The Berries of Happiness

 

Berries

  Lapis loved berries her entire life. She would sneak out of the house to pick berries in the wild patches near her home, and eat most of them before she returned. She would make deals with her older siblings so she could have their berry-infused sweets, cakes and pastries.   Her eldest brother Faelan was the most susceptible to her pleas, and would help her clean his room when her six-year-old self could not quite manage it, then give her the sweet (while sneaking back into the kitchen and grabbing another for himself). She would beam brighter than the sun as she scarfed the treat.   If ever she needed a gift, anything berry-ish would bring a smile to her face. Clothing, jewelry, toys, anything with a berry on it was her next favorite thing.  

 

And More Berries

  Once she moved to Jiy, Lapis discovered the best place to find berry anything was Candycakes, a market in the Grey Streets known for its sumptuous sweets. She often did not have the funds to spend much there, but when she did, berries drew her. Whether winterberries, riverberries, mountainberries, dawnberries, sugarbits, yumplums, they all filled her with glee.   And Candycakes was not the only place to get the scrumptious fruit! Outside of Jiy out Blossom way, there was a small community of farmers, and one in particular grew the best berries that side of the Kells. Lapis, while on chases, would stop and buy a handful to savor. Pleased with her enthusiasm, the grower saved the fattest, sweetest berries for her.   And, of course, there were the berry-picking sites. For a nominal fee, Lapis carted the rats who wanted to join her to the berry fields. They filled baskets and returned to the Eaves to gorge on their bounty—and sometimes they would share with the tavern patrons who did not have a similar opportunity.   The sweetest thing her partner Patch ever did for her was purchase a basket of Ramiran sugared yumplums. The fruit, which tasted like how honeysuckle smelled, sailed down her gullet in one sitting. She shared, of course, but Patch knew the sharing was very one-sided. He did not care, because he received the most loveable thank-you from her sweetened lips.   It made him happy to make her happy—another bit of bliss brought to them by berries.