Darin considered what Ridahne had said about this mysterious chocolate. If they made it with milk and if they served it here, they might be able to make her spiced milk. She would have to consider coming back when she had coin of her own to spare. She had a little, but it had to be used for necessities like resoling her boots and possibly paying someone to cut her hair short. That was one of the cons of preferring short hair. It had to be trimmed regularly. She had been using her knife from home to hack it short since they left The Farm, but now it was uneven and choppy. That was almost as annoying as wearing it long. She needed to find someone who could even it out.

Darin did reply to Ridahne’s comment about trying apple pie and potatoes, “I’ll have to make you proper potatoes. Those, of course, are mostly butter and milk with some salt and chives, if you can find them. We can have it before apple pie for dessert. Maybe when we finally swing back up towards my home.”

That was a long time off and thinking about that made Darin homesick again. She was tired of feeling that way. She didn’t think the feelings would ever fade. She wasn’t sure she wanted them to fade. Though those thoughts did bring her back to climbing the trees of the city. If she took off her boots, she could probably do it. She was decent at climbing; not the best but decent. She was willing to give it a shot. As such she leaned down to unlace her boots and peal them off.

As she stood, she handed them out to her companion, “Could you get these to the inn as well. I’m going to go see if I can find a place to try my climb.” She smiled slightly as she started to walk away, “I’ll try to be back by night.”

With that Darin was off. It wasn’t that difficult to figure out were to go. She did get to practice her bows as she asked for directions and advice. Most of the Eluri seemed more than happy to help. One claimed they knew that humans shook hands the way that they bowed. Darin happily confirmed that fact and found herself laughing as she helped him practice. He was enthusiastic. Darin enjoyed it as he practically ripped her arm off as he shook it up and down. Eventually he pointed her on her way, and she introduced him to a new human custom, waving. He was enthusiastic about that until she was practically out of sight. 

Soon Darin found a spot specifically for tourist to try their luck at climbing the trees. There were several set apart for that use and there were ladders about halfway up. Then the climbing had to do it free hand. There were nets strung about to catch those who fell. There was an undercurrent of challenge to the whole thing. A person had to pay to have a go and then pay double if they fell. If they made it down on their own with out making it to the top, they forfeited their original payment without having to pay more. If they made it to the top and back down, they got their first payment back. There was someone at the top to give people who made it a chit. There were just as many Eluri as there were tourist. Darin supposed that meant very few people actually made it to the top. She had practically no hope.

Still Darin wanted to try and knew she would be able to make it down on her own. So, she paid the small fee and then ignored the ladders. She got a few raised eyebrows for that, but the young human ignored those too. She lost herself in the journey upwards. She looked carefully for groves in the bark were her fingers could get a decent grip. Her trip wasn’t easy, and she almost slipped a couple of times. Darin found herself moving from tree to tree. She passed the sheer trunk and moved into branches. The branches got thinner and thinner. She refused to look down. Then without processing she broke thought the canopy of leaves. She took in a deep breath of surprise as she looked across the sky of Astra. Then she let out a shout of joy as she felt the heat of the setting sun. She braced herself and pushed herself out more fully. She closed her eyes and just enjoyed the heat of the sun. It had been so long. 

It was odd in a way. She was human, a Child of the Stone. Yet before this journey she had spent every day under the sky of Astra. She was willing to bet that there were Eluri that had never even seen the sky, yet they were Elves, Children of the Sky. Where had those names come from. There had to be a reason for it. Darin watched the sunset and the countless stars come out. She figured that she should get back to Ridahne. There was an Eluri tied to a tree near her. She carefully went over to him to collect her chit before heading back down. She was feeling so peaceful that she didn’t process the chit-givers shocked look. She felt much better and was now worried about Ridhane coming to look for her.

Back on the ground Yari spoke to his coworker Zeven, “Do you think he’s okay? Night has fallen and he’s still not back.”

Zeven responded, “They might be stuck somewhere. We’ll give it fifteen more minutes and then send someone after them. The crazy human started at the bottom. That takes longer.”

Yari made a noise that was a cross between a scoff and a laugh, “I’m surprised they even made it pass the ladders. I do hope they are okay. I doubt the council will be happy if a human dies while visiting.”

Zeven repeated, “Fifteen minutes. Then we go up.”