Elann laid down and some chimes passed before he stood up again and went back into the trunk, disturbing Aimee’s peace once more but not as much as the wagon’s jolting forward did. The loud sounds continued again to refresh all of their memories in just how jarring the caravan could be to the natural world around them. Eventually it settled into the back of their minds, buzzing even though the source was right below them, above them, surrounding them.

From inside the trunk he retrieved his journal and pencil again, closing it to sit back down in front of it. He turned to the page with Elann’s unfinished face but turned to a new page anyway, going over his basic exercises of small things as the time passed still. He was entranced by his own drawing, sucked into his mind as he sorted through memories to figure out what he wanted to draw. He settled on a tree and a squirrel, letting them take up the bottom and top halves of one page as he worked on them in turn.

Elann rose from the bench and caught his attention once more as she moved to the edge of the wagon. He saw her wave to the driver behind their car before settling again. It took a long moment of consideration before he stood up again and moved towards the edge of the wagon as well. There was nervousness and fear fluttering in him but he chose to sit down beside her anyway, adjusting his drawing book on his lap and the pencil in his hand. He didn’t look at her, turning to a new page and going over the residual crispness of an old book  kept in like-new condition.

“Can you tell me what Yahal looks like when you see him?” he asked. 

The question was a lot harder to ask than he realized when he thought it up. He licked his lips and rose his head up to look at her, wondering if she would take the time to describe the god so he could draw it.

“Please,” he added.