Cain was sitting with his family around a fire. His mother was retelling the story of the Snake and the Garden of Eden.

"Was it really that beautiful?" Asked Abel, his eyes wide with wonder.

"More beautiful than you could even imagine," reminisced Eve. "It seemed that every day, the Garden grew more beautiful than the last. Every day, there was something new to see, to taste, to smell."

"It was paradise," sighed Adam.

"And then what?" Cain asked, though he knew the story so well he could tell it himself.

His parents shared a knowing glace; a look full of pain and regret so deep that Cain could scarcely fathom it.

"And then," said Eve softly. "I weakened."

Adam smiled and put his arm around his wife gently. "Don't blame yourself; not still. Not after so long."

She smiled weakly back. Turning to her children, she continued. "Then one day, I met the Snake. He made me curious about the tree; he made me wonder and want for the fruit. He told me that it would bring me knowledge, and that God was keeping it from me. All lies, of course. But I believed them. I believed him." Her last words were soft.

"She brought the fruit to me," Adam continued. "And I took of it and sinned with her. For our sins, God cast us from the Garden. We were unclean, and we had to work for our lives from that time on."

"What happened to the Snake?"

"He was cursed." Answered Adam. "God cursed him to crawl the earth on his belly, in the dirt and dust." Adam shook his head. "To be shunned in the eyes of God, my sons, is the worst punishment that could befall beast or man."

The two boys glanced at each other, both clearly a little frightened.

"What would we do that would make God shun us?" Abel questioned in a small voice.

Adam laughed and lay his hand on Abel's shoulder. "Don't worry about that. You're both far too young and too innocent to have ideas like that marring your thoughts. Go ahead and get some rest. It should rain tomorrow."

Both children still visibly worried, they all went off to bed.

Cain lay down, his mind not at rest. For a long time, he heard his brother's even breathing beside him before he finally slipped into an uneasy sleep.

Cain was running. He was running faster than he had ever run in his life. His hair was flying in his eyes, and he stumbled over small rocks as he fled the lion that was chasing him. It seemed to be toying with him; roaring and pouncing so close that Cain could feel its moist breath on the backs of his legs. Then it would slow down, giving him a head star before pouncing again.

Cain cried out for help. From God, from his father, his mother, anyone! He ran to the fields where his father was during the day. To his relief, his father was standing there, leaning against his staff. Cain sobbed in terror and put on an extra burst of speed.

"Father! Father! I need help!"

Adam turned, almost carelessly. "Oh. Cain." He glanced down at the boy, who had fallen at his feet. "I'm sorry, I actually can't help you."

The lion finally attacked. Cain could see it at his legs. He cried harder and reached out for his father's feet, but Adam moved out of reach.

"I'm not even supposed to be talking to you." Adam confessed. "You lied to me yesterday; you said you were working when really you were taking a nap." He shrugged. "God shunned you. He will never speak to you, now."

Cain woke up with a start. He was panting, and whipping his head around, looking for the lion. When he realized it had all been a dream, his breathing slowed, though his heart didn't.

"Hm? Whas wrong?" Abel slurred, sleepily.

"Nothing," Cain whispered. "Just a nightmare; go back to sleep."

"What's that, mother?" A 9-year-old Cain asked Eve. She was preparing supper, and was holding a plant he hadn't seen before.

"Your father found it in a damp cave. A sheep wandered in there, and he brought some out."

"They're called mushrooms!" Cried out Abel.

"How did you know that?" Cain asked.

"God told me!"

Cain gasped, and a small stab of fear hit his stomach. His dream came back vividly: God shunned you. He will never speak to you now. "He didn't," Cain whispered.

"Yes he did!" Demanded Abel.

"Abel!" Exclaimed Eve. "How many times have I told you not to lie. God doesn't like little boys who lie."

"But he did tell me!"

Eve picked Abel up and held him perched on her hip. She looked at him with her deep brown eyes, and said, "Now look me in the eye, Abel. Look at me and tell me the truth. Did God tell you what those mushrooms were called?"

Abel squirmed a bit, then sighed. "No, Ma'am."

Eve nodded, satisfied, and put him down. "Now apologize to your—where did Cain go?"

Cain was tearing through the field, wanting to get away from his mother before she noticed how frightened he had been. Brave boys didn't have nightmares. His father had told I'm not to worry about it, but he couldn't help it. He had really thought that God was talking to Abel, and not to him. His steps finally carried him to the oak tree.

The oak tree had been there since before he was born, but he had only grown tall enough to climb it last month. Since then, he had been going there whenever he could. Abel was still too short to reach the bottom limb. Cain sniffed and rubbed at one eye. He could still feel the flutter of leftover nervousness in his stomach. He pulled his knees to his chest as much as he could and still keep his balance.

"Cain?" The soft voice floated up from the ground beneath the tree. It was Abel. "Cain, why did you run off?"

Cain watched his knees as he admitted in a mumble, "I was scared."

"Scared? What was there to be scared of?"

Cain's voice was no higher than a whisper. "I was scared that—"

"Cain," Abel interrupted him, "I can't here you; come down?"

Cain sighed and he dropped down from the tree. He was standing less than an arm's length from Abel. "I said I was afraid that God had talked to you and not to me. I thought God had shunned me."

Abel's mouth formed a small o. "Oh. I'm really sorry, Cain. I didn't mean to scare you."

"I know," Cain whispered.

"I—" Abel broke off for a moment. "I don't want you to be mad at me."

"I'm not—I'm not. But, Abel?"

"Yes?"

"Will you promise me something? Promise me that if God does ever talk to you, you'll tell me?"

"I promise. And I don't ever want you mad at me. Will you promise never to be mad at me? No matter what?"

"I promise."

They stood for a second before Abel suddenly launched at his taller brother and wrapped his arms around him. Cain stood still for a moment, awkward, before putting his arms around Abel's shoulders.

"I promise," he repeated to himself, quietly.

They were still for a long time, taking comfort from the other, before Abel suddenly pushed Cain down. Cain yelped and thumped to the ground. Abel ran away laughing as Cain clambered to his feet and gave chase.