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I snuggled in close as Lycheas wrapped his arms around me. We’d spent all day hunting spiders and snakes, and had managed to get a couple small bags worth of each. He was still moaning and groaning about falling out of a tree. I had told him it wasn’t a good idea climbing up there in the first place.
“You’re not going to tell anyone I fell out of a tree, right?”
“Of course not. Besides, who would believe a wood elf falling out of a tree?” I laughed. “And I did tell you it wasn’t a good idea at the time.”
“But there was one last snake up there.”
“I told you to wait for it to come down.”
“So what should we do tomorrow?” He was trying to change the subject.
“I say we stock up on beer, get ourselves a couple fishing poles, and spend the day on the docks.”
“That sounds pretty boring.”
“Least there won’t be any trees around.”
“You’re in for it now.”
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Leptictis stood in the kitchen, glumly helping with the evenings chores. Roeal gave her an exasperated look.
“Child, they’ll be back soon.”
“I know.” The girl sighed. “I just hate being left behind again.”
“You’ll understand soon enough about people wanting time away alone.”
Leptictis blushed. Mama Roe had that effect on people. She hardly ever kept anything back when she had something to say. When they were finished cleaning up, they went outside to rest in the coolness of the evening.
“Mirtoba said you knew our mother.” Leptictis stated quietly.
Roeal took a moment before answering. It was hard to think back on what had happened.
“Yes, we were friends.”
“She doesn’t like to talk about our parents, and I was too little to understand or remember much. I remember mother always had these little white flowers in her hair though.”
“Miranne was always fond of night lilies. They only grow in a couple spots here in the forest. I’ll have to show you where one of these days. Your father would always bring her as many as he could find.” Roeal smiled sadly. “I never saw two people dote on each other as much as those two. Then you girls came along.”
“How come we never met you when we were little?”
“My husband got sent to the outpost in Kunark shortly after your sister was born. We were there for quite a few years until he was killed. Your mother sent me a letter telling me about you, but I never heard from her again.”
“Mirtoba says we saw the accident, but I don’t remember it.”
“Must have been hard for the both of you, but I imagine hardest for her.”
“Why do you say that?”
“She was still much a child, probably about the age you are now, and she had the two of you to take care of. Things like that age a person ahead of their time.”
They were silent for a moment, the stars were beginning to peak through the highest branches above them.
“I’ll probably never know why she left.” Leptictis mused.
“I imagine she felt lost. You were old enough to start your training, so you were being cared for by the druids. She’d lost the focus in her life in taking care of you. I’ve seen situations like it before. A person spends so much time concerned about everything but themselves they don’t know what to do or where to go if that changes.”
“Still doesn’t excuse her abandoning me.”
“Don’t you go blaming her forever. She probably felt she had no one to go to for help. People on the outside can only sympathize. Unless a person has lived through something like the two of you, they’ll never fully understand.”
Leptictis was quiet a moment.
“Isn’t Lycheas the same age as Mirt?”
“He’s a little older. He was born before we went to Kunark.”
“He’s never mentioned it.”
“Lycheas came down with a strange fever, and was very sickly for the first two years we were there. He doesn’t remember too much. I sent him and his sister back here to stay with my brother when things started to look bad over there.”
“So, he and Mirt might have met before? During their early training?”
“It’s possible, but I think your sister was probably too busy to notice much of anything in those days. Lycheas’ sickness held him back quite a few years as well.”
“He must be a fast learner then.”
“That he is, at most things.” Roeal smiled warmly. “And it’s time for us to get some sleep. I believe you have a long day tomorrow.”
Leptictis groaned. Sallacious and Kalutam had a rigorous practice schedule laid out for her before she was tested again. It was something she wasn’t looking forward to.
I R NUCKING FUTS!
Yes, I know...I know what you always say - You trap, you kill, you eat - that's what a good spider does.
You trap...you kill...you eat....
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