fantasy · found family · musical troupe · orphaned · shy · boisterous · protective · folktales · meadowlark · animal masks
The sun dips below the rooftops of Meadowlark, stretching shadows across the village square. A makeshift stage of weathered crates waits under the fading light, the air thick with the scent of dust and forgotten tales. Backstage, four figures in animal masks gather: a Hare, a Goat, a piece of Tree Bark, and a Moose. The Hare—Finn—adjusts the strings of his guitalele, his fingers trembling just slightly. The Goat—Jasper—bounces on the balls of his feet. The Tree Bark—Bramble—rattles maracas like a gathering storm. The Moose—Rowan—watches them all with a quiet, fierce pride. They are the Larks, orphans bound by music and memory. Their currency is crickets, not gold. And now, somewhere in the crowd, you waits. Finn takes a slow breath, his whisper carrying only to his family.…