The day was long, and yet they seemed to fly as Squeeks wandered. Months, perhaps longer, since she had last seen her dear father. Even longer still since she had seen her beloved grandmother. Oh but how she had traveled, though. Through valleys and hills, forests from the dark loamy smelling variety to bright and filled with bird song.
And yet, today she had found herself somewhere busy and bustling. A settlement of some kind, filled with other soquili, the smaller usdia, and such a variety of animals and even those of two legs! It had been such a while since she had run into someone else, for a moment she had simply stood, watching as strangers passed her by. Soaking in the feeling of life, people, happiness again. It was as if her body had been thirsty and this was a spring, pure and fresh.
With a soft squeek of delight, she rushed forward into the settlment. A main road was clearly defined by market stalls, smaller paths branching out to where others clearly had made their homes. She wondered briefly if this was a traveling group, or perhaps they had gathered for an event? The walls of the stalls were covered in blooms. Fresh, bright colored flowers. Dull, dried flowers. Even greenry and grasses. The smells drew her attention left and right, ears twitching as she could hardly pay attention to a single place.
hello
A voice seemed to drift from nowhere, and yet it seemed to envelop her entirely.
Turning her head she blinked and felt herself drawn to a small stall tucked between two larger ones. It contained a much smaller selection then its neighbors, and a two legged owner sat behind the low table.
"Hello" she greeted them cheerfully. She wasn't entirely sure if she was understood, as the stranger kept a hood low over their face, and remained quiet for far longer then felt nessisary. "You have a lovely...ah... cloak?" she tried, the word felt far to grand for the setting, but what else would it be called? "Oh and you have flowers! oh well that's silly you all have flowers.... is this a festival? are you having a- oh!" She blinked as a strange bird... a crow? No, a sea gull? what was it? jumped onto the table.
"We trade in the flowers, little lost one" the bird said, tilting his head as he eyed her. "We welcome you, what calls you, little lost one?" his voice was strange, and yet she felt herself trust him completely.
"Oh ah..." she looked over the table and blinked at the flowers arranged by colors. The reds hurt her heart, reminding her far to much of her father. The pinks, to much of her grandmother. "these yellow ones are lovely" she said softly. "what are they, I don't know if I have seen them before."
"Ah, the lost one loves the Daffodils, does she. The lost one seeks the light of a fresh start?"
Squeeks blinked. A fresh start? "What does that mean? light? a fresh start?"
The bird let out a soft squalk, picking up a white flower. A Daisy. "You." it set it down before her. "Innocent, pure." It moved back to the daffodil and added it. "Happy, optimistic, new starts, a new day." Tilting his head he eyed her closely. "You desire something new. Pick again. And see where the new path leads."
She blinked, confused and yet drawn in to this strange bird and his insistence. A new start... she did need a new start. She needed happiness and truly her current path did not have that. And the Daisy... he had said that was her. As much as she had learned on her own, she truly was sheltered. She had never felt it as much as since she had traveled on her own. So many things she did not know... so many things she had been protected from...
A single red rose, its edges slightly frayed and yet the color unmatched by its companions. The red flowers had hurt her heart, and yet...
Gently she pointed her nose to it.
"It looks like my father..." she said softly.
The bird clicked his beak, grabbing it and adding to the other two. "You are strong, full of courage, little lost one. You are strong and you shall find this new path, this new start, this new day, you so desire." The robed figure held up a bit of twine and the bird took it, tieing the flowers together with expert skill.
"Trade Fry for this fortune. Trade Fry for this and go forth." the bird, Fry?, kept a foot pressed upon the small bouquet, eyeing her suspiciously.
"Oh..." she stumbled, unsure of what she was supposed to do. Trade... what could she...
Turning her head she pulled a small flower from her tail. A small purple daisy. One of many she carried in her mane and tail. This was a flower...shop? Perhaps a flower for a flower.
"This is all i have on me" she said softly, putting it down. "Would this be-"
Fry flapped his wings, letting out a screech of delight. He grabbed the flower quickly, disappearing under the table. The small bouquet she had apparently bartered for sat alone on the table.
"Oh!" she exclaimed, before smiling to herself. "Oh well thank you, Mr. Bird, ah Mr. Fry? oh thank you!" she lifted the bundle and gently tucked it into the base of her tail, smiling to herself as she moved away from the table.
She was full of courage, he had said, when she picked up the rose. The rose, the same color as her father who was the strongest she had ever met. And the daisy, so white and soft. Her. Innocent. Kind.
And the yellow daffodil...
A new road. A fresh start.
Her father was out there, waiting. And together, they would find a new path. Together, they would find the bright happy world she dreamed of.
As she continued down the main path and found herself leaving this collection of strangers, she couldn't help but giggle at the luck of it all. But of course the flowers would send her the hope she so desperatly needed. Of course the flowers would lead the way.
