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This is a WIP, NaNoWriMo 2015, Forest Wed. Adann and Kaie (who was engaged), are married as symbols of their gods, and 2 weeks into their marriage, the gods’ blessing and the town are suffering, so they are sent on a hunting trip with two experienced hunters (Rui and Corliss). On the third day, Kaie and Adann race to find the best climbing tree–Kaie wins, but can’t think of a good prize.
“Are we racing to the top?” Kaie asked.
“That wouldn’t be a great idea,” Adann said, “that’s how people fall out of trees.”
“People?” Kaie teased.
Wrinkling her nose at him, Adann chose not to answer, instead starting up the tree. Limb by limb, she pulled and balanced, making her way upwards, aiming for a nice thick branch near the top, but not so near as she was likely to get stuck. Settling against the tree trunk, she waited for Kaie to join her, wriggling her toes on the bark again for the feel of it, rough against her callused feet.
After a bit of effort—he found a branch from which he could climb no higher, and had to back track and try a different route—Kaie ended up on a branch a couple hand spans higher than hers, and close enough that she could have reached out and touched his shoulder.
“When do you think they will miss us?”
“Oh, not before the midday meal,” Adann said. “Three times a day, more or less, seems to be enough for them to ensure we’re still alive.”
* * *
Beikife is a small town in something like the Amazon rain forest, protected by a pair of married gods. The gods are represented by human avatars, two young people chosen and married by divine power. The strength of the marriage represents the bond between the gods’ blessing, so the new forest wed must find a way to connect to each other, or the crops will fail, the rivers will flood, and the cursed monsters that live in the forest will claim many lives.
I’m really enjoying their easy conversation. It makes me hope they have a chance to find happiness together after being thrown into this situation.
🙂
I’m wondering what, if anything, is going to happen. What will they see that will change the story?
I wrote a bunch of small incidents that help them understand each other better… and then something big’s coming.
Romance in a tree. Something should come of it. Something good!
Falling out of a tree if they tried too much romancing! 🙂
That last sentence… I wonder how true it is? I suspect the village are a lot more concerned than they appreciate.
In this particular case they’re just referring to the hunters–who are concerned, yes. But they were also told to leave Kaie and Adann alone as much as possible.
I love how much fun they’re having together. 🙂
Flirting is fun to write! 😉
I liked the wriggling her toes on the bark bit. At first I thought wriggling was a typo, but I looked it up. So your snippet added a new word to my vocabulary list. Good snippet overall!
Yay for new words! 🙂
Good that they’re becoming a team in a way, fishing and tree climbing etc. Such an interesting story! Enjoyed the snippet.
Adann does like her trees, and Kaie is going along for the climb. 🙂
Adann and Kaie sittin’ in a tree … I love the conspiratorial tone of their conversation!
I think conversations up in trees would usually feel rather close, off the ground and surrounded by branches.
Their relationship has definitely evolved since its frosty beginning.
Yep! They’re making progress. 🙂
So now they’re conspiring together. Promising!
Conspiracy brings everyone closer!
I love the descriptions of climbing the tree and their conversation at the top!
Thanks!
This is such a cool concept. Loved this scene. Reminds me of my childhood and all the trees I climbed (and got stuck in!) lol. Great work, Caitlin!
Trees are magic. 🙂
They’ll get some quiet alone time up there! Love the tree top camaraderie.
This snippet makes me want to climb a tree. It’s so hot out, though…
I like how they’ve delved back into childhood activities, Caitlin. And their use of the word “they” when talking about being missed makes me think they’ve begun to view themselves as “Us against them”. Good progression!
Rui and Corliss’ grumpiness is a wonderfully uniting factor. Maybe the hunters are even doing it on purpose!