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 Posted: Sun May 13, 2012 8:55 pm
The little mare nodded silently in agreement to what Harvest was saying. Although to be quite honest she barely understood a word of what the mare was saying. They were going to dig a ditch? And it was supposed to help water the crops or something? She thought she might understand that, but this was really quite out of her knowledge base. Either way she would certainly help the mare out, and perhaps she might learn a few things in the process.
"It's nice to meet you Harvest." She smiled warmly at the mare. Harvest, what a fitting name. "I'm not exactly sure as to what we are doing." She answered honestly. "However, just tell me what to do and I shall do my best to complete the task given." Akiko might not look like much, nor was she very big, but if she put her mind to something she could usually accomplish it if it was within her limits. She only hoped that she wasn't getting in over her head this time.
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Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 11:07 am
"An irrigation ditch channels water from a river lake or pond into a field. It is a lot of effort once, but in exchange, I very rarely have to haul buckets of water to my plants, so it is useful and effective tool for farming. The biggest difficulty with irrigation ditches is the issue of control. But I can build a dam once the ditch is dug."
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Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 9:33 pm
Akiko nodded her head as the mare talked. She still wasn't entirely sure what it was that she was telling her, but it was beginning to make more sense and she was able to get a better idea of it. "So..." She started off uncertainly, still trying to grasp the idea. "We dig this really big ditch and it waters the crops for you? And this way you don't have to make a lot of trips to water them, it just automatically does it?" She asked uncertainly. It wasn't that she was ever really planning on using this knowledge again, but she did like to learn knew things. Plus the knowledge could come in handy in the future. You never knew when you might need some obscure bit of information.
"I suppose then, we ought to get started on digging it? I can't imagine it will be very easy or take any small amount of time. Is there any easier way to dig it? Anything in particular that I could do to help?" Akiko hadn't been planning on staying very long, but perhaps if she helped the mare out now she might be able to stay for the evening as well.
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Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 9:54 pm
She nodded. "We can begin the ditch from the side of the rock here, towards the water, so that we can roll the bolder out of the way at the same time. The trick is to not break the last bit of dirt on the edge of the river, so that it serves as a natural dam." Harvest became more chatty when it was time to teach her craft. Though she usually lived a solitary life, she actually loved to help others grow and learn. "Then I have time to finish plowing the fields and planning how long that I wish to extend, then from there we, or I," as she might be alone again by that point, as it could take a few days, "will draw out the ditches around all the separate fields, at different depths and widths depending on the plants I intend. Some need more water, and others need less. But that comes after the plowing, and before the planting. First we build the main ditch to roll out the bolder." She Went to the small lean-to where she kept her equipment. The bigger things did not fit, but two large slabs of rock were there. They were vaguely triangular in shape. She had worn notches into the wide top that left her hold on with her teeth. They were long enough that she could just use the bigger one if she stretched her neck to its full extension. The smaller had been a prototype, but would be perfect for her new helper. She lifted them carefully in her mouth, trying not to drag them, since that would dig where she did not wish to. She set the smaller down beside Akiko.
"This is how we use them," she said. She turned to face the bolder from a few feet away, placing herself between the large stone and the river. She then pushed the tip of the stone blade into the soil, digging it down as deep as her neck would allow, and then she walked forward, pushing. When the blade filled, she lifted her head with a twist, tossing aside the dirt, then she started again, repeating until she reached the bolder. Then she doubled back and went about widening the hole, and making it deeper. She turned to Akiko and spat out the blade after several long minutes. "that's just about the hardest bit, from here you can stand by the bolder and work towards the river, and I can start at the river and meet you, if you wish."
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Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 7:54 pm
Akiko nodded in understanding as she listened to Harvest. Some of what the mare talked about she still didn't quite understand, but she could certainly take directions well enough. As long as she took everything one step at a time she would do just fine. The little mare was about to ask how they were supposed to dig the the ditch, but she found her question answered before she even had to ask.
Warily, she eyed the device that the mare dropped beside her. It was certainly interesting, and as she watched Harvest work, she could feel a sense of dread building in her. It wasn't that she was afraid of the work really, Akiko was certainly willing to help the mare out. She was simply afraid she would make a fool out of herself. Then again, what other option did she have? The tool didn't seem to be all that hard to use and she doubted that the mare expected her to do too much. Determined to help as best as she could, Akiko grabbed up the device and started working towards the river as the mare had specified. She was careful to keep the ditch the same depth and width that Harvest had made hers, and she tried to work as quickly as she could. It certainly wasn't easy work, but Akiko was determined to do her best.
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Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 8:09 pm
Harvest glanced up at her new companion as she worked, seeing that she was doing as she was shown. Harvest's lips moved in a small smile as her teeth held tight to her miniature makeshift shovel head. Why did no one else seem to use such wonderful tools. She figured that if one were to build a long handle or something, maybe even the two leggers, the... humans, were they called... could use these.
It was an interesting thought, could she make a handle? It would have to be sturdy one so that it wouldn't snap when she used it. Maybe a harness like she used to plow. could a harness push as well as pull?
Harvest turned and started widening the narrow ditch she was making to match the first, the one that her new friend was now working on. Her small new friend. Now that was something to consider. Would she be a friend? Would she stay? Or would Harvest be a passing moment in the life of the other? A good deed, or a charity case, or maybe a life lesson. Hard to tell, really. Still, it was something to plant a seed in the soul of another. Even if it was only a passing moment, a chance encounter could plant the seed of growth in another. Just as she would benefit from this encounter, so could the other. That was one of the great things about meeting people. You always planted a bit of yourself in their soul. She turned and resumed working on the ditch, facing the other once again. She knew she was bigger, and had the bigger stone, so would probably go faster. Then again, she was pushing more weight, even with an empty stone, so maybe she'd be slower. She wondered which would prove to be the case. Not that it mattered, really, but she was a bit curious.
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Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 8:18 pm
The little mare was dripping sweat by the time the distance between the two closed. She knew she wasn't as strong as Harvest was, so she had tried to be faster to make up for the extra work. In the end, it looked as if they both had managed just about the same amount of work. Although it seemed too hard to tell, at least from her vantage point. Looking behind her to see the ditch she had made, Akiko felt herself fill with pride. She might be little and she might not have a lot of strength, but she had certainly managed to keep up with Harvest and she was proud of the work she had done.
"Alright then," She started as she tried to catch her breath a moment. "What's the next step?" Akiko couldn't remember if Harvest had already mentioned the rest of the process to her or not, she had been concentrating so much on her own task, she had forgotten most everything else. She just hoped there wouldn't be too much more digging, she was already feeling drained after the work she had just done.
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Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 8:25 pm
Harvest stepped out of the ditch and set down her shovel head. She moved carefully to stand before the smaller Soquili and nudged her gently, a friendly nuzzle of nose to side of nose. "Now, we rest," she said gently. She was shedding sweat as well. This wasn't easy work for anyone, and they had both done a superlative job. "We stretch and walk a bit, then we can sip some stream water. It isn't a good idea to drink yet, but after we stop shaking some, it will be fine," she said warmly. "No crops grow in a day, neither are all tasks completed at once."
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