Jade Fern Grove lay upon my big brass bed

AW but looking for @Vuk! Set 03/31

things were smooth in elysium. olive's pregnancy was progressing well, and her friend, the dark-furred lily, had given birth to three little ones. she was very protective of them, though let cortez near enough; he was more than happy to look after the brood if the satori needed to rest. it was good practice, anyway, for when his new bundle of nieces and nephews came into the world.

yes, smooth enough that he felt comfortable in meandering today, aimless, looking for things of interest. the fern grove was intriguing. he liked ferns, their notched, hairy-looking fronds—they seemed a throwback to a different era, one long before his time. stepping into the grove was like stepping back in time; even cortez, with no knowledge of the cretaceous period or dinosaurs, could appreciate that fact.

he padded through for a while, then paused to lap at a tiny trickle of a stream that ran through the place. the water was cool and fresh, augmented by snowmelt, and he let himself relax as he drank in not only that water, but the gentle aura of the ferns as well.