Chapter Text
Birds chirped as Charon’s boat drifted calmly down the flowing water. Well boat might be a strong word, it was more of an old wooden plank they’d stolen from a broken down cart just this morning. It was nice when they wouldn’t have to paddle though, brooks like these that led directly to their destination always felt like a sign of good fortune.
Today's work wouldn’t be particularly hard it was just a runaway harvest spirit, a worker of the actual harvest god. The little guy probably got lost and somehow ended up here.
It’s unfortunate for whatever humans it had been a blessing that Charon was coming to capture it, but as is the way of the world they thought.
The sun was still kissing the mountains in the distance, so Charon would guess it was probably getting close to when the mortals ate their second meal. It would be the perfect moment to strike unnoticed, both by the humans and the unsuspecting spirit.
A few moments later they placed their foot on the ground next to the water, abruptly stopping their ‘boat’. They considered grabbing the plank as well but seeing the sorry state they decided it would probably be kinder to allow it to return to nature, via wherever the brook ended. In the distance was the farm they were searching for.
The fields were flourishing, incorrectly that is. Some patches were growing higher and bigger than the rest while others were left almost dead, it was clear this little spirit had places it preferred to loiter around. Charon couldn’t help but smile a little observing the sight. The humans were still working busily on their newfound wonders so they figured they’d wait around until they could safely track down the little fertilizer.
They found a small shrubbery near the brook to wait by, with their current position they could still observe the mortals every move but quickly hide behind the wild berry bush in case they decided to observe back. Charon typically found mundane tasks like these quite boring, but watching the mortals like this made up for it. A man, the father Charon assumed, was laughing at the sight of a sunflower that had grown in the midst of his potato plants. The work of the spirit of course. He leaned down to a young girl, his daughter probably, and told her something Charon couldn’t hear.
She quickly sprinted away as fast as her little legs could take her while the man made quick work to remove the invasive flower.
When the girl came out again a woman was being dragged behind her, the mother Charon thought. The man had hidden the sunflower behind his back and when the woman reached him he presented it to her. Charon couldn’t tell if she liked it, it was hard to see their faces from here. The woman accepted it and wrapped an arm around him. She leaned down after to put her hand on the little girl's head. The little family all started heading towards the house again, this meant it was time for work
The plank had snuggled itself between two rocks just a bit farther down the brook, Charon didn't take notice as they were heading back with the harvest spirit in tow.