Porrim turned to look one last time in the direction of her hive. The flames weren't so big anymore, but they were still burning with no signs of dying out soon.
The jade blood took her bag and took out every single winter coat that she managed to stuff in there. Knowing she wouldn't need them anytime soon, she took a needle and some string and started sewing each piece of cloth together. By the time she was done, the Alternian sun was peeking from beyond the horizon. In front of her stood a large, thick piece of cloth that she wanted to use to make a small tent for Kankri to sleep in, to protect him from the sun. The only problem is she didn't have anything to raise it with.
She decided to use a tree branch as a support. Porrim started climbing the old tree that has watched over her for many years. Once she found a sturdy branch she snapped it off and was about to climb down.
Kankri, who for the first time has seen the bright light of the sun started jumping and pointing at it while shouting the word he has recently learned.
"Mother, mother, mother," the wiggler kept shouting.
"Yes, Kankri, that's the sun," answered Porrim softly.
"Sun?" asked Kankri.
"Yes," continued Porrim. Kankri then proceeded to jump up and down while shouting.
"Sun, sun, sun!"
His mother finally managed to finish the tent and she was quite proud of her creation. She went over to pick Kankri up and put him to sleep. He didn't understand why he couldn't ponder of his new discovery but when his head lay down on the soft improvised bed that his mother made, he fell asleep instantly. Porrim smiled at him and lay down herself for some much needed rest.
Next evening, Porrim packed everything up, took Kankri's hand and they set off for a long journey. The little wiggler would get tired easily and the mother would have to carry him most of the way. They slept during the day and walked during the night, and slowly the desert turned into plains and after days of walking, in the distance they could see a gigantic forest.
Kankri was sleeping in her arms, when they reached the rich, green trees. Porrim found a small river near which a giant tree was resting and she decided to wake up Kankri. During their journey he learned even more words and including the word "what". So whenever he found something interesting he would point at it and shout at the top of his lungs so that his mother would explain to him what he was seeing.
This time was no different. But before he could alert every creature around them, Porrim showed him everything that was around them and put him to sleep again as the sun rose. The jade blood also went to sleep outside the improvised tent.
The sun rays were making their way from between the leaves. Their warmth was caressing the hard earth and their light was reflecting off the river waves. The young mother sleeping was awoken suddenly by footsteps that were heard around them.
She jumped to her feet and looked around the find the source of the noise. On the other side of the river, an antlered hoofbeast was drinking peacefully from the cold water. Seeing as their provisions were almost finished Porrim decided to use this opportunity. She walked silently, crossed the river and without disturbing the beast she managed to get behind it.
Her skin had turned white by the time she sneaked around the beast. Without hesitation she jumped and thrust her fangs into the animal's neck. It stopped struggling after a few minutes and Porrim crossed the river to get back to her tent.
She took a knife and then started to skin the beast. By the time she was done, she had raw meat and animal hide that would definitely be useful for the winter that would arrive.
The sun was setting when Kankri finally woke up again. As he exited the tent he came face to face with his mother who was cooking the new acquired meat over a small improvised fire. Porrim took Kankri in her lap and sat him down between her legs. As the sun was setting, guardian and wiggler sat by the fire enjoying the silence.
When the meat was cooked Porrim gave Kankri a small piece so he could calm his hunger. The jade blood was not hungry seeing as she drank the creature's blood a while earlier. By the time Kankri was done the pink moon was high into the sky.
They spent almost a sweep like this, hiding in the forest, with no one bothering them. The winter was the hardest without much food, but with Porrim starving herself sometimes, Kankri didn't feel lack of anything.
He was 1 sweep old and all he did all day was talk. About something he heard moving in the forest that he didn't know what it was, about how he was learning to differentiate tree leaves or about that new toy that his mother made for him that he absolutely loved. But even so, Porrim wouldn't have him any other way, and she would always listen to what he had to say.
Porrim was cleaning up the remains of the beast they have been eating for a few days when Kankri's voice interrupted her work.
"Mother, look," shouted the wiggler, while pointing upwards, "the stars are so beautiful."
Porrim looked up at the sky and smiled. She left her work and went to sit down near the young troll. She picked him up, making him laugh. She dropped him on her lap with his head resting on her chest.
"Can you see the constellations, Kankri?"
"What are those?" asked the ever curious boy.
"The stars, if looked at correctly, form a shape," explained Porrim. "There are hundreds of them. And that's where we get our signs from. Every troll has their own signs, so it can be easier to tell them apart."
Kankri turned his head and looked at the Virgo symbol on Porrim's chest. She only then realized what she said to her son.
"Why don't I have one?"
"Because... You're special," Porrim whispered.
"Special, how?"
"You are different from everyone else in this world. From the way you live to the very colour of your blood. You see, Kankri, I didn't want to tell you this before, but you are not having the life you should."
Porrim was hesitant to tell him about who he is, but she knew Kankri, as young as he was, he was also smart, and he understood things, wigglers his age wouldn't.
"Normally, every wiggler until a certain point in their life would have a lusus. A lusus is a beautiful and strong creature that acts as a guardian for the young troll," Porrim explained.
"Like you?" asked Kankri, earning a small chuckle in response.
"No, I am not a lusus. Unfortunately, because of the color of your blood no lusus would take you. That's why, I did. Even though, it went against the rules."
"Is that why we're hiding? Or why you sleep with a knife beside you?"
Porrim widened her eyes. He had no idea Kankri knew about that.
"Yes, that's right. But that's enough for tonight. When you grow older, I will tell you more."
Kankri pouted but listened to what his guardian said. They spent the rest of the night, watching the stars and trying to make out constellations.