NaraMoore ⛩️👻八尺様👻⛩️ at Fedi<p><strong>Princess (Wind Head) 王女様(風頭)</strong></p><p><strong>Mao Rescues Mia (猫救助ミーア)</strong></p><p><a href="https://sakurajima.moe/tags/FanFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>FanFiction</span></a> <a href="https://sakurajima.moe/tags/TheApothecaryDiaries" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>TheApothecaryDiaries</span></a> x <a href="https://sakurajima.moe/tags/TearmoonEmpire" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>TearmoonEmpire</span></a></p><p>*** Maomao ***</p><p>The girl landed with a thump. Maomao noted the unusual, fluffy riding outfit the woman wore. “An excellent choice for a novice rider,” she said to the small <strong><a href="https://sakurajima.moe/tags/arched" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>arched</span></a></strong> stems of the “<em>Yín Yáng Huò</em>” she was examining, its anchor-shaped leaves faintly brushing her <strong><a href="https://sakurajima.moe/tags/shin" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>shin</span></a></strong>. “The question is, did the bulky outfit work?” If the woman had been hurt, helping her would be a lot of trouble; however, didn’t Mao have a duty to help her?</p><p>It was a question to consider seriously. Her father had followed his conscience, and look where that got him—the tendons removed from his knee for doing his best to save a baby of imperial birth </p><p>She sighed. As much as it pained her, helping was the right thing and probably wouldn’t have such dire consequences. Parin would have to make do with the “Raunchy Goat Medicine”—as Parin called it—the apothecary had already gathered. </p><p>Rain pattered around her, its rhythm deepening as she neared the fallen woman. The wind sighed low in the grass. If Mao had been superstitious, she would have thought it said, “<em>You’ll be sorry.</em>”</p><p>The day had begun badly and was getting worse. First, she’d been called out on mysterious business in the country. Next, the carriage in which she had been riding had thrown a wheel, and now this woman. The rain; however, didn’t bother her. She was hoping to spot <em>Zhu Ling, Fang Feng</em>, or <em>Tu Fu Ling</em>. She preferred to dig them when the soil was soft after a rain. The last of those was always popular at her shop, a sovereign cure for men’s sores of shame.</p><p>It might be a profitable day. She had already found some <em>Mu Tong</em> along the road. And yes, she was sure it wasn’t <em>Guan Mu Tong</em>; only a novice would make that mistake.</p><p>As the young apothecary approached as the woman sat up. “Are you hurt?” she asked.</p><p>The woman paid no mind, looking after her horse. “I can’t believe a horse betrayed me.”</p><p>“<em>Why the woman wasn’t thrown more often,</em> Mao asked herself. Considering her supine riding posture, she did not seem an experienced rider. Instead of saying that, she asked again, “Are you hurt? If not, I have herbs to gather.”</p><p>“I’m fine. But thank you for asking,” the woman replied.</p><p>Mao studied her. Her smile was innocent. She was healthy with ample flesh, a surplus even, clearly not poor. One didn’t get that weight on a poverty diet unless you were ill. Her padded clothes were unusual. She resembled a chimera: part human and part sheep. They were well-tailored and had properly protected the woman.</p><p>Well, if she was alright, Mao could get on with her herb gathering. As soon as they repaired the carriage, she would need to leave.</p><p>Part 1 of 8: To be continued.</p><p>Sequel to: "The Norns" <a href="https://www.pixiv.net/novel/series/14017710" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="">pixiv.net/novel/series/14017710</span><span class="invisible"></span></a></p><p><a href="https://sakurajima.moe/tags/TootFic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>TootFic</span></a> <a href="https://sakurajima.moe/tags/Serial" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Serial</span></a> <a href="https://sakurajima.moe/tags/NMPrompts" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>NMPrompts</span></a> <a href="https://sakurajima.moe/tags/NMV366" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>NMV366</span></a> <a href="https://sakurajima.moe/tags/NMMP" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>NMMP</span></a><br><a href="https://sakurajima.moe/tags/%E8%96%AC%E5%B1%8B%E3%81%AE%E3%81%B2%E3%81%A8%E3%82%8A%E3%81%94%E3%81%A8" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>薬屋のひとりごと</span></a> <a href="https://sakurajima.moe/tags/ApothecaryDiaries" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ApothecaryDiaries</span></a><br><a href="https://sakurajima.moe/tags/LightNovel" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>LightNovel</span></a> <a href="https://sakurajima.moe/tags/Manga" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Manga</span></a> <a href="https://sakurajima.moe/tags/Anime" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Anime</span></a> <a href="https://sakurajima.moe/tags/Fantasy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Fantasy</span></a> <a href="https://sakurajima.moe/tags/botany" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>botany</span></a> <a href="https://sakurajima.moe/tags/SliceOfLife" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SliceOfLife</span></a></p>