“We’ve had a good crop of carrots this year,” Lenris said with a mouth half full of food, “I will have plenty of those to sell when the Naukem arrive. It will be great to actually be able to buy something interesting this year.” “I’m jealous, the bugs loved most of my plants and I don’t have any extra produce to keep for myself after the quota.” That was Lolk a male a good bit larger than the rest of the group. “If bugs ate your produce how have you been getting so big? I bet Ahvimech has been sneaking you portions.” Icressah joked. “Hey” Lolk exclaimed, but he was chuckling as he said it. Lolk had always been Ahvimech’s favorite out of the whole village and in some people’s opinion treated him with unfair generosity. “Nope, it was the bugs” Lolk replied while chuckling. The small group of friends finished eating and after saying their good byes all went to their respective jobs.
Lenris passed by a group of trappers fixing their snares and tying ropes on his way to the land he was assigned to work this year. As he left the hall he took a moment to appreciate the breeze and the area around him. The bugs chirped and the birds sung, the sun light illuminated a land of swamp to the east. It was full of grasses and water plants blowing in the wind, a fish made a splash in a little, still pond. Trees grew in places where the ground was above the water. A beaver had a dam he had created in one place, the stumps of the trees he had made use of littered the area. The world seemed to peacefully stand still, everything made sense in the swamp. There was always enough time, enough food, this place supported his people and he loved it. Further west beyond the swamp was a range of mountains barring the way to the ocean, Lenris had never been that far from home before but he had heard a lot of wealthy people lived there. With one last glance toward the mountains he continued to the place where the fields met the water.
His plants were looking good, the recent rain had done wonders for their growth. He and the others that were assigned to this plot of field got to work. They started by pulling weeds, that took most of the morning. At about high noon everyone gathered at a small lake to bath and cool themselves afterwards they went back to the hall to eat. When they were done they all went back to work. Lenris’ group started on a project that had been their focus for about a month. They dug trenches for irrigation with copper tools similar to a mattock but with the edge protruding straight from the handle. It was very taxing work, really gave one an appetite. Besides stopping to kill insects when they found them from time to time this consumed the rest of their working day. The people went back to the hall from all over the village. Some had spend their day tanning leather or weaving, others tending animals or cooking but most were farmers. Lenris ate one more meal with friends. Normally he would have spent a while talking or carving, which was a hobby of his, but not today, he was exhausted. He went to bed immediately and slept seconds after he closed his eyes.
