Page 2 of Pocket Full Of Posies (Snowberry #2)

My morning inspection of the gardens is short and uneventful. The gardens are quiet, the flowers not having much to say today. The butterflies in the greenhouse are awake and active, fluttering about and enjoying the last of the warm days. Inside the greenhouse is always kept warm but butterflies like the sunshine, just like me, and soon that’ll be little to nonexistent.

Once I ensure the plants and butterflies are doing well, I use my menial magic to help a few stubborn flowers finish blooming. I head in the direction of the tree line to the forest that doubles as the property line to our land.

The land to the east belongs to the town, the north to the Evans’s family who bought up much of the land before the town even existed, and to the west a few acres belong to the Kingsley’s, one of the nymph families that keeps land here for holidays and seasonal celebrations. They don’t live here full time, only visiting and using their mansion and property as a vacation home.

The Kingsley’s are one of those families that have a lot of money and properties, traveling the world with homes in numerous states and countries. I’ve seen them from a distance, know who they are, just like anyone else in town. They’re powerful and high ranking among the nymph and non-human community. Whereas I am considered to be the bottom of that totem pole, insignificant and unworthy of their time and association.

Entering the woods I stay to the north, making my way to where Delphi’s nest lies deeper into the Evans’s land. The land may belong to Hunter and his family but it’s open to all non-humans to allow us a space to be ourselves and not worry about the outside world. I made Delphi’s nest for her using what little magic I possess, twisting branches and leaves to form a hanging egg shaped nest house. With every change of the season, I check on its structure and solidity ensuring it is structurally sound and ready to withstand the weather to come.

Uncurling my tail from around my waist I let it fall and hang down the leg of my overall shorts. Here in the woods there’s no one to see it or mock its short length and thin frame. As tails go, it’s pretty pathetic, looking more like a mouse tail. It was surprising I had one at all, considering earth nymphs typically don’t have animal characteristics. I think it’s because humans have tail bones that somewhere in their evolution was a tail. Thus, mixing magic with recessive human genetics you get me and my strange little tail.

Mine just had to be the lamest of all the tails ever known, but it’s mine all the same. Despite its slender shape, lack of fur and color matching my skin tone, I still love it. Even my green vine markings swirl around the end tipping it in green.

I’ve only been walking for a few minutes when a blue and white furry blur leaps from a branch overhead and aims straight for my head.

Delphi, the energetic, loving, and playful sprite, lands right on top of my head, her fluffy body practically smothering me. With tiny, clawed hands reminiscent of a racoon’s, she reaches out and grips at my hair and flowers, chittering a sound that’s a mix of a fox’s high pitch yips, a squirrel’s clicking twitters, and a cat’s purr. The sound is uniquely hers. I have no idea what she’s saying but I’ve known her long enough to guess.

“Well hello to you too. Did you miss me?”

More chitters, this time louder and more animated.

“I missed you too. Where have you been running off to lately? Storing treasures and food for the winter?”

Delphi tends to have a bit of a thieving problem. Snagging small objects from unattended purses, backpacks, and strollers, storing them in the hollow of the tree her nest hangs from.

She chitters more quietly, sounding guilty. I can tell that much with my nymph hearing. Her blue and white striped body finally releases my head, and she plops into my arms.

When I first found her, I was ten years old, and Delphi was about the size of a kitten. She was lost in the forest and I had no idea what she was until I brought her home and Tobias explained she was an adolescent sprite. Sprites are creatures of pure magic, usually small and animalistic, living in the wild away from modern civilization. Peaceful and mischievous by nature but also extremely loyal and protective. If threatened they can defend themselves, viciously if needed. One should never cross a sprite. Their magic is more powerful than even a fairy’s, which is unfortunately why elves like to use them for immoral purposes.

Now, nearly thirteen years later, she’s more the size of a small dog, weighing around twenty pounds. The general shape of her body something akin to a red panda. Covered in soft, thick white fur with rich blue horizontal stripes lining her body ringing all the way down her short fluffy tail, ending in a puff of the color that gave her her name.

Delphi is short for Delphinium, a small bloom flower a lovely shade of bright sapphire with veins and tips of lavender. A flower that symbolizes positivity, a sense of cheerfulness and optimism. She doesn’t have the lavender coloring but it’s still well suited for my sweet friend.

Her cute little ears twitch on her head as she looks up at me with round pitch-black eyes, trying to give me her most innocent and sweet expression. I don’t believe it for one minute. Sprites are mischievous by nature and Delphi is no exception. She just happens to like my company and rummaging around town, unlike the rest of her sprite brethren, who remain hidden deeper in the woods only interacting with non-humans they deem unthreatening, and usually during celebrations held within the forest.

“Come on then. Let’s see what you’ve found this time.”

Delphi perks up and crawls onto my shoulder, wrapping her tail around my neck and holding onto my hair with one tiny hand.

As we walk, I talk with Delphi as I always do. She’s the only one I feel I can open up to who won’t judge me.

“Sage asked me to go to the equinox celebration again. He seems more adamant about it this time for some reason. I told him I’d think about it just to ease his fretting. I probably won’t go, but maybe I’ll give it a little extra thought before I say no this time.”

I shrug the shoulder not occupied by Delphi, who has quieted to listen. I’d like to think she understands me even if I can’t understand her.

“Do you think I should go? I know a few times you’ve snuck off to it yourself. Don’t deny it.”

Delphi lets out a high pitch rolling chirp I interpret as an indignant; So? I laugh and continue walking through the cooling forest. The green leaves are already shifting to yellow which will soon be orange and red, then none at all.

“It’s okay, I don’t care if you go. You should go if you enjoy it. I just don’t know if I’d enjoy it.”

Clicks and chirps come in rapid succession from Delphi on my shoulder, and I’m guessing she’s listing all the reasons I should go and why I would enjoy it, if her jubilant and excited tone is any indication.

“Of course, you’d enjoy it. You’re the most adorable sprite there is. I’m sure everyone who meets you, loves you. But not everyone feels the same about me. I’m half human, and half-breed hybrids are frowned upon in certain circles. I’m also too awkward and socially inept. I wouldn’t know what to say. Every time I open my mouth all I can manage to talk about without sounding like an imbecile, is plants.”

More chittering and now hand gesturing.

“Yes, I know most earth nymphs like to talk about plants but there are others that attend that aren’t earth nymphs. What am I supposed to talk to them about?”

Groaning, I let out a large exhale. I should probably talk about this with someone who speaks English. At least then maybe the supportive pep talk might sink in and push me to step out of my bubble, like Sage wants.

“I knew you and Sage would agree. It seems I’m the only one who thinks this is a bad idea.”

Delphi pets my head like a comforting mama, and I can’t help but smirk at the gesture. I remain quiet the rest of the way to her nest. My thoughts boomerang from outright refusal, to attending the equinox, to a curious desire to experience the celebration. If only to know why everyone looks forward to them all year round.

Not once have I ever gone to a celebration. At least not that I can remember. After the failed attempt that was public schooling, I never wanted to go to parties or large gatherings. It was safer to just stay home and remain on the outside of society, only interacting when required at the nursery.

Not long ago, Sage had forced me to work the main entrance to the greenhouse and assist customers. It was torture, forcing me to smile and chat with everyone who entered, offering to help walk them through picking flowers. It was extremely uncomfortable until I met Lottie, a human from out of town. At least we all thought she was human. Now she’s mated to our mayor and alpha shifter. According to Tobias’s gossip, she’s part siren. A recessive gene from her ancestor allowed her to have a mate bond with a non-human and even possess a few magical abilities.

We still don’t know what this means for the future but it’s sounding like half-breeds, like myself, will be even less prominent. If humans have recessive genetic links to non-humans allowing them to form mate bonds, it could mean full blooded non-human children. No more half humans lacking the ability to glamour or use their natural magic. I’ll be even more of an outcast than I already am.

As a half-breed I am intrinsically able to form a mate bond since one of my parents is a non-human. If I were to mate with a non-human male my human genetics would still make our children partially human, not by much but enough that it could affect them to be different. Enough that in a world of dwindling non-humans and pure bloods it would persuade males to think twice before mating a half-breed.

I don’t know what makes these new humans with recessive genes more able to have full blooded non-human children than me, but it’s all too new to know anything. I can only go by what I know, and how it’s been for thousands of years. I can’t expect some miracle gene to appear in me like it has for Lottie. She could be a single mutation that may never occur again.

It doesn’t matter how many times my parents and Sage tell me there’s nothing wrong with me and anyone would be lucky to be with me, I just don’t see it happening.