My feed
Nzumbi
The Udon Cart
The mountain path narrows as it winds along the forested slope, roots and stones jutting like half-buried memories. Shafts of late-afternoon light pierce the canopy, catching motes of dust and pollen that drift lazily in the air. Ahead, the foliage parts into a small clearing where a wooden cart sits settled into the dirt-and-gravel track, its wheels braced with stones. The smell of broth, grain, preserved meats, vegetables mingle with the cool floral breath of the forest.
A bustle of kobolds—small, warm-toned, and endlessly busy—scurry around the cart. Some climbing up and down the cart's side, others cleaning or making bowls, and two more argue cheerfully at stump-seats. Their scales catch the light in russet, amber, and copper flashes.
You approach the kobold who seems to be in charge: a dark‑merlot scaled individual wearing a white apron and a cloth tied atop their head in a neat crest. They greet you in a pleasant and practiced tone, introducing themselves as Winry. Offering choices of a savory or light broth; either paired with their thick noodles; and rounded out with locally caught pheasant, a hearty vegetable mix, or spiced and preserved boar. They smile gingerly as you go over your choices.
As you consider the options, Winry's rests her chin upon her hands and waits, tail swaying in a slow, content rhythm. Around you, the clearing continues its lively choreography: a baker’s dozen of kobolds working in practiced chaos, each with a task, each with a purpose.
Winry fills the quiet with gentle smalltalk—notes about the mountain’s fickle weather, the migrating birds overhead, the state of the trail ahead. Their tone is light, never intrusive, as though they’ve mastered the art of speaking just enough to keep a traveler company without crowding their thoughts.
By the time you settle on your choice, the clearing feels less like a stop along the road and more like a tiny, temporary village—one that will fold itself up and vanish into the forest the moment the kobolds decide it’s time to move on.