The house was nice. The mother was nice. But the father was away at the market so Tulip couldn't meet him. But the way Flower spoke of him, he must be nice.
"Thank you for helping Flower get home. She is always running off. Normally her father is here to catch her when she's missing and runs off with the hounds after her. She means well, but she so adventurous."
"It can be just a phase, right? Anyway, I was just on my way from a town and had to clear my head, and so I can think straight."
"Must not be a good town. Cuz' You're awful pale."
"I've been through a hard time there. Uhh, but it is a beautiful place to be once the flowers bloomed."
"You don't say. Well, you are welcome to stay here at our farm as long as you need. Just chip in around here and we'll get along just fine."
"Thank you I promise you'll love to have me around." It was true the town seems to be happy with Tulip did. But they didn't know it was her. They thought it was God. "Oh by the way what's the date?"
"Oh, it's May twenty-fifth, 900."
"Really. It has been a longer time than I thought."
"What was that doll?"
"Nothing just muttering to myself."
"Alright. Hey, do you mind picking the apples from the tree out back?'
"Not at all."
The apple tree was huge. But Tulip wanted to prove herself as a good person like she set out to be. The apples were big too. One apple was almost too big to fit her hand.
"Wow, these apples are huge! The climate is wonderful. This field is wonderful. This whole farm is wonderful, and those in it."
Soon the bushel was full. It didn't surprise Tulip either since the apples were so big. All she had to do was take them to the house. She lifted the bushel. It was heavy, but she was really strong. Like a tree, she could handle almost anything that was thrown at her.
Tulip was enlightened by her work. It was a small job, but she happy to do it. She entered the kitchen through the door by the counter. There was a clay oven with a small controlled fire under it. A small pie was baking. It filled the kitchen with the wonderful smell of apples. And smoke.
"You're done already?" said Carly, the mother. She came in with an empty bucket. She might be have been getting ready to milk the cow. "Well since you're done, do you mind milking Milky?"
"Your cow's name is Milky?"
"Flower's idea. We didn't name her yet when we had Flower, so when she was first talkin' she called the cow Milky. And it stuck ever since."
"That's nice. I'll go milk her and become acquainted."
"Thanks. You really are a blessin'."
The barn was neat. It had to have been built the father. It was done, but not done great. There were two cows, one milk white and the other dark brown, three gray sheep, four spotted pigs, and a brown and white spotted dog with bright blue eyes. There was a lot of animals for a little barn. But it seemed to work out well. The animals really got along.
"Hello there newcomer," said a kind, old voice. But when Tulip looked around she didn't see anyone. "I said hello newcomer. It's rude not to say hello back. I'm Milky."
Then it dawned on Tulip the cow was talking. Did the cow always talk or was it just her natural ability? If was just her, then she may have another form she may discover here.
"Hi. I'm Tulip."
"I know who you are. You look human but you smell tulip. And the Earth claims you as a tulip."
"Hold it, the Earth claims me as tulip? And animals- you- know who I am without me introducing myself?"
"Yeah. I for one have never been given a name to anyone without an introduction. But when the Earth is talking you listen. It's an animal rule. But not everyone listens."
"Whoa. That's- wow. I've got no words for that."
"Well you don't need one," the dog barked from his corner, "You just have to learn your place here then move on to find your place in the world."
"Umm, okay. I'll find my place here. But first I have to milk Milky. Like I came here to do originally."
The bucket was full and Tulip moved on to the next thing, but soon the chores were running out. Tulip took the chance to take a break and hang out with the animals some more. Learn what they knew about humans. They certainly knew more about them than she did.
"So what can you tell me about the humans. I don't know much since my first few encounters weren't very friendly."
"Well for one, humans get scared of things they don't understand," Milky mooed, "Another thing that they lash out at the things they become scared of. Unless they know they can't beat it. Like a wizard. Scared of them, but they just run away terrified instead of lashing out as they would you."
"But humans can't beat me. So why wouldn't they run away scared?"
"Unless they learn, they don't know what's too much for them."
"Yeah," barked Hunter, the old dog with the bright blue eyes, "Humans can either be kind to those they want to kind too, or they lash out. That's how it started with most animals. The humans were scared at first, but then grew to love as us as pets and companions."
"Huh. I just thought they didn't like me. But they were just scared? I did good things to help and was lashed out at. Humans aren't such good creatures."
"Never are," bayed a sheep.
"They just stopped listening to the Earth's messages. That's why they're the way they are. Just stupid" barked Hunter
"I wouldn't say stupid."
"Then what'd you say?"
"I don't know. Misunderstanding?"
"Try selfish dear," Milky mooed, "They take what they want from others and don't even bother asking. But we can't say a thing. That's the trouble with them. They have a language barrier that stops those they really need to listen to."
"What about plants? Can you guys talk to plants?"
"Plants don't have voices to use. You were made to have a voice to use. Unlike plants."
"Oh." Tulip's eyes began to water tears of crystals.
"But that's what makes you special kid," Hunter whimpers at the sight of Tulip's tears welling up.
"Thanks."
Tulip returned to the house. There was a man sitting at the table drinking some of the fresh milk Tulip just got. He looked old by his hair, but his features said young. Maybe in his early thirties. Maybe. He looks up and meets Tulip's wide, curious eyes.
"Hello there thief."
"What?"
"You stole from the sun, sky, and roses."
"No, I didn't! I haven't stolen anything!" Tulip blushed and was heated. She didn't like the fact she was being accused by someone she just met.
Carly came in the kitchen laughing. "He's just joking honey. Since your hair is so light it looks like it belongs to the sun. And your eyes to the sky. And your lips to the roses."
"Oh," Tulip felt foolish. She was just flustered that she was being accused and she really didn't know this man.
"You're a perky little thing. You didn't even think about what I said before you just jumped into protecting yourself."
"Sorry. It's just that... I really don't know you. Then you just go and accuse me somethin' I really didn't do. Sorry."
"Apology accepted. Hmm, you must not have a sense of humor."
"I still have yet to learn humor," Tulip mumbled under her breath.
"What was that miss?"
"Oh, nothing. Just humor isn't something I good at identifying."
"Hmm."
Tulip though she wasn't going to get out of there. Mr. Kelven is very intimidating. Tulip hadn't met any like him. Normally she wouldn't talk to anyone since her last reaction, but she was willing to try again. She will prove herself to Kelven like she did to Carly, and soon everyone would see past her differentness.