Bait roamed the sewers of Sha-Laial. The goblin salivated at the idea of hopping into the sewage and swimming through it. Bait does not have time for that, though. Today, he is here for rats. Need fresh Rats to make ratsticks for Ivy Day. Goblin tradition to give rat sticks. His eyes were well adjusted to the dark, and it took him little time to squeeze his hand into various crevices in the stonework and search around for rats. They bit him, and it pinched a bit as they pierced his grubby green skin. It was best when they bit him, meant they were strong rats, good rats, the sort of rats that help teach fear! He gritted his teeth as another one bit into him. He pulled his arm out quickly, dragging the rat with him. With a swift movement, he snatched the creature, pried it off his arm, and shoved it into a burlap bag. Dis his 10th rat, no need any more.


    He smiled at his handiwork and retreated to the surface, leaving the sewers behind. Now he just need sticks, and he have perfect gift.


    ***


    Mavec wasn''t very fond of this holiday despite it being in honor of the goddess Sarossa and Tohzen''s marriage. To not celebrate at all felt inappropriate, though, so he sat in his little workshop, taking some time to make something small for his allies. He''d settled for making some small decorative cogs that were the size and shape of buttons. Everyone in the party wore clothing that needed buttons; all he was doing was giving them something very small that gave their outfits a bit more flair. It took him and Piccora only an hour or so to produce them all. The group hadn''t formally decided when they would meet, but Mavec was sure he''d pass them out over super.


    ***


    Illaria paid a small sum of gold to attend a glass-blowing class. Artisans all over Sha-Laial were running similar events. This was the day that celebrated the union of Sarossa and Tohzen. After all, it was customary to make something with your own two hands. So, if you lacked a skill you could use to craft something, these little events were the next best thing.


    Her goal at this glass forge was simple. She was simply going to make some glass beads, which she planned to string together for her mother and father. Fantastic blues and deep greens like the ocean were her first thought. She knew they must have missed the open seas. They had spent so much of their lives on it; the least she could do was make them something to remind them of it. The process wasn''t too difficult, and she had what she wanted before long. Several small glass beads she could string together into nice little bracelets. She didn''t need an instructor for that part. She''d exchange the gifts with her family later in the night. Hopefully, the rest of her friends were having an easy time getting their gifts together.


    ***


    Sarbie''s idea had been simple enough. Combine some thin sheets of metal and leather to make a sturdier book cover for Alvec''s spell book. She''d wanted to get something exotic, like the mithril of his buckler, but even two thin strips were too expensive for her meager funds. Forget about the price of adamantium. She''d settled for a simple steal instead. She sat at the kitchen table, glaring at the leather and metal in front of her.


    She''d never attempted such a project and quickly found it to be harder than she''d anticipated. She let out a sigh of defeat and resolved to ask her father for help with the project when he got home. Turning to Rem, she motioned for him to come over to her. The fox obediently trotted over to her. "Please, go find your master and tell him I''ll have his gift ready for later tonight, at Innilia''s event!" The fox yipped in affirmation and wiggled his but in excitement before hopping onto a counter and then through an open window.


    Innilia had requested them all to meet at the tavern tonight for a performance. Not everyone had agreed to come. Normally, a tavern wouldn''t be her style; a night here with her family sounded better to Sarbie, but her adventuring with the party had brought upon her a realization. There was a lot more to Kushang''s civilization than she had experienced. With Alvec and Naya with her, she could safely explore things she''d normally have shied away from. She smiled at the thought; it was good to have such rough-and-tumble friends. For most everyone else, she was just making some small pastries. For Hoc, she''d found one of the broken wooden training swords that Alvec hadn''t fixed. She''d used a saw to cut a piece off from it and wrote a little message for him on it. "Never forget your strength." A little bit of metal and leather cord, and she had a nice little necklace for him.


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    Even after the rough conversation, he was still her friend, and she''d make sure that he knew that.


    ***


    Rem found Alvec hanging out with the dwarves at the forges. He sprinted at his master, climbing swiftly to his usual perch on Alvec''s head. He relayed Sarbie''s message before asking a question of his own. "What are we doing here?"


    Alvec chirped back to him. "We''re making rings for Sarbie and her parents. I''ve whipped up a small enchantment that will make them warm to the touch so long as all of the rings are worn. Two for Sarbie, and one for her mother and father. We''re melting down the gold now."


    The dwarf manning the forge let out a huff of air as he fanned the flames. "I never will get used to that. You wizard being able to talk with your familiars. You sound like a yippin idiot to me, but I take it the little fellow can actually understand you?"


    Alvec laughed. To an outsider, he certainly sounded like a yipping idiot when talking with Rem. "He does understand," Alvec reassured him.


    "This is an Ivy Day gift. Are you really fine with me doing all the work of making the rings?" the dwarf asked. "I can put you to work on this, " he said, pointing to the device that injected more air into the forge.


    "It''s fine, I''ll be practicing a craft as part of this. As soon as they''ve cooled, I can add the enchantment. I''m pretty sure that counts for this." Alvec said.


    "I suppose it does, " the dwarf said as he pulled a cup of molten gold from the forge and very carefully poured the blazing liquid into the prepared molds. "If you want to use your magic to cool it down, that might also count as making it yourself," the dwarf joked.


    "Is it safe to do that?" Alvec asked. "Won''t compromise the metal if I cool it down too quickly?"


    "If you need to ask that question, then I think I better just do this the normal way. As yes, cooling metal too rapidly can cause it to become brittle."


    "I leave this in your expert care then," Alvec said as he took a small bow. He couldn''t wait to give these to her. She''d likely object. Gold rings were... both symbolic and moderately expensive. The fact that they were also for her mother and father might take the bite out of it. It would be far more controversial if the rings were just for her. Maybe he''d hold onto them until after he walked her home. Naya wouldn''t mind escorting him to her place and back. He lamented that she''d needed to escort him here before she went off to procure her own supplies.


    ***


    Naya found herself and Bandar''s bakery assisting with the daily baking. He''d promised to show her how to make those cheese-filled pastries that Bait was so fond of. She''d thought about making something from leather for each of her friends, and while she had the skills to do so, she was a little concerned with the time and tools required. It felt more fun to spend time with her favorite bakery, learning how to make something new. In a way, that felt like it fit the spirit of the holiday a bit better, too. Coming together to learn new crafts was equally as important as practicing old ones.


    "So, now that you''re all big damn heroes, what are you going to be getting up to next?" Bandar asked.


    "Like what, join the royal army? That''s not really my cup of tea. I''m still looking for a cure for Lom-Itoti, among other things." Naya said as she kneaded the dough.


    "Any progress on that?" He asked.


    "A little... I got to see and talk with them in a dream, but until then, I only had people''s assurances that they were still alive." Bandar nodded in understanding.


    "Well, I''m glad to hear that they really are alive. Hopefully, you''ll have a way to free them soon."


    "Hopefully," Naya said as she scowled at the dough. Getting Elder Bristlecone to reverse the greensleep sounded like it would require awakening none other than Akrixi.


    "Now, are any of these treats for a special someone? Or is this a platonic gift?" Bandar asked as he flashed a sly smile.


    "Platonic!" She practically shouted. The boys she hung around were not exactly her type. While she had all the respect in the world for Alvec, he was too bookish for her. Mavec was a jerk, and Bait... Bait was gross. Hoc... well... he was still a little too hung up on his childhood crush for her to give him more than a passing thought. Even though she could definitely see him as an interesting fellow. Adventurous, kind-hearted, and far more salt of the earth. A slight blush crept up her face as she entertained the thought more than she should. Maybe she''d ask for another dance if the opportunity arose.


    "Touchy subject, I see," Bandar said before letting out a full belly laugh. The pair continued baking until the pastries she was working on were crispy golden brown.