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And a Partridge in a Pear Tree!

Name: Anjou (it's my favorite type of pear and a pretty name I thought 8D)
Word Count: Exactly 1,000! Or so Word says >>
Prompt #: 1
Prompt Response: (I apologize ahead of time for going crazy with Kunkunese >>; I started and couldn't stop D: Here are translations of the terms I used: Peh = Bah ; Doori = Booty/Loot ; Tsinku = hideout ; Shishiki = angry expression ; Laamuzus = treasures ; Oorya = surprised expression ; Waaaa = ouch ; Haaya = owner ; Sanuuk = thank you ; Iktet = sorry)

I’ve never been obsessed with things that sparkle or shine. At least, not to the degree that other Inen are. Sure I think they’re pretty but I would never collect them. And, just between you and me? I don’t understand why any pala would want to. There’s more to the world than just sight. I mean, think about it! When the sun goes down and the world goes dark…what good are things that sparkle and shimmer? Peh. No good at all. Why not just collect rocks then?

My doori? They don’t require anything outside of myself to enjoy. I collect…scents. That’s why my tsinku is a pear tree instead of some musty, yucky hole in the wall. The fragrance of so many ripe pears…ahh, there’s nothing better in the world.

Well, that’s not to say I don’t like other smells. The world is full of delicious aromas! And during winter my tree is absolutely bare since everyone likes to steal MY fruit right when they start smell the best! The nerve of them, right? Leaving me with nothing but the stench of their sweat…shishiki!

But that’s alright. I’m a sophisticated pala. I can make the best of a stinky situation. And this Christmas holiday? I like to think myself intelligent (I mean, I’m no Aesi), but the point seems to be to decorate trees with little laamuzus. And, well, I have a tree…and my haaya has made plenty of stuff I’d be happy with. So, in keeping with the holiday, if I used that stuff to decorate the tree. Well, I’d be the perfect spirit of Christmas!

--

The partridge pala peeked out of her pear tree, tiny nose taking in the intoxicating motley of scents that her new home was filled with. They were all so fresh and…new!

And hers.

“All in the spirit of Christmas,” she told herself, fluttering out of her tree and over to the one next to her. “Oorya~” The pala whispered as she craned her head to take in the entirety of the tree. A pristine silver orb hung in front of Anjou’s nose, reflecting her face in an amusingly warped way, but that’s not what this pala went for. Instead of the ornament, tiny hands gripped the branch it was hung on and Anjou pulled with all her might until a sizeable piece finally broke…along with the ornament. Anjou chewed her lip in embarrassment at the broken ornament, but only for a moment. The crisp scent of the pine tree overwhelmed her and, in a sniff, the shattered orb was forgotten.

And so were the next five.

Bright green eyes stared at her pear tree scattered with pine bits…but Anjou was not satisfied. Not when her nose picked up such delicious aromas were wafting out of the kitchen. The pala peeked into the bustling kitchen and was careful to stay out of her owner’s watchful eye as she slipped inside.

Anjou kept herself carefully hidden behind scattered bowls, bags, and boxes on the counter top only peeking out to take a sampling from those things that caught her nose. A glop of cranberry goo was piled together with a couple handfuls of pumpkin pie and shoved into a carefully peeled slab of skin from the turkey, which was then carried like a pack as she slapped a couple scalloped potatoes onto her head like a hat. The pala paused behind the basket of freshly baked dinner rolls to sniff the air. “Only two things left,” her own thoughts barely above a whisper as she stuck an arm into the basket, fumbling through the fabric to snag a whole roll. Freshly baked bread was third on her list of favored scents. Ripe pears were first, obviously, but the close second, the current object of her desire…

Cookies.

Setting the rest of her hoard down (save the scalloped potatoes, they were too messy to mess with), she longingly eyed the tray of oddly shaped cookies from over the basket, ducking back down when her owner bent over to check another batch that was cooking. She could have left with what she had…but Anjou felt like being a risk-taker. She’d get around her owner…somehow.

Voices sounded from outside the kitchen, drawing her owner out and providing Anjou with the perfect opportunity to snag a few. Flitting over to the countertop the Inen hurriedly reached down to pry off a cookie but let out a startled yelp as she found her delicate hands burned by the tray. “Waaaaa…” The pala whimpered, licking her hands in a futile attempt to ease the pain.

“Anjou,” a voice came followed by an exasperated sigh. “Haaya,” Anjou whimpered, staring up at her owner with glassy green eyes. A large hand came down and gently peeled off the scalloped potatoes from the pala’s head before gently lifting her up. “Should I even ask what you were up to?” The Inen simply looked up at her, rubbing pitiful looking, teary eyes. Another sigh escaped her lips and she took Anjou over to a glass of ice water. “Put your hands in…c’mon, it’ll feel better.” The pala carefully dipped her hands into the glass, muttering a quiet “sanuuk” as the pain eased away.

“Now. Anjou. Christmas is the season of giving. If you go and take,” there was a pause as the little pala managed an offended glare, “borrow all the things you want…how am I supposed to give you anything?”
Both of them sat in silence for awhile before Anjou spoke. “Iktet haaya…” The pala’s owner simply smiled in reply, rubbing off the residue the potatoes left on her head before carrying her back to her pear tree and laying her among the branches. “Rest up and feel better, okay?” Anjou nodded softly, curling up next to a pine branch.

And as the odd little Inen drifted off to sleep she could swear she could hear a voice wish her a Merry Christmas and smell the sweet aroma of cookies beside her…

I was referred by Solar Occultation.

I was referred by Holy Gehenna! <3

And story contest closed! I look forward to reading through the entries and you should have a winner within a few days time.

Next events up should be the free and paid raffle, also within a few days time. Keep your eyes peeled! (not literally though...that would be gross)

Referred by Lady in the Golden Wood

: D

ninja

Ameh! *luffles*

Advertising updated to this point smile *works on raffle stuff*

*peeks in with my peeled peepers*