The Lady and Her Cow(s)

[beetle 2760]

The Lady and Her Cow(s)

Isabel, Strawberry, & Berrycake

 

[!] A painting of Isabel Fenika Mondblume and her two cows, Strawberry and Berrycake.

 

Spoiler

Before you read, there are a few things to point out!

First, @Phersades wrote a wonderful piece a few days ago: link 

This post is in response to theirs! 

 

Second, my persona Isabel died a few ooc months ago.

So, all of this is in the pov of her as a spirit/ghost?

 

Third, the post is split into past and present - white text test is for present

and grey text in italics is for the past.

 

Lastly, enjoy the read! Here's some music to go with it:

 

 

---

 

It was her fourteen birthday, spending time with her close family, the Talonni’kru. They laughed, they cried, they celebrated - all within the keep of Ritchenburg. The young Mondblume never wanted anything more or less. Finally, a family who cared and loved her.

 

Nearing the end of the night, a guest stopped by, Lord Nikolai Mikhail Kortrevich. On further inspection, it was not just himself! He brought friends with him, Shortcake and Strawberry. He came over to the keep to give Strawberry over to her. Just for Isabel.

 

According to the Lord, Strawberry was due in a few months. Which unsettled Isabel, but she was not going to back down so easily. She even wondered if this would prepare her for motherhood. The Mondblume approached the cow, gently caressing Strawberry’s head. The two instantly had a connection.

 

Unfortunately, the night turned sour between Nikolai and Isabel as the Takinni’kru pestered the Lord about his true intentions with her since he had rejected her a while back. Insults and threats were thrown around, leaving everyone distraught. By the end of it, only Isabel and Strawberry were in the keep.

 

In tears, Isabel brought Strawberry into the residence, down the steps, and into the basement where her bedroom was located. After all, who was going to stop her? Her papej, Lord Yvo? Her mamej, Princess Petra? The Talonni’kru? None of them were there anymore.

 

Isabel took out her finest blankets and laid them out on the floor near her desk. Then she went into the hallway, seeking for the supply closet - “borrowing” some pillows. She tossed the pillows around the blanket, all for Strawberry. She wanted to make sure she was comfortable and happy despite the trouble earlier. Strawberry didn’t hesitate another moment and laid down. The Mondblume stared at the cow as she stared back up at her. A huff escaped her - Isabel took it as an invitation and sat down beside her.

 

“Stravberry, I hope vy like vyr new home.” 

 

 

---

 

Before the maid went to fetch for the Lord, Isabel had made her way to the Jerovitz barn. As always, she smiled at the bull before her, extending her hand out to him. Shortcake looked up in her direction as if he knew she was. Isabel gently caressed his head with growing tears - she knew his time was coming.

 

“Ea'll be vaiting for vy up there, da? Don’t be scared, ve’ll be there.”

 

She took a few steps back, giving Shortcake space. As Isabel stood there, she remembered something from her childhood. There was a demon who took Nikolai’s eye when it was trying to approach her. Isabel was extremely grateful for his heroic gesture. As a thank you, she made him a cow plush - for the times Shortcake couldn’t be with him. Because of that thought, Isabel began to cry. For her, for Nikolai, but most importantly, for Shortcake.

 

---

 

Strawberry, being equally as stubborn as Isabel, refused to lay around and relax. She was always on the move. Not because she didn’t like the keep but because she liked exploring, adventuring. Which most of the time gave Isabel a heart attack.

 

Eventually, the two toured around - seeing new places together. Isabel dressed up Strawberry for every occasion they went to. She always made sure her cow companion was cozy and all prepped. If Isabel was wearing a scarf, so was Strawberry. If Isabel wore a kokoshnik, so did Strawberry. The Mondblumes always had to look good, according to Isabel.

 

“Stravberry, ve’re cute da?”

A huff was heard, Strawberry agreed.

 

---

 

As Shortcake passed in Nikolai’s lap, the Mondblume made her way over to her own cow. When she approached her stable, Strawberry wasn’t there. Isabel stared at the empty ground, panicking, trying to figure out where she could be. Then it hit her - causing her to run towards the keep of Ritchenburg. Once she got there, she spotted the old cow near the lake.

 

“Stravberry, are vy okay?”
The cow turned, ignoring her.
“Stravberry, please.”
 

The two stood there, in silence. Isabel slowly walked up to her, resting her head against hers, half hugging her. And there they stood for a while until Strawberry nudged Isabel. At that moment, the Mondblume realized what was going on. Her cow was dying too - she came out to the lake for her last adventure.

 

---

 

As Isabel’s life had turned for the worse, she fled to Providence. She took all of her belongings and brought Strawberry with her - after all how could she leave her behind? At first, the home wasn’t really home. It was always bare, empty most of the time. However, love and care was put into the garden. Isabel made sure the grass was perfect for her cow, always trimmed. She built her a wooden shed, if she ever wanted to rest outside. Fresh carrots, water, and wheat were always put out - all for Miss Strawberry.

 

As months passed, another addition was added to the family - Strawberry’s first child. Isabel struggled to name the calf, wanting to find the right name for her. She paced around the garden, saying random names out loud as Strawberry silently judged her with a stare. Suddenly, Isabel snapped her fingers.

 

“Her name vill be… Berrycake! 
Berry from vy - Stravberry. Cake from Shortcake. Supae eazvar perfect!”

 

Strawberry lifted her head up at the sound of her baby’s new name. She seemed to approve of it. As Berrycake grew older, the three lasses went out and about, on new adventures whenever they could.
 

---

 

The two had walked back to Jerovitz, settling down in Strawberry’s stable. The old cow laid down on her stomach as Isabel laid down on her back, right beside her. The Mondblume turned on her side, softly scratching the back of Strawberry’s ear. 

“Stravberry,” Isabel started to choke on her words, “Ea julamar vy szmavre hauchov.”
The cow huffed once more, for the last time, almost as if she was saying ‘I love you’ back.

[Generi 563]

Rosalind sharpens her axe.

[beetle 2760]

Just now, Generi said:

Rosalind sharpens her axe.

 

Spoiler

 

[Gridlock 789]

Big Man Rorislav was glad he was not the only one on Almaris with a burning passion for Cattle.

[riorr 1783]

Spoiler

sweet story :'')