#earthrunes

From the garden one morning, when it seems empty, someone might hear a deep voice like a purr of masculine thunder singing beautifully

"Inch by inch, row by row, gonna make this garden grow
All it takes is a rake and a hoe and a piece of fertile ground
Inch by inch, row by row, someone bless these seeds I sow
Someone warm them from below, 'til the rain comes tumbling down"

It's not Gideon's voice behind that wheelbarrow of moved dirt.

"Pulling weeds and picking stones, man is made of dreams and bones
Feel the need to grow my own 'cause the time is close at hand
Grain for grain, sun and rain, find my way in nature's chain
Tune my body and my brain to the music of the land"

The melodious voice carries through the gloaming to the healer's hut, to the practice yard...

Black eyes peer at the singer from the wild hedgerow - the garden is healthy, but riotous and wild.

Not so much any more, it's being shaped, sculpted. SOmeone has been gardening, IS gardening

The Toad pooka works carefully, placing small sculptures of gnome huts and bird houses here and there , even as he takes weeds out, adds rich dark earth for areas, and plants.

"Plant your rows straight and long, temper than with prayer and song
Mother Earth will make you strong if you give her love and care
Old crow watching hungrily, from his perch in yonder tree
In my garden I'm as free as that feathered thief up there" The new Pooka croons in that low silken rumble

He's wearing overalls, has professional gardening tools.

He is NOT pleasant to look at. Big bulbous eyes, a too wide mouth, and a bad complexion. He's an unattractive man.

The possum clambers up a tree and out a limb, watching.

His hands, while not pretty, are strong, skilled, and surprisingly gentle when they need to be
"Inch by inch, row by row, gonna make this garden grow
All it takes is a rake and a hoe and a piece of fertile ground
Inch by inch, row by row, someone bless these seeds I sow
Someone warm them from below, 'til the rain comes tumbling down"

Glamour flows as he seems to muse himself with his endeavor.

And he takes that glamour and feeds it back to the flowers, the soil... and nods approvingly. He has not yet seen Emma

She hangs down from the limb for a closer look, swinging from her naked tail. It's prehensile!

He looks up, then blinks, then blushes as he finally sees her. His blush isn't even attractive, instead of a cherub like glow, he's got this spattering of inaccurate red that looks like he might need an anti inflamatory, "Ribbit?" He says and nothing more

Her ears and whiskers lift and mouth gapes - a possum-ish smile.

The other pooka gulps and shrinks back as if she might swallow him, "You'll get warts"

his voice, once golden and deep, now a croak.

Head-tilt. But the mouth is closed.

He nods, and goes back to his work, now silent.

A figure is approaching....

It turns out to be Delores... "Humphrey? How's it going?"

Somehow, between him turning and before the figure approaches, a grey-haired ragamuffin is now sitting the the tree.

"I don't like French food. Too much garlic, can't abide it!"

"oh," she looks up, "I see you've met Emma. Emma, this is Humphrey. He's trying out for the gardening position. Humphrey, this is our healer, Emma."

The toad gives a shy smile, the sort of smile most women would equate with a stalker in a movie.

"Bonjour, Humperdink."

He gives a silent wave.

"Humphrey's not much of a talker, obviously, but don't take it personally," Delores says. She seems to be supportive but she tries to avoid looking at the toad pooka directly, "Now Humphrey, the medial herbs are Emma's to direct so if if itis for medcinial reasons you take some orders from here, okay?"

Humphrey nods and makes a brief 'taking a drag' motion.

"AH, yes well, there's some of that" Delores says and coughs "That's under her control too."

A nod again

"Sweet Kentucky Mauve."

Delores looks around, "Oh this is a nice start. I like the light touches. Becareful, the Dandylions are mostly tame but the tiger lilies and snap dragons are half feral. Can you tame them?" She ask the gardener.

Quietly he mumbles something that sounds like "Puddin n tain"

"I.. hope that's a yes," The boggan says "Remember what I said about the baroness' preferences. Oh, and leave that section of bushes and flowers plenty big. Vince likes to pounce from there and he'd be sad if denied."

a nod from the wide faced man.

She turns, then looks at Emma, "Emma. I've been meaning to talk to you as well. If you have a moment?"

"Oui? What kind of moment? I have precious ones, quiet ones, contemplative, silly, distracted..."

She smiles ,then "I meant reform. It turns out that one of our thanes was, shall we say, rude to you, or at least insensitive. Do you want him reprimanded?"

The smile is gone. She's quite serious.

She turns very pink and her ears flatten.

"...you know about it?" Small voice.

The two women move a bit further away from the gardener, "I know that your image was copied by some chimera and you were made to feel very uncomfortable, and when you asked for certain things not to occur with said chimera... you were at first ignored. I know someone oughta be ashamed of himself. This hold is not just your work place, though if it were, that would be enough to discourage that sort of behavior. It is a second home to you and I will not have the injustices of mortal work places arising here. Besides, you are a healer, you are an agent of the court, and the thane was wrong to forget that."

She twists her tail in her hands, mumbling and shrugging.

"I know that I am not always good at understanding pooka, but if you can let me know if you want a formal repreimand in some way, it will be happen and the baroness informed. "

Her eyes widen and she shakes her head.

"Fine. You let me know if anything Like that happens to you again here. On a person note? If you need a hug I'm here. That shit's got to be disturbing"