Fruited Plain

 

Hunger drove Alpen, Bebe and Drindl down the southern slope toward the ravine. Some late summer leaves from a bala tree relieved the worst pangs until they neared the edge of the deep cut in the land. At this distance inland from the ocean, the divide was wider. On the far side several dozen Ibik grazed on the still green pastures. The herds straggled to the east along the divide, their tufted tails sweeping into the air as they ambled and fed.

Alpen’s shoulders sagged as he saw the widening gulf between them and food. “The ground on the far side is lush. On this side rocky.”

“A god imprisoned below the earth broke free,” Drindl offered.

Bebe nodded, remembering the stories. “The energy in the dirt where we slept last night. The food of the gods? That’s what Altiss’ mother told us. When warriors eat energy, they tap the  god power.”

Alpen looked to Drindl. “We could use some now to take away our hunger.”

Bebe shook her head. “We need real food.” She paused, touching Alpen’s arm and making the gesture for silence. “Water,” she whispered. The faint sound of rushing water echoed in the air. She moved downslope toward the rim of the divide, carefully keeping her balance on the rocky ground. As she neared the rim, she didn’t trust her balance, so she knelt and lay down, moving cautiously to the edge. Looking to the east, the pasture on the far side sloped away. On her side, the wall of the gorge was vertical and led down to a sparkle of water at the bottom. She crawled back from the edge and stood, turning back to look at Alpen who was alone.

“Where’s Drindl?” she asked after climbing the slope.

“He went looking for food,” Alpen pointed to the northeast and toward the valley where they had seen the elephants. “What did you see?”

“The gorge is deep here, but the land slopes away on the far side.” Her arm swept from the south to the east. “To the east, I think the Ibik are being blocked from coming north through the elephant valley.”

Alpen squinted into the distance. “Where the valley narrows? I can’t see where it meets the ravine.”

“The elephants come away from the mine, then follow the valley to the south.” She turned toward the ravine. “Many Ibik on that side. None on this side.” She turned to the north. “The prisoner camp is north of the mine.”

“Without the Ibik, the northern tribes will starve this winter.” Alpen looked at Bebe, then clutched her to him as he stared north. They heard Drindl call out. He came up the slope, holding something in his arms. Alpen and Bebe moved down the rocky slope toward him.

“I don’t know what it is, but it tastes good.” Drindl’s voice was enthusiastic as he knelt and let the round fruit fall to the ground.

Bebe picked it up, felt the smooth skin and smelled the stem that had attached the fruit to the branch. “Pinkle fruit, I think.” She searched her memory and turned to Drindl. “A large tree?” she asked.

Drindl sank his teeth into the fruit, then turned and pointed toward the elephant valley. “It’s not so rocky and the ground is less steep.”

Alpen knelt to pick up another. Bebe stopped him. “Don’t you think we should wait? It’s an unfamiliar food. There could be something wrong.”

Alpen motioned to Drindl. “He looks fine. Your belly hurt?”

Drindl swept his arms back, pooched out his belly, and staggered a few steps, mimicking a Faerie who has eaten too much energy. They all laughed. Bebe took a bite from the fruit, surprised at the delightful sweetness that burst into her mouth. When Alpen reached for a third fruit, she insisted that he wait. “Let’s take these back to the tree.” She looked at the western sky. “We can gather more fruit before sunset, then sleep.”

Energized by the food, Alpen climbed the rough bark of the pinkle tree. Edging out from the trunk he picked fruit and tossed them down to Bebe and Drindl. When they had a small pile of the fruit, he climbed down. As the sun dimmed, the evening air cooled. Bebe lifted her nose into the breeze. “The scent of autumn coming.”

“We need to find my brother, get some clothes and get out of here,” Alpen said as he flared out his torn tunic. “Not much protection from the cold.”

Drindl mimicked Alpen, sweeping his arms away from his body as though he wore an invisible tunic.  “The color is too dark. What do you think?” Bebe and Alpen laughed.

“We’ll sleep side swaddle,” Alpen suggested. “Bebe in the middle.” Drindl faced forward, protecting his chest against the night cold. Bebe tucked in behind him and Alpen tucked in behind her. It didn’t take long before they were asleep.

Sometime in the middle of the night, Bebe felt the cool air on her chest. During the night, they had tossed and turned, losing the heat saving snuggle. She scooched back to feel Alpen’s warmth and felt his stiffness. She turned to him, calling his name softly to wake him up. When she touched him, he came fully awake, his hips arching towards hers. “You’re back,” she said as she held his face in her hands. “It’s something they were putting in our food.”