Mer-May 2023 Event

Arikuna walked along the stone streets through the tightly packed homes. The market wasn’t too far away now and she had plenty of coin to spend. The weather had been nice and sunny, leaving the temperatures to be warm and humid. The ocean crashed not too far away, but it would still be quite the trek to reach the nearest beach. The many farm plots that etched their way across the rolling hills and flat plains prevented one from taking the fastest route straight to the water’s edge. Arikuna had planned a small dinner for some visiting friends and herself that evening, so she had come to town fairly early to make the best of her time. The warm air around her felt so nice compared to the colder nights they’d been having recently. Ari adjusted the bag on her shoulder as she checked her list again. She’d need to get some meat for their dinner, but she also wanted to check out the traveling market that was in town for the festivities in this time of the year. The market opened up in front of her as she passed a stone archway. Many stalls held flashy gems, shells, and jewelry made from the findings of the sea, while other stalls showcased special fruits that were only available during the season, or from places far off. Ari considered getting a melon if she had enough left once she’d purchased all that was on her list. The first stall she passed was filled with sparkly jewelry and a small chest that rested on a special pillow. The pricetag had Ari quickly avoiding eye contact with the feathered salesman in the wicker hat. To her right, a stall selling elixirs and potions created from rare plants and stones; her left was another stall selling jewelry made from abalone shells that shone rainbow in hue. The elixirs glowed a light green in the shade of the stall’s roof, with small items that could be seen floating about within their vials. Ari’s attention was pulled forward, though, by the stall selling exotic fruits. The colors were as bright as the shells being sold nearby, but their smell was much more intoxicating. The fruits looked so rich and full of flavor that Ari almost got sucked in to buying some, but she had to get the list’s contents first. She quickly made her way through the crowd, trying her best not to jab the other shoppers with her spikes. She was able to quickly fill the sack she’d brought with her, meats wrapped in paper, along with salts, spices, and various other vegetables purchased from the local farmers. She carefully made her way back to the fruit stand, happy that she was able to haggle down some of the prices to allow for some extra spending money at the end of her trip. The fruit stall was now throughly picked through, leaving only a few choices for Ari at the end. It wasn’t all bad though, and Arikuna was able to purchase two large melons, one a deep emerald and the other a pale tan, and another strange fruit she’d never seen before. It was yellow and green, round in body with large leaves sprouting from the top of the fruit. It was sharp to the touch and she had to handle it with care. The seller gave her some tips for preparing the new fruit, so Ari wouldn’t be on her own with the strange thing. Once Arikuna had made it back to the small stable near the entrance she tied her purchases to her Kurro, Astro. She gave him some scratches beneath his chin before mounting him for the ride home. The sun was beginning to hang lower in the sky and she would have to hurry back to have the food ready in time for her guests. Astro made the run seem like nothing, his ashen feathers fluffing as he trotted along. They were home well before the sun set, allowing Ari plenty of time to cook once she’d let Astro out in her small pasture. The meat sizzled on a flat slab of rock heated by a small fire below. She cooked some of the other vegetables and prepared the new fruit as a finishing touch. Everything was ready, laying out the last platter for the guests, she was interrupted by a knock at her door. They were here!