When we graduate from the Seventh, we'll be begging for knowledge."

   "Ask and ye shall receive." Junho wagged her finger at them, "but that is knowledge you will receive at a later date."

oOoOoOo

   That day, they were perfecting bladework.

   Wren was dragged off with Ford and Calder, leaving Lynn and Ivy looking for their third member. 

   "Embry's good," Ivy squinted across the field at the Seventh Ringlet girl. "Suppose we could snag--" Ivy was about to call for her when she spotted a familiar shape out of the corner of her eye.
   Turning, she spotted Meredith, who was pacing furtively towards them. There was something about her that reminded Ivy of a cat stalking her prey. She shifted as Meredith flashed a smile.