fall 2023

"Orion look! That looks so cool, can we try that?"

Eridani pulled on Orion's paw, pointing with her free one at a clearing where other youngsters seemed to be chasing something. Orion sighed softly, but nodded, and the kitten cheered.

"Lets go!"

They dragged Orion, bouncing in excitement as they neared the clearing, seeing kits chasing chikerns with ribbons tied to their tails. One kitten caught one, pulling the ribbon off as they let the chicern go, and they ran over to a small desk, waving it in the air, to recieve a small prize.

Eri's eyes lit up and she turned to Orion.

"Can I do that, please, please please, Orion?"

The older woolyne chuckled softly.

"Of course, Eri. Lets go see what we need to do."

They walked over to the table, and the woolyne sitting there smiled at them both.

"Hi there! Do you want to play Chicern Chase?"

Eri's eyes lit up and she nodded enthusiastically. The woman laughed.

"Alright. The rules are simple! Some chicerns have ribbons tied to them! Catch one of the ribbons and bring it back, and you'll win a prize! You can play as long as you want, but please be nice to the chicerns, okay?"

Eri nodded as the woman turned to Orion.

"If you want to watch from the fence, you can perch over there!"

Eri bounded into the ring after shoving her bag into Orion's hands, bouncing excitedly on her feet as she skidded to a halt in the excitedly watched the others chasing, and the chicerns wandering around.

She saw one with a pretty purple ribbon nearby, and eyes locked on, she darted forwards, huffing softly when it flew up and away as they darted near. The child narrowed her eyes, crouching down as she noticed yet another chicern, this one with a bright green ribbon.

Eri crept forwards, keeping her steps light as she moved closer to the creature, eyes locked on them, intent on catching her prize this time.

The chicern lifted it's head and Eri froze, unmoving, for one moment, two, until the bird pecked at the ground again and that's when Eridani struck, pouncing forwards, screeching in delight as she caught the bird gently in her paws, holding it carefully even as it flapped it's wings, trying to peck her hands.

Ignoring the pecks, she ran over to the fence where Orion waited holding it up proudly.

"Look Orion, I caught them!"

He leaned over and ruffled her fur.

"Maybe let them go and just take the ribbon, kiddo," he smiled. "I'll meet you by the table, and you can get your prize, okay?"

She nodded and gently untied it before letting the bird go as it squaked. Eri giggled as she waved her ribbon, skipping over towards the table where she'd seen another kit turn in a prize.

"I caught a ribbon!"

Eridani proudly showed off the decoration to the woolyne at the table, who laughed.

"I see that. What would you like a prize, then? There's all sorts of things!"

There were: small candies and toys, some small bracelets and necklaces, and plush creatures.

Eridani's eyes grew wide as she saw a plush sea wyrm, and she looked up at the prize booth worker, pointing at the sea wyrm who picked up the coiled toy.

It was long, almost as tall as Eridani herself, and the grey-and-blue woolyne nodded enthusiastically, grinning widely as the worker handed them over just as Orion stepped up, snorting softly.

"That's bigger than you are, kiddo," he laughed and Eri grinned.

"Her name is Almond, Orion!"