Chapter II – Echo of Memory

Corn stopped the wagon in the middle of the road. Five straight hours had worn the poor papamoose down, especially with most of the group riding on the wagon the entire time. Cherry poked her head out from the canvas tent.

"Why're we stopping?"

"Let the papamoose rest. And have something to eat." Corn jumped off the driver's seat and unhooked the large blue beast from the harness.

"I already ate." Cherry chipped in with a smile on her face. Corn didn't smile.

"Everyone out of the wagon! We need to discuss something."

Inside, the travelers shuffled out of the wooden cart one by one. Carrot was the last to dismount, so she had to suffer the stares of everyone else as she joined the circle.

"We're safe out here, right?" Cherry asked.

"Yes." Came the answer from Lemon, the male Yuke. "The light of the crystal chalice extends for several paces even outside the wagon. We also have the wagon's own crystal, which should keep the monsters at bay."

"Still, we shouldn't stop for more than an hour at a time. We'll make an exception this time." Corn patted the papamoose on the head as it continued to graze.

"From now on, we should only allow half the party to ride on the wagon at a time. If the papamoose has to pull us all along, he'll tire faster and we'll be forced to stop more often."

"And the longer we're still, the more likely we are to be attacked." Radish clutched his spear tightly as he spoke. The Lilty still had his helmet on, despite there being no sign of life outside their group in the area.

"More importantly, the more we stop the longer our journey. I don't have to remind everyone we need to move as quickly as possible to finish our mission." Corn left out the estimate Roland had given him. The caravan only needed one person counting down the days before the five month period ended.

"So who rides in the wagon?" This was the first thing Potato, the merchant's son, had said the entire trip. A Clavat of seventeen years, he would've been the man to lead the caravan had Corn not arrived in Tipa just a few months back.

"We'll take turns, naturally. Potato, you and Kiwi will help me drive the wagon. We'll cycle through the job every few hours. Trust me, it isn't fun sitting up on that thing for so long."

Corn handed him the reins, telling him he'd be next to drive.

"Lemon, you and Cherry pair up to front the caravan. Same with Apple and Radish. I know the Yukes are great at wielding magic from a distance. The others will cover you two."

"Wait, why do they get to stay back and hide? You mean I have to get closer to the monsters than these two?!" Cherry yelled.

"Stop whining!" Radish gave the girl a light punch on the shoulder. "We're Lilties! We'd be honored to rush those monsters!"

"Last, we'll have Carrot pick up the slack. If any of you feel you need to take a breather, she'll cover for us. Otherwise, she can stay on the wagon."

This last part is what drew a bit of controversy. Carrot overheard Potato whisper something to Kiwi, who was standing right next to him.

"I think Corn's got a crush."

The bit caused Kiwi to snicker. Unfortunately for Potato, Corn overheard it as well. His ears might've been drenched in his long, golden hair, but his hearing was still sharp as ever.

"What was that?" Corn stepped forward.

"Nothing, boss. Just a little something between me and Kiwi here."

"Don't drag me into this." Kiwi said as she walked over to Carrot's side. The rest of the group fell silent as Potato stared Corn down.

"Got a problem with my orders?" Corn asked again. The Selkie was a few inches taller than the Clavat, but Potato wasn't at all intimidated by him.

"Except for her being allowed on the wagon most of the time, no."

"Carrot has other duties for the caravan. I'd rather she have the time to do them than waste it walking alongside the wagon all day." Corn replied.

"What 'other duties'?" Potato spat back.

"The chronicle!" Carrot finally spoke. If there was to be a fight this early into the journey, she didn't want to be the cause of it.

"The what?"

Carrot wasted no time in hopping back onto the wagon to locate the old book. It in hand, she brought it back to the group.

"Corn gave it to me before we left. It's my job to make sure it's up to date with everything that happens." Carrot handed the book to Kiwi next to her.

"Roland asked us to keep the chronicle and use it. He said-"

"Yeah, I know what he always said about memories and stuff." Potato said, cutting off Corn in the process.

"Since little Carrot has another job to do, I guess it's all fine by me."

Potato took a step back, giving Corn a smile. The Selkie wasn't buying the act, but he didn't push it further. A quick glance at the rest of the party told him they wouldn't object to the decision. Still, he felt the need to give Carrot at least one other job for fairness' sake.

"Carrot, you know how to sew, right?"

"Y-Yeah." She answered, taken aback by the question.

"You'll be in charge of keeping our clothes whole. Got it?"

"Yes, sir. I mean Corn." She stammered. A few others chuckled, making her flush a shade of red.

"And Radish, I want you to keep our weapons sharp and ready." Corn pointed to the Lilty.

"I brought plenty of whetstones, so don't worry about a thing!"

"I'll take care of the papamoose myself. I don't think any of you know how to raise or care for the beast, anyway." Corn was about to wrap up the little meet when Lemon stepped forward.

"If it's alright with you, I'd like to borrow some of the papers from the chronicle. I can use my time on the wagon to draft designs for new weapons, and we can have them smithed at Marr's Pass."

"That alright with you, Carrot? Got enough pages in that thing to spare Lemon a few?"

Carrot took the book back from Kiwi, and flipped through to the last entry. There were roughly thirty sheets of paper left in it, and she was sure with half of that she could make due until they arrived at Marr's Pass.

"Yeah, I can do that."

"Excellent. I'll acquire more paper for you when we arrive at Marr's Pass." Lemon said, giving a slight bow to the young Clavat.

"I'll get to work on a new fishing pole on my free time." Kiwi said, placing her hand on Carrot's shoulder. The blue-haired Selkie smiled at her young companion.

"Why?" Carrot asked.

"I only got one, and it'd be nice to have a fishing partner once we arrive at the River Belle. I teach you to fish, you teach me to sew. We share in the work."

"But I don't like fish." Carrot replied, which brought more laughter from the rest of the party. Carrot lowered her head as her cheeks went hot once more.

"With some soil and some wood, I could make a small garden to carry on the wagon. It would be wise to always have some fresh produce at hand." Apple said, offering Corn some fruit seeds from the morning's meal.

"I know how to make bread!" Cherry chipped in. "I can't make it without an oven, but it's all I know how to do."

"I will teach you how to keep the garden." Apple said. "So that we may take turns looking over it."

"And I guess I'll handle the caravan's finances." Potato pitched, drawing everyone's attention. "I helped my pa run the store in Tipa, and before that the store in Marr's Pass. I can even get us some stuff cheap in town."

As the discussion on how each individual could help contribute to the cause continued, Corn smiled. What started as a means to remain fair to everyone turned into a community discussion. In an effort to not be the least helpful or useful member of the caravan, everyone was offering to help anyone else learn a trade or skill.

Once the discussion gave way to the meal Corn so desperately needed, he took Carrot aside for a quick word.

"I don't want to burden you with another thing to learn, but I want to teach you how to look after the papamoose."

"It's okay, I want to help as best I can! But... why doesn't he have a name?" Carrot asked.

"You know, I'm not sure. Why don't you give him a name for us?"

Carrot thought about it for a moment before she had the perfect answer. In honor of the golden birds of legend, despite the papamoose not being either a bird or a chocobo, she would call him:

"Boko!"

~o~

The campfire crackled as it devoured the second helping of wood Radish had thrown on it. Dinner had already been devoured by the hungry travelers, and a few of them were already dozing off. Carrot had fallen asleep at her spot, resting her head against Kiwi's shoulder, looking more the part of the youngest member in the process. Save for Potato, who offered to be first watch of the night and was sitting a small ways from the campfire, everyone was there.

"Why do you think he never says anything?" Cherry asked to the group.

"Potato? Don't know." Answered Corn, poking at the fire with a stick. From across, Kiwi could tell he was keeping it to himself.

"I heard his family cheated customers back in Marr's Pass," she said in a hushed tone. "That's why they moved to Tipa."

"Really?"

"How'd you find out?"

"But why?"

The questions came from everyone there, even the two Yukes. Kiwi smirked as her gossip attracted their attention, especially.

"That's not true." Corn threw the stick into the fire.

"I thought you didn't know?"

"I thought it would be better if he told us on his own," Corn said sternly, causing Kiwi to roll her eyes. The gazes of everyone else were now upon him, so he had no choice but to spill something on the unsuspecting night's watch.

"His family moved to Tipa because of his father, and his grandfather. And it had nothing to do with cheating customers."

"What does that mean?" Cherry asked. She was quickly shushed by a few others there, lest Potato actually overheard the conversation. Radish and Apple looked over to the Clavat in the dark, who remained motionless as he watched the wilderness off the side of the road. Little did they know he was listening in to the best of his ability.

"I'm not saying anything else. If you want to know, ask him. How about we start turning in for the night?" Corn rose from his seat, but no one else followed suit. He let out a sigh and moved to the wagon. Whether or not they chose to rest up early was their problem come morning.

"It is a bit embarrassing to admit," said Apple a moment later, "but I am a bit anxious about tonight."

"Sleeping out here on the road like this? You must've done it when you moved to Tipa." Said Radish.

"Yes, but it is different now. I cannot explain it."

"I understand." Kiwi added, moving as little as possible as to not wake the sleeping Carrot next to her. "I felt the same way the first time I went out to collect myrrh."

"You were part of a caravan before?" Radish asked, stunned by the declaration.

"Not exactly. My family's from Leuda, a Selkie town on Lynari Island. Out in the desert beyond town there's a myrrh tree, and that's where the village goes to replenish our crystal. We had a caravan like any other town, but it was always out here on the mainland. Sometimes, they wouldn't be back in time, so we had to go and collect myrrh from the desert to survive. I went once or twice with my parents. Once I was old enough.

"The desert is huge, and it would take days to reach the tree. The first time I went I was fourteen, and I couldn't sleep at all the first night. In town, there were always sounds in the middle of the night. The waves of the ocean, the wind blowing sand all over the place. But out in the desert, there was nothing. Dead silence all around us. I couldn't sleep; I was afraid at any moment something would erupt from beneath the dunes and kill us all."

The rest of the travelers remained silent, as if expecting more to the story. Kiwi exhaled, then slowly moved Carrot so that she could carry her into the wagon.

"That's it? There's no more story?" Cherry asked eagerly.

"Wouldn't want you guys to have nightmares all night, would I? Good night." With that and a fiendish smile, Kiwi left the campfire with Carrot in her arms. The young girl never even realized she'd been moved.

"Anyone else have any caravan stories they'd like to share?" Radish asked. Both Yukes shook their heads in silence.

"What about you?" Cherry asked her fellow Lilty.

"I'd like to say I've been out before, but it's not true. My father wouldn't let me join the Alfitaria caravan when I turned fourteen a few years ago, just before we moved to Tipa. Actually better that he didn't let me; the caravan came back a week later. A few of the new recruits had been killed on the first hunt."

The silence persisted. Cherry was quickly realizing that there would be more stories of death and horror than anything else as time went on. How long before such a tragedy befell their caravan?

"We will turn in for the night." Lemon rose from his seat. Though he spoke for Apple as well, Cherry also followed. The three travelers bid Radish a good night, and moved to the wagon. It would be a tight fit, but they'd all be able to rest inside.

Radish remained by the fire, using his shirt to fashion a makeshift pillow. He had a few hours of sleep before it was his turn to watch over the caravan. Before he could set up his 'bed', Potato walked over to the campfire. It was still summer, but the night air was cool.

"Did you know any of them?" He asked the Lilty.

"Know who?"

"The recruits. From your story."

"So you heard me. How much else you hear from over there?" Radish's question made no impression on Potato's face.

"Enough. So?"

"Yeah. I did. One of the recruits was my best friend. They said he died trying to protect the chalice from a green lizard. Knifed right through the heart." The memory of his friend's corpse flashed in his mind's eye.

"It could happen to any of us, you know." Potato said, picking at the leftovers from dinner.

"I know. I don't think everyone else does, though."

"The Yukes do. Corn and Kiwi, too. It's the two kids that don't. Cherry's learning, though."

"And Carrot?" Radish knew she was something of a sore spot for Potato. And his mention of the girl finally forced an emotion on the Clavat's face.

"Corn won't let her fight if he can get away with it. Don't blame him; she's just a kid."

"Cute too, huh?" It was a long shot, but it paid off. Radish noticed another expression on Potato's face. One he didn't expect.

"You like her?" He asked, astonished.

"She reminds me of my sister, is all."

"You don't have a sister." Radish pointed out.

"I had one. Long story." Potato took the leftover fish from the fire and walked back to his spot in the dark. Much as Radish wanted to know more about this supposed 'sister', Potato made it clear he wasn't going to say anything else that night. Just that tidbit was more than anyone could've dreamed of.

~o~

Cherry and Lemon were walking along the wagon that morning. Potato had volunteered to drive, so Corn took the chance to rest inside while Kiwi walked ahead of the caravan. Bringing up the rear, the Lilty and Yuke said little to each other. Cherry, though normally a talkative young lass, found it hard to say anything to the mysterious being at her side.

What's more, Lemon had noticed it.

"What troubles you, Cherry?" He finally spoke two hours into the shift.

"Umm..."

She let her voice trail. There really was no way to put it nicely. Yet it was the question on her mind since she had first seen a Yuke. According to her father, they weren't to be trusted. But both Lemon and Apple, as well as their families back in Tipa, had been so kind to everyone. Even herself and her siblings.

"Why do you always wear your helmet?" She finally mustered.

"I beg your pardon?" Lemon looked to her, but she couldn't make out any eyes through the bronze headgear.

"I mean, last night you went to sleep with the thing on. Isn't that uncomfortable?"

Lemon took a moment to think it over. He was an intelligent and learned fellow, but for some reason this simple postulation had him perplexed.

"Is it truly uncomfortable to sleep with your head on?" He managed to blurt out in thought.

"What?!" Cherry stopped short.

"Did I say something wrong?" Lemon scratched the helmet in confusion. The very sight now had Cherry truly rattled.

"They wear those things so long and all the time they really think of it as their heads, Cherry." Kiwi added, having turned around to join in on the conversation.

"Really?"

"Yeah. I've seen a Yuke without their helmet on. It's not a pretty sight. Uglier than a goblin!" Kiwi emphasized the horror by pulling on her cheeks. While a silly act, it was enough to hasten Cherry's step to the front of the wagon.

"I object to that description. It is also highly unlikely you've seen a Yuke without their helmet. It simply isn't done." Lemon sounded insulted. And sound was really all Kiwi had to go by.

"I'm teasing, really. Also it got Cherry off your back for a while, right? Tell me, what are you like under there?"

"The same as yourselves. Perhaps not entirely alike physically, but alike all the same. We are just as fragile; we feel pain, emotions, and fear death like any other tribe."

The Selkie at his side glared for a moment. It was hard to tell just how truthful Lemon was when she couldn't read his face.

"So why don't you take off your helmet?"

Lemon sighed.

"You are no better than the child Lilty. If you don't mind." The Yuke picked up his pace, but Kiwi matched him. She was far more agile than the walking suit of armor.

"One last question, I promise: how old are you?"

"Thirty-seven."

Kiwi's eyes went wide.

"What?!" Kiwi stopped short. Lemon sighed.

"I'll never understand any other tribe." Lemon kept walking, leaving the stunned Kiwi behind.

~o~

Carrot stared at the blank page before her. All day she had tried to come up with something to write down in the chronicle, but nothing came to mind. Already she was dreading the coming days. If travel to and from cities and myrrh trees took this long, how was she expected to keep the entries interesting? Would Roland or anyone who ever found the chronicle care if she just wrote it was a boring day? Would they just stop reading?

She glanced over at Apple and Corn, who were talking about the small garden the Yuke had requested the night before. Would it be wrong of her to ask Corn for help? It was his idea to have her keep up the chronicle, after all. Or would he be disappointed in her for failing at such a simple task?

"What's wrong?" Radish's voice snapped the young Clavat out of her thoughts.

"What?"

"You've been holding that book in your hands for almost an hour and haven't written a thing."

Had Radish been watching her the whole time? As far as Carrot could tell, he'd been tending to the weapons.

"It's just-" She didn't know what to say.

"There's nothing to worry about, Carrot." Corn looked over to the girl, a smile on his face. "You don't have to write anything down if there's nothing to write about."

"But...!"

"The chronicle is to keep track of important things the caravan has done. If we collect a drop of myrrh, for example, you write it down. If we happen upon another caravan in our travels, you write about the encounter. If..."

Corn trailed off for a moment. He hesitated, but ultimately decided it was better to say.

"If one of us dies, you make sure to write it down."

Carrot's breathing grew heavy. Even she knew death was a part of this life, but it wasn't something she was accustomed to being reminded of. With time that would change.

"Don't worry about it now," Radish chipped in. "None of us have any plans on dying any time soon. I'd like to be a father myself someday. Can't do that if I'm dead!"

"R-Really?" Carrot asked, trying her best to take her mind off the previous topic.

"Sure! Lilties throughout history have been passing their heritage down through family lines. Did you know my family was one of the most renowned smiths in all Alfitaria?" Radish pounded on his armor for emphasis.

"Why did your family leave for Tipa?" Apple asked, joining in on the discussion. The Lilty was taken aback by the question.

"Why? My father decided to help Roland out."

"So the most renowned blacksmiths abandoned their homeland in favor? Did your king not object?"

Carrot and Corn both realized that Apple was intentionally grilling Radish with these questions. They were legitimate questions, to be sure. But they were becoming harder and harder for the Lilty to answer.

"There are plenty of other smiths in Alfitaria! It's the largest city in all the world, you know!"

"That was not my question. I know how large the city is; I've done business there before."

By this point, Corn had moved next to Carrot, leaving one side of the wagon for the other two to continue their little argument.

"Have you now? What business does a Yuke have in the city, hmm?" Radish spat back.

"Shouldn't we stop them?" Carrot whispered.

"Best let them settle it. Yukes and Lilties rarely see eye to eye." Corn whispered back.

"Trade. I have been dealing in produce since long before you were born."

"Get out of here! How old are you?" Radish demanded.

"You know," Carrot interjected, much to Corn's chagrin, "my mother always said it wasn't polite to ask a lady's age."

"It is alright, Carrot. I have forty-nine years."

The answer stunned everyone in the wagon, Corn included.

"No way!" Carrot exclaimed.

"We Yukes are long-lived. In my case, I chose to remain close to my family all these years. It was my decision to come to Tipa. They followed me."

"And how long can a Yuke live? My mother said Clavats only live for sixty, maybe seventy years!" Carrot asked.

"Much longer than that. Even I do not know how long I have to live."

By this point Radish had gone back to sharpening weapons. It wasn't the end of the battle between himself and Apple. Not by a long shot. Once the two had returned to their respective activities, Corn leaned in close to Carrot's ear.

"It was the war," he whispered to her. "I'll tell you about it more next time."

Carrot nodded silently, smiling.

"I think I'll trade places with Kiwi for a while. I'll call you two when it's time to change shifts."

Corn jumped off the wagon, leaving the other three in silence. Carrot looked down at her lap, still seeing the chronicle there. The page was still blank, but this time it didn't bother her at all. Rather than close the book, she took quill in hand and prepared to write.

After all, it would be best for future generations to know just who the people on Tipa's second caravan were.