(matope) - 10 years of swamp - FINISHED!

[Pigxels]

HERE'S WHAT I BOUGHT TO THE POTLUCK!
~500w RP Credit~

Entry: It'd been a while since she'd made anything - quite a trip since the Rise and Shine egg cracking. She was determined to step up her game and do something brand new in all the time she'd had to practice.

She stepped into the clearing with a rather large leaf, and splayed out several kinds of hoof-ground powders. Each one was a different color: yellow, orange, light green, dark green, brown, red, and something that looked a deep purple. Next, behind her on a turtle shell, strung along by a thick twisted vine to avoid touching its hot surface, she pulled up a hot rock with a strange deep divot in the middle. Just as she'd learned from Rise and Shine. She refused to take it off, and instead rubbed a few sticks together between her teeth, holding down the other branch with a heavy foot. Once the fire was started, she dragged the whole shell over top of it, and let it continue to heat up the preheated rock.

By now, a few kin had gathered to watch her, curious, and were sniffing her powders to see what the spices were like. She pulled out one last huge shell that she'd stashed there in a thicket overnight in preparation so she didn't have to carry so much. It held two piles of small game, berries, and eggs. With everything all laid out, it looked like a rainbow.

She got to work, cracking eggs like a pro now, and laying some chunky slabs of rabbit meat on the hot rock. She used a leaf in her mouth to sprinkle and smear the yellow and red chili spices she had next to her on it, flipping it over and repeating on the other side. She continued slow-cooking until the smells drifted into the air, turning even more heads as kin started to gather round, mouths watering and watching the sizzling meat with excited chattering. She crushed some berries under her hooves and tossed the juice into the divot for extra flavor.

When the meat was perfectly seared on both sides, and the berry juice had turned thick, she carefully scooped it off onto a pair of thick leaves, and set it to the side. "Take a bite and give me some feedback if you can," she said cheerily, and watched as a few kin took bites and gave their opinions. Some thought it was too spicy, while others loved the mix of flavors. Some found the berries out of place, while others appreciated the sweetness and addition to the dry meat. She took note of everything they said for future combinations she could toy with.

She smiled and concluded she should do this sort of thing more often. A Food Fair would be a fun little extravaganza, she thought, imagining everyone cooking and practicing all year for the one big blowout event. "Maybe someday," she mumbled out loud and grabbed a second rabbit off the leaf to toss onto the rock and start again, this time using the deep purple and orange spices.

Preference List: Mehndi Doe, Mehndi Buck, Lotus, Naan, Reroll!

AN OFFERING FOR THE MORRIGAN!

Proof of participation: Recipe Entry 1!

[purplerosesbeauty]

IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT....

Your Entry: Azalea ushered his sons to sleep, settling together as the night sky darkened and grew heavy with clouds. They begged him for a story, and as a doting father, he obliged.

"Once there was a kin, who was a flower. He was very lonely, as the only flower he could see no matter how he swayed and moved. One night, rather than rest, he decided to stay awake. As it happened, that night was dark, and stormy. Lightning struck, clouds rolled, and the warmth was quickly seeped from his bones.

Suddenly, he was no longer alone! When he looked into the sky, he saw a kin who was a storm. Frightening, but beautiful. She came down to him, and asked what he was doing. 'Little flower, why are you not resting?' she asked.

'I have been lonely to sleep, lovely storm,' he replied.

The storm stopped, as if confused. She then smiled, and came down from the sky, her fur alight with lightning and clouds. 'Then I will stay with you, just a bit longer.'

She was not a flower like him, but she was company. Finally, the little flower felt happy with his new friend."

AN OFFERING FOR THE MORRIGAN!

Proof of participation: stormy night above!

[SilverShieldwolf]

IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT....

Your Entry:
It started with a drip. The slow drip, drop of water down onto the ground. Young ones were herded to higher ground by mothers who kept looking up at the sky. They knew what was coming, yet the young buck watching was hard headed. The families that passed him by, shook their heads, muttering to each other. He felt he could beat the storm, that it would bow down to him!
The storm let loose a flash of lightning near the buck. It would bow to no creature. The buck moved back from his spot on the cliff. Maybe this time...he started to step back, only for the rain to come cascading down and having the river rushing and over the banks. The buck turned tail and raced up the mountain, into a cave to hide during the worst storm of his life.

AN OFFERING FOR THE MORRIGAN!

Proof of participation: Stormy night entry

[prolixity]

HERE'S WHAT I BOUGHT TO THE POTLUCK!

Entry: A Dream of Rain found a clear grassy spot and began to trot back and forth, setting out his offerings. He had spent time ranging back and forth through the swamp, gathering flowers; now he laid out carefully chosen little bouquets as gifts. Each bouquet was arranged neatly with flowers of all a single color, and each was edible, its greenery picked with complementary flavors. He was proud of his gifts, and hoped that they would be enjoyed.
Preference List: Mehndi buck, naan, lotus, mehndi doe, shrimp curry

AN OFFERING FOR THE MORRIGAN!

Proof of participation: Indian Summer entry

[theCorniest]

Congratulations winners! You can take your pretty pretty zikwa to the certing thread! Both of these kin were colored by Phoenix Kiss!

Moonstone Dazzle

Nymphiea

(pretend this was posted by the mule.)

[FrostyPeaches]

IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT....

Your Entry: A small group of kin, no more than three, were huddled close against a fallen tree that once was full of life. Another flash of bright yellow lightning flashed through the sky for a few seconds as thunder roared right after it. "Stay close..." said the young brave Meti. The small Acha foal shuddered as they watched the storm go on while feeling the ground shake under their hooves. "It is not wise to lean against trees in storms, but with rainfall this heavy, we don't have a choice," said the young Totoma, interrupting the Meti. The night was long and grim. They could barely see what's ahead of them. "...Nights like these is when 'they' come out. My mama said that they prey on foals like us and eat egg sacs when no one is watching over them... It is very important that we watch out for one another until the storm is over. They come and they take you when you are careless. When you are caught unawares... Because..." the Meti swallowed hard, eyes on full alert even in the dark, a little frightened as the story ends... "Once thunder roars no one will hear you scream..."

AN OFFERING FOR THE MORRIGAN!

Proof of participation: Stormy Night entry above ^

[NymiiNym]

Thank you so much!
scoops up Tied Down

[fluorescein]

IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT....

Your Entry: The kin knew she was in a treat once the sun went down. A storm brewed suddenly and she was the recipient of a fat raindrop and then another and more until it was unrelenting as the day was long. Mud that once caked her hooves reached for her knees and tail as head hair weighed her down, obscuring her line of vision. She was miserable and a fine miracle she hadn't slipped and broken her neck. Storms were much better enjoyed from a distance she thought. Still, she marched onward with the dream of a warm spot near a fire. There, in the distance was a cave. it looked big, unimposing, but most importantly-dry. She entered the lip and met with fierce, glowing eyes. Well then, she was trading one adventure for another and that potentially dry place to slumber was going to be hard won. The kin lunged.

AN OFFERING FOR THE MORRIGAN!

Proof of participation: Dark and stormy night entry

[Kickflipping Cow]

IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT....

Your Entry: Dark stormy nights like this was perfect for Shadow's Bite. She could track her prey and the sound of the rain and wind covered her hoof steps, and they never heard her coming until it was too late. A sharp hoof to a head or her teeth on them the last thing they felt. She took every chance she got to hunt to her hearts content on nights like this, they suited her after all.

AN OFFERING FOR THE MORRIGAN!

Proof of participation: Stormy night entry above

[Kickflipping Cow]

AN OFFERING FOR THE MORRIGAN!

Proof of participation: banner in signature

[Lirilei]

HERE'S WHAT I BOUGHT TO THE POTLUCK!

Entry: A sigh was heaved by the buck behind the log that served as the trading counter for the stand he was running at this party. Not that he wanted to join the party per say, but he didn't want to be stuck over here in this none too comfortable location. Sun was beating down on him uncomfortably, and he was sure the heat as going to make some of his wares spoil but his usually silent uncle had more or less growled in his face and told him he was going to run this stand no arguments.

His uncle honestly scared the crap out of him so he meekly agreed to the demand, and here he was, lamenting the lack of back bone when it came to the buck who looked a lot like him in many ways, but was also quite different both looks and especially personality wise. He let his thoughts wander a little as he tried to block out the burning sun. His mother had told him about the booth her and his uncle had run at something called a winter market, where they'd taken trades of little bobbles for buying items, for items brought to them.

Of course his mother had been the more agreeable one to go to, not turning anyone away but his uncle the jerk had been a hard buck to impress and turned away more than he rewarded, but he tended to reward them well at least when he did. If one of his siblings had been here with him, he supposed he could have done the same, but he was here on his own, and he didn't feel like being a jerk and compared to his uncle so, if anyone wanted to make trades with him he was more than agreeable to it, within reason.

Still, this was a terrible place for the booth, and he finally made up his mind to move it, looking around for a more shaded location and finally finding it. It took a little bit to move his log, and worse his wares no one would steal it or eat it, but he managed it, and once he was in the shade he relaxed with a sigh. This was a lot better than being in the sun, and he didn't feel like he'd bake anymore. It also meant the berries and such he had wouldn't spoil or ferment in the sun. Though he reasoned fermented berries might be a draw, and he did shove some into a patch of sunlight not too far from the booth where he could keep an eye on it.

He didn't have much time to dwell after that, the location moved proved to be a good one, and before long he had a line forming of kin wanting to trade this item, or that item for something he had. Even sometimes trading away an item he'd been traded in the first place. He was seeing the appeal of this sort of booth and when one kin tried to trade him mud, for food he could see then why his uncle had been a picky jerk, as he denied the mud, but did give them food anyhow, he didn't feel he could in good conscious turn away a hungry kin when he could help. Even if he meant he was 'losing' something for doing that. He glanced around quickly while making that trade afraid Hold Your Tongue would suddenly appear and berate him and it wasn't until the old acha buck had left with the given food, and he had traded with several more that he finally relaxed and fell into a pattern for his trades.

Yep, this had been a good idea he realized, and he'd have to thank his uncle for the suggestion later. If he was in a good mood anyhow. If not, well his mother could pass on his good words about the booth since she seemed to be about the only one not bothered by her twins behavior.
(672 words)

Preference List: lotus, mehndi doe, mehndi buck, naan, shrimp curry, temple

AN OFFERING FOR THE MORRIGAN!

Proof of participation: potluck entry 1

[As if I even care]

HERE'S WHAT I BOUGHT TO THE POTLUCK!

Entry: It wasn't long before the thrum of voices and laughter took his attention. Setting Sun was no stranger to the sound of a party (or the call of opportunity) and a party meant people willing to pay for a good thing or good time or sometimes nothing good at all. He laid at their feet painted skulls and floral crowns his daughter had crafted. Elixirs held in various containment said to ail one thing or another.
"Come one.
Come all."

Preference List: mehndi doe, mehndi buck, naan, lotus, temple, shrimp curry

HERE'S WHAT I BOUGHT TO THE POTLUCK!

Entry: Speaks to the Buried waded into the clearing, surrounded by kin of all sizes and walks of life. The smell of spices and the sound of laughter filled the air. It wasn't like him to show up at some party, meant for only the MotherFather knows what. Outlasts talked him into sharing his knowledge and experiences with other kin and said this would be the best place to start. He scoffed at the thought, but couldn't find himself saying no to the lad.

In front of him a foal stood, wide-eyed, full of sorrow. He had a soft spot for the young. He pressed his forehead against the foals' and closed his eyes.
"You've got her eyes and nose, your mother that is. She's very proud of you. Stay strong, little one. She watches."

That's all it took. One after another he had them lining up, asking for this relative and that. Requests for lost children stung the most, for in death they still couldn't say what they wanted to because most never lived long enough to learn the words.
He asked for nothing in return. Their peace of mind was enough and, for once, he smiled.

Preference List: mehndi doe, mehndi buck, naan, lotus, temple, shrimp curry

AN OFFERING FOR THE MORRIGAN!

Proof of participation: Indian Summer entry above.

AN OFFERING FOR THE MORRIGAN!

Proof of participation: Indian Summer entry above.

[Matope]

All entries are gathered to here -- and the Stormy Night contest is now OVER! Please give us time to judge the contest's entries, thank you!

[Matope]

And a new contest has begun! Please feel free to resume thread conversation & activity!

In September of 2008, Raisin-kin celebrated the seasons with the early equinox event. There were kimeti representing the winter, spring, summer and fall. Now this event is being revisited with some exciting new takes by Phoenix Kiss on these same themes, and also on the equinox and solstice!

Which of the four seasons is your favorite? Maybe it's better not to pick, since this event celebrates them all!

This contest is a simple poetry event -- no restrictions on form or style, on length or content. The only thing your poem must contain is a mention of all four of the seasons. Be creative, put your own spin on it, and have fun!

Use the following form to submit your entry.
Entries to this event will count toward Morrigan tickets.

This event runs from August 5th to August 11th.

Code:

[align=center][color=#ec7d18][b][size=20]CELEBRATE THE WHOLE YEAR ROUND!![/size][/b][/color][/align]
[b]Entry:[/b] this can be as long as you want, any kind of poetry you want!
[b]Preference List:[/b]

Entries:

[MoxxiieMoxxiie]

Oooo those are super cute!