The Hollow Harvest - Pumpkin Patch

[Crenna]

The sound of the dirt and vines crunching underneath Amphitrite’s feet made her nearly wince every time she heard it.“Sorry… sorry,” she whispered to the ground, presumably looking like a crazy person, but one could never be too cautious, especially now that she could be considered Pumpkin Phi.

Then she heard a voice call out: “Are you one of us?”

Amphi stopped in her tracks, coming to a standstill and tipping her head down and nearly fell forward once again, still trying to get ahold of the weight of her head. “Oh my, well, hello… yes, it does appear that way, doesn’t it?”

Then more appeared to speak at her questionable presence, and she took a look around at them.

They were so cute she could practically eat them up.

She wouldn’t, of course. Just metaphorically.

“Well, aren’t you all just adorable little bumpkins?” Her voice rose with endearment as she gently placed the lantern down and crouched down to be more level with them. “Let’s just say… it’s a long story,” her voice came across a little more nervous sounding than before.

She briefly looked up, seeing Echo (@jahdeen) not far away from the patch. It seemed as though he wasn’t nearly as panicked as she was. A minor relief.

She looked back down at the three. “Okay, just one… but aww, that seems hardly fair! How am I supposed to choose?” She frowned as she glanced between the one to her left, the center, and then to her right.

So, because Amphitrite had the worst case of decision paralysis, what did she do? She did eeny, meeny, miny, moe. Her finger gently booped each of the pumpkins as she sang the rhyme, and eventually her finger landed on the one who had first caught her attention. Satisfied with the outcome, she smiled happily. “Alrighty, little cutie…is it okay if I call you that?” She picked it up and tucked the pumpkin close. “Perhaps we will become fast friends. Oh, and…” she stood up, picking up the lantern next, “…technically now, I suppose, I am a mer-jack-o’-lantern-human.”

Though she didn’t elaborate further on how complicated her identity was getting before she joyfully and carefully skipped through the patch.

Pumpkins

.

.

As you make your selection, the pumpkins quiet as they await your choice. They begin whispering among themselves as you start eeny, meeny, miny, moe.
"'Is she singing?" "No, I think she is performing a ritual." "Why is she pointing at us?" "Quiet, quiet, she stopped."

As you hold your pumpkin, it smiles (well, it has no other expression but that is neither here or there) at you, "Oh I am so glad you chose me! I am due for a walk around the field." It snuggles against you as you skip through the field. "Say, why do you pick us? We actually do not know. You humans...er mer-jack-o’-lantern-human, come in and take one of us and then leave. Do you know why? I'm glad you picked me, you are nice. I like you! We are going to have so many adventures together!"

After skipping through the field to your hearts content, you finally see a fence with a gate on it. There is a scarecrow guarding the exit and as you approach, he tips his hat to you. "Good eve, er ma'am. Are you ready to leave? Is that your final choice? Very well, then. There is one more thing you need to do. In order to get the token from this area, you need to smash the pumpkin on the ground."

 

[Crenna]

Darla tensed briefly at the sudden appearance of the scarecrow, but eased once she realized he was no threat. She smiled. How cute!
"Hmmm I think some help would be great. What do you think ScaredyCr-" A distant crow call caused her new companion to hide behind her. She looked off to see if she could find the creature to no avail.

"I won't let it eat you." She cooed.

She turned slowly to face the scarecrow.

"It's okay to be afraid of things. Crows can be scared sometimes. But I learned a trick, would you like to see?" Her hand was already in her pocket, digging out a couple of caramel candies.

"They're suckers for treats." She smiled and held out her hand to offer several of the candies out to them. "They love treats, shiny things and free food. If you gain trust with them, they can be a very strong and helpful ally." She smiled then, once again the corner of her mouth twitching tight while the eyelashes fluttered on the side of her face. As if her injured eye was still trying to see.

"Panic and fear can keep us from seeing things in a different light. It likes to filter them through... uhm... fear goggles. It makes ordinary things seem scarey when they aren't." She tilted her head, lanky ebony hair drifting past her shoulder. "And sometimes that can keep us from making a new friend."

She looked down at the bumpy warty pumpkin with a scarred face, saw herself in the simple vegetable and smiled. "I think this one will do."

Mr. ScaredyCrow

.

.

ScaredyCrow peeks out from behind you, watching as you pull out the candies. The wrinkle of the paper draws attention and soon several crows start to circle you both. The scarecrow grabs your arm, having a strong grip for a man made of straw. He watches the birds get closer and closer but does not run. Finally one of the crows lands at your feet, looking up at you with its black eye. It clacks its beak once at you,

ScaredyCrow stutters, "Is...Is it going to attack? Look how sharp its beak is!"

Another crow lands next to the first, also staring at you. Then another. And another. Soon a whole murder of crows circle you, waiting for the candy. However, they do not crowd you or appear to be pushy. They simple wait.

The scarecrow still holds your arm though his grip has loosened. He watches the crows wearily but since they do not attack, he does not cower. "Maybe you are right, Ms Witch. They don't seen so scary now..." He finally lets go of your arm. One of the crows sees him and takes flight, landing on his hat.

He shrieks again but doesn't dive to the ground. Instead, he remains stock still. "Is it...Is it still on my head? May, May have a candy?"

 

[jahdeen]

Pumpkins

.

.

A voice answers you back, "How do you know that you are the right one?" Looking down, you see that one of pumpkins with a face has tipped up to face you, its hollow eyes staring into your soul. "How do you even know you are real? How does anyone know? Have you considered that we just exist on an internet forum some where? Being controlled by mentally dubious people?!"

It wiggles closer to you, intent on giving you a tirade that you did not ask for. "Look at you! I bet you did not have a pumpkin for a head before you came here. But now you do! Nothing is real! It is all made up! Free your mind. Those witches trap souls here! You should have never entered. But for a low low price of $199.99, I will give you the steps on how to get out of here unscathed! It is a great value. You would be dumb not to not take it. Then again, you have a pumpkin head so maybe you aren't the brightest bulb in the toolshed!"

It seems you have activated a Trollkin, a pumpkin that has somehow found podcasts (whatever that is, you just know it exists for some reason) and now it is intent on making sure you hear what it has too say. "Free your mind! The aliens are out to get us! You got to be wise. Banks are just run by shadow people! Invest in gold! That is where the real money is."

You have an urge to kick the Trollkin. But will you risk the wrath of the sisters again?

Despite being greeted by a talking gourd at the start of the patch, a second one startled Echo. Badly. He flinched, turned halfway around, and stumbled over a non-talking pumpkin. The trip almost ended in certain destruction of several crops, including the one he was holding, but Echo was quick on his feet. He turned his body weight on his side and caught himself on one hand, the other precariously balancing his deformed choice of pumpkin.

This handsome fellow was clearly a street charlatan, something Echo was quite familiar with. There were two main ways to sell worthless things: persuasion or persistence. In this case, persistence turned into annoyance. The ridiculous voice spouting nonsense clearly wouldn't shut up unless it was entertained. That said, he wasn't quite sure where to start. What was an "internet?" And a price of one-ninety-nine-ninety-nine... what? Gold pieces?

Echo got up, wiped the dirt off his hand, then crouched by the pumpkin, giving him an attentive smile.

"Good sir, I'm dreadfully low on funds, I'm afraid. But your offer does intrigue me! I would like to get out of here, but..."

Echo checked over his shoulder, feigning caution. In his mind, the Three Sisters were omnipresent; whatever he said, they would know. But it wasn't like there were any explicit rules against deception, right?

"I fear for your safety, friend. Do you know what these pumpkins are here for?"

He leaned in and lowered his voice. "You were lucky. They carved a face into your visage. Made you look nice. But, oh, when the season of fright ends? Then they show you what your fate was supposed to be all along. They could chop you up, you know. Serve you sauteed, or diced, or even ground up in a pie. Awful, awful things. And even if you avoid those things, they'll throw you away to rot. When the last of the autumn leaves fall, so too do you and your pump-kin."

Echo set down his pumpkin and placed a hand on the Trollkin.

"I'm supposed to take one pumpkin out with me. Show me the way, and I'll take you. You've got a better shot going with me rather than staying here."

 

[Rimechapel]

Holding the compass close, Aimi gently nibbled on her lip as she looked down at the spinning needle before looking back the way that she had come... Only to see more fog. "Well, no other way but forward, I suppose," she said softly before turning back to continue her journey, only to realize that the fog in front of her had cleared quite a bit. Not entirely, but enough for her to see that she now stood before the largest pumpkin patch she had ever seen!

Her ears flatten slightly as she spots movement in the shadows, but before she can figure out what it is she's looking at, the voice causes her to nearly jump out of her skin. Tail floofed up, it takes her a moment of frantic searching for her to realize where the voice was coming from. Blinking, she cocks her head to the side before crouching down in front of the talking jack-o-lantern. Harvest Hands? Glancing up, she looks again at the field. Now that she knew what to look for, it was much easier to make out the scarecrows as they moved about the pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns. She let out a soft sigh, running her fingers over her tail to un-floof it as she listened to what the jack-o-lantern had to say.

So, we're to pick one to take with us, huh? Thankfully, she didn't need a lantern, as she could see quite well in the dark. Turning her attention back to the now-quiet jack-o-lantern, her head cocked to the side once more as she gently poked it. "Well so far, you're the only one who's literally spoken to me, but I get the feeling I can't simply pick you, can I? Though technically you're a jack-o-lantern, not a pumpkin." She wasn't even sure if the jack-o-lantern would respond to her. If it chose to remain silent, she would see if the compass was still spinning or if it would point her in a direction once more or, failing that, pick a random direction and begin browsing the various pumpkins.

Buendía

.

.

@Batcat
"Pss. Hey."

Whispering, rustling, a scarecrow of sorts seemed to call to you.

"Pspspspsps! C'mere!"

The propriety of such an approach can only be decided by the one being approached, of course. "

"Ah! You ARE a cat! Yay! Last time I got it wrong and was nearly attacked by fire ants! Yeah, yeah, harvest hands. See? Look. Hands made of actual harvest!"

The scarecrow wiggled its fingers at you, rustling the very long cornhusks that served as digits, apprently.

"Hey. Hey, you like stories? I got stories. I got bedtime stories. Cats like beds, right? Like, underneath beds. Where the monsters are. Oh, wait! Are you a monster? I thought you were a cat. Wait - are cats monsters? Or... are MONSTERS cats?"

The scarecrow hesitated. It took a step backwards, as if seeing you with different eyes. These eyes - if they existed at all, for they were beneath the burlap sack that served as its head - traveled your form warily, evaluating you with something approaching fear or respect. Whether theatrical or real, the scarecrow's body language adopted an almost protective stance.

"... Alright. Alright, okay, I see what's going on here. Fine. I'll play your little game, then. And I'll win at it, too! I'm so good at games! I invented games! All of them! By myself!"

"So, your game is 'Tell me a fact about monsters that I don't know!' eh? Yeah, I've played that game before. Like eight billion twelve times." Was this, in fact, your game? Had you initiated a game at all? The scarecrow certainly seemed to think so. "I'll go first! Fact: All monsters can see in the dark, and the amount of seeing they can do in the dark is directly proportioned to the number of monster-parts that make up their monster-body!"

The scarecrow straightened its back and puffed out a husky laugh. "Top that! And maybe I'll help you find the absolute perfect pumpkin! If you're not boring and stuff, I guess. Oh, hey, let me give you my name. It's Buendía. Real pretty, right? I got it from a super cute girl with talking fish! Can I have your name? It's only fair, right?"

 

[Batcat]

Buendía

.

.

@Batcat
"Pss. Hey."

Whispering, rustling, a scarecrow of sorts seemed to call to you.

"Pspspspsps! C'mere!"

The propriety of such an approach can only be decided by the one being approached, of course. "

"Ah! You ARE a cat! Yay! Last time I got it wrong and was nearly attacked by fire ants! Yeah, yeah, harvest hands. See? Look. Hands made of actual harvest!"

The scarecrow wiggled its fingers at you, rustling the very long cornhusks that served as digits, apprently.

"Hey. Hey, you like stories? I got stories. I got bedtime stories. Cats like beds, right? Like, underneath beds. Where the monsters are. Oh, wait! Are you a monster? I thought you were a cat. Wait - are cats monsters? Or... are MONSTERS cats?"

The scarecrow hesitated. It took a step backwards, as if seeing you with different eyes. These eyes - if they existed at all, for they were beneath the burlap sack that served as its head - traveled your form warily, evaluating you with something approaching fear or respect. Whether theatrical or real, the scarecrow's body language adopted an almost protective stance.

"... Alright. Alright, okay, I see what's going on here. Fine. I'll play your little game, then. And I'll win at it, too! I'm so good at games! I invented games! All of them! By myself!"

"So, your game is 'Tell me a fact about monsters that I don't know!' eh? Yeah, I've played that game before. Like eight billion twelve times." Was this, in fact, your game? Had you initiated a game at all? The scarecrow certainly seemed to think so. "I'll go first! Fact: All monsters can see in the dark, and the amount of seeing they can do in the dark is directly proportioned to the number of monster-parts that make up their monster-body!"

The scarecrow straightened its back and puffed out a husky laugh. "Top that! And maybe I'll help you find the absolute perfect pumpkin! If you're not boring and stuff, I guess. Oh, hey, let me give you my name. It's Buendía. Real pretty, right? I got it from a super cute girl with talking fish! Can I have your name? It's only fair, right?"

Aimi's ears immediately twitch as her pupils dilate into saucers, looking around quite frantically for the source of the noise. It takes her a moment before she realizes that one of the scarecrows was talking to her. Cocking her head to the side slightly, she tentatively stepped closer to the figure as she tried to make sense of their words. Beds? Monsters? Stories? She was about to respond, when the scarecrow seemed to keep going. Were they mad? Remembering the words of the jack-o-lantern, she forced herself to relax somewhat as she considered what the scarecrow was asking her....

...That was, until the scarecrow mentioned the talking fish. Her ears twitched, her tail swishing behind her in excitement at the mere prospect. But then, would that be considered playing with your food? Would she still be able to eat fish if it was able to talk to her?? These were questions that she would have to consider at a later point. But for now... "My name is Aimi, and I'll accept that challenge, Buendía!" Even with that exclamation, it took her a few seconds to respond to the question. "Well, by your logic," she said, rubbing her chin. "That does indeed make me a monster. But a fact that you don't know..." Her eyes widened slightly as she grinned. "What about this? There is one universal law of monsters- If you're under a blanket, then they can't see or touch you. It's why you can't leave a foot exposed when you're in bed, because that's how they get you!"

 

[firefly]

Watch out! Something rolls out between two enormous pumpkins! No time to run, TAKE initiative! Left foot aft, right hand up to the chin, chin down to the chest, brace - no time - brace for impact!, grab and toss!! Go for the glasses! GO FOR THE JOIN

Oh, no combat here. Sorry, lad. How's the rush? That's adrenaline drumming ears. I thought we were used to it but here you have your heart pounding against your chest. Scared of a little scarecrow?

Fear is a weapon.​

Don't try to make this look good on you, either. Chill, everybody!

I look at the straight line of porcelain teeth underneath the rather fresh looking carrot. I can't believe I almost had a heart attack because of.. this. Those are totally herbivore teeth. I exhale and decompress, and the lights in my lantern flicker in a non-alarming pattern.. I suppose. I suppose the fireflies would fly like an alarm light if there was something alarming, right? Right?

The pumpkin-man reaches out some straws to grab, but we aren't grasping for straws here, so I'll offer brief fist-bump-elevator-snap-didn't quite catch-that-what-ever-just-smile-yeah-we're-just--going-to-pretend-we-shook-hands-we're-both-cool-right?

"Oh, a pumpkin inspector, that's convenient, well met! I happen to be looking for a very fine specimen.", and then, as a customer, I surrendered to the service.
But what is a very fine specimen to take with me. Do we have other quality checks? It should be portable, and.. well the first one looks enormous. Can I even carry it? Could the farmhand carry it, though? They were to help, that's what the first pumpkin said...

Can't stand having less than the best. That's just greed - whatever is inside of it it wouldn't be giving it to us willingly. I'm not saying it's a problem. We could simply break it and take it.
What is the problem then?

Why the fuck should this one have the best if all that it can do is stare at himself from a pond? This one isn't champion material.​

Well pointed, but we need to take one with us. This one wants to be looking at itself from a pond and we don't happen to have a mirror with us. Imagine carrying this bad boy anywhere.
We could tease it but asking the Helping Hand here if this is of his finest? We wouldn't want to see his mediocre ware.. But for what end would we pick up a fight with a pumpkin? I glance at the fireflies and make the same conclusion as my ladies. We move on to the second.

Wow. This one sounds like you.
I'm not surrounded by idiots, I'm an idiot. This one doesn't want to leave either. The pumpkin rambles on. It truly sounds like you! Look at that, finally a character!
It has roots here. This one isn't adventurous, and we're on an adventure. And truth to be told, it doesn't look like a fine specimen.
Yet, I stand my case, this sounds like you. That pumpkin doesn't have roots, the stem has. Ha, vegetable. Would you want to be left behind like this? No? But you would act like the same..?
Shuttup.
Alas, you're right! Leave this gourd and carry on. We might want to have a chat with the vendor here if he keeps up like this..

I sneak in with the Gourdman with my Lantern high, and take a careful peek over its shoulder. Just in case. And my God, that pumpkin is ticking. A bompkin.

I can't help to pout and stuff my hand into my pocket. The hole of Apathy makes itself known again and I roll my thumb around the Coinpass. I check the Ladies of the Lantern and it seems like they have made up their decision.
"This is what you call your finest?", I ask under my breath. The pumpkin is carryable so, it goes. It's a pumpkin alright. But a very fine specimen? I like character. "Okay, Mr. Gourdman..", I draw breath between my teeth and scratch the side of my head, then pull my nose and sigh.
"Ominous things like I'm going to kill you while you sleep or ominous things like Guess where my seeds are going to end up in? Nevertheless, what's that clicking? Is there a gnome inside?
Listen, I'm not going to complaint.. but..", I raise the lantern next to the gourds enormous teeth and my face.

Gourdman's head looks like a fine specimen. Take it.
No.​

"Ladies of the Lantern, what do you think? If you think we should roll with this pumpkin, jump for me. If you think we should ask for bit of a bargain in the stock, wiggle your tails for me. Also, I have a question for the second pumpkin. Could you.. call someone and find out what's this one's problem whilst I ask something personal from the second? Privately? Thank you very much, I'll be back with you in a jiffy to check out. Thanks, your of great help.", I pat him to the shoulder and wink at him. "You got this."

I rush with the lantern back to the second pumpkin, and it worries me if the first one figures out that it's definitely going to be left behind. I walk by the second pumpkin and squat next to it. "You know, you shouldn't be worrying yourself with going on an adventure. You'll always have roots here, ya know.", I glance at the sky. "And those things will stay in the soil no matter what. I'm just saying, that isn't seeds worth carrying somewhere? Have you ever wondered that one day your very seeds, if left here, will grow only to be picked up and carried away. But if I were to carry you somewhere else.. somewhere without rats.. or other people.. You could save your lineage. You could be a hero, you know. You'd save a hundred pumpkins, no? But leaving here is.. You'll save yourself, but only yourself. From what fate, ya know, I can't tell you what we're going to have to do out there but..
Not going to advise you or anything. I'm sorry for Perry, though."

@WriteAngry

Mr. Gourdman

.

.

The fireflies seem positively gleeful at both being given an assignment, and being called ladies. At the mention of jumping, a few dart upwards, bump into the glass, and spiral back down again. At the mention of a bargain, however, the entire congregation begin to wiggle their glowing butts enthusiastically.

Mr. Gourdman watches the display with interest, leaning forward until his carrot bumps against the glass.

"Oh! Oh-ho! Well, that's quite the response. They're a decisive little bunch, aren't they?"

"Although, if I may say so, I think they're being a little cheeky. Have you lot forgotten that you're meant to be on my side!?"

He huffs, but takes out his notepad to review what compromises could be made. Meanwhile, at the request to investigate the third pumpkin, he pauses, his button eyes moving from the pumpkin to the fireflies and then back again.

"Call someone? Well, certainly! Yes...call...someone."

His eyes momentarily lose focus, slowly drifting apart in his round spectacles before suddenly snapping to attention.

"Leave it with me, sir!"

With that, he scurries off between the rows of pumpkins in a great deal of rustling, stopping now and then to bend down and whisper to a one of them, a passing firefly, or simply to a patch of leaves.

Meanwhile, the second pumpkin watches you with its little, carved eyes as you approach.

"Back again?" It grumbles, and watches you suspiciously as you squat down and start lecturing it.

It's eyes widen.

"My...seeds? Well...I suppose I never thought about it like that."

He glances toward the first, enormous pumpkin in the distance, which was still admiring itself in the pond.

"That big idiot would never save anyone but himself. He's probably eat his own seeds if he thought it'd benefit him. Disgusting heathen. But me? You're right...I could do something with them! Something good! I could...why, I could grow a whole patch! A whole family! I wouldn't be alone again!"

The pumpkin's eyes and mouth seem to grow more brightly, as if invigorated.

"You really think so? Me? A...a hero! WOW! I've never felt so ALIVE! You've got yourself a deal, friend! Pick me!"

Just then, Mr. Gourdman returns, brushing a few bits of straw from his waistcoat. His notebook is clutched in his hand.

"Ah! There you are, sir! A little development, and fairly interesting at that. It turns out--"

He pauses and squints at the intimate scene before him, before pulling you away from the second pumpkin's earshot.

"It turns out that the werepumpkin witnessed our clicky pumpkin over there being brought in one night, rather than grown in the patch! How about that! And Mr. Scaredycrow swore that the fireflies have been all a-flutter about it, so I had a little chat to a few. While not completely forthcoming, coy little ladies they are, they do promise they can put in a good word for you. They're excitable little things, but make fairly sound judgements of character."

As if including himself in that statement, he puffs out his chest proudly. Over his shoulder, you see that the third pumpkin, indeed, has a dense congregations of fireflies dancing around it.

Mr. Gourdman blinks down at you with an expectant smile, teeth shining in the lantern light.

"Well, which way does your heart sway, good sir? That mysterious clicky pumpkin might have something very worthwhile to give you, but then this little fellow seems to have had a change of heart. Just look at his little face! He seems very eager to go with you now."

 

[ChaosTheory]

Werepumpkin

.

.

It had been so quiet.

Gloriously, blissfully quiet.

Curse you sisters.

He heard footfalls coming his way and someone whispering to themselves. Each word more entertaining than the last. Werepumpkin!? Now that seemed like a fun idea.

Oh sisters, she has a wish.

But then the human weaved a little further away and the pumpkin grumbled.

A sister, however, heard his request and sprinkled a little magic...

Suddenly his vines were growing.

The ground getting further away.

The jack-o-lantern cackled, light in his face growing brighter each time he spoke, as he turned and caught Chaos weaving through the patch. "Don't like were pumpkins?" He shouted out, vine arms wiggling about as he attempted to step forward, struggling. Walking was difficult.

A moment ago he preferred the silence. Never understanding what was fun about a pumpkin patch. Dirt. Grass. Fun fun. But now this was fun.

The pumpkin kept moving toward Chaos. "Who is gonna bite? Oh right... the bats." The pumpkin cackled, closing in when suddenly it slipped on another pumpkin and started to fall.

"Hey! Don't step on me!"

The wind picked up then, wrapping around Chaos and the werepumpkin as it pushed him back up.

"Shut up down there." It huffed, glowing eyes locking on Chaos as he was stood straight again. "They're useless."

"'Ey."

"USELESS." Looking down at the other pumpkins.

"'EY." They rose their voices, the patch around Chaos lighting up as they turned toward the two of them.

Quiet.

The werepumpkin looked at Chaos. "Let me help you find a pumpkin."

"Don't like were pumpkins?"
Holy... fuck. Chaos turned around to watch the weirdest creature alive make its way towards her. She considered running off, but then again it wasn't that fast to be honest. And she suspected a good kick would most certainly reduce the thing to pumpkinmash. Was it alive? It was wiggly and wobbly, but perhaps alive was a gross overstatement. Truthfully she did not know, what it is she was looking at. And then it struck her. Like lightning, but not really, because that would be a bit too much towards making pumpkin soup. "Werepumpkin....!"
She gasped, all but pointing at it as it moved about on wobbly vines and vine-y arms. It kept moving towards her and cackling and all in all it seemed to be having a horrific blast. It wasn't very coordinated however and soon stepped onto a loudly protesting pumping. And honestly, Chaos would protest as well if she was about to be stepped upon by a were-creature. Even so, she found herself rushing forward in an attempt to catch it before it could cause more mayhem and broken pumpkins. There was supposed to be one for everyone, no point in massacring a whole bunch of them to make the choices easier on the others. Wind rushed about them and like an perfect fairytale moment they were both lifted from the ground and carefully put down. Not a massacre in sight, except for a loud chorus of protesting voices under the verbal abuse of her pumpkin companion.

"Let me help you find a pumpkin."
Chaos hesitated at that. She didn't know if it was bad manners, but surely the one taking her on a tour was a pumpkin of its own. Is it rude to point out to one such as these that they are in their own right orange and soup-a-licious? Would it be angry and wiggly wobbly off into the patch, looking to share their experience with someone else? A thought started to form as she looked at it, a devious and promising grin towards the newly born werepumpkin. Then she shook her head, surely it wouldn't be allowed. So instead she stepped up and hooked arms with one of the vines. It didn't seem very stable, so if they went together and toppled over at least they could blame eachother for it. That was always a plus. And somehow Chaos felt this werepumpkin deserved to be protected. For all she knew it was the only one of its kind. A veritable endagered species to be cherished and protected.
"Stroll with me and tell me of the secrets of pumpkins. Do you whistle at them? Sing them songs? Shower them with condiments, salt and pepper to your taste and see who does agree with it the most?"