The Fruit Tree Sprite

Cha flitted from one branch to the next, coaxing a reluctant blossom here, restoring a wilted leaf there. A squirrel bounding over the grass paused when Cha shot him a dirty look. Orchard sprites had excellent aim. He might sink his greedy little teeth into a few immature fruits but sooner or later, he'd find himself short a few patches of fur. He wisely elected to look for easier pickings.

Cha checked the length of her reins as she settled the saddle on Shimmer's back. Even the best fairy steed remains wild at heart. If Shimmer got distracted, the orchard sprite would find herself drifting like a dandelion seed on the wind. She might even end up in the dreaded Land of the Gnomes. They thought only of digging in the dirt and raising vegetables. Fruit was obviously superior.

Shimmer took her down the line from one tree to the next. She could use her own wing power but such long flights required a great deal of energy. That same energy was better used in restoring as many plants as possible.

The shriveled cherry tree on the northern border was a reminder of what happens to a plant that stops receiving the attentions of faeries. Shimmer fluttered over to a butterfly bush for a snack while Cha visited the rest of the cherry trees.

Cha braced herself against the trunk when she heard the telltale jingle of dog tags. The dog was trapped by a fenced lawn that bordered the orchard. He sniffed the air and started barking when he picked up Cha's scent.

She flicked some magic dust in his face. It didn't have any effect, other than making him sneeze. He barked more ferociously and started to tear at the grass with his claws. His barks turned to whines of protest when a grumbling human dashed into the dog run to drag him away.

Cha ripened a single cherry to ruby red, creating a snack of her own. She gorged herself, then blessed the cherry pit. If no hungry forager found it in the winter, it would give birth to a new tree.

The raspberry patch to the east was by far her favorite feature. She danced from one thorny stalk to the next, transforming flowers into immature berries that were somewhere between pale green and white.

The rain shower hit suddenly and without warning. Cha danced the length of a vine, dodging raindrops and trilling for Shimmer. She'd just spotted a flash of orange out of the corner of her eye when a wind-whipped stalk of grass sent her flying.

She landed in a mound of dirt with a thick, earthy scent.

A thousand beady eyes popped open.

She'd awoken the dreaded Garden Gnomes.

They came at her with their grubby little hands extended. Simple-minded buffoons. They thought everything green was meant to be plopped in the ground and covered with dirt.

Cha shook the mud from her wings. Even without the added weight, heavy rain would prevent her from taking off. She was trapped!

Shimmer swooped down at the last possible second, snatching Cha and doing a barrel roll that left the gnomes staring in awe. This early in the summer, any color but brown was a revelation to them.

Shimmer landed heavily in the grass just outside the garden gate. Cha wiped down her friend's sodden wings with beeswax and gave Shimmer a drink of thistle milk from a grass blade bottle. They were grounded until the weather improved but at least they were safe from the dreaded gnomes!

credits

Lea

Pureflower