HiveComb

Wraithvine lost a bet with a family that runs an orphanage. What did they want in return? A magical pouch of edible and medicinal plant seeds that never emptied no matter how many were planted. They would never again worry about not having enough to feed the kids. -- Anon Guest

[AN: personally believing this is some kind of test by the orphanage because of mummers and fraudsters pretending to be hir. Only Wraithvine would purposely lose a bet to help an orphanage]

It began with a rambunctious toddler running off with Wraithvine's breadroll. Sans a tailclout. Of course ze rescued the little rogue from the path of a speeding carriage, and of course ze asked about where the little one belonged.

"With those grungy overwashed clothes?" sniffed one of the roaming highborn. "That has to belong to the orphanage."

Wraithvine thanked her and made a mental note to teach the area some manners at a later date. The small child needed their carers. And the orphanage needed it too, if the tot was stealing bread. Of course Wraithvine let them keep it. Ze could not do otherwise and still be hirself.

Ze did not get thanks ze expected. Wraithvine got a glare from the Hellkin nurse who answered the door and, "Another one. And what are you selling with the return of our wandering star?"

"Just trying to offer a helping hand," said Wraithvine.

"Uhuh. Just like the other five. And you'll somehow wander off with more money than we can afford. Just like the other five. I'd like one of you to be honest for a change, so what's your scam?"

"Pretenders have been darkening your doorstep, I take it," ze handed over the toddler. "Name your test. I'll go through with it."

Charity named a children's game, something they could do with the material available. It involved getting a small, leather bag of river pebbles as close as possible to a stake in the ground. Any bag laying outside the surrounding circle automatically lost. If she won, Wraithvine would be obligated to supply the orphanage with something precious. If Wraithvine won, ze would lay claim to anything ze liked from the Orphanage. Just one thing.

"One throw each," said Charity. "Winner takes all."

Of course she was practiced since she had the most time playing it with the kids. She landed hers right next to the post.

Wraithvine imitated her form. weighing the small sack in the swing of hir arm. Winding up for an underarm lob... and then tossing it backwards over hir shoulder. "Oops," ze said unconvincingly. "Looks like I lost. What do you truly need?"

Charity raised an eyebrow, tapping one claw against the opposite elbow. "All right. You might be the real Wraithvine. We need a way to feed these kids and treat their ailments. Something that won't, or can't, be stolen or taken from us."

"I'll need my workshop," said Wraithvine. Ze found a place to deploy hir portable tower and seemed to vanish within. The air around the spontaneous cottage rippled strangely for a handful of minutes. Wraithvine emerged looking like ze hadn't rested for a fortnight - which was technically true. In each hand, ze had a small pouch. One bearing the symbol for the tree of life, and the other holding a pictogram of a bowl with a spoon in it.

"Endless seed pouches," announced Wraithvine, looking more than a little punch-drunk. "One for the food, the other for the medicine. Plant one in the orphanage soil, and water it with a simple cup from your well, and it will grow enough to feed the orphanage for one day. The same hold true for the medicine, but the pouch has to touch someone who's sick before you plant. No matter what, they will return to this orphanage and the people who run it." Ze passed the pouches to Charity, and then passed out.

Ze'd wake in one and a half days, tucked in to one of the orphanage's beds. Surrounded by a small pack of curious children eager to actually see the real Wraithvine.

[Photo by achmad adi wiratama on Unsplash]

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