Hope in Deep Waters (an AtE story) Ch 17

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Flashback

As Kalmar’s growling stomach led him toward the apple tree, he heard his older brother shout a challenge to him to see if he could hit an apple with one of his arrows. 

“Easy!” he shouted back, whipping out his bow and nocking an arrow. He squinted at the ripest apple, one that was dangling from the end of a high branch, and let the arrow fly. After months of taking down moving targets while also running for his life, a stationery apple was no problem at all. The arrow thunked into the center of the apple, which swung to and fro on its stem but refused to drop to the forest floor. Kalmar tossed down his pack and bow, and bolted for the tree. He swung up into the branches and pulled himself higher and higher into the swaying boughs. As he crawled out onto the limb that held his apple and his arrow, he heard Janner beg him to be careful fifteen or so feet below.

Suddenly, Kalmar’s thoughts flashed back to the previous day when he had been in the plumyum tree and accidentally started to say Janner’s name instead of Leeli’s. He remembered the heavy grief that had weighed upon his family since Janner had taken the stone from his hands- his paws- and sacrificed his own life at the last moment. He remembered his mother’s silent tears and the scars on her forearms and on Janner’s neck, arms, and legs where his own claws and teeth had sunk in. He remembered Leeli’s worry for him and how scary it must have been for her to see him go wild and lose his mind. He even remembered Artham’s vain attempts to help him remember his identity. Kalmar wanted to shrink down and hide in a hole somewhere because he felt guilty for how much physical and emotional pain his own rebellion and bad decisions had brought upon the family he so deeply cared about. 

“Are you okay up there?” called Leeli from below, standing next to Nia in the shade.

Kalmar swallowed hard and shoved the thoughts away. “Yeah, I’m good! I’m almost there!” He didn’t want to bring the painful memories back into his family’s minds again and ruin the mood. 

Kalmar grabbed the skewered apple and tried to focus on the fact that he was pleased that the arrow stuck right through its center. On his way down the tree. He tucked several more gleaming red apples into his pockets. He could give them to Nia and Leeli and Janner when he reached the bottom. 

When he reached the ground, Kalmar mustered a smile. “See? Easy as pie.” he announced to Janner, waving the apple at him. 

“Nice shot! See? You can still have fun.” Janner remarked.

Remembering Esben’s message gave Kalmar an idea.

“Mama?” he asked, “can you tell us a funny story about Papa and Uncle Artham while we eat?”

“Of course dear,” said Nia with a grin. Turning to Artham, she mused “Now, which one should it be?”