Kai nodded, pulling out another sturdy wooden stool from under the small, round table that served as the family's main eating and working surface. It wobbled slightly on the uneven earthen floor. He sat, leaning forward eagerly. "Alright, lay it out. What's the master plan?"
Grove grabbed a piece of smoothed bark from a shelf – their usual makeshift map material – and a chunk of charcoal from a shelf. He spread the bark on the table, its surface already marked with faint lines from previous 'planning sessions' for less ambitious explorations within the village bounds.
"Okay," Grove began, his brow furrowed in concentration as he started sketching rough lines. "So, the perimeter wall runs roughly like this..." He drew a large, uneven circle representing the village boundary. "We're here." He made a small X near one edge. "The split-trunk oak Elder Gorse mentioned is over here, on the western side, remember? Where the wall juts out a bit near the Elderberry thicket."
Kai leaned closer, tracing the line with his finger. "Right. He said not to wander beyond that oak, and those big mossy boulders because of some poisonous animal that was there." Kai paused for a moment. "Wait, that means there's probably an opening there, and we wouldn't make as much sound as we would be trying to get over the full wall. Huh, I guess I never thought about it."
"Exactly, nobody does," Grove confirmed, tapping the charcoal stick near the oak symbol. "So, the plan is, we sneak out just after the morning meal call tomorrow. Everyone's busy eating or cleaning up then. Less chance of getting spotted by someone because we'll be hidden by the elderberry bush. And there's no school tomorrow."
Kai nodded. "Good idea. He rubbed his hands together in excitement. "I was thinking this was going to be another normal adventure climbing up a tree, but you've really surprised me." His face lit up. "And," Kai added, his own voice rising with enthusiasm, "we'll see something totally new! Like a different kind of animal, or a plant we've never seen before!" The thought made his stomach do a little flip-flop. Anything was better than the same mud huts and the same grumpy faces every day.
"This will be great," Grove agreed. Their previous adventures were climbing tall trees and looking out at the wilderness outside the walls. Now, they would finally be able to feel what it's like to be out in the wild personally.
"We just gotta be careful. You know, like Old Man Thistle says..." Grove lowered his voice, trying to imitate the old man's gravelly tone, "'They'll snatch you right up, they will! Drag you off to their terrible lairs!'" He finished with a little wiggle of his fingers, trying to look scary, but mostly just looking silly.
Kai snorted. "Yeah, yeah, the Non-Humans. But we're just going a little ways. We won't even be gone that long." He wasn't really worried. Mostly excited. The stories – while maybe being partly true – were probably just meant to keep kids from wandering off.
"Still," Grove said, suddenly serious again. "We gotta be quiet. Super quiet. Even outside the village. And stick together. Remember there are still dangerous animals out there as well." He gave Kai a pointed look.
"Obviously," Kai said. "I'm probably not the smartest, but I'm not completely stupid." He wagged a finger.
"Okay, sure," Grove said, drawing one final line on the bark from the oak tree symbol leading outwards into blank space. "So, meet by the leaning fence post, the one near the west gate where the path goes towards the Elderberry thicket. Right after the horn. Don't be late."
I won't be late!" Kai promised, practically bouncing on his stool. "This is going to be awesome, Grove. The best adventure yet!"
"Yeah," Grove agreed, a matching grin spreading across his face. "It will be." He carefully rolled up the piece of bark. "Now you better go before my mom comes back and asks too many questions about what we're whispering about."
Kai stood up, the stool scraping on the floor. "Right." He gave Grove a mock salute, which Grove returned with a chuckle.
"See ya at school today, Kai."
"See ya!" Kai pushed open the door flap and stepped back out into the familiar village paths. He was beaming with joy, so much so that he thought he was literally exuding light. The walls of the mud huts glowed brighter as he walked by. Was it him? He shook his head and thought, No, the sun is rising, I'm completely silly. Would be cool to be a walking torch though.
He couldn't wait, but he had to wait an entire day. The school day was going to start soon as well, and school felt extra boring now that he knew what waited for him after it... well, after tonight and all of tomorrow's morning. It felt like waiting through ten years.
He reached the school building. It wasn't like the other huts. It was bigger, more square-ish, with a wide opening instead of a door flap, probably to let the air flow better and maybe for more light. Inside, it smelled of old straw from the roof and dust, and maybe a little bit like the dried plants they sometimes used for lessons. Rows of low wooden benches were lined up, wobbly and scratched. Most of the kids his age, and a few younger ones, were already there, finding their usual spots. Grove was already sitting near the front, probably trying to look like he was paying attention even though Kai knew he was just as excited. Grove gave him a quick, smile and a tiny nod.
The teacher, Mr. Covell, a man with unusually curly hair black hair and a thin face, waited until everyone was seated, then got up from his wooden seat and began his class announcement. "Greetings to all students, let's get started with our daily recital."
There was a communal sigh that swept through the room. It was a daily thing, and people were getting quite sick of it. Including Kai. In response, the teacher said, "Remember, we do this to commemorate our founder of the village; the one who saved us all, the great man named Ceruss. The man who freed the slaves and founded the village with them." He cleared his throat and proceeded, "Now, say the words with me."
A communal voice began, sounding very monotone. "THE MAN WHO BELIEVE IN CERUSS WILL GOD BRING WITH HIM. AND THE ONE IN THE MIDST OF THE THRONE SHALL LEAD HIM UNTO LIVING FOUNTAINS, OF WATERS: AND GOD SHALL WIPE AWAY ALL TEARS FROM THEIR EYES. IN MEMORY TO THE FOUNDER OF THE VILLAGE IN THE SPIRIT OF WHICH SPEAKS MORE ELOQUENTLY THAN WORDS OF THE VISION WHICH WAS HIS. HE HEARD THE VOICE OF GOD WALKING AND WENT TO MEET HIM UNAFRAID."
The was silence for a moment, the teacher cleared his throat and said, "Now, I will start the lesson."
Of course, the lesson was lame. Kai spent most of it daydreaming about what they were going to do tomorrow. Most of the stuff taught were things his parents could show him how to do anyways.
He left school with Grove. They were going to play Bump-Ball together in the small grass field in the village with some other kids. It was a newer sport that became popular recently. It was nice for passing time.
After they finished, Kai got home as the sun began to set, the village became enveloped by shadow cast by the towering trees, even though the sky was still bright.
He walked into his home, and was greeted by his parents, and Adelaide.
"Welcome home," his mom said with a smile. She was wiping dust off surfaces with a cloth. Her hair was brown, like Kai's, tied back neatly, and her eyes, though also brown, had a warm look that could soften when she smiled. "How was school?"
Kai set his satchel full of school items on the table. "Good. The average day, I guess."
"That's good," his mom replied. She had put down the cloth and was looking at him closely. She could see his excitement, even if he thought he was hiding it. "Anyways," she continued. She gestured over to a plate on one of the shelves. "We got the Miriberries, don't they look amazing?"
It was a pile of deep purple berries with a red sheen, even in the dark hut, it glowed a little somehow.
Adelaide got up from the floor and bounded over to them. "Yeah, but when are we eating?"
"Well," Kai's dad started, clapping his hands together. "Now that Kai is here, we can try it as a family."
"Well," Kai's dad said, clapping his hands together. "Now that Kai is here, we can try it as a family." Kai's dad looked a lot like an older version of him, with the same practical brown hair, maybe a little lighter and grey at the temples now, and steady brown eyes. He wasn't as broad as Grove's dad, the carpenter, but he looked sturdy enough for carrying things and doing what needed doing.
"Oh yeah," Adelaide nodded eagerly, already hovering by the shelf. His mom came over too, and Kai joined them. His dad carefully took the plate down, and put it on the table. There weren't that many berries, maybe enough for three or four each if they were careful. They definitely felt special.
His dad handed one to each of them. Kai took his berry. It was cool and firm to the touch, glowing that strange deep red-purple. It smelled sweet, like wildflowers on a warm day. He put it in his mouth. Wow, this is amazing
It was sweet, like ridiculously sweet at first. Then, like Grove's mom said, there was this little sharp sourness right at the end, a tangy kick. It was incredible. It made the normal berries they usually ate taste like... well, dirt, almost.
It was a good way to end the day. But his anticipation still emanated.