Shaynen’s mouth was flooding, watching the fire make the cauldron bubble. The smell coming from it was enough to make him grind his teeth. He leaned forward far enough to feel the heat pushing him away. But also could smell the thick stew bubbling.

“You get any closer, you’ll catch fire.” His mother warned.

“It smells good,” he breathed. “Is it almost done?”

“Almost,” she nodded. “It’s kind of sad, isn’t it? That we lost the stags?”

“Yeah, I do feel a little sad,” he said, looking down at his dirty hands. Then he caught a fresh smell of the lunch cooking. “But not that sad.” His mother gave a small smile, but it melted off her face as soon as she looked back to the bubbling stew.

“That hungry?” His mother asked. Clearing her throat and trying to keep the conversation going.

“Starving!” Shaynen said, scooting forward even more. “I’m so hungry I could eat anything.”

“Yeah?” His mother stirred the stew. “Anything?”

“Anything!” Shaynen agreed. “I even considered the stuff growing behind the falls. But Crina says it’s not edible and most likely poisonous.”

“I’m glad that stopped you,” His mother shook her head. “Not the climb and or the water”

“Dad taught me how to float,” Shaynen shrugged, then grinned mischievously. “And when has climbing ever stopped me?”

“Ha!” His mother laughed. “I have noticed you enjoying your new surroundings.” Shaynen smiled even bigger.

“It’s not as easy as climbing trees, and it makes my fingers hurt.” Shaynen held up his hands to show his mother his dulled and dirty fingernails.

“Ooh, we need to give you a bath.” His mother hissed. “Maybe we’ll try that after lunch.”

“In the river?” Shaynen wrinkled his nose as he pointed at the water.

“Better to do it during the hottest part of the day,” his mother said. Pointing the end of the wooden spoon at him. Shaynen scrambled to his feet to take the spoon, but his mother plopped it back into the stew before he could. He scowled and flopped heavily back down.

“Mom?” He asked thoughtfully. “Is it going to get hotter during the dry season?”

“Probably, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.” His mother sighed. “I think lunch is about done.”

“Yes!!!” Shaynen hissed and jumped to his feet. Snatching a bowl and holding it out to his mother excitedly. His mother stared at him, completely frozen, with a painted smile that stared far into nothing.

“Uh, mom?” Shaynen cleared his throat and held up his bowl hopefully. “Please?” His mother shook herself from her trance.

“Oh, right. I’m sorry, baby.” His mother said. She took his bowl and a ladle. She scooped a large portion into his bowl, thought about handing back his bowl, then scooped a second helping into his bowl. Shaynen gasped, pushing his palms into his cheeks. Stars flew from his eyes.

"Wait! Is it fair for me to get so much?" Shaynen asked accusingly.

"Yes honey, there's plenty." His mother smiled, handing his bowl to him. Shaynen narrowed his eyes at her and took it suspiciously. He sat down with his bowl in front of the fire. Grabbing a spoon from the pile of cleaned dishes. The stew was thicker than anything he'd eaten since leaving home. Crina's watery soups tasted like the containers the water came from and the plants were slimy or mushy. Shaynen barely tasted the first couple of bites, but they felt full. With thick chunks of meat that were a bit on the lean side, not that Shaynen cared. Slowly, sheepishly, people approached for lunch.

Shaynen slowed while he watched the grown ups’ stilted movements.

"Blessed with ignorance," one adult muttered as he passed Shaynen.

"What's that mean?" Shaynen looked at his mother.

"Don't worry about it," his mother said quickly. He shrugged and watched a group continue on building the stairs. Reo was one of them. They'd made progress. The steps reached a halfway point.

"Hey, Mom." Shaynen turned round.

"Mhm?"

"Should I go tell people lunch is up? Before it's all gone?" Shaynen put his bowl down. Anticipating his mother's answer.

"No, I don't think you need to." She said. Shaynen fell back to the ground.

"Why?" He asked. "It's hot and a long time until dinner."

"I know, just." His mother struggled for words. "Just don't worry about it." Shaynen stared at his mother for a long time. She didn't look back at him. Eventually, he gave up staring and went back to lunch. Finishing all but a few remaining bites.

He jumped to his feet and put his used dishes on a net made of twine meant for washing dishes.

"I'm going to play," Shaynen announced to his mother.

"All right, but stay where we can see you!" She said, "And stay away from the south-east corner of the camp!"

" 'kay!" He waved as he ran toward the falls. He didn't have any idea what made which corner of the camp south or east. He knew he wasn't about to get suckered into work again. So he avoided the workers building the stairs. Going to the far end of the camp, parallel to the waterfall. Climbing up the edge and pausing at the paths. While there was an effort to make the main roads more noticeable, Shaynen knew they were a trap. If he bumped into someone marking the roads, he’d get caught marking the roads along with them.

Shaynen turned his gaze up, looking at the tall rocks that surrounded the new settlement. The heights looked enticing. He grinned and found his grip on the rock. Hauling himself up onto the cliff face. Climbing up rock differed from climbing trees. Trees had branches to grab and pull up. Putting weight on palms or knees. But climbing rock required more dexterity in fingers and toes. The more Shaynen climbed, the more understanding he gained. Especially when his fingers and toes got sore and started losing their dexterity.

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Shaynen reached the first ledge and took a rest. He looked down over the camp. He could pick out his mother by her blonde hair. She turned and waved at him, and he waved back. Then going back to rubbing his fingers to ease the soreness. He laid back on the ledge and looked up at how far he had to go to reach the top. It seemed impossibly far, even more so when he looked down at how far he had to climb back down.

He hummed and pulled a pair of rocks to him. He reclined against the wall and hummed to himself as he banged the rocks together. Chipping parts off until the rock had a point. With the point, he turned to face the wall. Still humming, he tapped the point of the rock on his knee. Trying to figure out what to use as his symbol of progress. Finally, he started carving a crude-looking pair of wings into the stone. They looked more like tear-drop blobs on top of tiny mountains. A grumble of dissatisfaction interrupted Shaynen’s humming. He scribbled his first drawing out and tried again, and again, and again.

It took as many tries as he had room for, but he carved a recognizable pair of wings into the rock. Drawing it repeatedly until it was set into the stone and his rock was dull. With his mark made, Shaynen climbed back down the wall. As soon as he started climbing, his hands and feet started hurting again. Half way down, his grip failed, and he slid. Falling all the way down and hitting the ground, landing hard on his behind.

“Shaynen!” His mother screamed. Running over and dropping to her knees. “Are you hurt? Don’t move!”

“I’m fine,” He said and sat up. “It wasn’t that far.”

“Are you sure? Think hard.” His mother warned. Shaynen stopped and patted his shoulders and legs.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Shaynen insisted. Her necklace caught the sun and cast a ray of light into his eyes. He rubbed his eyes and stood up. He felt a little bruised, but not so much he couldn't continue on.

"Hey, Mom?" Shaynen perked up, happy as ever.

"Yes, my love?"

"Can I have a knife?" He asked, sliding up to her side

"Absolutely not," she said without pause.

"Awww… why not?" He whined and pushed away from his mother.

"Because you'll cut yourself." His mother turned to walk back to the dish pile.

"No, I won't." Shaynen insisted. Following behind her. "I promise I won't."

"Honey, you're not getting a knife," his mother said incredulously. "There's no room for negotiation here."

"But I'd be really careful with it!" Shaynen ran around the front of her and begged. "Please! I need it!"

"For what?" His mother gathered the net under the dishes.

"I need it to make progress pictures. So that I can tell how far I get until I reach the top!" Shaynen pointed to the top of the mountain rock. It was so tall it was level with the top of the waterfall.

"I don't want you climbing up there." His mother shook her head. "We don't know what's up there and if you fall, you will die."

"I won't fall," Shaynen said indignantly. Following his mother, still toward the water’s edge.

"Baby, you JUST fell!" His mother laughed. "Here, help me with the dishes."

"I'm just not used to climbing rocks." Shaynen huffed with his nose in the air. He took up a bowl from the net and dunked it into the water. "I need the knife to gauge how good I get. Besides, what else is there to do?"

"Lots," his mother handed him the soap. "You could help build the stairs, find rocks for the barriers or help line the roads."

"That's not fun. I wanna do fun stuff." Shaynen scoffed as he helped wash the dishes.

"Can't you find fun stuff closer to the ground?" His mother took the clean dishes and handed him the dirty ones.

"No, cause if I'm on the ground you guys do this to me." Shaynen scowled as he suddenly realized what happened.

"Do what?"

"Sucker me into doing chores." He stuck his tongue out. His mother laughed loudly.

“I’m sorry.” She got her laughter back under control. “Everyone has to help for the camp to work. Once the dishes are done, I’ll turn you loose. But you need to play on the ground or climb things that aren’t so high.”

“And then I can have a knife?” Shaynen asked hopefully.

“Still no.” His mother said. Shaynen sighed dramatically. He avoided her eyes while washing the dishes, which had him looking over the people working on the stairs. They’d made more progress every time Shaynen looked over. He handed the last dish, washed, to his mother. He sighed and crossed his arms and looked up at his mother.

"Thank you," she smiled. Placing her hand on his shoulder and giving it a squeeze. Shaynen couldn't help smiling back at her. "Now go on and stay out of trouble." She pulled him in and kissed his forehead. Shaynen laughed and shoved her back. His eyes caught the stairs again. But this time, he caught sight of Reo stumbling off the stairs and falling to the ground. Shaynen stood up in alert. His mother turned, but before she could react Shaynen was already moving. He pulled up the dish bag and pulled a bowl from it. Plunging it into the water and running with it to Reo. Shaynen held the water out to keep it from spilling, even so his fast pace splashed water onto the dirt.

He dropped to his knees around the crowd that had propped Reo up against the wall.

“Here,” Shaynen pushed the bowl into Reo’s face. It broke their daze and Reo pushed it back.

“What is that?” They demanded. Shaynen cradled the bowl protectively.

“It’s just water,” He said. Reo relaxed and let out a long breath. Holding out their hands and motioning for Shaynen to hand it to them. Suspiciously, Shaynen handed over the bowl of water to Reo.

“Thanks. Could you find Crina for me?” Reo asked.

“Uh, I think she’s off with a scouting party.” Shaynen looked up at the rock wall.

“Right, nevermind then.” Reo sighed.

“Is everything okay?” Shaynen’s mother asked, resting her hands on Shaynen’s shoulders.

“Yeah,” Reo nodded between large drinks of water. “I’ll be okay.”

“Take a break for now. In fact, everyone should take a quick break.” Shaynen’s mother said. “It’s the hottest part of the day. Let’s all get a drink and take fifteen, at least.” The team scattered to sit and relax for a few minutes. Shaynen smiled at his mom. She walked away and Shaynen waited for her to be far enough away before turning to Reo.

“Can I have a knife?” He asked. Reo stared blankly at him.

“Why?” they asked.

“I want to make marks on the rock as I climb,” Shaynen pointed at the giant rock face he wanted to scale.

“That’s really high,” Reo said. “What if you fall?”

“I fell out of trees all the time,” Shaynen shrugged.

“You fell out of the trees over our platforms. That wasn’t nearly as high.” Reo put the empty bowl down.

“I’mma do it whether you give me a knife or not.” Shaynen threatened.

“Then you can figure out how to make your marks without a knife.” Reo said. Shaynen frowned with his threat backfiring.

“Well, fine then.” Shaynen huffed. He stood up and crossed his arms.

“Hey, can you bring this back with you?” Reo picked up the empty bowl and held it out to Shaynen.

“No.” Shaynen said. Taking two steps away before turning around and taking it. “Fine.” He took the bowl to the river and washed it again for good measure. While washing, he muttered to himself. Mumbling that if no one would give him a knife, he’d make his own. How hard could it be?

Shaynen put the bowl with the rest to dry and set off to find a rock that could be sharpened. Humming as he found himself a shapely rock that naturally had a sturdiness to it. His first attempts were clumsy. He broke three rocks before finding his technique for shaping and sharpening.

Over the course of a week, he’d shaped a crude and hideous flat rock that almost resembled a knife. But when he climbed up a small ledge and attempted to use it, it broke. Which turned him back to his scouting for materials and improving his technique.