\n\t\t\t\t\tmelinaswift who is such a total sweetie and deserves all the bunny snuggles!She even wrote a story to go with it!
Art belongs to Sorena ( https://skybluearts.carrd.co/# )
Melina, the story and all other characters mentioned therein belong to
\n\t\t\t\t\tmelinaswiftHer post: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/50969645/
If you like the story, please go and tell her!
Grace (mentioned in the story) belongs to \r\n\t\t\t\t\t
| \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t | \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGraceTheGoldenFurred\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t | \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Megan belongs to me.
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Somewhere In The Mulitverse
The sights and smells of the eucalyptus forest were always special to most. It was spring; the rain and sun had worked its usual magic on the plantlife. Everything was in full growth because it was too soon yet for the country to start drying out. Numerous small creeks could be heard making their way down to meet their larger brethren and the soil and compost was moist and smelled delightfully earthy and alive.
The barren and cold winter had finally given its hold to spring the weather changing from the cold and ice laden winds had gone. In their steed warm winds began to flow caressing the land within it’s warm blanket.
A small cart loaded with produce of the nearby farm came trundling a long the track.
“You know if you don’t hurry up we’re going to miss the market!”
The gold furred vixen sitting on the front of the cart shook her head, her girlfriend could be strange at times. The vixen looked back to the oxen like being pulling the cart, everything seemed fine.
“Come on Megan we don’t have time for this!”
A pair of black tipped brown ears popped up in the grass field near by, sunlight shone off the piercings in her ear. Long luxurious black hair came with it, the rabbit doe was dressed in a simple all in one dungarees with a pink shirt underneath.
“You know work and studying isn’t everything Grace”
“Perhaps not but it helps pay the bills all the same, bunny”
“Hmm well how far to town?”
“Same as usual, about five miles not far, come on hop on up”
Megan hopped up and sat next to her girl friend Grace smiled this was so much better.
********
Sea Of Lavender
New Horizon
Today, was Eighthday of the 25th week, spring festival was coming up quickly and Melina Swiftwind was out to get some fresh fruit from the local vendors. She knew she had better find some, her bar was doing well but at times the brown bunny girl suspected it would not last.
At five foot ten inches she normally wasn’t the tallest around, her long purple hair made her stand out amongst the crowds. The sea of Lavender has finally returned to normal the winter storms that made passage near impossible had died down.
Shipping was quickly returning to the docks, Melina had already been there and ordered a number of things. The stand Melina was looking for was set up by the side of the stone block walking street, much like the rest of the stands, and like them, it was made of local plant material not unlike wood, but a brilliant shade of red; to an untrained observer, it would appear to be painted. At the stand there was a white coyote.
"Slow day?" questioned Melina.
“Well….We had a lot of customers earlier, but most of our regular customers seem to be having their normal meets and greets with their mom’s"
“Yeah I guess it don’t help having mothers day and spring festival nearly on top of each other” answered Melina.
“Well, you know how it is”
"I hope they didn’t eat your whole stock of Starfruit, Kassy?"
"Hey what do you think me for….you know we always save a bag for our friends, plus there should be more tomorrow”
Starfruit where a strange fruit, they were not very big, about three inches across. They were bright yellow, Starfruit where a sort of parasitic plant, which wrapped itself around other plant’s fruits and used them as a source of energy for which to build a bright yellow star shaped fruit. It was sweet in taste and fragrant. They where very much in demand by a few species, rabbits and felines amongst them. Kassy passed over what looked like a huge bag of the fruit, as she did so she took the offered cash pouch Melina held.
“Aww awesome thanks Kyoot”
“Hmm call that me a gain and I’ll bite your tail”
“Like to see you try!” replied Melina as she bounded off.
********
Sea Of Lavender
New Horizon
Grace and Megan had arrived the rabbit doe was off the cart faster than most thought moving was possible. Once the cart had stopped people came to unload it’s contents.
“I swear we need a cushion or something for that seat, my bum’s gone numb!” exclaimed Megan.
“You always say that but forget to do anything about it Megan” grinned Grace.
A tall white wolf approached the apir, he was wearing just a top and jeans, both showed off a large and muscled body.
“Hello you two, is it that time again?”
“Ooh hey Toby, yes that time again, usual price?”
“Sorry lovely ladies, boss says no, slight reduction in price I’m afraid”
“Damn it, come on Toby give us a break?”
“I know, I know I’d like to but I can’t orders are from district purchasing” Toby replied.
The wolf gently inched the back of his head. He liked the doe and vixen but it was out of his hands.
“Fine I guess it’s not your fault, I suppose we’ll just have to cut down a bit”
“I’m sorry, at least the festival is starting later”
“Hmm yes that’s right, we’ll see you later”
********
Melina was still wandering the town buying stuff, she was watching a line of various morphs at a stand. Ahead a blue male rabbit was about to sample the stew that was bubbling in a large pot. Melina just listened she knew about the contents of the pot.
“Smells delicious, whatever it is”
“There should be enough for everyone, ...that pot’s far from empty ...burning!!”
The male rabbit dropped his bowl, the bowl hit the floor and overturned. The blue rabbit buck ran off somewhere at top speed. She held back a chuckle and stretched. Evening was coming and the aurora borealis had been bright over the last few nights, brighter than they had been for a long long while. The night had been cool but with spring holding sway things were getting warmer.
Melina recalled she was going to meet her friend Megan soon, the other rabbit doe had some sort of plan in the works. She wasn’t to sure she would like it.
********
Festival Grounds
Winter’s Veil was a time of celebration of the year that had passed and the promise of spring. It was also a time of renewal, things of the past that the population regretted. Normally you wrote something that you regretted or wanted to change onto a piece of paper and put it into a small provided envelope, you sealed it and tossed it into the bonfire.
There were sufficient volunteers to do everything that the organisers thought needed doing. Harley Stongpaw, the large and muscled bear girl set some of them to work clearing snow from some access ways. Others dragged out trestle tables, barbecue equipment and a small tent. The tent was to hold the food that was reserved for the party and to put the electric equipment, such as hot water urns, that needed to be protected in case the weather soured.
There were actually two barbecues set up, one at either end of the tent. One was to prepare purely vegetarian fare, the other for cooking the steaks and sausages for the non-herbivores. Another area was roped off and the snow levelled out. It was to be reserved for dancing if the patrons got into the mood. Harley was kept busy supervising and setting up until it was time for her shift to start, then she handed it over to others to finish off and make sure nobody meddled with arrangements until the party began.
********
Grace, Megan and Melina had meet near to the festival grounds, there many tents around the festival grounds, various special interest groups were coming together to exchange goods and ideas, or just to have a good yarn with each other. Melina became interested in some new tech stuff that the community was considering integrating into the community at large.
Many scents of good things to eat and drink waved their way through the cold night air. The three slipped into a nearby tent where a young calico cat was waiting.
Melina took one look at the silks and jewellery waited for the two. Melina blinked and looked to Megan.
“Oh you didn’t did you?”
“Yes of course I did!” giggled Megan.
“Oh thanks...the dance off….I’m going to look ridiculous”
“You said you owed me a favour so I’m calling it in, this is it” Megan grinned.
“I swear if we win ‘Mothers of The Harvest’ I’m so going to bite you Megan”
The two rabbits dressed quickly, Melina sighed lightly as she followed her friend out of the tent. They were both dressed in light silks and jewellery, they both looked fantastic even if Melina would not admit so. Grace giggled softly as she heard Melina mutter ‘looking ridiculous’ under her breath.
“I know lets get you both something warm to drink it will help” commented Grace.
“I’m not cold its quiet warm with all the bonfires”
“Heya my treat!” grinned Grace.
Nearby a young raccoon girl was selling heated punch from a large urn.
“We’ll take three tankards please”
“That will be five credits”
Grace passed over several rectangle shaped coins, the raccoon girl gave Melina took a steel tankard and filled it. She took a sip of the red liquid and made a soft wheeshing noise.
“Whew, that has some kick...spices in it?”
“Umm yes Miss its our own recipe dazon berry spiced punch, please return the tankard when your done” answered the Raccoon girl.
“Of course” replied Grace.
The sky was now completely dark and stars shone in the clear sky. The whole festival grounds were strung with ornamental lamps that gave a warm light to illuminate the dancers who were now as ready as they would ever be. Here and there families released floating lanterns into cold night sky they rose slowly and sent their light into the sky.
“Ladies and gentle furs, and visitors, tonight we celebrate another good harvest. However, this particular ceremony points out that we need our hunters and our farmers equally. We remember the year gone, for good and ill, those who have returned to the great spirit and the young ones who have joined us in this life, beginnings and endings”
The three made their way as the dancers entered the circle, Grace grinned as she noticed Melina making a face at a kit On the beat of the drums they stepped forward and began the steps of a dance that was decades old. The dance was choreographed expertly, fireworks light the sky, in a tent nearby Father Winter was handing out gifts to kits and off spring.
Bonfires light the area here and there small black and gold envelopes were been flicked into the flames. The sounds of a large gong announced to all the revellers that the feast was about to start and there was a surge of forms towards the areas that had been set aside for the banquets.
An hour later Melina was looking slightly embarrassed and looking to Megan, as the two had some how managed to be voted as ‘Mothers of The Harvest’. Under each rabbits right arm they carried a large cornucopia, on each rabbits head was a wreath of dried flowers and vines woven into a crown. As they danced a few fireworks light up the night sky. Two large lanterns rose into the dark night sky.
Thus it had been done for decades and, tradition willing, would continue to do so for many more to come. However, this was one festival that would stand out forever in the minds of Megan, Grace and Melina.