story_grabds_1_1

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.

Leave Dahuang? Why? If you were looking for fresher pastures, you only needed to go as far as the river bank.

We kept walking. When there was no path in the hills and rivers, we walked over them by stepping on rocks.

But our baby was separated from us along the way.

So you won't move until you find your calf?

Have you any idea how far Dahuang is from here? How long is that search gonna be?

Look at that dark cloud! It could rain at any moment!

Say something, girl!

How about... how about you two move out of the way and let him pass? I'll stay and help you look for your baby.

No. There is another reason.

Gah!

Why won't the burdenbeast talk? Is he here to look for the baby?

He cannot talk to you yet, for the same reason... a reason that you have not figured out yet.

The young farmer sat down and cocked his head, looking at the dark cloud that was gradually descending, casting a shadow over the trees, road, burdenbeast, stockbeast, and humans.

Are you sleepy? Should we stop here?

No! You're just getting to the good part!

Shh, keep your voice down, the young ones over there are asleep.

You can tell it to me quiet, Grain Buds! What did the lost baby look like?

The doctor who brought me to Rhodes Island said I have eyes like my mother... does the calf look like its parents?

If stockbeasts can talk, their baby can look like anything. It's just a story, no need to care so much.

Well, I DO care!

Shh—do you want to hear what happened next or not? I promise that you'll find out what the calf looks like soon enough.

What are you muttering to yourself over there? I thought you said you could fix this!

I'm working on it. She should be here like, now... let's wait a little longer.

What? That rain isn't waiting for anybody!

Just give me a sec!

I'm sorry. If you don't have a way... I'll have to use my whip.

Wait, she's here! Over there!

A Xian came by the road.

She had a few strands of millet in her hand, and there were a few muddy spots on her pants.

Are you going to the granary?

Yes, Exalted Xian! It's about to rain, and I have to hurry. Look over there...

You mean the dark cloud? Don't worry, it won't rain.

And there's no need to hurry... the road up ahead has collapsed.

Collapsed? How can that be? There shouldn't be any floods in this season.

Which makes it all the more difficult to predict. Perhaps it was already damaged a few years ago by the mountain fissure, and it finally gave way today.

You saved his life by blocking the path.

Moo.

You knew the road ahead would collapse?

Mm-hm.

Is that the other reason?

Partly. He's not the only one we're trying to help.

Yes. Now that you are aware of the danger ahead, it's time for us to go.

Wait! I've figured out the other reason, haven't I? Why doesn't he want to talk to me?

Some words do not need to be said out loud to be understood.

They're going?

As if just realizing something, the farmer grabbed a bunch of grain from his truck and chased after the burdenbeast and stockbeast.

Wait! Thank you! I want you to have this!

*huff* *huff* Wh-Why can't I catch them, even though they're walking so slowly?

Those that are gone will remain beyond your grasp. It is the way of things. There is no need for regret.

Look, the dark cloud is gone, just as I told you.

The dark cloud was indeed gone, and sunlight shined through where it once was.

The young farmer panted with his hands on his knee, but he did not drop a single grain.

Suddenly, there was a sound from the truck. A little beastling poked its head out, then jumped from the cargo bed. It looked just like a dark cloud.

Apparently just woken up, it shook a bunch of straw off itself, having no idea how it got here.

I smell Mommy and Daddy! Where are they?

The young storm cloudbeast ran a few circles around the truck, leaping up and down.

Where's Mommy and Daddy? Where am I?

Are you... Roundie?

You know me? Hey, you look familiar... have I met you before?

Why were you on the truck?

I don't know. I just took a nap in a haystack because the sun was really warm.

When I woke up, Mommy and Daddy were nowhere to be found! But I could smell them!

They were just here! They're not far away! Look!

What's that?

Your mommy and daddy!

Huh?

I... I don't recognize them. I only remember their scent.

How could you not recognize them?

Your eyes are big and round, just like that stockbeast.

I don't remember!

But they do... they said you were quiet and content when you were little, always following close behind them.

They said your legs trembled, but you kept walking forward.

They said that when you sat on their shoulders, you always grabbed lightly with your claws so you wouldn't hurt them.

Th-That's me!

The little storm cloudbeast spun around anxiously, on the verge of tears.

But I haven't seen them in years!

Your mommy and daddy are over there! I'll take you to them!

The storm cloudbeast jumped into Grain Buds's arms. She sniffed and ran towards the burdenbeast and stockbeast under the red clouds.

She ran and yelled—

Wait!

I found your baby!

The silent burdenbeast seemed to hear her, and stopped in its tracks, turning around to wait.

Grain Buds picked up her pace and tried to bring the storm cloudbeast to the burdenbeast.

But she simply could not close the distance with the burdenbeast, no matter how hard she tried.

I-It's no use. You can't catch them.

They're... gone.

But the burdenbeast was just standing there. It never left.

Grain Buds was exhausted and came to a stop, panting heavily. In the sunset, the shadows were stretched long and thin, like lines of ink that never fade.

I will do it.

What?

I will take Roundie to her parents. I will make her recognize them.

A-Are you really a Xian?

There's no such thing as Xians. We're all the same: ordinary people who care with our hearts.

Isn't that so, girl who just happened to pass by?

With our hearts... that's how we hear animals and recognize lost loved ones, right?

In that case, I'll leave Roundie in your hands.

No need to worry. I promise...

You're back! What about the calf?

I left it to the Xian. She'll get Roundie to her mommy and daddy.

Say, can I hitch a ride?

Sure. Where are you going?

If it's not going to rain, I'm in no hurry. I plan to turn around and go to the granary by another way.

I'll go there too! I'll find another way to Dahuang from the granary.

Dahuang, eh? That's a long way. Maybe you'll run into that stockbeast and burdenbeast again!

The girl who happened to pass by jumped onto the truck, into the thick layer of straw. Putting her arms behind her head, she gazed at the clouds in the sky.

The trucks started moving. Swaying in the wind, the straws tickled her face, but she did not mind.

The straw, made nice and toasty by the sun, was like the fur of a stockbeast past autumn, taking her into its gentle embrace.

She felt like she was sleeping on top of a stockbeast... or perhaps a burdenbeast, or a storm cloudbeast.

Zzz—

Asleep already, Grain Buds?

Mm...

Exalted Xian...

Oh, your blanket's come off again. Got to cover up with your blanket to get better quickly.

Remember me...

Mommy... Daddy... please... recognize me...

You've grown again. This blanket's getting small for you.

Zzz—

Sleep, Grain Buds. Sweet dreams.

I'll stay by your side, until you wake.