Chapter 17
S'rrona climbed to the top of the hill, her strong legs now mostly muscle. She liked how she looked in her reflection, how her body toned out, how she was stronger, bulkier. She carried a drawstring bag filled with food and water slung over her shoulder. It was a nice evening; the sun was starting to go down earlier and that meant the summer was coming to an end and her favorite season was almost upon them.
"Come on!" She shouted.
"We are coming, we are coming," Peyral grumbled.
"I don't want to miss the sunset, or we will have to do this tomorrow!"
"Let's hurry up then," Miles snarked. "Don't want to do this all tomorrow."
S'rrona was a little much this afternoon, checking and rechecking to see if all their supplies were packed. She left her tribe in the hands of the healers, who would lead the dinner prayer. It was very rare that S'rrona could have time to herself, most certainly during dinner, but she wanted to show Miles something wonderful. Peyral decided to come along as an escort, but S'rrona knew it was for her protection. A month ago, she ordered Peyral to be kinder to Miles; she was tired of this back and forth, this resentment between the two of them, and while Peyral was not as snarky to Miles as before, S'rrona would be a fool to think she liked the man.
By the time they reached the top of the hill, the sun was on its last leg, casting long shadows across the grass.
"What are we doing here?" Miles asked.
"Shh!" S'rrona spat, making Miles roll his eyes and cross his arms. "Look!"
She pointed to the dimming forest, as silent as a graveyard. Nothing was happening yet, but in a few minutes, they would see.
"What are we looking at, S'rrona?" Peyral asked, folding her arms too. "It is a forest."
"Shut up," S'rrona snapped. "By Great Mother, all you both do is yap-yap-yap. How about hush-hush-hush?"
Miles looked at her with wide eyes and a mouth slacked open. "Oh, I know you are not talking about talking."
"I am inclined to agree with MilesQuaritch," Peyral said. "You talk most of all."
"But I am not talking now," She said. "I mean, yes, I am now, but not then." She stared at the two of them, seeing the shadows of a smirk on their faces. "Assholes."
Peyral's eyes narrowed, her smirk turning into a frown of confusion, while Miles' eyes lit up, his smirk now a grin. He laughed loudly, bending down to slap his knee. Peyral looked between him and S'rrona, who was smiling too, proud of herself for using the term correctly.
"What is happening?" Peyral said. "I don't understand. What does that mean?"
Miles sighed, coming up for air. "Good Job, S'rrona!" He wiped his eyes. "Good job."
Peyral continued to look between them. "I do not know what any of this means," she gave Miles a pointed glare. "Why are you laughing? What is the joke."
"There is no joke," S'rrona explained, taking her hands. "I just called you playfully mean."
Peyral's mouth turned up in a hint of disgust. "And this is funny, how?"
"I just didn't expect it to come out of her mouth," Miles said.
S'rrona joined in with the laughter and saw Peyral cross her arms over her ample chest. "Whatever," she muttered. "It probably wasn't funny anyway."
"Don't be a hater, Peyral," Miles elbowed her.
Peyral growled under her breath but lowered her arms. "I am not a hater. I just know what funny is."
Miles folded his arms and looked at her. "And how do you know that wasn't funny if you didn't know what it said?"
"Because it's you, and you are not funny."
"I'm plenty funny," Miles faked a shocked gasp. "Just because you don't have a sense of humor, doll face, doesn't mean the rest of us has to follow."
"Do not call me doll face, you beanpole-looking—"
"Silence!" S'rrona snapped. The two of them turned to her, S'rrona had laid out a small blanket made of animal skin and plant fiber and pulled out a few covered bowls of food. "You'll miss it. Come sit." Miles sad next to S'rrona while Peyral said across from her. They still glared at each other, although S'rrona could see a twinkle of amusement in Miles' eyes. "I brought you both out here to watch the forest come alive at night."
Peyral gave S'rrona a look before grabbing a pole. "S'rrona, I'm a hunter and a guard, I have seen the forest—"
"Not from up here," She cut her off. "I know your routes."
Miles scoffed a laugh and took a bowl too. "That's kinda creepy…"
That made Peyral snicker as she bit into the mashed fruit. S'rrona pouted and shot Miles a look. "It is not creepy; she is my friend. I need to know." She hissed. "Just because you don't have friends here doesn't mean the rest of us don't."
Miles stared at S'rrona, but it wasn't the look of amusement he gave Peyral. He didn't like what she said; S'rrona knew this. She glanced at Peyral, who looked between them, unsure of what was about to happen. Slowly, Miles looked down and nodded, playing with his food.
"Okay…"
"Why are you upset?" S'rrona asked. "I don't understand. You said something like that to Peyral."
Miles placed the bowl back in the basket and stood. "You're right," he looked at Peyral and nodded. "Sorry. I'm going for a walk."
"You can't go!" S'rrona exclaimed. "We are just getting started!"
But Miles just kept walking, disappearing down the hill. "I'm going for a walk."
When he was gone, S'rrona looked at Peyral. "What just happened?"
Peyral looked down, stabbing at her food. She then looked at her friend. "I do not like The Stranger Man, but I see why he is upset. He is new, and he is learning, and people don't trust him. He is around you most of all, and I think that would make you friends. He may have thought that, too."
"Oh…"
"Is he your friend?"
S'rrona bit her lip and sighed. "By Great Mother!" She stood, dusting off her legs. "Watch the food." She didn't even wait to hear Peyral's answer as she disappeared down the hill to catch up to Miles. The sun was still going down, and the world was becoming clearer for her. They had perhaps 30 minutes before the light show. She could smell his scent on the wind, the smell of ash and soot and pine. "MilesQuaritch!" She called. "MilesQuaritch!"
She stopped in the middle of a bramble of trees, looking around in every direction. The wind had whipped his scent around her, making it hug her. She had no direction to which he may have gone. He stood there for about five minutes, looking around for something, anything. She turned back around, only to be met with—
"You called?"
She turned around quickly. "And you came!"
Miles stepped out of the shadows. "Listen, I'm sorry for—"
"I am sorry," she cut him off. "That was rude of me. I was trying to make a joke like the one you made to Peyral because I thought it was funny—she does not have a sense of humor. I suppose neither do I because I hurt your feelings."
Miles stared at her, chewing on the inside of his mouth. "I am trying so damn hard to be like the rest of you. But I can't fit anywhere but with you. You're the only friend I have here."
S'rrona took a step forward. "And you are my friend, and I will try to integrate you more into the village. Perhaps if they see you hunting more, you will be of more help." She smiled at him. "We tell the children to not be afraid to ask for help, but it seems we need to tell adults that, too." She smiled at him, standing there with her arms open to show she was friendly.
Miles stared at her, his eyes roaming her face, searching for something. He smirked and took a few steps toward her. "You're good, S'rrona. You're kind. I wish I was more like you; don't let anyone change that. Not even me."
She looked down, her face feeling hot and sweaty all of a sudden. "Come, let us go to the hill."
Peyral watched them as S'rrona and Miles sat on the lush grass. The cool ocean breeze was starting to bring a chill to S'rrona's shoulders, and she regretted not having her cloak with her. She wrapped her arms around her torso and brought her knees to her chest.
"What are we looking at?" Peyral asked.
"Just watch."
As the sun finally lowered behind the line where the sea kissed the sky, the colors came out. Explosions of whites and purples, yellows, and dark blues cascade along the darkness. Birds fluttered, chiming loudly as they sang their night song. Without the heat of the sun, S'rrona shivered slightly.
"Beautiful," Peyral said simply.
But it was Miles who stood slowly, walking to the spot where the hill started to descend. S'rrona couldn't see his face, be he stood almost ramrod straight, his tail flicking in the wind. All was quiet for a while.
"I'm going to stretch my legs," Peyral said to no one. "I'll be back in ten minutes."
S'rrona waited until Peyral was out of earshot before scrambling to her feet and bounding toward Miles. He must not have heard her coming because he yelped and jumped in surprise to see her beside him. S'rrona laughed.
"Scared you."
"No," Miles said defiantly.
She rolled her eyes and looked out at the open field. Insects chirped their night songs, joining the chorus of birds and creatures that roamed the forest floor.
"It is beautiful," S'rrona said when the silence between them got too quiet. "Night is my favorite time of day." Miles made a low noise at the back of his throat to signal he heard what she said. He didn't look at her, and S'rrona felt a certain pang about that. He was stuck gazing at the forest. "It is the most peaceful time of day." Again, Miles made a noise at the back of his throat to signal that he heard was she said. S'rrona folded her arms in the same fashion she had seen him do and tapped her foot on the ground. "I never really leave the cave during the day; it's too hard to see and not as interesting. The night is where I thrive." This time Miles didn't make a noise, and S'rrona threw her arms in the air in the same fashion she had seen him do when something was frustrating. "You know, it is polite to engage when someone is speaking to you."
Miles shot her a look, eyes wide as if he had just realized she was talking. "What?"
"You have to be joking," S'rrona turned around and returned to the grass.
Miles followed her. "I wasn't paying attention," he said sharply. "Damn, sorry." She didn't say anything, just brought her knees to her chest to shield herself from the cold. "S'rrona." Miles stood in front of her, his hand on his hip. When she didn't respond, he bent down. "S'rrona." When she still didn't respond, Miles rolled his eyes and sat beside her. They said nothing, just looked at the forest come alive. "Big baby," He muttered under his breath.
"Asshole," S'rrona muttered, too.
And while S'rrona was serious when she muttered that word, she couldn't help but smile slightly when she heard Miles chuckle under his breath.