Page 32 of Fibre and Ink

As Aster started the parade of curious alpaca, I took a more serious look at what the workmen had left. The size of the demarcated area was huge, far larger than any barn or feedhouse in the area. I felt a chill up my spine. If we couldn’t stop this being built it really was going to ruin everything in my farm, probably Haye’s farm and the Meadery as well. Like Aster said, it would probably ruin the whole town... What I’d achieved today was good, but realistically, it wasn’t going to do more than slow them down a day or two.

Hopefully, whatever Aster had been doing would be more disruptive.

The alpacas towards the back of the pack weren’t so interested in following Aster, so I really did have to do some sheepdogging, herding them back with arms outstretched.

“Come on, Gus Gus, we had a nice outing didn’t we? But it’s time to get home again. You want some hay? You have to be in your nice, safe, fenced in field for that.”

Aster had the majority of the herd already inside the fence, so he pulled the gate closed and came to help me with the stragglers. “Which ones are these? I can’t tell them apart, yet,” Aster said. “I just guessed at Huey and Dewey before.”

“Well, you guessed right. Just ahead of me is Gus Gus, he’s a sweetheart. Here I have Aladdin, my chief trouble maker, and Baloo, who’s kind of the laziest.” I patted the flanks of a deep brown alpaca and then a chestnut one. “The black one ahead is Mulan. She’s the one with the white patches, and her son Mushu, all black, is behind her.”

Aster smiled, nodding. “You’re adorable. I mean, it’s adorable, naming them like this. With you at the center like Mickey Mouse.”

I felt a warmth in my cheeks and nodded. “Thanks.”

We got the alpacas back inside their field with few mishaps, and lots of laughs.

“Good work, everyone,” I said as I closed the gate. “That’s some good, harmless, political disruption right there.”

Aster beamed at me. He’d hopped up to sit on the fence and looked every inch a farmer. “They’re such a nice herd, not a one of them has spit at me.”

I chuckled. “They only do that if they’re really scared or really pissed off. I’ve worked hard to show them they’re safe when I’m around.”

Stitch nuzzled up to Aster, nosing at his pockets for more carrot sticks. Aster patted the short fur at the back of his head. “Good work, buddy. I’m out of carrot though.”

My heart flipped over and swelled up. I wanted to grab Aster, pull him to me and kiss him hard.

I held myself back.

Should I come clean and tell him everything? Then he could make his own mind up. Then we’d have our cards on the table... but I was enjoying hanging out too much, and if I did that, if we told each other everything, there was a high chance Aster would leave.

Selfishly, I wanted him here as long as I could have him.

Selfish and greedy and messed up, maybe. But... that’s what I wanted.

Aster

That night, I started a group chat. I needed everyone on the same page.

Aster: Hi all, you’re lucky enough to be in my inner circle of folks I trust so you’re in a group chat with me. Here’s the thing, we’ve uncovered a conspiracy. Someone is trying to build a Gen AI data center in Foggy Basin and I’m organizing a protest.

Harlow: a what now?

Tane: I’m in! Gen AI stole my music and I hate it

Dillon: hi, what?

Mickey: yeah, we have a mission. There were guys staking out a new construction right by my fields and I can’t have that. They’ll upset my alpacas.

Aster: yes, plus they’ll pollute the lake, and they’ll produce smog and drain a ton of energy off the local grid. When it comes to winter, we can’t maintain that amount of energy. Going by reports and articles from towns this has already happened to, the costs of the power just get passed on to residents!

I added in a few links to articles backing up my claims. I didn’t know if any of the rest would actually read them besides Dillon would. My brother would want to know that I’d done my research and he’d want to know all the details too.

I loved my big dork of a brother.

Tane sent a thumbs up, which... I wasn’t entirely sure what that meant.

Harlow: okay, a protest where and when? I can recruit the community center staff. Is there a poster? I’ll put it up on the noticeboard.