The starship rumbled over rolling hills dotted with gorse bushes—Thornfield's namesake, their sharp thorns glinting in the spring sun—before landing in a grassy pasture. Below, a flock of sheep huddled near a stone fence, their wool patchy and dull, not the thick, soft coat the village was known for. A woman in a woolen skirt and leather boots stood among them, running her hand over a ewe's back with a frown.
Lin Che stepped off the starship, and the woman looked up, hurrying over. Her hands were calloused from shearing, and a wicker basket of wool sat at her feet—its contents thin and brittle, like dried straw. "You're the travelers from Willow Glade," she said, her voice urgent. "I'm Mara—Thornfield's shepherd. Our sheep's wool turned bad a month ago. It's thin, it breaks when we spin it, and some of the lambs are getting cold at night. We sell wool to the weavers in the next village for coats and blankets—without good wool, we can't buy food for winter. And the lambs… they might not survive if this keeps up."
Xiao Ya walked to the nearest ewe, her hands glowing faintly green. She knelt, gently touching the sheep's muzzle, then ran her fingers through the grass at its feet. The grass swayed, as if sharing a secret, and she nodded when she looked up. "The grass here is weak," she said, turning to Mara. "It doesn't have enough nutrients—like iron and clover. The sheep eat it, but they're not getting what they need to grow thick wool. The gorse bushes are taking over—their roots suck up all the good stuff from the soil, leaving the grass hungry."
Mara's eyes widened. "I noticed the gorse spreading, but I didn't think it'd hurt the grass. My grandma always said gorse was just… part of the hills."
Mo Ying slung her toolbox over her shoulder, already inspecting the gorse bushes. "We'll clear the gorse first—cut it back so the grass can grow. Then we'll add nutrient-rich soil to the pasture. Lin Che, you can help pull up the smaller bushes. Su Qing, can you use runes to help the grass grow faster? Something to boost its nutrients?"
Su Qing flipped open her Arcane Manual, pointing to a page of growth runes. "Runes for vitality—they'll help the grass absorb nutrients and grow thick. Mara, do you have extra soil or compost in the village? We'll need to feed the grass once the gorse is gone."
Mara smiled, relief softening her face. "We've got a compost pile by the barn—rotted hay and vegetable scraps. My son, Kael, can help carry it. He's been asking to help with the sheep."
True to her word, a boy of 8 with messy brown hair appeared moments later, dragging a small cart. "I can pull compost!" he said, his eyes bright. "And I know where all the small gorse bushes are—they're by the stream!"
The work began quickly. Lin Che and Kael pulled up small gorse bushes, their gloves protecting their hands from thorns, while Mo Ying used a saw to cut down the larger ones, stacking the branches to burn later. Xiao Ya walked the pasture, her hands glowing—she whispered to the grass, encouraging it to push through the soil once the gorse was gone.
Su Qing mixed compost into the soil, then carved runes into small stones, placing them around the pasture. The runes glowed green, sinking into the earth, and within minutes, tiny blades of fresh, bright green grass sprouted up. "These runes will keep the soil rich," she said to Mara. "Even after the gorse grows back a little, the grass will stay healthy."
By afternoon, the pasture looked different—gorse cleared, fresh grass sprouting, and the sheep already nibbling at the new growth. Mara walked among them, running her hand over a ewe's back, and smiled. "It's softer already," she said, plucking a strand of wool. "Not much, but… it's better."
That evening, the village hosted a feast in Mara's cottage. The table was set with mutton stew (from an older sheep that had passed away), fresh bread, and a jar of berry jam from Clover Hollow. Kael sat beside Xiao Ya, asking her to talk to the sheep—she laughed, letting him hold her hand as she gently glowed, and the sheep came closer, nuzzling his shoulder.
Mara sat with Lin Che and the others by the fire, holding a skein of wool—thicker than the one from that morning. "My grandma used to say sheep are like mirrors," she said. "They show you how the land is doing. Today, you fixed the land… and the sheep. You fixed us."
Before they left the next morning, Mara handed Lin Che a small woolen ball—soft, white, and perfectly round. "It's from the first ewe that grew good wool again," she said. "Take it. Spin it into thread, or keep it as a reminder—reminder that when you take care of the land, it takes care of you. And that your help here… it meant the world to us."
Lin Che took the wool ball, rolling it between his fingers. It was warm, like a hug.
They climbed aboard the starship, waving goodbye. Mara and Kael stood in the pasture, holding the wool ball, while the sheep grazed nearby, their coats already looking fuller. The fresh grass glowed green in the morning sun.
Inside the cabin, Xiao Ya placed the wool ball on the dashboard—next to the apple seed jar from Willow Glade, the wooden fish from Mossy Brook, and all their other treasures. Su Qing flipped open Li Wei's map, pointing to a village in the east. "Daisy Dell," she said. "Li Wei's notes say their well water is cloudy—they can't drink it, can't use it for cooking. The kids have been getting sick from drinking from the stream."
Mo Ying grinned, adjusting the starship's controls. "Cloudy well water? We fixed sheep wool, fruit trees, fish traps—wells are easy. Xiao Ya can talk to the underground plants, find out why it's cloudy. I'll help clean the well shaft if it's clogged."
Lin Che looked out the window, at the pasture below. The Star Marrow on his wrist glowed softly, matching the white of the wool ball. This was their journey: not grand battles, but tending to the small, essential things—healthy sheep, clean water, thriving grass. It was quiet, it was simple… but it kept villages alive.
"Daisy Dell," he said. "Let's go give them clean water."
The starship turned east, toward the rising sun. The gorse bushes below glinted, and the sheep's wool shone like white clouds. Ahead, a new village waited. A new problem. A new chance to bring hope.
And as always—they were ready.