It had been a long time since Peridot watched the sunrise. The red-tinted sun was lazily rising over the horizon, faintly illuminating the dark sky and painting it in hues of pink and purple. The wind was crisp and chilly with the promise of fall, but it was a sweet deception from the sweltering heat that would rise in the afternoon. The waves lapped at the shore in a steady, relaxing rhythm. A few seagulls were squawking as they hovered around the beach. Peridot took in a deep breath of salty sea air as the wind caressed her face and tussled her hair. It was the first time in months that Peridot had been outside. Next to her, Lapis and Steven were holding their cups of steaming tea. Steven was bundled up in a thick blanket while Lapis wore an oversized jacket over her small frame.
The trio had gotten up early to watch the sunrise on top of the Temple. It was Steven's idea; he insisted they all needed some fresh air. Lately, tension had been elevated. Not just between their group but the entire population of the Temple were on edge. Jasper had abandoned her search for Lapis yet amplified her hunt to find Rose. There was a sort of reckless desperation in her destruction to locate the God. And it was hitting closer and closer to the Temple. The fear and disquiet were thick; trapped in the stone walls of the gigantic protector. Adding to the pressure of getting Lapis home, everyone was close to a breaking point. Lapis silently handed Peridot her cup of tea.
Peridot had to admit that the serenity of the sunrise was pleasant. It was nice to have Steven join them too. She had not seen too much of Steven. He was busy trying to maintain harmony and hold everyone together. She suspected that this moment of tranquility was mainly for his benefit, but Peridot did not mind. Lapis seemed to enjoy it too. There was a subtle grin permanently attached to her lips as she sipped her tea. They sat in silence, taking in the ethereal beauty of the dawn and the smooth melody of the sea. Of course, it did not last too long. There was a loud bang from the door that led back inside, and Pearl popped her head through the opening.
"There you are," she cried, exasperated.
"Oh, hey, Pearl. We just enjoying the sunrise and some tea," Steven said, happily. "Care to join us?
"I've been looking all over for you," Pearl exclaimed, eyeing the three of them. Peridot was not sure who she meant: her or Steven? Steven ignored her, pouring some tea from the pot into another cup and handed it over to Pearl. She looked at him, shaking her head and putting up her hand. "You need to get inside."
"Five more minutes?" Steven pleaded, his hands clasped together as if he was praying. Peridot smiled; Lapis snorted; Pearl sighed, her eyes flickered briefly toward Lapis.
"Fine. Five minutes." She took the cup, taking a seat next to Steven. "It is a lovely sunrise."
Pearl and the others had made an effort to tolerate Lapis, but it was a gradual process. Peridot understood their hesitation; she knew what was going through their heads. The isolation was affecting Peridot's relationship with them and conjured memories of her family; her real family. The coldness, the sense of detachment, the loneliness. It was one thing to enjoy her privacy, it was another to feel abandoned. In turn, this brought a storm of conflicting emotions that she could not navigate.
"Time is up," Pearl stated, tapping her wrist as if there was a watch.
"How can you tell," Steven asked, bewildered.
"The sun. I can't believe you would think I wouldn't keep track of the time. Anyway, I have a task for everyone." Peridot groaned which earned her a sharp glance.
"What about me," Lapis asked. Good question. Please, please say she has to stay. If she stays, Peridot knew she would too. Pearl grasped her chin between her thumb and forefinger, her eyes narrowed and her brows creased. She shrugged casually.
"Why not? The more hands, the better." Damn.
"Are you regretting asking now," she asked Lapis for the fifteenth time. Peridot, Lapis, Steven, Amethyst and Ruby were tasked with finding herbs for medicine in the forest. Humidity clung in the air like a thick blanket and made her skin feel sticky. The sun was high; beating down between the leaves that were changing into vibrant shades of orange, red and brown. Lapis shook her head, pulling cones from the hops plant. She was glistening with sweat; her blue hair was plastered to her neck and forehead
"It's nice to get out of the Temple. And I've never done this before. Manual labor." Her voice was heavy with double meaning. Peridot nodded, wiping the sweat and strands of hairs clinging to her forehead. Not too far away, she could see Steven picking tiny black berries from a bush and throwing them into his sack. The elderberries, she noted. Amethyst was peeling the bark from the white willow while Ruby was collecting the cat skins and cones from the branches of an alder. It was a strange hodgepodge of plants and trees that littered the forest behind the Temple. After the Temple was transformed into the haven it was now, these herbs were planted nearby so no one would have to travel far to find them. Not all of them were native to this area, so a special magic was placed over them so they could survive the unfavorable conditions. There was even a crafted pond by the willow. Yet, they integrated with the forest to avoid detection.
It was convenient, yet Peridot hated it this type of labor. Pulling bark, picking berries or cones, pulling up roots, all were tedious and exhausting under the hot glare of the sun. Sighing, she leaned against the trunk of a tree and slid down to the forest floor. Her fingers were dirty and sore from pulling up ginger. Her sack was only half full, and Sapphire needed them full of each plant. They had already been toiling for a few hours. She removed her glasses and rubbed her eyes.
"Hey, get back to work," Amethyst called, playfully shaking her fist.
"Actually, I think Peridot has the right idea," Steven called back. Peridot jumped, unaware that he had moved over to her. "We can get out of the sun and eat lunch under the willow. Are you hungry, Lapis?"
"Yeah." Lapis ran her arm over her forehead, leaving a streak of dirt against her skin. The jacket she had worn this morning was discarded on the ground, and she wore one of Pearl's tank tops underneath. Peridot stared, blinking, replacing her glasses. Steven offered a hand to her, fluidly pulling Peridot to her feet. His lips were lopsided with amusement. They joined Amethyst underneath the cool shade of the drooping willow leaves. It was evident why Amethyst had chosen this spot. The shade and water made up from the difficult job of pulling the bark from the tree. Peridot slouched against the trunk of the willow while Lapis went to the banks. Steven handed her a cup brimming with cool water, which she lapped up greedily as she watched Lapis trail her bare feet along the water, her back to the group.
"Sapphire and Pearl packed us lunch," Ruby called from her perch in the alder tree. She leaped from the alder tree to ungracefully land onto the ground. When she stepped forward, her feet tangled together, and she crashed to the ground. Amethyst and Peridot burst into laughter; Steven chuckled; Lapis glanced over her shoulder with a small smile. Ruby's cheeks reddened, and she threw a cone at a hooting Amethyst. It smacked against Amethyst's broad shoulder with an ineffective thud. Amethyst cried in feigned anger and returned a fistful of leaves back at Ruby. She deflected the scatter of leafy rain with a wave of her arm.
Peridot missed this. She missed being around everyone. It had been so long since they are together, just relaxing. To feel normal and human; to be playful and laughing. Even if it was brief and superficial. A wall of tension had been built between them since Lapis's arrival. It aroused bittersweet memories of her family. Rigidity was a practiced religion, a birthright. She was born into it; she was raised to believe in the necessity of taciturnity. It was a gray, somber existence; everyone, everything was stressed. There was no time for pleasure; no time to unwind; no time for intimacy. Even after they were gone, Peridot carried this with her until she met Steven and the others. Her friends were there, but they were so distant.
Lapis was there, but it made it harder. This person who shared Peridot's room, who ate with her and who she was spending a majority of her time was the person who ripped away from her family. It was not the same person; they were different. Yet, it did not change the fact that it was the same hands that had held hers were the same ones that destroyed her village. It might have been a dull life, but it was hers. Peridot missed her family; however, she was grateful to have found Steven and the others. They had added the color to her monochrome life as cheesy as that sounded.
Ruby and Steven passed out lunch to everyone. Sapphire and Pearl had made sandwiches paired with a small assortment of vegetables and fruit. Amethyst unfolded a blanket for her and Ruby to enjoy their lunch while Steven sat by Peridot against the willow. They began discussing something about Temple business with Steven. Now and then, Peridot would contribute to the conversation, but her attention was on Lapis. She was keeping her distance; probably uncomfortable with Amethyst and Ruby. Amethyst must have noticed; she suddenly gave a sharp whistle. Everyone's head turned toward her.
"Hey, Water—Lapis! Come and join us, "she called, waving her over. Lapis hesitated then gathered her lunch and silently took a seat on the other side of Peridot. Her face was straight, unreadable but not aloof. Thoughtful was the word the came to mind. Amethyst and Ruby went back to their discussion.
"I wasn't sure if Peridot wanted some time with her family," Lapis explained. Peridot's brows were knitted together, her fingers went to fiddle with the rim of her glasses. What made her think that?
"What do you mean?" Steven asked, sharing the same quizzical expression.
"Oh—uh. Most of you aren't around as lot and Peridot spoke so highly of everyone. I know it's because of me, so I wanted to give Peridot some space. Especially since you were getting along." Silence followed beside the rustle of the leaves and chirp of birds. Well, the others disdain was evident, but Peridot was surprised that Lapis recognized she was missing her friends. Had she said anything or done anything to suggest that?
"It's true. Not going to sugar-coat it," Ruby finally spoke, crossing her arms over her chest. "We did not want to be around the Water Witch. Why would we? Not only was she a burden but she was a threat-and a murderer."
"I know. I can't change the past," Lapis said, softly and shrinking against the trunk of the willow.
"Yeah, you're right. But," Ruby's tone alleviated. "You aren't the Water Witch. You are Lapis. That is who I am sitting with now. That is who I am talking to. It's just hard to separate them sometimes." Peridot was surprised, and Lapis seemed just as shocked. They were trying to be more accepting of Lapis not just tolerate her. It is hard to see their reason for the change of heart, but it was nice to know that they were trying to understand.
"Thank you," Lapis said, bowing her head at Ruby who shrugged.
"Well, we weren't too happy with Peri either. That's a SHIT ton of pressure that was placed on us. It was fucking stupid," Ruby continued, voice clipped but gentle, teasing but laced with warning and gravity.
"I'm sorry," Peridot yelped with a squeak to her voice. How did this turn on her?
"Nothing can be done now, "Steven intervened, elbowing Peridot with a smile. "Besides finding Lapis's home. It was just a cooling down period."
"Yeah. We are family. We piss each other off. We forgive," Amethyst smiled. She reached over to affectionately tussle Peridot's blonde hair. Peridot protested, laughing and smacking at Amethyst's rough hands. Amethyst offered her hand to Lapis. Lapis blinked then realization dawned on her. She gave Amethyst her hand and received a firm, friendly shake. This…this was what she missed. Her family. "Just…don't pull shit like that again, Peri!"
"I won't! I won't." She glanced over at Lapis, who smiled weakly with a scrunch of her nose.
It was dusk when they finally returned to the Temple with their full bags. Amethyst had found a wild cannabis plant hidden in the forest. She explained that it had medicinal uses, but she heard it was great for fun. It was hidden within the pockets of her pants to be used at a later time. They handed over their haul to Sapphire. Pearl was with her. Both of them wore identical, broad smiles.
"We have some good news," Pearl announced, clapping her hands.
"What is it?" Peridot asked, giving up her sack to Sapphire.
"We found Lapis's home!" Oh.