Akai had come to collect T'lem several hours ago. Masak had worked in silence since the children had left. The sun set, the fires were lit, the hours passed.
Gradually, Masak became aware not of a noise, but the absence of noises. The muscles of his shoulders twitched reflexively. Masak gripped a large staff with one hand and slowly slipped his head out the door. The moon was nearly full, bathing the valley in an eerie half-light. For Masak, the dimness didn't matter.
The stillness was all-encompassing, as thought every living thing in the valley had paused. Masak was uneasy. He stepped out of his hut towards the path that ambled over the hill and out of the valley.
And then the Sons of Adam,
Searching for the Daughters of Eve
Came upon the valley
And did not return to the plains.
"Myamma, Myamma!" Akai ran shrieking into the hut. "Myamma, Masak and Selm have gone into the woods carrying sacks of grain!"
"Sacks of grain?" Juai looked up from the vegetables she was cutting. "Akai, do not spy. And do not wander after dark. There are strange things about these days." Juai shivered.
"But Myamma--"
"Please don't argue, Akai. Cut these up." Juai handed Akai a handful of tubers. Akai carried them across the room and deposited them in front of T'lem.
"Cut these."
"You cut them yourself."
"I will if you tell me what you were talking to Masak about all day today."
T'lem shrugged. "Nothing really. He asked me if I knew about the sons of Adam. He told me to pray I never met one."
Akai became uncharacteristically silent. "Akai? Did you cut those tubers yet?" Juai asked. "Dinner is almost cooked." And, strangely enough, Akai cut them without another word.
--
"Thank you, my brother." Masak gave Selm's shoulder a heartfelt squeeze as the last of the pyre died to embers.
There was a rustle of feathers. "We do what we must. These measures are... distasteful, but the children..."
Masak shuddered and there was a wet crunching noise. "We do what we must," Masak agreed. "These years have been idyllic but soon, soon it will be time to act again."
Selm began to kick soil on the embers. "The daughters of Eve as well?"
"No, though I find it pains me to say it. Just the children."
"Couldn't a compromise be reached?"
"Don't try to compromise with his plans. Have you forgotten the Morning Star?"
"No. Nor will I ever." Selm shrugged awkwardly as though rearranging a heavy burden on his shoulders, though there was none to be seen. "We should return." He paused, staring at the nearly invisible ashes. "Wild animals?"
"Indeed."
"The meat?"
"Tainted."
"I think we're in over our heads, Masak."
"Fly away then."
"You know I cannot."
"Then faith, brother."
"Faith."
"Come." They departed.