[ch.10]
[Trees]
The early morning rays of sun shone through the treetops as Wilson and Kayli packed up some of their materials. Wilson looked tired, eyes drooping as if he was on the verge of crying again.
"Hey." Wilson looked to the shorter lady who offered him a smile, "We're gonna be alright, okay?" She spoke in a manner that soothed his nerves. A stuttered "alright" escaped him as he threw on his backpack and they ventured from their temporary camp.
Not long after they started venturing into the woods they stumbled across what they were looking for. Birchnut trees as far as the eye could see. The leaves were different from the other leaves and needles of the trees around the cabin. The green of these ones were a lot more vibrant and colorful.
"Alright!" Kayli laughed and picked her axe out of her backpack. Her eyes met Wilson's as she spoke again "get as much wood as you can and keep the seeds, we'll transplant them in the meadow, okay?"
She didn't wait for his response, jogging to a thick, light colored tree and sizing it up. He stood where she left him and sighed, looking down at the axe in his hands that she had given him. The handle was detailed in swirls. Deliberate unlike worm ridden wood. Smoothed out and designed. The pattern of jagged lines reminded Wilson of the ivy vines that grew on the outside of his own home.
Hoisting the axe higher into his hands and moving forward he chose one of the smaller trees. It's size was not too much to marvel at, standing only five or so feet taller than himself. It's leaves were flourishing and it's bark was light and unscarred.
Raising the axe and stepping to the side he looked at the area which he was going to cut it down at. Swiftly bringing the axe to the bark, the pieces of wood that flew off of the tree. He brought it behind him again, swinging it into the tree.
"Timber!" A short laugh was heard as Wilson stopped and looked. The sound of the tree falling was loud and the crack of the wood was enough to bring an uproar of birds to chirp in an alarmed state.
He watched as she removed the leaves off of the tree, then chopping the wood into easy to carry logs.
The blue and black flannel that he had woken up with was tied around her waist, swaying as she moved. He could see her frizzy hair fall out of the bun that she had it in and her face. She looked focused, her eyes cast downwards.
He blinked and returned his attention to his tree. They need this wood for that hutch and there's no room to dottle.
"Alright!" Kayli spoke as she approached, making a makeshift bag out of the flannel and holding it out to Wilson. Inside of the flannel was all of the seeds they had collected and he deposited his portion and grabbed the bag, sighing as he looked to his own bag. She shuffled over to it and picked it up, grunting for a moment but then, after it was hoisted onto her back, she became silent again.
She wouldn't allow him to do any long periods of labor. She had made him stop cutting down trees a while ago, telling him to relax and not worry. He didn't like it. He felt almost useless, if she had kept the flannel and carried that too he would have felt worse though.
She had already done so much for him and she won't let him help yet. 'Your still injured' she'd protest whenever he tried to disagree with her. But he gave in. He couldn't argue with her as this is her domain.
She is his savior and was doing well all by herself. Established and everything. He was not. It was almost as if Maxwell could toy with Wilson all he wanted but when it came to her… He didn't stand much of a chance. She's tough. Alone for two years and completely sane? On Wilson's two year mark he was talking to shadows, acting as if they were pleasant company.
Wilson's mood dropped as he followed the short lady closely but not too close. The muscles in her arms were visible beneath her skin and he made out faint outlines of scars across her arms, the starch white brought out by the light but flushing skin and freckles. What was she before she came here? Crossed Wilson's mind as they walked in silence, the call of birds and the chatter of the other wildlife being the ambient noise that surrounded them.
The soft call of a bird made her halt in her tracks, casting her head to the tree tops and Wilson followed in suit.
Standing in the middle of the wood, staring to the sky. Wilson didn't know what she was looking for until the same call sounded again.
"Hear that?" Her voice is soft, quiet and waiting for Wilson's response this time. "Yes," He paused, he was much louder than her voice, "What is it?" He asked, lowering his voice this time. She turned around, facing him. "A robin," A smile was gracing her face "Seems like your luck has truly changed mister".