Sowing seeds

“I know you won't have grown these types of flowers, but have you ever done any gardening before?”

“Nah. I'm a musician, not a farmer. Never really had any reason to.”

“That's alright, it's quite simple anyway. Don't worry, I'll show you. It's a nice, calming process, but it takes a bit of time and patience.”

Dove opened up the door, and the pair stepped inside. 

“How are you still able to see in this? Fuckin hell, this is blinding.”

Whatever way the light of the bioluminescent plants and glowing crystals of the cavern ceiling above penetrated the glass walls of the greenhouse, its intensity was amplified, basking the chamber in blinding white light, mimicking the sunlight present in the heavenly meadows. It took Zepp some time to adjust to the harshness of it, but Dove was completely unphased by the change in environment. 

“Oh, well, I guess when you've lived in it your entire life, you just are used to it, I guess? Are you okay? Do you need a minute?”

He blinked a couple of times. “I think I'm okay, so, how do I do this, mate?”

He removed his jacket and gloves, leaving them by the door, and followed the cherubun. They lead him through the greenhouse, past planters filled with the most beautiful flowers and plants of varying shapes and colours, their blue, white and lilac petals shimmering and glistening under the false sunlight.

“First, we need to fill up some more pots with soil. Can you help me carry some bags over?”

Dove picked up a full bag, and handed it to the pride bun, loading his arms. It was strangely light, he was taken slightly off guard, expecting a much heavier load. Once they had finished, they pointed him in the direction of a couple of planters, sitting stacked together in the corner. “These ones here, put the soil on that workbench, and I'll bring them over.”

He followed their instructions, slicing one of the bags open once the pots were in place. The dirt was much different in shade and texture to that which was prevalent around Burrowgatory. It was soft and fluffy, almost like cotton, and golden in colour, with patterns swirling throughout it. He was mesmerised by the shimmering soil, eyes fixed until he was disturbed by a gentle touch on his shoulder. 

“Hello? Are you okay?” He shook his head, snapping back to reality. “Oh yeah I'm fine… Was nothing.” Dove handed him a trowel, a second one in their hand, and began scooping up the golden soil, transferring it into the nearest planter. Zepp began to follow suit. 

Once every planter was filled to the brim, they beckoned him over to where a silver faucet was embedded, and several watering cans were stored. “We need to thoroughly water the soil, then we can begin sowing the seeds.”

They filled up their own container, and carried it back over to the planters. Zepp did the same, filling the watering can with the clear liquid, once again shining unnaturally in the bright light. He hauled it back to the pots, and began drenching the soil. Once the water soaked into it, the gold darkened, instead more closely resembling bronze. It took a bit of going back and forwards, draining and refilling their cans a couple of times before Dove was satisfied with their work. 

“Now we need to make indents to place the seeds into…” They poked a small hole into the soil, and continued to do this in rows, each a few centimetres away from the last one. Once again, Zepp followed their instructions, carefully creating little pockets to put the seeds into. 

They then handed them a packet of seeds. “Place one into each of the indents you made, and then cover them up with soil.”

The seeds they had handed him were large, and silver, shining brightly like everything else in the greenhouse, and well, the heavenly embassy as a whole.  The seeds Dove was planting were different, their colour more closely resembling rose gold, and significantly smaller. He gently placed each one into a dot in the dirt, and shifted the soil around it to cover up the little seed, watching the silver disappear underneath the bronze. As he did this, he noticed Dove talking to themself. They seemed to be giving words of encouragement to each individual seed they placed, as they buried it. Just small little things, like “Soon you'll grow into the most beautiful flower,” “Wait until you become bigger and brighter.” Zepp found it quite dumb at first, rolling his eyes. What's the point of talking to something that can't hear you? Then again, Dove was the one who knew what they were doing, maybe there was some form of meaning behind this strange practice. On the next seed he was planting, he began to mimic their words. “Uh, hope you grow strong, and be able to give joy to the cherubuns… or something… I dunno…” He didn't really get it, but got a warm smile from Dove, who'd paused to glance over at him. He returned it. Continuing to talk to the plants was too weird for him to do, so he continued in silence, listening to Dove’s soft voice almost singing at this point to the ones they were tending to. 

“Almost done now!” They wrote down the plant types onto little cards, and embedded them into each of the planters. “We need to water them once more, not as much this time.”

Once again, filling their watering cans, sprinkling each and every one of the pots. Finally, they were finished. Dove began to tidy away the tools they had used back to where the pair had found them. Zepp just stood, a puzzled expression on his face. 

“Uh so, now what? We just, leave them here until they grow?”

The cherubun gave a soft giggle. “Oh no, we've to keep coming back here a couple of times a week to water them, and feed them. They need attention for a while, until they've grown enough to be picked and used. Then, that plant’s seeds will be replanted, and the process will repeat.”

He gave a heavy sigh. “Seems like an awful lot of work. 

“It is, but hey, it will all be worth it in the end. You'll see.”

The last trowel put back in its place, they led him back to the entrance. Putting back on his jacket, the pair left the greenhouse, Zepp a little more apprehensive, worried about what he had committed himself to. Now responsible for part of the cherubuns’ livelihood, what if he did something wrong? Dove seemed to pick up on his discomfort. “Don't worry, I'll help you every step of the way. 

The pair set off towards the elevator back down to the city of Burrowgatory below.