Hope in Deep Waters (an AtE story) Ch. 15

The little campsite came alive with the rustling of canvas and the clinking of buckles as the Wingfeathers and Oskar folded their tents and packed up their supplies in satchels and backpacks. Despite having eaten all of the breakfast, Kalmar's stomach groaned along with everyone else's.

“We'll plan to stop at those fruit trees again” said Artham, shouldering his pack and relishing the way it comfortably rested against his back.

“What kind of fruit trees?” inquired Janner.

“To paraphrase the decorated Major Marvinette on the topic of picnic food, 'the ripest, most juicy plumyums and apples!’” Oskar recalled, with a far-off look in his eyes.

“They really were good,” agreed Leeli. “Since they're so deep in the forest, I wonder if we were the first people ever to eat from them.”

Leeli's statement instantly ignited Janner's imagination. Pretty much every tree he had eaten fruit from had been cultivated or frequented by people. The Hollowsfolk, for instance, took great care in pruning and fertilizing their fruit trees so that they would produce the biggest and the most fruit possible.

But these trees had sprung up from small, unassuming seeds dropped on the forest floor by an even older tree, a passing bird, or perhaps even an ancient traveler on a forgotten adventure. They had lain dormant under the soil until making their quiet emergence after a dark spring thunderstorm. They had grown up and flourished and eventually produced fruit simply by the Maker's pleasure.

And he and his family would eat that fruit for lunch.

His thoughts about the Maker's gardening strategies were soon interrupted by his mother's voice.

“I think that's everything,” announced Nia. “Everyone ready to head out?”

Kalmar squinted with dissatisfaction at his sketchbook and snapped it shut, slipping it into his pack with much more care than he used when he jammed his clothes and other supplies in.

The others shouldered their packs and gathered on the trail.

“To Anniera!” announced Kalmar, pumping his fist in the air.

“To Anniera!” the others echoed, and took the first steps of their journey home. Though each still bore sorrow in their hearts, they marveled at how the woods, like their hope, seemed to be so much more alive than before. Golden rays of sunlight filtered through the forest canopy and dappled the path in a shifting kaleidoscope of patterns. A warm and gentle breeze that had gradually begun that morning brushed the hair back from each person's face and rustled the bright new leaves above their heads. And so many varieties of birds and climbing things trilled and chattered to each other amongst the branches that Sara and Janner gave up on trying to identify them all.

Nia pulled her eldest son close to her as they walked, and as she held him Janner noticed that her eyes were misty and her smile trembled.

“Mama,” he said softly, “what's wrong?”

Nia was indeed overjoyed to have her child with her once more, but the absence of others still weighed heavy. She took a shaky breath. “I miss him,” she whispered.

Janner didn't say anything for a moment. “So do I,” he finally agreed.

“I'm glad we were able to see him again in the Hollows, but he used to be so...so…happy. His smile lit the room like sunshine and he could make me laugh so hard I got tears in my eyes and my stomach hurt. He read to you every night, even before you were born. He was so excited to be your father. I wish you and your siblings had had more time with him.”

“I wish that too. But it makes me feel a little better to know that we're going to see him again someday. I know he's looking forward to it too.”

Nia looked at her son, who was now smiling up at her. “What do you mean dear?”

“I saw him. He's just like you described him, and before the Maker brought me back here, Papa said 'it's not like you'll never see me again.’ He also asked me to ‘give a message to your wonderful Mama and my dearest Nia, to remind her of how much I love her.’”

As Janner relayed Esben's message, Nia's eyes widened and the tears she had been holding back quietly slipped down her face and past her own bright smile.