Childhood.
Chapter 1.5
Harvest.

The transition from deep forest to Al'Colic country was marked with midday sun.
The trees cast a shadow, the direct light that covers the ground marks where they can farm and build.

However, there are hundreds of meters of land of natural bushes, tall grass and rocks.

The main road walks from the central temple that leads towards the BúZar country, but there are many paths ranging from a few footsteps to well walked that web out into the woods.

As Rhuba and Celerave guided their cart through the trees, they were suddenly greeted by two Al'Colics who were meditating on rocks under the shade.

"Hazanaé." They greeted their visitors.

"Hazanaé. Celerave waved to them, but one of them wagged their finger at her.

"You say, Hazana." He told her.

"Morse, Hazana." Celerave blushed as she pulled the cart along. She heard the chuckles behind her back.

Rhuba could tell by the way her shoulders lowered that she felt embarrassed.
"They're not laughing at you. They think you're sweet for trying." Rhuba saw the head come up a little.

Passing the outer ring of huts and homes, Rhuba and Celerave split up.
"I'll see you at the bridge." Rhuba gave the girl a pat on the head before breaking off to grab a bag to start the march through the fields.

Celerave nodded to her and started pulling the wagon down a central path towards the temple.
The space in-between the houses and temple was five kilometres of plantations.
Farmland growing root vegetables, grains and fruit.

Walking by herself, Celerave saw pickers walking down the line with their bags.
Like Celerave, they had to make their way to the temple. Before getting there, the pickers had to fill their bags with the ripest and plumpest of the crop.

While towing the cart, Celerave nearly got ran into by two children running through the field.
"oh, sorr-" Before she could finish, she was cut off.

"Morsé!" They called together before running into the next field.

"Nega, sonal ma morse!" Celerave yelled to them, but she was left alone to continue walking.

As she stared at the ground with each step, she'd spot a few weeds.
She's meant to pick them out, but looking over her shoulder to make sure no one was looking, she aimed her palm.

A small burst of energy scorched the soil, leaving a small cinder behind. But she snuffed it out with her foot.

Eventually, Celerave would come face to face with the temple at the central hub of the farmlands.

The building was a place of spiritual significance, but also served as a communal building where big decisions were made for everyone.
As a home, only the elders, sick, and carers would stay over night.
But during the day, it was bustling with life.

Celerave left her cart by the stairs and could smell the cooking going on inside.
She watched the foot traffic.

Those with full bags of fresh crop would walk in and their harvest would be taken from them. In exchange, they'd be rewarded with a freshly prepared meal from the previous harvesters.
Feeding time was everyone's daily break.
After eating, they would clean their plate, and prepare cooking the food they had gathered to feed the ones about to arrive.
Once serving was over, they were free to go about their day.

Celerave waited by as she watched those with a full belly wander somewhat aimlessly.
Some aimed for a spot to relax in the hot sun, some found a place to meditate, and some returned to the fields, finding peace in using their hands to better the crop as there were always odds and ends needing done.

Her mother expected her to leave the wagon behind and walk through the fields to meet her halfway.
Celerave knew the way.
Facing the main road with the temple at her back, it's the fourth path on the right. A bending river has a wooden bridge where Celerave typically meets Rhuba.

Running down the dirt paths, Celerave had to remind herself not to overdo it.
The Al'Colics expect her to be different to them, but it's not good practice to show off just how much different.

Even though she ran at a slower pace than usual, her strides were long. Trice the length of her body.

As she came up to the first bridge, the pickers were putting their hands out to stop her.
Skidding to a halt, Celerave came to see that the bridge had collapsed.

First step of reconstruction was to build a hoisting frame. They'd done that.
The next step was to throw a rope over the frame. Easy.
Now, they had to get that end to the other side of the river.
The issue was, the workers on the temple side weren't strong enough to throw it over to the workers on the other side with the foundation spines for a new bridge.

Watching them reel the soaking rope in again, Celerave put her hand out.

"Asaide." She called up to them.

"Nega, Graté hoev nega."

"What?" Celerave clenched her fist. She didn't know their language well but knew enough that her offer to help was almost laughed off.

Once more, the rope was tossed about two thirds over, but needed to be pulled in.
One of them decided to tie the rope to their waist and swim across, but the current pushed him away and before he was even half way across, they almost ran out of rope and had to pull him back.

When the rope was reeled back in, Celerave tried to grab it but was again refused.

"fine…" She pouted.

She was ignored for a moment. Until her next move had everyone on the far side yelling.

Those who were on the same side as her, suddenly found her missing.
Looking down the stream in case she'd fallen in, they finally spotted the girl on the other side.

While everyone was puzzled, Celerave set the record straight by leaping back across.

"Asaide." She asked again. This time, the rope was surrendered.
And just as before, she easily cleared the gap and handed the rope to those on her side.

She was rewarded with applause and cheers from both sides as the rope was secured to the spines.
She even helped push the support spines over the river.

Once there was enough spines on both sides of the river, a lot of words were tossed around during coordination to have them interlock, so their own weight would hold and support themselves.
Celerave didn't understand what she had to do even though everyone else seemed to have it all figured out, so she simply tried to just shoulder the weight while the wooden beams were adjusted.

Soon, two arches were spanning the river, and the workers began laying down the foundation for a walkway.

It would take them time to finish construction. So Celerave decided to leave them to it and continued on her run to let Rhuba know that they'd need to cut through to the next bridge.

She had a cheerful skip in her step having helped them. But she knew that her parents probably shouldn't find out.

With a sack mounted on her back, Rhuba walked through the groves feeling thick flesh of bright purple fruits.
Carefully plucking them from the stem, she was reminded of an old friend.
"it really does look like him." She smirked, throwing the head shaped fruit into the sack behind her.

Ahead, she saw a ceramic jug being carried across the crops by two workers.
Once reaching the end of two parallel trails of water, they carefully turned the jug over, allowing water to flow through small holes on either side.
They continued walking across the field to let the crops have a drink.
When the water runs out, they'd head back to the river and refill.

"Celerave and I would be better suited to that." She mumbled.
Crop picking is taxing after a while, but not physically demanding as carrying a massive jug of water.

There was also the possibility that if Celerave learned to fly, an even larger jug could be made. The size of a house.
They could just fly over the crop and be done in a few hours.

"Better not…"
The structure of a jug that size floating overhead supported by two sets of arms could lead to disaster.

Plus, it's an offence to have flying vehicles this close to native countries. The Al'Colics have been gracious and accepting of Rhuba's ability to fly, but she didn't want to push their limits.

Even still. Distributing water might be a better use of their time. It's worth a talk at least.

Bending down to pick out some more weeds, Rhuba saw a small stream of water pour over the crops at her feet.
Looking up, she saw one of the jug carriers had fallen over, and the other was standing in shock.

Removing her bag and running up to have a look, Rhuba could see his face was flushed red.
He was breathing rapidly, unable to get his words out, not that she suspected she'd understand much. His skin was bone dry and the pulse in his neck was fast.

"How long has he been working?"

The one standing over them spoke, but he sounded just as confused.
"Dae, day? Day?"

"All day?" Rhuba wasn't sure if that was accurate or not.
The morning started cool but it's only gotten hotter by afternoon. And the cloudless sky was of no help.
"Moiqua!" She told him, gesturing a drink. When he started running off to get water, she yelled again. "Nage! No Run!" She rolled her eyes as she lifted the delirious one on the ground into her arms.
"Hold on."

Going over a kilometre a minute. Fast, but not enough to shock him further, Rhuba arrived at the temple.

It was still a spectacle to see someone descend from the sky. All eyes were on Rhuba as she carried the man inside.
The main hall was filled with the smell of bread being baked and sweet sauces being cooked.
It was mouthwatering.

But more importantly, she carried the heat stroked man through to the back where it was cool and the healers could take care of him.

"Graté." The healers told her.

"Nage wocern."

"Nage?" The healer wagged his finger. "Nega."

Rhuba pulled a face. Feeling the same embarrassment Celerave felt earlier.
"Graté." At least they thought she was sweet for trying.

She came to do some harvesting and ended up potentially saving someone.
With a proud smile on her face, Rhuba strolled through the temple with a giddy feeling.
However, it'll probably be best of her family never finds out what she did.
After all, they're meant to be keeping a low profile.

Once the cover of the temple ceiling was clear, Rhuba shot back off across the fields. The view from above was quite harmonious, everyone working together in the fields and collaborating as friends.

Finding her starting place by the spilled water and recollecting her bag.

Strapping it back on, it was back to the ground of harvesting and walking back towards the temple with the goal of meeting Celerave at the second bridge.

With her bag halfway full, Rhuba found Celerave spinning in circles with her arms out to the sides.

"Tell me you're bored without telling me you're bored." Rhuba mocked as she handed Celerave a second bag.

"We can't go this way." Celerave told her as she strapped the bag around her shoulders. "The bridge broke."

"Oh…" It wasn't too hard to navigate around. "how did you get here? Did you go the long way?"

Celerave's stunned silence said more than words ever could.

"You jumped."

"sorry…"

Celerave's hair waves and sprang back to shape as Rhuba petted her head.
"It's no big deal. So long no one saw you."

The girl's head lowered more.

"Celerave?"

"they saw me…"

Moving down to her knees, Rhuba moved her hands down to hold her face.
"Good girl." Pressing her lips on the girl's head, Rhuba admitted that she already knew. "I saw you. I just wanted to be sure you trusted me with the truth."
She hadn't planned any form of reprimand if she didn't. But it would have been upsetting.

Knowing that she is honest, it made her wonder if Celerave can be trusted with more.

Too soon for flying, maybe Oozaru? Who she is?

"Come on." Talking her by the hand, Rhuba led Celerave towards the next path over. It's about half a mile to the next bridge, but they can pick more fruit along the way.

Ultimately, Rhuba decided not to put anything more on her.
Learning these things will not make her life better.
Responsibility of knowledge is just a burden at her age.
She should be having fun. Not living in fear.

With two sacks full of fruits and roots, Rhuba and Celerave was walking with her face close to the ground looking for one more pick.
Convinced that the perfect melon was somewhere.

"Rave, we already have a Melon." Rhuba looked up at the temple steps. The waft of food was calling her like a lure. "This one is big enough." With a tap of her foot, Rhuba was about to cut the stem.

"no Don't!" Celerave held out her hand, eyes wide with panic.
If they cut two, they'll need to commit. "I found it."

Rhuba rolled her eyes.
Celerave had been so determined, even though it was Rhuba who needed to find the second melon.
But when the girl spun around, Rhuba had to hide her laughter.

"You are just…"

"All gwown up!" Celerave cheered with a proud but pink flushed smile.

"If you stretch that shirt, you're grounded." Rhuba held her hands under the shirt to catch the two identical melons that Celerave spent the last four minutes searching for.
"Also, zip your coat up. Your tail is showing."

"oops. ouch!" In her hast, Celerave caught some of the fur on the zipper.

"Oh you're a silly girl." Rhuba kissed her tail for her. "I'll get you some of my one piece tops. Much easier to hide your tail in these."

"I want Daddy's."

"Daddy's tops are too big."

"But I'm going to get stwong." Flexing her arms, Celerave imagined the day she's grown up for real.

Rhuba narrowed her eyes.
"Hey, before you were born, I was stronger than him." With a gentle punch, she knocked reality into Celerave.

Picking up their bags of food, Rhuba and Celerave could finally climb the stairs to the temple.

The line to get their meal was rather short due to the late time they often arrive. However, the stew was still hot over the fire.

"Graté" "Graté"

Walking away, Rhuba led Celerave back outside to eat in the shade, but still have a view.

"You know. I could see us living here." Rhuba mumbled as she dipped her bread into the spicy soup. "Live by candlelight, be up at dawn, asleep by dusk."

"We can't live here." Celerave shovelled her food into her mouth quickly. "All our stuff is at our house."

Rhuba slipped her face into her hand.
In a round about way, she did bring up a good point.
To be a permanent addition to the Al'Colics, they'd need to give up most of their possessions.
Anything they own must just as easily be given back to the world as it was taken.

No comfy bed, no more of the warm clothes they'd grown used to. No electricals. It'll be like living as…

Looking at her daughter, Rhuba wondered if she could even remember that far back.
"What if we lived in a hole just a little under the ground."

Celerave silently listened to Rhuba describe a burrow with a main chamber covered in quilts surrounded with a fire pit for cooking, and a second chamber further down with three times as many quilts for sleeping.

"Like a wabbit?"

"…Or like your mum and dad used to live."

Celerave slowly turned to stare at her.
"You used to be a wabbit?"

"No, I used to live in a burrow. We'd dig it out by hand. In fact, before we had a house, I made a burrow for us when you were just a baby." The exact spot left her mind years ago, but she knew the tunnel would still be near where their tiny farm is.

The ship was an option, but at the time, Garagus had been looking for work and needed the ship.
While someone needed to stay behind to tend to the plants.

"You liked the burrow. From when you were just four months old, I'd turn my back and you'd be crawling back towards it… Then on the flip side, when I was trying to get you to sleep, I'd close my eyes for a second, and you'd be halfway out escaping through the tunnel."

Celerave looked like she wasn't sure if her mother was joking or not. Her earliest memories involve living in the house or the ship.
"Did we have a bed underground?"

"No." Putting her bowl aside, Rhuba lifted Celerave onto her lap and hugged her close. "We'd just snuggle together to keep warm."
No real change from how they usually sleep in bed.

"What about the bathroom?"

Stretching a grin. Rhuba explained to a girl who was used to indoor plumbing that things weren't so simple back in the day.

"That's gross." Celerave laughed as Rhuba collected their bowls.

"That's how things were." Rhuba smiled remembering when it was just the three of them…
Well, a different three of them.
"mum would have loved you…."

"What?" Celerave lifted her head. "Your mum?"

"Y-yes. Her name was… Is? Was…?" Rhuba stared at nothing as she considered the proper tense. Her name still is what it always was.

"Mum?"

"Oh, Her name was…" Was it is. "Cressin. She would be your Gran." Hugging Celerave, Rhuba felt deep regret over how the pair would never meet.
But thinking back to how she and Garagus were raised, Celerave might not have enjoyed the strict upbringing.

Celerave really doesn't like being spanked, so she probably wouldn't enjoy that plus the occasional fist to the head like Garagus suffered, nor the time both of her parents woke up to their tails being sliced off.
But to be fair, that one was justified.

"Where is your mum?"

Rhuba stared into Celerave's bright eyes.
There was no way on Dapume she could answer without inviting more questions.
And the whole truth isn't pleasant, nor safe for her to know.

"She's… not here. I'll tell you someday."

"How'bout tomorrow?"

"Someday…" Setting the girl aside, Rhuba rolled her shoulders as she rose to her feet. "Get ready. Our second shift in the fields is about to start."