🍑 Peppermint Peaches 🍑

It was late in the season, the last of the hot summer days quickly being chased away by the chills of autumn, when Calliope flopped to the ground with a sniffle. Tears threatened to spill down flushed cheeks as the little sprout tried to calm herself down. She had been out day after day trying to find her core, her soul, her identity. Calliope normally wouldn't be trying so hard for something she believed would just come to her with time like it had many of her friends, but her sister Ophelia had been teasing her about it lately, so she was determined to make her proud and find it as soon as possible.

The baby nym's nubby paws swiped quickly at her dual-toned eyes as the first tear teetered there. No. She would not be a crybaby. Calliope could easily picture the scene that would be if her sister was witnessing this and it motivated her to push herself up and get back to work hunting for that connection to something, anything, out there.

"You can do it... you deserve a core... you are a good nym..."

The little sprout started up her little pep talk mantra, whispering quietly to herself as she moved. Her orbs tried to scan every frond, fruit, plant and fungi she came across, though her eyesight had never been the best and the oversized glasses perched on her face were cracked. Calliope paused at the edge of a pond before rubbing her nubby paws together nervously and turning away, not even bothering to look there. She knew in her heart that her core would never be an aquatic one due to her fear of deep waters. 

She passed through a small copse of tall trees with white and black trunks, shivering slightly in fear of the eye-like patterns surrounding her. Too eerie.

She passed through a meadow overgrown with green weeds taller than her with large white tufts at the tops, sniffling and squinting as the fluffy white pods irritated her eyes and caused them to water. Too allergic.

She passed through a thicket of beautiful crimson flowers with thick stalks of thorny vines, crying and running away when sharp pricks and cuts made her bleed. Too ouchy. 

She passed by a nearby vineyard filled with bunches of plump and cute purple fruits hanging from winding vines, regretting it immediately after popping one in her mouth and biting into it. Too sour.

She passed by a large fallen log that was rotting and had been taken over by many flat, disc-shaped mushrooms, her face crinkling in distaste of all the creepy crawly bugs with way too many legs that scuttled about. Too repugnant.

"You can d-do it... you deserve a a c-core... you a-are a g-good nym..."

The sweet sprout's voice trembled as she repeated through her mantra once more, tears flowing freely. She was nearing the end of her ropes after having spent yet another day trudging through the wilds without any core to show for it. Even the threat of her sister's relentless teasing, even if it was all in good jest, could only motivate her so much before even that did not work anymore.

Just as Calliope was getting ready to have a full breakdown, a rustling near the rotting log she had just left caught her attention. Her lip quivered and she sniffled nervously, furiously trying to wipe the tears from her eyes and adjusting her glasses to see better. 

"H-hello? Who... Who's there?" 

Insects suddenly scattered as a blurry form dove into view. The little sprout squeaked in fear and hid behind a large frond, steeling herself before finally peeking over it when the noise settled down. A pink and white fluffy tappy sat atop its perch on the log, crunching away happily on a feast of insects. 

"Oh... it's just a tappy... Hi there lil fella~"

Calliope breathed a sigh of relief and stepped out of hiding as she called out to the cute critter. It froze in its munching before darting off back where it came from.

"No wait!!"

The timid nym rushed forward after it, trying to follow the weird noises and broken twigs and dashing through the underbrush. It was not long before she had obviously lost the trail and she stumbled to a stop, sniffling once more. 

Nothing seemed to be going her way today. 

Calliope gathered herself and adjusted her glasses, done with the disappointing day and fully ready to collapse for a nap back at home and cry. She pushed her way through a large bush that she had ended up in the middle of, hoping to get her bearings on the other side. As the little sprout emerged, a gasp fell from her mouth and she clutched her nubby paws to her chest in awe. 

A grouping of gorgeous trees with branches winding intricately together overhead filled the small grove she now stood in. Though it was not flowering season, it was like the trees had been waiting to bloom just for her as many buds suddenly burst into their full blossoms. White, pink and red striped and stippled flowers filled the air, overwhelming Calliope with wonder. Hanging heavy from the limbs under the stunning flowers were ample and perfectly ripe fruits of soft pinks and creamy oranges colours.

The little sprout approached the nearest branches hanging low to the ground and lifted a nubby paw to caress the delicate flowers. As she came into contact with the silky petals and fuzzy fruits, a shock ran through her small frame.

This was it. This was her core. This was her soul. This was her identity. 

A feeling of rightness settled over the small nym and for once the tears pricking her eyes were of pure and utter joy. The long and hard weeks had been worth it and all of her insecurities over finding her core disappeared from her mind. 

Finally, finally Calliope could be who she was supposed to be.

「words ▸ 1000」