Chocolate Vine
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WREN WOKE TO BIRDSONG and morning light filtering through the shutters. For once, she felt rested and grateful to be alive.
She was excited to make a proper breakfast with her new cookware, but she suddenly realized that a frying pan needed a flat cooking surface.
As she stood there, frowning at the stone fireplace, the tree came to her rescue.
The stone oven morphed, becoming a wood burning oven with a stone cook top.
She wasn’t sure what kind of stone it was, but she decided to trust the process.
In went a fresh sunflower in the firebox, and she set the cast iron frying pan on the top.
Soon she had perfectly cooked eggs and toast fried in butter with honey, and tea with cream.
The metal made such a difference. No more burnt offerings or hot rock disasters.
Heating water on the stove with a kettle was super helpful, and she felt somewhat like a very pampered pioneer.
Obtaining food was definitely the easiest part of her day, and fun besides.
If she had to milk a cow or grind flour, things would be a lot harder.
Walter joined her at the counter, nibbling on pecans. "What's on the agenda today, madam?"
"Blue bulbs," she said. "But I'm not going this time."
She went outside where her dandelions were gathered and spoke to the largest one—her scarred survivor, the one she'd come to think of as the leader. "I need you to get blue bulbs today. During the safe window—eleven to two. Can you do that?"
Three pairs of golden eyes fixed on her. The leader made an affirmative sound.
"Great! Thank you. Bring them back here, and install them in the fence." She didn’t think it would be hard for them to put them in the fence post slot. It was no harder than putting trash in a garbage can. "You can carry them in your bodies like last time, right?"
The leader butted its head against her hand. Yes.
Relief flooded through her. She didn't have to risk herself. They could handle it. "Awesome! Be safe, and let me know if you need my help installing the bulbs." She was so grateful she didn’t have to face the monsters. As fond as she was of the dandelions, they were only plants.
The dandelions settled in to wait for the safe window. Three hours until eleven. They were going to more than earn their keep. Maybe she could get them a special fertilizer or something as a thank you.
Wren looked around her property, at her grove of trees, and thought about what else she could grow. What else she might need, or want. She'd been so focused on survival items like food, shelter, warmth and safety. But now that those basics were covered...
She reached into her purse, letting her fingers drift through the seeds. So many possibilities.
Chocolate vine.
Oooh! The warmth that came with it was rich, indulgent. Decadent.
She planted it near the treehouse and watched it climb up the wall, tendrils wrapping around the wood.
Papery golden pods formed, hanging in clusters.
When she opened one, the smell of chocolate filled the air.
Inside were chocolate truffles; dark, milk, white, even some with swirls of caramel or studded with nuts.
Perfect, ready to eat...so of course she tried one immediately.
Rich and smooth, it melted on her tongue. "Oh," she said. "Oh, that's dangerous."
Walter appeared at her elbow. "Are those what I think they are?"
"Chocolate. Want one?"
The squirrel accepted a small truffle and delicately nibbled. His eyes went wide. "Madam, you could retire on these alone."
She laughed and stocked her purse for later. Maybe she’d give some to Jin and Kenji as a thank you.
What else?
She wandered her property, considering. The land was greener now, healthier. The area around her treehouse practically glowed with vitality. Her trees were thriving...but it was still just grass and trees. No water features. Hm...
Water lily.
The seed felt cool, flowing. She planted it near the edge of her property, curious.
The plant didn't just grow, it created beauty.
A small stream began to form, water bubbling up from seemingly nowhere, flowing in a gentle curve.
The lilies bloomed along its banks, their pads floating on the surface.
The water was crystal clear, cool, and perfect.
Within minutes, she had a tiny creek with a small pond at one end, no bigger than a large bathtub but deep enough to see fish darting in the depths.
Wait. Fish?
She knelt and looked closer. Small orange fish, definitely real, swimming lazy circles.
"Where did you come from?" she murmured.
They didn't answer, obviously. But they were there, thriving in her impossible pond.
She could hear the water trickling, see the lilies swaying gently. It was beautiful, peaceful.
She sat by the pond for a while, watching the fish, listening to the water. The dandelions came to investigate, drinking from the stream with their stem-like feet, then returning to their patrol.
At eleven o'clock exactly, all of them lined up at the gate.
"Be careful," she told them.
They streamed through the shield and disappeared into the grass.
Wren watched until she couldn't see them anymore, then forced herself to turn away. They'd be fine. They'd proven themselves already.
She went back to exploring her property, to planning what else she might grow, to enjoying the sound of running water and the smell of chocolate in the air.
This place was becoming home.
Really, truly home.