Blue for the Green Part 1

By TommyTheGunM99
     
First out of who knows how many stories I’ll write set in this world.

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Blue for the Green Part 1 
A “Tails from Blauerberg” story
Written by TommyTheGunM99

	It was a sunny mid-August day in the small South Germanian town of Heidelstadt located within Blauerberg County, Kingdom of Bavaria. The year is Eighteen Sixty-Eight, and in this town lived a young mouse girl of nineteen years. Her name is Tetyana Myshkapole, and she lived in a flophouse where she had stayed since coming the Blauerberg County the previous year. As the town and its Anthroid denizens began to wake up and go about their daily routines, Tetyana lay sleeping in her bed. It wouldn’t be long until the landlady, an older Fox woman about forty years her senior, came into the small bunk room as the other residents had already woken up and left.

	“Wake up.” The Landlady said sternly to the sleeping mouse girl. “I said, wake up.” She repeated more sternly before nudging Tetyana. Tetyana would proceed to stir and moan before 
she groggily opened her eyes to see the Landlady looming over her. “It’s time to wake up. Rent isn’t going to pay itself, Auslander.” The Landlady said sternly with a sour face. Tetyana rubbed her eyes before she sat up in her bed. “S-Sorry, pani.” Tetyana said, referring to the Landlady in her native tongue which earned the Landlady’s ire. “How many times must we go over this. Under my roof, you will speak Germanian and only Germanian. None of this Muscovian nonsense. Now get up, and go out and work.” The Landlady said before leaving.

	Tetyana groaned before she yawned and got up. She would walked over to her footlocker before opening the lid and pulling out her clothes for the day: a white and wrinkled blouse, a purple ankle-length skirt with stitched in black patches, a blue string bow, and a pair of old shoes. She walked over to a mirror and proceeded to brush her long brown hair. Afterwards, she would take a deep breath and look over at a picture of her family: her mother and father, younger brother, and baby sister. She sighed as she looked at the photo. “Once I get the money, we can finally be together again.” She said to herself before she turned and left the bunk room, then walked out the front door to be greeted by a sunny day, and a busy town.

	The town of Heidelstadt was abuzz with activity as the denizens opened up their businesses or went to work at said businesses. As for Tetyana, she went to her place of work: 
the local town garden where she would help maintain the plants and trees. Although the garden itself was well-maintained, the job itself paid little. Tetyana sighed as she arrived. “Better than being back on the street.” She would say to herself as she puts on a pair of gloves and proceeded to help tend to the trees.

	All around her, the townspeople went about their business. Some were setting up decorations, signage, and posters for an upcoming event: the annual Blauerberg Harvest Festival to celebrate the annual blueberry harvest. Tetyana, however, knew little about the festival, or even about the region itself. For her, she had only one thing on her mind: to help her family get away from Muscovia and reunite with them. However, this was hampered by her poor knowledge of the local customs, and the landlady taking most of what little money she is paid from this job.

	However, things would change for her today. Hours later, while tending the trees, she would come across a discarded piece of paper. Upon picking it up to throw it away, she would look at it and read its contents. That was when she saw it: the flyer is a hiring advert from the local Countess herself asking for workers to come and assist with the blueberry harvest in her 
groves. The benefits sounded too good to be true when she read them: new clothes, fair conditions, good hours, and above all else to her…wages that were more than what she was paid currently working the gardens. “I-I can get the money for my family’s safe passage by the end of the week with this kind of pay.” Tetyana said to herself. Upon further reading, she saw that all she had to do was take the next steam omnibus up to the groves.

	The next morning, after waking up early than before as to not have to deal with the Landlady, Tetyana would quickly put on her used clothes before leaving the flophouse and heading for the bus stop where she would take the steam omnibus up to her new job. After turning a few corners and walking a few blocks, she would soon see the bus stop. There, she saw at least ten workers waiting for the bus. As she approached the group, one of the workers, a male chamois approximately in his early twenties wearing a simple get up of a white buttonup work shirt, brown suspenders and pants, and a pair of black boots. The goat-antelope looked at Tetyana before giving her a kindly smile.

	Tetyana panted from the endless running she undertook. “Phew. Made it.” She said to herself. “Here to work at the Countess’s blueberry groves, little lady?” The male chamois said to her. Tetyana looked at him before showing the flyer. “Yes. Yes I am. The last job I worked barely paid me anything, and the Landlady of the flophouse I live takes most of my earnings.” He looked at her and smiled softly. “Well, it’s a good thing the Countess is always looking for extra hands with the harvest.” The chamois said. Tetyana straightened out her dress. “I come from a farming family originally. Hard work, but we at least try despite it all.” The chamois nodded. “Well, this is a relatively safe job. Safer than working in those big city factories. Hard work still, but the pay is good.”

	Soon, the group are greeted with the sound of a whistle as the steam omnibus soon arrived at the stop. Once the boarding ramp was deployed, the group climbed inside and took their seats. Tetyana sitting in the very back along with Siegert. After everyone is aboard, the ramp was closed and the driver blew the whistle before the omnibus began its journey through town. Eventually, they would begin driving up a dirt road. Tetyana looked out the window and saw what she considered to be the largest blueberry grove she had ever seen. She saw townspeople working and picking berries as far as the eye could see.

	The omnibus soon stopped and blew its whistle before the ramp deployed again. Tetyana and the ten workers would climb out before heading towards where the supervisor, a male grey rabbit with a bushy mustache and wearing a field worker uniform, was standing and looking at his clipboard. The Supervisor looked at the group of eleven before he looked over his clipboard again. “Let’s see here. Ten returning workers, and one newcomer I haven’t seen before.” He looked at Tetyana. “You, I’ll need to speak with. The rest of you, go and grab your uniforms and get to work. We got a busy day today, and a busy month before the Harvest Festival.” 

	After Siegert and the other nine workers left, the Supervisor walked over to Tetyana. Before you get started, I must ask you a few questions, Fraulein…?” Tetyana looked at the Supervisor before answering honestly. “Tetyana. Tetyana Myshkapole.” The Supervisor raised his brow. “Myshkapole…hmmm. Your name and accent…you’re not from around here are you? Or anywhere in Germania?” Tetyana shook her head. “I originally come from Zaporizhia. I only recently came here around spring.” The Supervisor slightly nodded. “Mhmm. Any family with you here in Blauerberg County.” Tetyana shook her head again. “My parents and two siblings remain back home, but I’m trying to earn money to send back to them so they can buy safe passage away from Muskovia and we can be reunited. However, my old job barely paid anything, and the Landlady of the flophouse takes most of my earnings. I barely have enough to send back. Let alone enough to take care of myself.” Tetyana had a visible shudder in her voice.

	Hearing this, the Supervisor could only nod. “I see then. In any case, if you’re going to be working here, we should get you trained. Now then, let’s head to the equipment shed and 
grab you some gloves and an apron. Afterwards, look for Siegert and he’ll show you the ropes.” With that, Tetyana and the Supervisor walked through the grove. As they walked, Tetyana looked at the workers as they checked the bushels of blueberries. Picking the ones that were ripe for pickings while leaving the rest to continue ripening. She then noticed a large fence separating the grove she is in from another grove closer to the castle. Getting a clear view, she noticed the blueberries in the other grove were quite larger than usual. About the size of oranges if she were to guess.

	Tetyana looked at the Supervisor as they walked. “Uh…sir, may I ask about the groves in the grove on the other side of this fence?” The Supervisor nodded and answered. “That right there is the Inner Grove section. That is where our region’s famous Blauerberg Berries are grown.” Tetyana tilted her head in curiosity. “Blauer…berries?” The Supervisor further explained. “They are larger than regular blueberries. Every harvest, they are picked off the bushels and brought into the castle. They are then processed into our county’s very famous Blauerberg Wein. However, they are not to be consumed raw and right off the bushel.” Tetyana raised a brow. “Why? Are they poisonous when raw?” The Supervisor shook his head. “Oh no…but they do have a certain…effect. Nothing for you to worry about as you’ll be working here in the Outer Grove.” He said as he and Tetyana soon arrive at the equipment shed. 

	Tetyana walked inside before she grabbed a pair of farming gloves, a brown leather half-apron, and a basket. Once she grabbed what she needed, she walked back out. The Supervisor looked at her and nodded. “Now you look ready to pick some berries. Now then, let’s find Siegert.” The two of them then walked through the grove before approaching Siegert as he was picking blueberries off a bushel. The chamois looked at the two before turning to them. “Herr Meyer, you want to speak with me?” The Supervisor, Meyer, nodded. “Quite right, Herr Danner. I’m sure you’ve already met Tetyana on the ride up here. I want you to supervise and train her while you two pick berries.” Siegert nodded. “Jawoi, Herr Meyer.” Meyer then turned to Tetyana. “You’ll get your pay at the end of the day. Just follow Siegert’s instructions, and he’ll make sure you do your job right.” Tetyana looked at Siegert then back to Meyer. “Tak. Forgive me, I’m barely literate on my Germanian.” She told them. “Don’t worry, Albish is widely spoken here, but it would be beneficial to know your Germanian. Now then, I shall leave the two of you to your work.” 

	Tetyana walked over to Siegert as Meyer walked away. Siegert smiled at the mouse girl. “It’s a very simple job. Just gently and lightly touch the berries that are blue. If they fall onto your hand, they are ready to be picked. If not, then you leave them be and let them ripen before picking. Go ahead and give it a try.” Tetyana looked at the bushel that was in front of her. Upon closer inspection, she noticed quite a bunch of blueberries. Some were very much still white while most were a very dark blue. She looked at one berry before she reached over 
and lightly touched it. As soon as her finger touched it, it fell off its branch and onto the palm of her hand. Siegert smiled seeing the berry fall. “Just like that.” Tetyana inspected the ripe blueberry before she put it in her basket. “This is…quite easy. Easier than the farmwork back home.” She said before she continued picking more blueberries. Putting the ones that fell at her touch into the basket while leaving alone the ones that didn’t fall. Seeing how she got the hang of it, Siegert smiled and went back to working on his bushel.

	It wasn’t long into the day when Tetyana’s stomach would let out a light growl and cause her to blush. “Oh no, I didn’t eat breakfast today.” She let out a visible groan. Siegert 
looked at her before he picked a blueberry from the bushel and offered it to her. “Here.” Tetyana looked at the berry then at him with a concerned look. “Won’t we get in trouble? I mean, we’re supposed to be picking them. Not eating them ourselves.” Siegert shook his head. “The Countess doesn’t mind if some of us eat an occasional blueberry while working. Eat. You won’t be able to work on an empty stomach.” Siegert picked some more blueberries before giving them to Tetyana. She held the bunch of berries in her hand before she ate them after some hesitation. The sweet flavor entered her mouth before she swallowed them. She gave a light smile. “These are some sweet berries. Sweeter than any other I’ve had.”

	Hours later…

	After a whole day of picking berries, as well as eating a few to stave off starvation, Tetyana and Siegert would dump their last basket of blueberries into the collector. Afterwards, 
the two of them walked back to the equipment shed along with the other workers. “You did great, Tetty. Then again, you did say you are experienced with farming, so I suppose it should 
come as nothing new to you.” Tetyana looked at him and gave a light smile. “djákuju, Siegert. Again, sorry for my lack of Germanian.” Tetyana blushed. “Ah, it’s not a problem. I assume that means thank you on your native tongue?” Tetyana nodded as they both arrived at the shed. After putting away their equipment, they went to Meyer who gave out payroll to the workers.

	After waiting in line, Siegert would receive his pay before smiling at Tetyana. “I’ll see you tomorrow then, Tetty.” Siegert said before he walked to the omnibus stop. Tetyana gently waved to Siegert before looking at Meyer. The grey rabbit would hand over a bag of coins to the mouse girl. Tetyana would open the bag, and see all the money inside which astounded her. “Woah! All this for picking berries?!” She yelled in surprise. “I don’t think I get paid even half of this at my old job!” Meyer chuckled at her reaction. “Yes, the Countess is quite generous when it comes to pay. You said you lived in a flophouse? Did you?” Tetyana nodded. “I do.” “Then I suggest you use this to get out of there. I suggest renting a room at the main tavern, the Laughing Bushel. Now, run along now before you miss your ride.” Meyer said to Tetyana. “R-Right!  djákuju!” She yelled before she quickly ran to the omnibus stop and quickly climbed on.

	After reaching the stop in town, Tetyana quickly climbed off and ran for the flophouse. Once there, she went to collect her belongings and pack up. Luckily for her, the Landlady wasn’t home thus allowing her to pack up and leave the flophouse without trouble. She felt as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders as she walked out the door and began making her way to the tavern that Meyer told her about: The Laughing Bushel. After walking down the road to the square in the Old Town, she easily spotted the lively and busy tavern. She walked over before walking inside to see the various patrons drinking, eating, and socializing with one another. Many of these patrons she recognized from working in the grove but Siegert was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps he was at his own home. Tetyana looked and walked around shyly as she did her best to avoid conversation before she reached the counter where the Tavernkeeper, a rather thick cow woman wearing a barmaid dress, was cleaning the counter before noticing the little mouse girl.

	“Before we speak, I must ask your name and age.” The cow woman said to Tetyana. “O-Oh! My name is Tetyana Myshkapole, and I’m nineteen years old.” She told the Tavernkeeper. “I see then. Old enough to drink then. That is assuming why you’re here, but 
seeing as you’re holding a case, I assume you wish to rent a room?” Tetyana nodded. “Yes. I’m just left the flophouse that I was staying in since I first arrived in this town. How much?” The Tavernkeeper looked at Tetyana as she cleaned a beer stein. “Fifteen Gulden. No less.” Tetyana reached into her bag and placed the required currency onto the counter. “Do you served food here?” The Tavernkeeper chuckled. “We wouldn’t be a tavern if we didn’t serve food. If you want the special, that’ll be twenty five Gulden. Roasted bug beef, mashed potatoes with gravy, asparagus, a plate of blueberry pie, and a bottle of our town’s famous Blauerberg Wein.” Hearing this made Tetyana’s stomach growl and she had to hold back the drool that formed in 
her mouth. “Y-Yes. I’ll have that up in my room, please.” She said before placing more of the currency. The Tavernkeeper handed over a key with a tag tied to it with a number 4 on it. 
“Room 4. Upstairs. I’ll have one of the girls bring your food up. Oh, and my name is Marla if you need anything else.” Marla said to her. “Thank you, Miss Marla.” Tetyana said before 
heading up to Room 4.

	Using the key to unlock the door, Tetyana walked in to a basic bedroom. There was a single-person bed, a nightstand with a lamp, a dresser, a full-body mirror, and a large tub for 
her to take a bath in. She sat down her suitcase before walking over and plopping down onto the firm yet comfy bed. She let out a soft sigh. She now had a better job, and better pay. Which meant not only could she send more money to her family, but she would have more leftover to take feed and take care of herself. For her, it was a great feeling of relief compared to her previous living conditions at the flophouse where the Landlady would take most of whatever pay she got. To her, things are finally looking up for the little mouse girl...