Tea to Warm the Soul

The wind whipped across Wingwatch on yet another chilly day. The clouds lingered with a heavy weight over the island, threatening the plateau with an incoming storm. The forecast had already called for rain, however rumors were going around camp there was a chance for hail. Everyone that could was hiding away from the oncoming cold. Inside in bundled piles, they set out plans for storm repairs before the storm had even arrived. With the important preparations on pause, morale was low.

Not all were inside keeping warm. Tangerine gritted her teeth against the cold, a thick cloak wrapped over her body. The ingredients for that day’s tea was still outside and they needed to bring it in before it all became soaked or frozen, or even encased in ice.

The crate was large, larger than Tangerine. A thick canvas wrap covered the top of it, whipping around in the wind that threatened to tear it from the rope keeping it on. A layer of frost had already accumulated on the sides.

Tangerine quickly lifted the canvas to check the fragile ingredients. Why a crate like this was left outside was beyond her understanding. Thankfully the fruits, spices, and tea leaves were all intact. So far. Relieved, Tangerine flattened the canvas back down and secured it in place. Now to get the crate inside. She jogged in place, warming up her limbs for what was about to be a monumental task.

“Come on, you can do it,” she hyped herself.

She placed her front paws sturdily onto the side of the crate. With a deep breath, she shoved. Her back paws slid in the dirt, pushing her entire body into the crate. It creaked and groaned, slowly dragging across the ground towards the building. Slowly, but surely, it moved little by little. The wind continued to whip the air around Tangerine, sending her cloak rippling this way and that. What little use it was in the high winds just tied around her neck, she thought.

She continued to push. The crate inched forwards.

With a heavy sigh, Tangerine collapsed, sliding down to the ground with a soft thud. She was left catching her breath before daring to stand and see how far she had made it.

Not even a body’s length of movement.

Tangerine sat down, defeated. How was she to get this inside?

“Do you need help?” A deep voice asked.

Tangerine jumped to her feet. She looked up slowly at the large, blue-wax Candle Noodle in front of her. Their candle flame blazed bright despite the wind.

“Wh- how did- yes!” she blurted out. A quick shake of her head reoriented herself. “These tea ingredients need to get inside before they’re damaged in the storm.”

The blue-wax Candle Noodle simply nodded and replied with a quiet grunt. With little effort, they moved around to Tangerine’s side of the crate and began pushing it. Tangerine placed her paws on the crate and helped, though it was about as much as it was prior. With the mysterious Candle Noodle’s help, the crate was slid across the open yard, up a wooden ramp, and into the shelter of the building.

Tangerine let out a heavy sigh yet again, leaning against the crate as she sat down. The ingredients were safe.

“Thank you for-” she began to speak, only to realize the Candle Noodle that had helped her was gone.

She blinked a couple times. They had been there just moments prior, how could they have left already and so quietly? Tangerine stood up and opened the door just a smidge to peer outside into the wind. There was no sign of them. The courtyard was vacant.

With a sigh, Tangerine retreated back inside the warm building. There she was able to push the ingredients slightly easier across the wooden floor. She kept an eye and ear out for the stranger. Maybe they had slipped away among the crowd inside? Large benches and tables occupied the room with many a creatures socializing, planning, and preparing for the work that needed to be done once the storm passed. A large hearth roaring with fire was situated off to one side. Those who had been working just prior out in the wind were the closest to it. That is where Tangerine had expected to see the strange candle noodle, yet there was no sign of them.

The crate stopped abruptly as it hit the other crates on the far side of the room. Tangerine failed to stop when the crate did and slammed into it. A quiet laugh was heard just to her left. She looked up to see a green and yellow Lumendra lovingly gazing down at her. They sat upon a large set of steps, leading up to the top of a huge pot of tea. A constant fire roared under it, contained by a metal platform. In the Lumendra’s hand was a really, really long stirring spoon. They continued to stir as they spoke.

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah, I’m okay!” Tangerine chirped back, springing herself back to her feet.

“Good! Good!” the Lumendra cheered. “When you’ve recovered, bring up some orange peels, I think this batch needs it.”

“On it!” Tangerine turned towards the crate she had just brought in. It took her a moment to figure out how exactly to undo the rope around the canvas, but once she had she was able to access the ingredients. Thankfully, whoever had packed the crate to be shipped organized the ingredients neatly in labeled canvas bundles. Tangerine picked up the packet of orange peels and brought it up to the Lumendra.

“Thank you!” they chirped. “Come stir the pot for a bit while I add these in.”

The Lumendra slowed down stirring so the whirl of the tea wouldn’t take the stirring stick with it. They turned away from the pot, taking the packet of orange peels with them and scurrying along the wooden platform atop the pot. Tangerine was quick to take up the stirring stick. She carefully rotated it around the pot, swirling the numerous ingredients for that day’s batch of tea. The aroma alone rising from the mixture warmed Tangerine’s cold body. As she stirred, the Lumendra opened the canvas package and began added in the citrus. One by one each ingredient plopped into the tea below.

“Cold outside, isn’t it?” they remarked as they worked.

“Oh so, so cold!” Tangerine answered. “I should have secured my cloak tighter, the wind nearly took it away!”

The Lumendra laughed as they tossed in another bundle of peels. “That sounds about right! It’s always someone’s first storm where they learn the importance of tying on their cloaks properly.”

Tangerine and the Lumendra chatted amongst themselves for a while as the orange slices seeped into the tea. They each took turns stirring, when one got tired the other took over. Soon the tea was ready.

The Lumendra took a ladle and dipped it into the tea, taking a sip from it. “Perfect!”

They dumped what tea remained in the ladle and cleaned it off to set it aside. They scurried across the wooden platform to take up the stirring stick from Tangerine.

“Go down to the tap at the bottom of the pot and start pouring tea for everyone. I’m sure they’re all thirsty!” The Lumendra instructed.

“On it!” Tangerine eagerly replied. She descended the steps carefully and walked over to the table that had been set up near the tap. She called for some help from those that had been distributing other food. Tangerine helped for awhile pouring tea into the cups, placing them on trays, which would then be taken and distributed among those in the building. Eventually another Candle Noodle took over, allowing Tangerine to begin distributing drinks instead.

She wandered among the mages and helpers, handing them warm tea and chatting among them. Tangerine made sure to stop by the large hearth and give those by the fire some tea. They thanked her profusely, eagerly holding the warm mugs close to themselves.

Tangerine hopped back over to the pot, where it was being refilled with more ingredients.

“Is there anything else that needs to be done?” Tangerine asked, looking up to the Lumendra in charge.

The Lumendra tossed in a serries of leaves and spices before peering down from the platform. “Is there anyone outside that needs tea?”

Tangerine thought about the blue-wax Candle Noodle from earlier. “Yes- I think?”

If the Lumendra noticed the puzzled look they didn’t comment on it. “Then make sure they get some and tell them to get inside! The storm should be coming in soon!”

Tangerine nodded. She took a large mug of tea from the table and was about to head back out into the wind. Not before securing her cloak properly of course. Then she remembered something, and took a stop by the supply crates to grab a large extra cloak. With both tea and warm cloak in hand, she braced for the weather.

Just as before, the courtyard was devoid of life. The wind whipped through, flattening the grass against the ground. Tangerine felt a chill run down her spine as she flinched back from the bitter wind. The clouds looming overhead had darkened drastically. Tangerine steeled herself, venturing into the empty courtyard to find her savior from earlier.

“Hello?” Tangerine called out, her voice struggling to be heard past the wind.

She scoured for a while, searching around buildings, crates, and supplies. Yet there was no sign of the blue-wax Candle Noodle. Not so much a paw print or bright flame to guide her.

Tangerine found relief from the wind between a building and some crates. She sighed, situating herself against them and holding the warm tea close to herself. Maybe they had already moved inside and she kept missing them.

“Are you okay?” a familiar voice asked. Tangerine jumped for a second time, her eyes wide as she looked up to the shadow in front of her. It was the blue-wax Candle Noodle!

“Y-yes!” Tangerine stuttered, “I- I’ve been looking for you, actually!”

Before they could reply, Tangerine pushed the tea towards them. “For you, this too!” She took the spare cloak from her back and also held it out for the Candle Noodle.

Silently, the blue-wax Candle Noodle eyed the tea, then the cloak. Without word they put the cloak on over themselves and took the tea into their paws.

“Thank you,” they answered simply with a quiet, deep voice.

“You should really get inside, the storm is coming soon.” Tangerine advised them. She stood up and began walking towards the main building. The Candle Noodle didn’t follow.

“Come on!” Tangerine urged, trotting back towards them. “What’s the wait?”

“I’m making sure nothing flies away in the wind,” they answered.

Tangerine frowned, staring at them. At least they took a sip of tea under her glare.

“Nothing flies away? It’s cold out here, we can gather more supplies later if they do. However it would be rather hard to chisel you out from the ice encasing your wax once the storm passes!”

Tangerine flinched back, surprised at her own words. Was she too harsh? She opened her mouth to apologize only to pause as the blue-wax Candle Noodle began... laughing?

“You are right.” They stood up, tea still in paw. “It would be rather unfortunate to become the first sentient ice sculpture out here.” Tangerine swore she could see a faint smile on their face. She was relieved her words were not too harsh and her bad attempt at a joke hadn’t hurt his spirit.

“Then lets go! I’m freezing out here!” Tangerine remarked as she felt another chill run down her spine.

She was quick to turn around and begin speed walking back to the main building. Occasionally Tangerine glanced over her shoulder to make sure her new friend was following his steps were so quiet. Or maybe it was the wind that had hurt her eardrums it was so loud.

Tangerine opened the door into the main building, having to hold herself and it from being blown away by the wind. Thankfully the blue-wax Candle Noodle held sturdy, keeping it open and her safe as they entered and sealed out the cold.

“Thank you,” the blue-wax Candle Noodle mumbled to Tangerine.

Tangerine turned around, about to reply, until seeing he was already gone among the crowd. How such a large Candle Noodle like them could vanish so easily was beyond her understanding. But they were warm, safe, and inside now.

Her tasks complete, Tangerine stumbled over to the hearth to join the rest and warm up from the cold outdoors. Their work fighting the darkness shall continue tomorrow. After some well earned rest.