Disclaimer: No, I don't own Golden Sun or any of its sequels.

Chapter 15: The Voice of the Forest

It was so early in the morning that night wasn't over yet. The moonlight mixed with the sunlight that had just begun to peek over the horizon and made its way into the coach through the shutters that had been put up to protect against the bitter cold wind of the night. The adepts decided to take an alternate route back to Vale on one of the less traveled roads. Even though the ride was rougher and longer, at least they'd avoid the heavily trodden roads, hopefully the ride was safer.

By morning, they still had not gotten to Vale but where very close. They had passed Vault very early in the morning and by nine, had almost exactly one more day to go.

Jenna awoke to a roar of laughter that jolted her violently. She'd been so tired and bored the night before that she'd gone right to sleep after the soup. Mitch had slipped away for a minute, apparently to seek Mia's assistance, and came back with a large glass of very cold water and a relieved grin on his face. After that he'd…taken the Watch, right? Wherever he was now, he was not next to Jenna, which was a bad thing.

Another great bellow of laughter erupted and Jenna recognized it as her friends. A male voice rang out loudly. Garet was in story telling mode.

She stepped outside and saw the party around the fire, leaning variously against trees, large stones, or the boyfriend/girlfriend of their choice. Mitch was sitting alone, some way away, eating a cold breakfast. The sight of it made her heart sink. He looked so lonely. She felt a little twinge of anger as well.

"Hey Jen!" Isaac cried. "Breakfast's on! We've got sausage!" There was a chorus of "Jenna! Come on!"

Jenna gave them a dirty look and marched haughtily to Mitch. The group's collective gaze followed hers and the grins died away.

"Good morning Mitch," Jenna said, sitting next to him. Mitch gave a little yelp of surprise, not expecting to be joined.

"My hair isn't that bad, is it?"

"No," Mitch replied with a little chuckle. "You look great."

Despite herself, she blushed shyly.

"Thanks." She said meekly. "How's breakfast?"

"It's alright," he said. He glanced down. "Is it all gone?"
Jenna looked puzzled.

"Huh?"
Mitch looked around and came back, holding his own half-eaten meal and offered it to her.

"Have some of mine."

"Oh," Jenna said, politely refusing. "There's plenty, I'll get my own in a minute."

"Sure?"

Jenna laughed and patted his arm.

"Yeah, I'm good. Didn't Isaac invite you to sit with them?"

Mitch took the plate back reluctantly and poked at a fried egg with his fork.

"No, not really."

"I'm really sorry about that," she said, looking back at the group. They seemed far less enthusiastic.

"Hrm." Mitch grunted, chewing.

"They aren't usually stupid like that."
Mitch swallowed.

"I don't really mind." He said, glancing up in mid-slice. "I'm like the trees and the forest. It has its own rhythm y'know."

"Really?"
"Ye-upm," Mitch swallowed quickly. "Most people don't know it but the forest has a mind of its own, made up of all the animals. The sum is greater than the parts. It's amazing what you can learn if you just listen to the trees."

Jenna's eyes glinted with curiosity.

"How do they talk?" Jenna asked, mesmerized.

"Yep," Mitch answered. "Most of the time it's not words, more like…feelings, y'know? Raw emotion, since that's what most of the forest is. The trees are very old, very wise." He added, devouring a forkful of fried potato.

"How do you listen?"

Mitch shrugged. "It's hard not to if you've never not heard it before."

Puzzled, Jenna tried to figure out what the sentence meant.

"Never not…?"

"It's like a background noise," Mitch explained. "It's hard to notice without not hearing it being there, since it's always there, get it?"

"Err…Isaac says that he can hear the ground's feelings…" Jenna offered, struggling to make a link.

"Rocks?" Mitch said with a chuckle. "Either I can't hear 'em or they can't talk."
"Well…that's what Isaac says."

"To each his own, I guess." Mitch said, a bit of milk dripping onto his shirt. "Whoops."

"So you can listen to the forest?" Jenna asked, ignoring it.

"Yeah. Like I said, it's feelings instead of words."

"Can you teach me how to do that?"

"Listen to the forest?"

"Yeah."

Mitch looked up at her again, his fork halfway to his mouth.

"You want to?"
Jenna nodded eagerly.

"Oh yes, please!"

Mitch closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the tree in the manner of one who was trying to figure out the best way to explain something.

"Well, first you have to identify with the forest. Which plant that you can see looks the most…attractive?"

"Huh?" Jenna asked, knotting her brow.

"Ummm…" Mitch said, thinking again. "Like…your favorite? It's supposed to show your innermost desires, etcetera etcetera."

Jenna, still a bit confused, looked around anyway. The forest was in full bloom and the wildflowers encroached on the trees, turning them into vast fields of pleasing colors. It was one of the most beautiful things that she'd ever seen. In the sea of hues, however, a small pink flower caught her eye. It seemed to have drawn her eye to it specifically. She knew that it must have been the plant that Mitch was talking about.

"That one." she said, pointing. "With the little pink flower."

Mitch looked up at her. His mouth opened wide in surprise.

"What?" Jenna asked, alarmed.

"Did you say little pink flower? Eight petals?"

"Err…yeah…Is that wrong?"

"No. That's the one that I always like! Nobody else has ever noticed it!"

"Really?" Jenna exclaimed. "Wow!"

"That's 'flourenais Pasaionias'," Mitch said ecstatically.

"What's that in Angarian?"

"It means 'Lover's Kiss' in Ancient Angarian. It's one of the most powerful aphrodisiacs in the…umm…err…" he stopped, aware that he had said too much. They looked at each other awkwardly.

"That is kind of weird." Jenna said.

"Yeah…" Mitch mumbled. He was staring at his eggs. She saw that she was playing nervously with her hands.

There was a pregnant pause as each searched his or her feelings.

"Mitch?" she asked, turning.

"Hmm?" he responded, also looking.
She didn't reply. They sat, gazing into each other's eyes for a long time. Then, with no more words, they grasped hands and moved just a bit closer. Jenna's head rested on Mitch's shoulder as they both stared at the little pink flower. This time, words failed…

They could never mean enough…

Donutmaster: Alright, I had a HUGGGEE case of indecisiveness (since 'Writer's Block' doesn't really exist). I wrote about 4 versions of this chapter and this was the best out of 'em. So please don't kill me and Thanks to all you loyal readers. You make me feel so happy. sob

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