[center][h1]The True Spring[/h1][/center] [hr] “It’s started to rain, mother.” Tad said as he pushed the flap to the side and entered the warm, dry tent. “Your sisters will not be so happy.” Ina chimed back as she worked sewing some furs together. “I imagine we will be seeing them very soon. Best to have some food ready for them, don’t you think?” “I know I could eat.” Tad said, picking up the family's turtle shell and bringing it over to the fire. “Perhaps a soup?” “You seem intent upon soup if you are bringing the pot to the fire. Heat up some stones then.” Ina said, not looking away from her work. Tad did as she asked, placing the shell next to the fire. He then stoked the red coals and placed some stones within. They fell into comfortable silence as Tad prepared water and some herbs while his mother continued with the furs. As Tad threw in some roots and dried meat to the water he heard his mother say, “Will you speak to me, my son, of what saddens your heart?” He hesitated to speak, his mind mulling over if he should be truthful or keep it to himself. But it would be far too late for any decision, he realized. For his mother was already eying him with suspicion. He sighed and his shoulders slumped. “I asked Misha to come with us. I thought… Well… her duty to the tribe is more important than me.” His mother remained silent and Tad felt as if he had to fill that silence. His mouth betrayed him. “I loved her, mother. She is sweet and strong and will make for a good chiefess but… Why does my heart ache?” he finished in a quiet whisper. He felt tears begin to roll down his cheeks as the reality of the situation came flooding out all at once. His mother rose and embraced him as she sat down beside her tearful child. “It isn’t fair.” Tad said, as he let himself be held, His mother began to stroke his hair, the gesture soothing but his sadness gave way to a sudden burst of anger. “Why are we being sent away? Why not others? Why can’t we remain? This is our home mother! The outside world is choked with ash and terrible winds. They send us to our doom and we are supposed to just let it happen?” He would have kept speaking if not for his mother gripping him tighter and she at last said, “Your heart aches because it has drunk deep from the spring of affection. With it bloomed tender shoots of warmth only another can give. It encompasses not just the heart, but the entire body.” here she let out a deep sigh and hugged him tighter. “When that spring dries, be it for any reason, the warmth turns cold and we are left with a parched soul that is not so easy to quench again.” She kissed his brow, a frequent gesture but one he could not compare with Misha’s own and Tad knew they could not be compared. For his mother’s was a deeper meaning. Something wet jostled him from his thoughts and he realized she was crying. Tad pulled away to look at her and he felt his heart sadden further. “Mother…?” he said, unsure of what to do. She gave him a soft smile and pulled him back to her chest. “I weep not for anything that you have done Tad but for the pain you endure. For it is an endurance that only time can overcome. But I know in my own heart that you will. You may not think so right now, but the thought of her will begin to fade, becoming less and less prevalent. Until there comes a day you are no longer saddened when you think of her name. It will be alright, my son.” Tad knew not what to say to his mother’s words, so he kept quiet, mulling them over as she held him close. It was a comfort he sorely needed. Eventually they parted and with a reassuring head pat, Tad and his mother went back to their respective tasks. He came to the realization that his mother spoke from her own experience with his father. He could not even imagine how hard it had to have been. Much harder than his own hurting. He let the monotony of stoking the fire keep him focused. And then his sisters burst into the tent. [hr] Both were soaked. Both looked terrible. Toffee was cut and bleeding. Teefee looked dazed. Tad stood, his own problems banished like smoke in the wind. Toffee’s voice was shaky as a string of words escaped her mouth, “We need to go. We need to go now. We don’t have time. We need to go.” “Toffee, what’s wrong? What happened?” Ina said, as she rushed to them. “Don’t touch me!’ Toffee snapped as Ina began to fuss over her wound. Taken aback, their mother’s brow furrowed. “Toffee?” She tried in a soft voice. “Why are we just standing here, we need to get moving!” Toffee said, the panic in her voice rising as she began going through her belongings. “Toffeen!” Their mother shouted. “What is wrong with you!” Teefee flinched at their mother’s voice as Tad approached her with a dry fur. He draped it over his sister as the two watched their mother loom over their frantic sister. She gripped Toffee’s wrist as the girl stuffed what she could in a pack. This finally seemed to snap whatever mantic state she had been in. All at once she stood and threw herself into their mother’s chest and began to wail. Ina’s own temperament changed and she began to soothe Toffee. Tad could only look at the shivering Teefee, who seemed to be looking off into the distance, except it was just a dark wall. “Teefee?” he asked in a soft voice. When he got no reply he decided to snap his fingers in front of her face. This had an immediate effect as Teefee, who blinked and looked at Tad. She tried to say something but became choked up as tears welled in her eyes. Before he knew it, Teefee had buried her face into his chest and was sobbing. Tad frowned as he pulled her close. He had never seen them act like this. What in the ancestor's names had happened? It was only a little while later that their mother had calmed Toffee down enough to where she could speak. Teefee had become silent and was not speaking. They all sat by the fire now, both girls leaned upon their mother as Toffee told them what had happened. What she had come across when searching for Teefee. Who she had found and what she had done. Tad’s blood had begun to boil when Toffee had named the foe. Of course it had been Malac. Of course he would go after Teefee in revenge. But as quickly as his rage had come, it froze when Toffee had choked out she had killed him in an act of rage. Malac… he was dead? He had a burst of conflicting emotions at the thought but knew he would have to reflect on them later. When Toffee had grown silent, Tad looked at their mother. She wore a mask of neutrality. When the silence stretched on, Tad felt the need to say something, anything. “Mother…” He began but she silenced him with a a raise of her hand. “Hush now my son and listen close.” She wrapped her arms around his sister’s shoulder. “Teefeen, Toffeen, you listen as well.” With their formal names spoken, the two nodded. “What has happened is a great sadness but it could not have been prevented. Malac chose this path long ago, when jealousy and hatred crept into his heart. Toffee, you protected your sister from hurt. It was only natural to feel such anger but now you must live with the act, daughter. I do not blame you. I do not hate you. You are both here and that is all a mother can ask for. Now Tad,” She looked to him with a stern gaze, “If the chiefess suspects what happened, Toffee’s heart will be skewered. A life for a life. I will not let that happen. Prepare our things, we are leaving.” Tad nodded and began to take down the furs. Meanwhile, he could still hear his mother speaking in hushed tones. “Teefee, my smile, be brave for me. Don fresh clothing and help your brother. And Toffee, my heart, let us look at your cut while we can. We have time yet before they begin to look for him.” It was practiced work, tearing down the tent. He had done it ever since he was able to help his mother, for his people… Well, the people he had called his people, moved from one area of their home to the next as the stars passed overhead. With Teefee’s help and once Toffee’s cut was bandaged, the work went quicker. They were rained on, of course but by now it was a drizzle, breaking apart so that the stars could be seen. It would be over by the time they left. Others came and asked what they were doing and their mother handled it with small lies. It was no secret everyone knew who would be cast out after all. So what if they decided to leave now? When the work was done, they donned their skin packs in silence and put what little they could call their own upon their sled, two sticks held together by more furs. It would be Tad’s duty to pull it and his sister’s would take turns with him. His mother would lead the way and with little fanfare, they set off into the unknown, leaving the Hillgrass tribe behind forevermore. At least, they hoped so. They would head north, make for the river and have it lead the way. They walked for a few hours in silence before they could be sure none had followed and that they were alone. “Let us rest for a bit and eat. I do not wish to push you children but we must make distance while we can.” Their mother said, putting down her pack. In the ever twilight of the world, Tad could see her expression was downcast. It hurt her to leave everything she knew behind but she would do it time and time again if it meant keeping her children safe. With a heavy sigh, Tad dropped the leather that pulled the sled and slumped to the ground. He was tired but he knew his time awake would still be for some time. His mother passed out some dried jerky and the half finished, and now cold, soup. He ate and his mind began to linger on what had happened to his sisters. He was battered with guilt and anger. If he had just left well enough alone, this would not have happened. He could still see Misha smiling at him in that joyous grove. Just over her shoulder, Malac had paused, eyeing him with contempt. He scowled. Teefee began to hum a small tune their mother often hummed. Hearing it, she joined in. Tad looked upon Toffee, who now held the same gaze that Teefee had when they first entered their tent. Distant and not entirely there. Tad knew he should say something to her but now was not the time. So he ate and rested and before long, they were off again. [hr] Teefee kept pace with Tad as the two pulled the sled as the stars shone overhead. Usually she pulled with Toffee but her sister was up ahead, talking to their mother. Whatever they were talking about, she hoped it would help. She had never seen Toffee so distraught before and it was all because she herself had wandered like she always did. Would Malac have even found her if she had been closer to Toffee? Probably not and now… “You’re dragging.” Tad’s voice pulled her back to the present. Indeed, she was falling behind, again. “Sorry.” she sighed. “Been a rough few days. Huh Teef?” he asked, turning to her with one of his smirks. “How can you smirk at a time like this?” Teefee wondered, a bit of an edge to her voice. “Because Teef, you smile and I smirk.” he said with a bit of gusto. Teefee just stared at her brother and before long, he deflated. “I don’t know what to say to make you smile. Every time you’re sad, I’ve gotten you to smile.” “Oh.” she said, feeling as if she would cry again. “It’s all my fault, Teefs. If I had just stayed away from Misha, Malac wouldn’t have gone after you and Toffee… Yeah. I’m sorry. I’m such an idiot.” The self loathing in his voice dripped and Teefee felt a keen sense of melancholy for her sibling that struck her heart. “No Tad. Just no. Malac was a hateful soul. With or without you living your life how you chose, and there was nothing wrong with what you chose, he would have found a way to make you hurt. It was no secret he didn’t like any of us when we proved our worth was greater than his.” Teefee recalled the day the adolescents of the tribe were sent off into the surrounding lands to forage and hunt. Malac returned with little, while the triplets had returned with a doe and many berries. “And besides…” she continued, “If I had just stayed near to Toffee-” “Oh I see.” Her brother cut her off, “We will all try to blame ourselves, won’t we?” She felt her lips curl into a smile. “There it is.” Tad smiled back. “Mother is right, you know, Toffee is not to blame and she would say the same about us.” “I know… It’s just hard.” Teefee rubbed her arm. “She reminded me of something today, actually.’ Tad said, looking forward. “What’s that?” Teefee asked. “The memories of this day will become less and less prevalent as we move on. We will think of it but it will no longer hold such a bite. Things will get better, Teefs.” “Yeah, I guess so.” Teefee also looked forward, to where Toffee leaned upon their mother as they walked. “Let’s hope the worst is behind us.” It was right then that the world erupted into light. [hider= Summary] Mom and son talk. Teefee and Toffee return and the family leaves their home under pressing circumstances. Sister and brother talk. Uh oh, the sun says hello. [/hider]