We'd been wandering in the forest for a while, following the two ahead. I could feel the people in the woods still, surrounding us. This time it felt more of a comfort than tension. After all, it was protection right? Still I wasn't going to relax just yet and I could tell as Beth's slightly stiff stride that she wasn't about to either.
"Should be arriving soon," I hard Juniper call back. They were still laughing at such things that only they could understand. Not that I listened, but it was a completely different side of Juniper. I've never seen her almost carefree like that. The people surrounding us must be really good at what they do. She trusts them. That's strange. She doesn't even trust me and I'm the reason the everyone is here doing this, me and Cal anyway.
"It's so nice here," Beth said to start a conversation. As she said it, she kind of added a skip into her step. Beth always knew how to look at the bright side of things.
"It looks like the woods we were in before we came here," I grumbled. "All I see is trees, trees and more trees!"
Beth guffawed. "Are you saying you don't see a difference? The colors, the types of trees? Even the underbrush of our feet? I can smell the air here and it seems, fresher."
"Well I guess that comes with many years of being able to be out here like this,"
"What do you mean? I've never been on an adventure like this…"
"Beth, I don't mean THIS this. I just mean the fact that you were always able to go out into the woods. They were your home, with a broad range of land to explore. I was always just stuck within the gates of my own personally catered prison cell."
"Was it really that bad? I mean, being waited on for everything you do? Oh!" she put her hand to her mouth in mock horror. "How dreadful!"
I gave her an annoyed look. "I'd much rather have this…" I opened my arms to fresh air. It was all so real. I knew this was rather odd to dresribe….well, life. But it's true! It was living and breathing, every bit of it! And I had missed it after all of these years. I sighed.
"Well you're here now aren't you? On the adventure of a life time!"
I smiled. "Just hope I can handle it. It's merely began and I feel like I'm already exhausted by all of the events."
"You'll make it." She encouraged me, nudging me with her shoulder. "Especially with me on your side." She laughed.
"Ha! I'll believe that when I see it. All you've seem to be is a burden!" I jested.
"Oh really? Well I can always enhance that burden you know. And plus, I can't be as annoying as Cal."
"Amen to that," I nodded in agreement. "Speaking of Cal. He mentioned something the other day about us."
"What was it about?" Beth asked.
I sighed. "I don't know exactly. We were just talking about how I was getting hurt all the time and then he mentioned how I wasn't the only one feeling it or something like that."
"Well, he's your brother. I mean, I know it's really odd since you just met and everything, and especially since you just figured out each other even existed, but I guess he cares about you, you know? I mean, if he was lying on the floor after enduring such an attack, would you worry about him?"
"Yea, I guess so…" I answered. It had kind of felt like something else though. I guess I'd figure out that later.
"So, speaking of brothers and sisters…." Beth began, after a moments silence.
I looked at her incredulously. "Another one?" How many siblings could she end up having?
"Yep! His names Lucifer. He was born just before we left. I just wanted to go back and say goodbye and all. I kind of feel bad leaving mom all alone like that but she does have Yvon."
I nodded. "Well that's certainly has to be difficult."
"For some reason I think she can handle it. It surprises me that she actually never seems run down."
"I know. It's really hilarious because when my mother so much as lifts a glass of wine, she doesn't even have enough energy to put it back on the table again so she places it on the cushion that our server always held beside her." I smiled. "Truly amazing how different they are."
"I know," she smirked. "She has you paint, and I sword fight with sticks in town with the other kids."
"Yes, but you're actually good at it," I sighed. "I couldn't paint to save my life."
"Ah, don't say that." But she chuckled anyway. "You are quite dreadful though. I shan't lie."
I was about to make some comeback in my defense when I heard Juniper's voice ahead. She was calling for us.
"I guess we should catch up with them." She said and we walked over to them.
Once we caught up to them Beth asked, "What is it?" Looking around, and seeing nothing.
Juniper smiled. "Ah, but you can't see it from here, look up."
"Up in the trees," her companion smiled.
Beth and I looked. Still, we couldn't see anything. "What could possibly be up in the tree," Beth moaned. It's not the didn't absoloutely loathe climbing. She said that it was definitely easier than the ground because the wood echoed off the vibrations she needed to climb but she still didn't like it.
'"You'll see," Juniper grinned and then began heading up, with him not far behind. They seemed to even be chatting as they went up. I was just thinking about the climb.
"How do they even know which tree anyway?" I grumbled. We better not be climbing up the wrong one.
"Here Beth, you go first ok? That way if you lose your footing I can tell you where to find it again."
She nodded and then found her way to the tree and began up. "Ugh, I can't stand heights Raina," she moaned. "I don't even know how high I've gotten or how low or anything."
"That's all right. I'll be right behind you ok? You can wait down here if you want."
"No. That might be worse. Who knows what's up there. What if you end up needing MY help?"
I grinned even though I knew she couldn't see it, "Well then, an arm for an arm as they say."
She laughed and then started up. It eased her in a way. I didn't like it when Beth was uncomfortable with something and anyway, I didn't feel like climbing trees either. It wasn't exactly my strong suit especially after that fall I had the first night I met Juniper and Cal.
I heaved myself up onto a branch. Speaking of Cal. Where was he? I'd been waiting for him to come and he hasn't even bothered my thoughts since our last conversation. Oh well, I needed to focus on this now. I'd worry about him in a moment.
Luckily it seemed a pretty sturdy tree to climb, with thick branches that seemed to go all the way to the top, or as far as I could see anyway. The branches faded as I looked farther and farther. I could only guess how high up we would end up going.
"When are you going to get there?" I asked, as we climbed and climbed and climbed.
"Soon," I heard Beth answer. "don't you see the top? It's just before that."
I glanced up. I could actually see the sun. I guess it really wasn't too much longer. "Good," I sighed. "Because if I start to see the clouds, I'm climbing back down."