A fall filled with orange(s)

There weren’t too many things that Io would wake up excited about, however he always loved fall and more specifically the markets which popped up throughout the season. His favorites were those who chose to have makeshift night markets. The soft glow of fire in fabric lanterns lighting up the streets, or even better forest pathways. He loved nature and often enjoyed spending time in the forest rather than in town with others. He and Valkyrie had a tradition to spend at least two nights of the week in the wilderness enjoying the creatures found at night time when they dared to explore. Io had a growing collection of woolimoos, while Valkyrie had been collecting glissrays. Just like hatchlings bringing home a small creature to keep, the two took careful care of the creatures they collected and kept.  These night markets were perfect for finding things to use as bait for the small creatures. From the fall harvest of produce to random nicknacks or shiny artifacts other Arcanai were trying to pawn off, Io always found something to purchase. Strolling through he found a lot of Arcanai showing off numerous different produces. He choose a few different types of produce, choosing oranges, and apples along with fresh corn and potatoes. As he searched he found a few items that also caught his eye, either for himself or for Valkyrie since she couldn’t make it out today. He found some rings, which she would likely give to her glissrays, along with a sugar cubes intended for the tiny creatures and a few shiny rocks. 

In the middle of shopping he had stopped to eat one of the oranges he’d purchased, it was delicious and full of flavor. He had intended to give them to his woolimoos for enrichment as a treat… now he wasn’t so sure though, as that was one of the best oranges he’d ever had. His nightjar-like sigil let out a little happy sound as his face remained looking uninterested. Yet he picked up his bag and turned back towards the fruit stand he’d purchased the oranges from, and bought more of the bright fruit. 

The Arcanai running the stand had raised an eyebrow as Io approached the stand the second time. The first words were simply “I’d like to buy more oranges please.” The stand owner smiled only to turn around before calling over their shoulder, “how many would you like?” Io glanced down at the bag he was already carrying and thought very carefully about how much he could hold. “Could I have five more?” The owner laughed quietly while placing oranges in a new bag, “Why of course, I take it that you liked the fruit?” Io nodded with eyes open wide showing off the mismatched irises, seemingly surprised at the question. The owner continued, “well then if you need more, I’ll be at every other night market until the end of the season.” An almost invisible smile broke on Io’s muzzle, “Really?!” the owner nodded, “thank you for letting me know then. I’m certain you’ll see me again. Thank you so much, and your oranges are delicious.” Io grabbed the bag after placing shards on the counter and stalked off quickly to go home and share this amazing treat with his woolimoos and Valkyrie’s glissrays.  Valkyrie was away from home, and on a trip so she chose to leave the glissrays in the care of Io. 

When he arrived at home he moved to the kitchen and began to prepare the fruit. He started by cutting a two oranges into eight slices each, he then slide the knife between the skin and the rind cutting along the slice to the halfway point before stopping. Then with the portion separated he cut a V with the point aimed towards the skin which was still fully attached. This created a crude little orange slice bunny, the trick worked much better with apples but he wanted to give it a fun shape and couldn’t think of anything else as he cut. He placed all sixteen slices into a bowl, which he closed with a lid and headed out of the kitchen. Io took careful care of Valkyrie’s glissrays when he needed too and it showed in the way they acted when he entered the room they were currently held in.  All movement stopped for an impossibly short amount of time and then Io was swarmed by the small creatures. He looked similar to a tree covered in monarch butterflies as he stood still, not wanting to accidentally injure any of the glissrays. The excitement passed quickly as he took a large breath in and let out a huff of air which led to many of the creatures dispersing onto the floor. They all still stared at Io even if they had let go, there was still two glissrays which held onto Io, specifically stuck in his plumage which came from around the neck. Two yellow glissrays with soft curving wings similar to ginko tree leaves remained holding onto Io. He opened the lid on the bowl enough to hook orange slices with two of his claws. As he pulled his hand out of the bowl, he gently closed his hand around the slices to still keep them hidden from the glissrays. When his hand was almost to the plumage on his chest, he opened his hand revealing the slices to the clingy pair. Both sniffed at the slices before tasting them, deciding that they did in fact want the treat. Io set the treat onto of the bowl, and grabbed the glissrays one at a time from his plumage. As he set them down on a temporary perch he’d put up for them, he would set a slice next to them. He then followed the same practice for the glissrays still on the floor. This left eight orange slices in the bowl, which he then took time to hide around the room for the glissrays to find later. After the glissrays were busy, Io left the room to take care of his woolimoos which had a mini house of their own. As he stepped in their little home, he rang the bell that hung on the wall. He held a bag which contained apples, while waiting for all the woolimoos to come in the house from outside.  He summoned a small blade using his magic and cut the apples in fourths, and by the time he had cut three apples they were all waiting. He decided to save the other apples for later and called each woolimoos name before tossing them a slice which most were able to catch in their mouth as it was thrown right to them. 

Io visited the fruit market every time it appeared, and took Valkyrie along when she was available so they could pick new treats for their respective pets.