Submission (#2730) Approved

Spruce hopped cheerfully down the path, waving to a group of terras as they passed. They leapfrogged over a rock, skirted around a microbe terra, and took a hard left into a field. Wading through the long grass, they pushed their way out onto an expanse of sand and rocks, waves crashing against the beach. Spruce snatched up some flowers before walking down to the water, sitting on a large flat rock. They picked up some stones, throwing them one by one into the ocean.

After a minute or two, a dark shape emerged from the water. Abyssal stepped onto the sand, shaking themself off. Spruce turned away to avoid getting splashed. ‘Hi!’ Spruce sent.

Abyssal tilted their head, looking down at the bug terralien. ‘Flowers?’ it asked. Spruce thrust the bouquet toward Abyssal, who took it hesitantly. ‘What are these for?’

Spruce wiggled their antennae in excitement. ‘It’s February! The month of love!’

Abyssal managed to look puzzled despite having no face. ‘Like when terras have a family together?’

Spruce shook their head. ‘No, silly, love can be for friends too. I love you so I’m giving you some flowers.’

Abyssal wasn’t the type to understand these sorts of things, but they knew Spruce did, and so it sniffed the flowers through its sensor, enjoying how happy Spruce looked. ‘Thank you.’

‘What do you want to do today? We could go for a walk,’ Spruce suggested. That was one of their favorite things to do together.

‘Sure.’ They set off up the hill, walking through the field at an angle towards the woods. Spruce walked behind the bigger terra, stepping in the path of flattened grass they left. The woods had lighter undergrowth, and Spruce was able to walk alongside Abyssal. They meandered aimlessly, enjoying each other’s company as well as the nature around them.

Spruce, as usual, provided most of the conversation, which was just fine by Abyssal. They chatted about their other friends, visiting the farmer’s market in the village, and a cool bug they saw yesterday. They paused to rest beside a pond. Spruce pointed out tadpoles in the water, which swam away when Abyssal bent over the water, its shadow covering the shallows. Spruce had it stand still, and the tadpoles slowly came back, darting around in the pondweed and lilypads.
Abyssal dug a little hole by the water, sticking the flowers into it and pouring water over the dirt.

When they got up to keep walking, Spruce began talking again, cheerfully describing the names they had given to the tadpoles. Abyssal looked at them happily enjoying the day, carefree and full of wonder, and felt something warm and pleasant come over them.

Spruce paused, realizing Abyssal was silently watching them. ‘Is something wrong?’

Abyssal patted Spruce on the head. ‘No. Everything’s perfect,’ it said, and meant it. Spruce, reassured, grabbed Abyssal’s paw as they kept walking down the path.

Abyssal understood the flowers.