Flower Festival

It wasn’t too often that Eve ventured far from her cottage deep in the wilderness far past the Harrow where not many ventured, too many decayed human relics and old institutions still stood abandoned, not repurposed in any way and still holding some treasures akin to the past. Of course treasure hunters and natives to the area navigated with ease, the same was said for Eve, she’d been programmed to know the area, although the landscape had changed since the programming was made she was built to adapt and adapt she did. 

Easily parting the overhanging leaves in her path she made her way silently through the forest, being a sythaziod made her a lot less robotic, she could feel, the gently brush of the undergrowth against her shins, the sun's warm rays beaming down through the trees light spotlights in a show. Eve loved it, she was thankful to have been made with such recognition to the world around her, though it made her sad that none of her kin had received the same treatment and had rusted away…

She shook her head and kept going, now wasn’t the time to dwell, according to the calendars of the old it was approaching spring time in this specific hemisphere, Eve already had a love for all things flora related but she knew the Aphex’s and inhabitants of the new world had created their own unique festival for the changing of the seasons. 

The flower festival.

Eve had only ever read about it in journals and books and only ever had the chance to ask the few Aphex who ventured near her cottage, it left her with little knowledge of why it occurred, but she knew it was something of beauty. Since her adaptive programming gave her a little more incentive then what was probably entitled she was much more curious for her own personal gain then that of any actual useful gain. Sure she was built to monitor and serve but… Seeing the festival for once wasn’t so bad right? Plus she was the only one left from the facility, wouldn’t it be an injustice to just sit and rot away and not explore the wonders of the new world as she waited for her makers to return? 

Huffing lightly she scanned the area and nodded before continuing, she was getting close to one of the larger open fields she knew would have an array of gorgeous flowers and probably other beings, but what she didn’t understand was the whale noises she could hear in the distance. After doing a quick scanner check on herself to make sure she wasn’t malfunctioning in anyway she paused. Why could she hear whale songs in the middle of a forest? It made no sense. Then as soon as she stepped foot into the field, saw the reason why.

Honestly it took a lot to make Eve short circuit, she was programmed to remain calm and collected, the perfect sentient creature built solely for sample collections and analysis but the display in front of her made her stop dead in her tracks.

It was so beautiful.

There was an ocean of flowers covering the field in a literal rainbow of colours, the flowers although muddled together were all somehow harmonious and looked beautiful. They swayed together in the soft breeze, creating an almost wave like effect as loose petals were cast into the sky, dancing amongst each other. That wasn’t just it though, there weren't only flowers here, there were whales.

The large humpbacked creatures flew through the air as if it was made of water itself, their songs creating the most beautiful melodies that Eve knew now could be heard from miles away. Some of the smaller whales even plunged into the bed of flowers below and brought up waves of pollen that could only help grow this fertile land even further in this magnificent display of life. 

Now she could see why the Aphex and creatures of Elyxium came here, of course they’d want to celebrate such a gorgeous display of life and colour, who wouldn’t! She took a tentative step out of the tree line and walked into the open field, sure there were other Aphex and creatures here but, surely everyone was celebrating and she wouldn’t be met with any hostility, well she hoped anyways. 

“First time?” A gruff voice spoke up, almost making Eve jump, sure she was a droid but she didn’t have the best sensors anymore… She should really update those. 

Eve just nodded at the Aphex who’d spoken, he was tall and bright red like some of the rubys she’d seen, he looked out of place here really, a little too tough in appearance to be attending a flower festival but Eve wasn’t one to judge, she didn’t exactly look normal herself. 

“Oh sorry you don’t have a collar” He said as he finally looked at Eve, his brow was raised as he looked Eve up and down, he’d probably never seen an Aphex like her before. “Most round here will be better than me at spotting that and talking to you” He continued, nodding his head towards some of the other attendees and stands Eve had only just noticed. “You’d be best not to go too far into the fields, sometimes the whales like pissing around and picking Aphex up for rides, so if ya don’t like heights or big ass whales, don’t go too deep” He seemed gruff round the edges but Eve could tell he was trying to be nice, even in his own odd kind of way.

Thankfully he was looking at Eve so she could reply. “Thank you. I am Eve” She signed a little sloppily, she knew the old human sign language and was learning the new Aphex one slowly.

“Well, nice to meet you Eve, names Hunter” He gave her a curt nod before shoving his hands into the pockets of his jacket. “Don’t stay out past nightfall alone, looks pretty but you get some asses out when they couldn’t be seen in the day if you know what I mean. Good meeting you Eve” He gave her a small wave before walking off in the direction of some of the stands.

Eve just watched him disappear into the crowds round the stands before turning back to the vast field before her. Honestly, she was very tempted to go deep into the field, she kind of fancied a ride on a whale, it sounded absolutely fantastic for the way she was feeling right now in this moment. She wanted to remember this forever.