“Hey, Holly?”

“Mhmm?”

“I’ve been having some trouble with this Earth-cookie recipe. I have plenty of regular salt, but this one calls for.. sea-salt? I know it’ll turn out fine regardless, but I’m intrigued! I’m gonna go read up about it later, what do you think?”

Xe pauses for a second, the gears in xyr mind already turning. “I’m gonna read up on it too.”

———

Holly approaches the ‘gates’ of Solden with nothing but her usual outfit and a bag, heavy with precious cargo. Minnow greets her casually. “Off to Gardenhome?”

“On a mission.”

He chuckles. “Figured. Keep yourself safe, alright?”

“Mmhm.”

———

Gardenhome, as usual, is full of cats upon every inch of tree and ground alike. But Holly’s gaze isn’t on the lush canopies full of gems and paints- it’s set on a shadier part of the scene.

Xe comes across a cat that looks like he has what she’s looking for. After nearly passing out from the strong smell of fish, he introduces himself as Marsh. His coat isn’t nearly as luxurious as Holly’s, and white marks cover the better part of his face and body. He shows her a varied selection of fish, and she contemplates getting a minnow for the jokes, but decides against it.

“Do you have any.. seasalt?”

“I’ve got anything, for the right price,” he says, dragging out another box full of shells, seaweeds, and.. beautiful chunks of seasalt.

Xe points to a few strung on a thin but sturdy thread. “I’ll have those.”

“And what are you offering?”

Xyr paw reaches into her bag, producing a glimmering blue butterfly that rivaled the ocean’s waves on a moonlight night.

“Now that’s a pretty bug,” he remarks, “but what el-“

Holly slides him a couple of yellow notes.

“And that is a pretty stack of cash. You’ve got yourself a deal, Silks,” he says, and the two exchange goods over a pawshake.

It’s then that Holly realizes she never told him her name. It’s probably for the better.. she’ll likely never need his help again.

———

Holly approaches Solden’s gates once again. It’s sunset- it seems like it always is, the way everything is bathed in golden light. As she gets closer, she’s greeted by Rat. Minnow must not have expected her back this early.. or anyone, for that matter.

“Stop right there, intruder!” Rat calls, waving a fake sword that so happens to be a knife. “If you want to intrude, you must pay the necessary fee!”

All they get out of her is a laugh. “Calm down, I got you something too,” she says, handing them a small bead she found on the forest floor. They immediately run off into the village past her as Minnow returns to his watch, flashing her a cheerful look.

———

“Hey, Noelle?”

“Holly?! You’ve been gone all day, where were you?”

Xe smirks. “At the library. I found something awesome.”