drabble treat (?) and uhh introspective longer story under the cut
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Miryam smiled as the Zephyr emerged in Gath. It may have been her imagination, but it appeared that the skies over Eisengeist were a little clearer than when she'd left.
It was autumn. There were glowing gold and red leaves on the few trees snaking into the air. She breathed deeply, relieved to find minimal smog entering her lungs.
Miryam loved autumn. The cooler weather, the beautiful colors, the warm family traditions. Apples and honey. Gold-red fires. Quiet time with family. Neighborhood festivals.
It had been some time since Eisengeist experienced true autumn. It felt fitting to return home now.
Miryam remembered being a child, excited for the autumn harvest festival. Why there was a harvest festival when there was nothing to harvest in Eisengeist, she never knew. It never stopped anyone from celebrating, that was for sure.
In her youth, Miryam had been dazzled by the festivities. Golden candles and lanterns lit the streets with a soft glow. Jaunty music, from some bard or another, would lift the atmosphere. A bountiful block party, with a street fair during the day allowing the families to intermingle and share their stories and commune together.
And in the evenings? Well, in the evenings it was time for the children. Every child on her street had talked of nothing else for weeks. They compared costume ideas, shared tips on how to charm the adults, and mostly just exclaimed about how exciting it all was.
Miryam remembered all sorts of treats. Harvest fruits, no doubt shipped in from other regions of Gath, dipped in shiny candy coatings. Spun sugar that would stick to your teeth and your spirit. Small pastries filled with cinnamon and delicate dough. And cider, cups and cups of it, warm and cozy.
She remembered the joy of dressing up, one of the only times she was allowed to let loose in her attire. When she was really young, she liked to be a cat, or perhaps a mouse. As she grew older, characters from her favorite books crowded in. She was pretty sure she had been Captain Junker for three years in a row.
Miryam remembered the times of reflection and community. The quiet blessings the adults would pass over with their treats. The care and diligence she had put in to make sure she replied just right. The joy that filled her neighborhood as they celebrated the turn of the seasons.
It had been a long time since then. As she got older, the smog from more central areas of Eisengeist rolled out and became more intense. Outdoor celebrations became too harsh, and while they moved indoors, it didn't have the same energy. Miryam's mother, always protective, was hesitant to let her out much.
To be honest, Miryam thought back on those early days with the golden haze of nostalgia and childish innocence. How much had she missed? Her mother had been quick to send her away to school, and that sense of community faded as she devoted herself to her studies. Gaining employment with the Gotches right out of school was a great achievement, even if that left her in the capital more often than not. A sprawling urban shadow, there wasn't much autumn in the capital. Miryam had slowly lost her sense of the seasons, and it had been years since she had thought of the changing colors and community blessings.
Now she had been to a whole new world. Leaves had more colors than you could imagine. Treats of all sorts could be had for nothing, as cheerfully handed over as if she were still a child. The Odan Sun Lion festival, while different in many ways, sent a pang to her heart as she remembered the autumn festivities of her childhood. Zood had been a breath of fresh air - literally, no smog about to poison your lungs - but also a reminder of the beauty of the natural world and community and childlike wonder.
Emerging over the skies of Gath, Eisengeist on the horizon, the sun golden, the trees decorated in all their splendor... Miryam wondered if she might just be able to feel the joys of autumn again in a wider world than she'd ever known. Maybe she'd help the Wind Riders set up their own autumn festival. Community can be found where you make it, after all.
Maybe she'd dress up as a cat again - or perhaps a LaMontgommery mouse.
