the walk to the apples seemed too easy and the  old apple trees were all planted in rows and at the end a chimney stood. “this used to be a farm?”

Rook sat atop a large bolder to elegant in his human form “there are little homesteads all over my mountain. gold brings humans and the winters freeze them out. every time they came thinking they knew how to make their fortune here but often as not they found only sweet rest in my soil.”

Sampson ignored the man picking apples.

Kyu was helping then found a really pretty one and held it out to rook “would you like one?” meaning to toss the apple to him Kyu was surprised that in a wing beet Rook was holding Kyus wrist 

“What sweetness this child you bring to my mountain Sampson. such innocents for them to offer me the sweetest apple of my own land” then tuning Kyus wrist Rook bit in to the apple letting the juices run down Kyus arm looking Kyu in the eye the whole time. then hoping back to there bolder as Sampson swing at the bird man.  

“I told you hands off old man!” but there was no real malice in it, only mild annoyance.

Rook laughed, it was as bronze as his ravens crow.

Kyu wiped their arm and tossed the apple to rook “um I guess nice to finally meet you… this is very odd”

“Pick apples if you are going to eat apples” Sampson barked 

at that Kyu started picking “how many days of winter do you think we are in for I’d like to pick my share.”

Sampson shrugged Rook looked to the sky “it will be bad for you. too many light winters have thrown off the balance so cold death comes to clean my skirts of weak.”

Kyu didn’t like the sound of that and started picking faster then found a apple with a big worm hole and split it open with their knife. sure enough a fat worm was wiggling a way from the light. Kyu smiled and walked over the the rock Rook was lazing on. both Sampson and Rook eyed Kyu with curiosity. “I promised so here is you bug!”

Sampson burst in to laughter witch needled Rook. who as sly as a fox slip from the rock saying “to birds it is a romance to offer such treats” standing so close that Rook looked down and to the side inspecting Kyu. with more strength then Kyu thought possible Rook pulled the hafted apple with the worm up and to behind him pulling kya off balance and for the briefest   moment Rooks mouth was on Kyus. that same instant Rook was gone flying off carrying the halved apple.

Kyu placed their hand on their mouth turned bright red and looked to Sampson for some kind of answer, who look Peeved! his hair was standing on end. so Kyu went back to picking apples.

they had filled about half the cart when Sampson made to head home. 

Kyu cut off five apple sticks from the trees and fallowed after “I’m going to see if I can grow them.”

Sampson grunted

Kyu felt the need to clear the air “ I’ll try and remember not to feed stray birds.”

to Kyus great surprise Sampson ruffled Kyus hair and kept walking once home Sampson unloaded the crates and broke down the lid sliding the boards making shelve that the place canvas over then a layer of apples a shelf canvas more apples till full. Sampson took the full apple stores to the cellar now that it was clean and dry it was the perfect place to store extra food. the extra smoked meats went down there as well of the 3 large blocks of salt. large bags of beens, lentils, potatoes and oats and a few other supply’s to last though the winter. once they finish Sampson set about finish cleaning the chimney.  Kyu realized this was enough food to get Sampson though the winter and now that they were here things were going to be tight. resolute to not be a burden Kyu went to the book to sort out the next project!