Fernbank appeared just before sunset, where the Rustwood gave way to low hills and fields cut into the slopes. Cloth stretched between tall poles formed enormous nets over an orchard whose branches leaned east.
Small, round objects floated above the trees. Some were berry-sized, others inflated seedpods trailing thin threads. Workers walked beneath them carrying long poles fitted with soft loops.
Lunaris pushed his head out of Nova's coat and watched a pod rise past the path. He made a questioning sound.
"No," Nova told him. "Whatever it is, you're not eating it."
The Auri stopped to follow the pod's ascent. Its stained wing remained folded against its body, but its eyes tracked the little object until it vanished above the trees.
A stone well stood beside Fernbank's main path. Beyond it were houses and a travelers' shelter. A woman emerged from the shelter carrying folded cloth.
"Looking for somewhere to sleep?" she asked.
