The DIvide

"The Great Divide?" Drindl asked as he wiped away the berry juice from the floor of the Faerie's cage.

"The war between us," Bebe said. Drindl recognized that name. The civil war. "When there was only Jade, the evergreen people."

"Your books? Did you bring anything?" Alithea asked Bebe.

"With the maps," Bebe said.

Alpen stood up, then hugged Bebe. "I was so worried for our safety. I didn't think about the books."

"I would not have brought the books," Bebe said. "They belong to our people."

"What books?" Drindl asked. He dumped dirt on the campfire. Fallon noticed his scent and signaled to Alithea, motioning to his neck. She nodded in reply.

"The history of our people," Bebe said. "The agreements we have made with the other tribes since the Great Divide. The stories of our fathers and mothers. The recordings of property."

Alpen looked her directly in the eye. "They are not lost. I swear to you." What was he swearing? To come back? To get the books and maps? He didn't know. Bebe understand the heart of his words and placed her hands on his cheeks.

Drindl held Erthen on his lap in front of the small breakfast fire. He cupped the boy's hand and put some dirt in his hand. The boy looked at it then up at Drindl, who swung the boys hand toward the fire. The dirt scattered across the embers and the boy made bouncing motions as the dust sparkled in the flames.

Fallon knelt down next to fire. "You'll make a good dad, Drindl." He reached out for Erthen. "Let's pack up."

They found more olanthe bushes near the river. Drindl rinsed his neck and Alithea applied another berry paste pack. When she saw the amount of exudate from his neck glands, she kept some paste in reserve. She insisted that Drindl take the travois. He needed to burn off the energy and aggressiveness. The wind was coming from the south, so she and Bebe took up the rear. Alpen took the other travois.

Fallon walked beside her and Bebe. "He will peak tomorrow or the next," Alithea said. "Don't leave him alone with Erthen."

"What?" Fallon scoffed. "You saw how patient he is with the boy."  

"Why do you question me about this? Do I doubt that you know how to sharpen a blade? Go ahead, tell me about your musth when you were Drindl's age," Alithea asked. Bebe smiled and looked away.

"Well, that was a while ago," Fallon said.

"Were you in battle? In camp? Building a house? On a journey? Enjoying a woman?" Alithea asked.

"Inquisitor!" Fallon accused her. "I'm sure I was doing something like that."

"You don't remember," Alithea said. "None of you do. The musth makes you crazy and you can't remember. We remember. So, I'm asking you." She kept her voice low but insistent. "Please don't let him be alone with Erthen for the next few days!"

Bebe turned her head toward Bebe and Fallon. "This is how the war began. The warriors were in charge of negotiations. We, the women, do the bargaining now. Less blood."

"Listen to the doctor, honey." Alithea reached up and gave him a lick on his cheek.

"Yes, doctor," Fallon said. Why did Alpen bring Drindl along?

They paused at midday. The land was gently rising but they could not see the highlands yet. The smell of the ocean occasionally drifted across their path and lifted their spirits. Alithea made a mask from cloth, smeared juice from an Anschloss leaf and tied it around Drindl's face.

"I can smell the trees near our village," Drindl said.

"It will help mask other smells," Alithea said. She and Fallon took up the travois and continued.

After a while, Alpen came alongside. "Something has been following us since we left the river."

"Animal? How many?" Fallon asked.

"Yes. Just one."