grabds

The wind blows gently, tugging your sleeves like a mischievous child.

It brings many scents to share: the earthy aroma of freshly squeezed rapeseed oil, the crisp freshness of neatly stacked rice straws, and the fragrance of rice stir-fried in the pan.

And so, you know all that is happening in these fields.

Shu said she passed through fields like these on her way from Dahuang to Rhodes Island.

Are they wheat fields?

Not just wheat, but also rice, sorghum, and sometimes just wild grass, many plants whose names I don't know, all growing so tall.

A narrow dirt road extended out from the field. It had just rained, and there were pesky mud pits all over the place.

No, Grain Buds, please, no rain!

Alright. It was sunny.

It was sunny, and the bugs and fowlbeasts chirped happily.

That's right. The sun made the grass nice and toasty. Bugs that can't take the heat went to hide in the shade.

Sounds so nice...

Dozing off already? Don't forget you promised to go to bed after this story, all of you. The doctors say you need to get lots of sleep.

What about you, Grain Buds? Are you going to bed, or are you gonna wait for Shu?

She won't be coming today because she has so much to do. I'll get some rest too, once you all fall asleep. I don't want this cold to get any worse.

Keep going, Grain Buds—we'll be good.

A truck came rolling from afar, filled with fresh grain, and a thick layer of straw on top.

Why is there straw on top?

The young farmer driving the truck was in a hurry to get the food to the granary. He put a layer of straw over the grain, just in case it rained.

But he's worried...

Why is there a dark cloud following me on a sunny day?

I need to go faster. If it rains...

Whoa!

Wh-What happened?

Don't worry, no one got hurt. But he found that the road before him was blocked as soon as he turned the corner.

Whose stockbeast and burdenbeast are these? Get them out of the way!

Hey—

But nobody answered.

He walked up to the burdenbeast, but there was no bridle on its neck, nor tag on its ears. The stockbeast had a saddle, but he couldn't get it to move, no matter how hard he pulled.

The dark cloud got closer. The anxious farmer got an idea and pulled a handful of straw from the truck.

Here! You can have this, if you come over here!

Over here, over here—

Even the animals ignored him!

What did he do?

Why wouldn't they move?

What do I do? My grain will be ruined if it rains!

Wait, this isn't a trap to rob me, right? Is there somebody hiding in the trees?

He was just imagining things.

Go! Shoo! Get lost!

I think I have a whip in my truck for cutting through dense grass.

Grain Buds...

The young farmer took out the whip, but hesitated. The burdenbeast and stockbeast looked at him placidly, without fear, without moving.

The dark cloud drifted ever closer.

He raised his whip up high—

Stop!

Stop! I can get them out of the way.

Hey, how come you're in the story, Grain Buds?

It's not me, just a girl who happened to pass by. I'm just, er, playing her part.

They're so docile, how could you bear to whip them?

What do you suggest, then?

Simple. I'll just ask politely. I've got a lot of experience.

You can talk to animals?

Of course!

The girl who just happened to pass by walked over to the animals and leaned in to listen.

Hey, kid—

Shh!

Well, what are they saying?

...Nothing.

Moo?

I... I can't understand them anymore!

Hey, Grain Buds!

No fair! How come you put yourself in the story? You weren't there!

I told you, it's not me, just a girl who happened to pass by. Must be a student from a nearby school.

Well, what's her name, then? Was she in the story when Shu told it to you?

You ask too many questions!

Here, you're in the story too! What are you supposed to be, then?

I'm a tree! Watch me rain leaves on your head!

Is it true that you can talk to animals, Grain Buds?

Of course it's true. I've told you so many stories. Did you think I could come up with them all by myself?

Does the girl who just happened to pass by understand animals too?

Can I learn to talk to animals?

Well, I've asked a lot of people. Shu, Big Buffalo, and the Doctor. As for the answer...

What?

You can do it, as long as you put your heart into it!

Some animals are very stubborn. It's not easy to get them to talk to people.

But once you understand what they're trying to do, you can understand what they're saying.

Understand what they're trying to do?

Yes!

I'm in no mood for jokes!

The grain in this cart is a new species from Dahuang! The old man at the granary will kill me if it gets wet!

Dahuang? Oh yeah!

Look at the tag on the stockbeast's neck! It came from Dahuang!

Looks like it. How did it get here? It's a long way from Dahuang.

Hey, I recognize you. You were pregnant at the time, and you were following in the rear of the pack, leisurely eating grass and basking in the sun.

What's with all these wounds? What happened to your baby? Did you get separated?

...Moo.

The stockbeast bowed her head. The silent burdenbeast took a step towards it, and they cuddled together.

Did you come to find your baby?

Don't worry, I'll help you find it. Can you tell me about your baby?

It's a good child.

It talked!

It has large, round eyes. We call it Roundie.

Most of the time, it was quiet and content, following us closely.

It's a strong child, keeping up with us on its trembling legs.

Does Roundie look like you?

Very much, but not at all to your eyes.

It's so small and likable... it hangs on to our shoulders lightly with its claws when it sits on us, so as not to hurt us.

But how did you get separated?

It's not its fault...

We had to leave.