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 Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2026 5:30 pm
 Treasure was frustrated, though it was really hard to say what, as it didn't seem to be anything in particular that she could put her hoof on to say "YES! That is EXACTLY what is bothering me!" She'd spent the early part of the day lying by a lazy river, staring at her reflection, but when it refused to say a word (as if a reflection ever really could), she got mad and trotted off.
She had a small herd of friends she could go to, but as she thought of each in turn, none of them felt right... except for maybe one. He was an older adult male who could easily be mistaken for her father (which gave her endless amusement if they happened to meet strangers while together) and was obsessed with roses. He always seemed content as he talked to and cared for the flowers, and she couldn't help but wonder about that.
It wasn't long before she found herself near his little garden, unaware she'd already been walking in that direction. She was awed by how beautiful and big each bloom was. She took a moment to bury her nose in one, letting the scent wash her worries away before a sneeze interrupted it all. She shook her head to clear her senses before calling out, "Uncle Blake? Can I talk to you for a moment? How....what does....I guess, I mean, why do you love roses so much?"word count: 242
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Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2026 6:47 pm
It was never very hard to find Blake, as he was usually making sure his rose garden was well taken care of. Quite a few found him odd as he would talk to the blooms as he worked, telling them about the his mate and children – what they were up to, his hopes and dreams for each, and occasionally how it made him a bit sad no one seemed to like the flowers as much he did. Granted, Blake liked all flowers, but it was roses that won his heart over.
He was deep in thought, as he pawed at a very stubborn weed attempting to carefully unbury it enough to be able to remove the roots with the rest of the plant as it then would be less likely to grow back. Not only that, but it was also in competition with that of the roots of the roses, sucking precious nutrients out of the soil, and it would continue to do so unless it was removed. Satisfied he’d finally dug deep enough, he grasped the plant near its base and gently but firmly gave it a tug. Just as it came free, a mysterious sneeze scared him, and he dropped it to look around. When he heard Treasure’s voice, he chuckled as he lowered his head to grab the weed and toss it over away into a pile he’d been creating.
“Treasure! My darling niece, how good it is to see you!” It, too, amused him how much they looked like they could be father and daughter, despite having no actual relation at all. At times they even played off on it, confusing other Soquili just for the fun of it. “Why do I have the feeling that question isn’t quite the one you want to know? Still, I’ll answer it. I love roses simply because…well, for one reason, they’re honest. You give them sun, good dirt, the right nutrients, and make sure they get water to drink, and they give you beauty by the bud, but at the same time they also give you thorns. This is why I like roses – they don’t hide either the bloom or the thorns.”
Blake paused for a moment, looking into her eyes, seeking the true question she was struggling with answering. “Thorns…they’re like the truth we don’t always want to hear, because it hurts. The thorns remind us of who we really are. The mistakes we make, the others we’ve hurt. Think of others you’ve met too – on the outside they look like roses in full bloom, but their souls? Pure thorns. Others look like a bunch of thorns, but those thorns are protecting the bloom that they’re scared to show – they use the thorns to keep others at a distance…and when they finally bloom? THAT is a sight worth seeing.”word count: 471
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Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2026 7:04 pm
It was at this point, a voice could be heard on the breeze that seemed to swirl around the pair, touching only them and the blooms surrounding them, saying “Roses represent love…passion…and beauty. The Oracle of Flowers knows you both as the roses you are. As you seek for the beauty of living, Treasure, the love and passion will naturally flow. As it touches those around you, you will watch them bloom and grow, touching others like ripples on water. Thorns may be a part of person, but it is not all of whom that person is. Look for the blooms, mind the thorns, and you shall find all you seek.”
Treasure, taken aback by the voice that disappeared with the breeze couldn’t help but be silent for a few moments as she contemplated this in her mind. It honestly felt like the answer she’d been seeking to a question she hadn’t known how to ask. “Thank you….Oracle…I guess…” She nuzzled her ‘uncle’, before moving off to ponder all she’d learned, grateful for the encounter.
Word count: 175
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