“How do you know so much about snakes?” Shaynen asked. He bounced along the road on the edge of the wagon. The doctor puffed on his pipe with a look of deep contemplation.

“To heal, you have to know how to hurt.” The doctor said, tapping out the ashes on the wagon. “The more harm you understand, the better you learn to prevent and rectify.” Shaynen watched the road as it trailed away beneath them. Little rocks went bouncing down along the dirt down the hill.

“Guess you don’t know much about when it gets hot, huh?”

“Beg your pardon?” The doctor turned a stern look at Shaynen.

“We had a lot of people sick with the heat and they’ve been getting sicker.” Shaynen said. Trying not to look behind him where the afflicted were resting.

“This is hardly the ideal way to deal with heat stroke.” The doctor snapped, once again stuffing his pipe. “Heat stroke requires plenty of water and cool environments. Where do you see either of those things here?” Shaynen shrugged.

“No,” he said simply. “But shouldn’t you know how to help even in the worst of circumstances?”

“Here,” The doctor fished into his bag and pulled out a little blackberry from the silverleaf plant. “You wanna try one of these? Only fair since you found and brought it back.”

“Nah, I’m fine.” Shaynen shook his head. He felt hunger gnawing at him, but as much as he wanted, the fruit offered. He knew it wasn’t fair for him to sneak food when everyone else waited patiently. “The sun’s already on that side of the sky, so we’ll be stopping and getting something to eat and drink soon.”

“You sure?” The doctor held the black round fruit closer to him. “These things don’t last very long. It’s best if you eat them quick.” Shaynen stared at it, paralyzed by conflicting desires.

“No, I’m okay.” He said. He looked back at the landscape laid out before him. How far they’d already traveled looked so small with the newly added height.

“Let me know if you change your mind,” the doctor scowled. Shaynen watched the doctor hide the fruit again. His suspicion returned.

“What does the silverleaf do?” He asked. “You said it was super good as medicine. So what’s it do?”

“A myriad of things,” the doctor said. “Its fruit is good for nausea and stomach ailments. The leaves are a natural coagulant. We can crush stems for a paste that cure wound infections. Roots are detoxifying.” Shaynen stared hard at the dirt, trying to find a flaw in the doctor’s explanation. But found it hard not knowing what the words he said actually meant.

“For someone not interested in medicine or anatomy, you sure ask a lot of questions pertaining to such genres.” The doctor said, lighting his pipe.

“Huh?” Shaynen asked.

“You sound more interested than you claim to be,” the doctor said.

“No, I just don’t like you.” Shaynen said, kicking his legs off the back of the wagon. “I don’t think you’re very trustworthy.”

“Well, I appreciate your honesty.” The doctor said, “I imagine you haven’t seen many proper doctors. Which would explain your unease.”

“No, you’re just weird.” Shaynen continued. He looked back through the wagon, where his parents were still talking quietly. It made a weight drop in his stomach, instantly silencing his hunger. He could tell they were arguing still. They weren’t moving like they would if they were talking normally. He looked back down to the road.

“I’ve never seen my parents upset like this,” He said.

“Are they?” The doctor looked around. “Can’t tell.”

“They’re arguing over me,” Shaynen said, tapping his fingers on the wagon. “I heard them.”

“Well, what did you do?” The doctor asked.

“Huh?”

“Your parents are arguing over you, so you must’uve done something or are making things difficult for them.” The doctor adjusted himself on the edge. “If you weren’t around, they wouldn’t have anything to argue about, would they?” Shaynen scowled but couldn’t help contemplating it. It had been the only thing the doctor said that made sense.

“You really think so?” He asked, his eyes watered. He blinked back the tears and kept his focus hard on the road.

“You are very difficult,” the doctor said, intentionally pausing for an extended period. “But what do I know?” He jumped off the back of the wagon. Shaynen curled up again and leaned into the wall.

When the wagon stopped for the night, Shaynen’s mind was made up. He didn’t say a word to anyone as they set the camp up. Staying seated in the wagon and watching everyone focus on setting up the fire and starting the laundry. When everyone's eyes were preoccupied, he slid out of the wagon and away from the camp.

The sun gave a good amount of light as it set far below the mountain. As the noise from the camp got farther away, Shaynen couldn’t hold back the tears. Trying to keep committed to running away. He walked nearly blind to a sideways path that wound between the rocks and deeper into the mountains. The trail led alongside one side of the mountain and showed a beautiful view of how far they’d come. Over the edge of the trail was a long fall all the way back to the base.

Shaynen didn’t walk too far down the trail before he was shaking too hard to continue. He leaned against the rock and curled up. He couldn’t force himself to move any farther. There was an idle thought that maybe he could just hide here and wait for everyone else to move on without him. A thought which made him cry harder. He rocked himself, repeatedly telling himself that they were better off without him. It didn’t make him feel less rotten.

He cried until he couldn’t feel anything. Instead, just staring down the shadowy footpath. The nightly sounds were starting up as the stars were coming out overhead. There hadn’t been a cloud in the sky for days. Shaynen peeked out to watch the sunset. Looking back and forth at the forest in the distance. Seeing it almost made him want to cry some more. But he just didn’t have the energy.

“Shaynen!”

He sat up as he heard his mother calling for him. Nearly jumping to his feet on impulse. His throat stalled, as he wanted to call back. The pounding voice in his head reminded him that his parents wanted him gone. He stayed perfectly still as his mother kept calling for him. Rocks stumbled down the mountain face. Shaynen covered his mouth as the calling came closer.

Something wet and sticky shot out and touched his arm, and he jumped to his feet with a shriek. His foot slipped on the edge of the cliff face and slid down. Catching himself on the edge with a hard smack to his chin that rattled his teeth.

He scrambled up the ledge, tasting blood, finding a few of his teeth loose. He knelt on the edge, looking at the dripping ooze that recoiled away from where Shaynen had been sitting.

“Shaynen!” His mother ran and dropped to her knees beside him. “Why didn’t you answer me!?” He pointed mutely. His mother looked at the ooze. She stiffened. Her grip on his arms tightened. His mother pulled him into her chest. Both of them following the trail of ooze from where it was climbing along the rocks to the base. Far out of sight below.

“It’s following us,” Shaynen whispered. His mother held him tighter.

“Come on,” His mother stood up and got him to his feet too. “And let’s not tell anyone about this.”

“What? Why?” Shaynen tried to step back but felt the edge behind him.

“We don’t want to worry anyone. Okay?” She said. “Can you keep this to yourself?” Shaynen shrugged.

“I guess,” he said after his mother’s persistent gaze didn’t let up.

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“Okay, let’s get out of here.” She said. Taking him by the hand and leading him back down the trail.

“What did you think you were doing?” She asked. “Why didn’t you answer me when I called for you?”

“Cause I was running away,” he said. Feeling his mother’s hand crush his.

“Why?” she asked, forcibly releasing the death grip on his hand.

“Cause you don’t love me anymore.” He said, wiping the brand new tears away. As well as the blood that was dripping out of his mouth from his fall. His mother stopped and dropped to her knees. Grabbing him and crushing him to her chest.

“Don’t you ever think that? Not for a second.” She said harshly. “Don’t you ever let that thought in. Not ever. You are my baby. My beautiful, funny, honest beyond a fault, brave, ambitious, selfless baby and not a damn thing will ever change my love for you.” She let him back up, but held his shoulders. Her own eyes filled with tears. Shaynen nodded and cried harder. He threw his arms around her and held his mother tight.

“Things are different now,” she said. “But that doesn’t change my love for now. Not mine nor your father’s. We would still trade the sun, moon, and stars to have you without hesitating.”

“There you two are.” Shaynen’s father ran up from back down the road. He knelt down beside them. “Is everything okay?”

“I think it will be now.” Shaynen’s mother said. She ran her hand through Shaynen’s hair to push it back from his face. “You want to tell your father, or should I?”

“I don’t want to,” Shaynen said. “And I don’t want you to fight anymore.”

“Okay,” she said. His mother leaned over to whisper to his father. “He ran away because he thought we didn’t love him anymore.” His father’s eyes widened.

“No, that’s not it at all.” He said. “There is nothing in this world or any other that could stop us from loving you.”

“Do you still love each other?” Shaynen asked.

“Sure,” His mother said.

“Absolutely,” his father agreed. “We just don’t always agree with each other. Just because you love someone doesn’t mean you always agree with them. Just means you make an effort to work things out and explain your point of view.”

“Right, when you love someone. You learn to compromise.” His mother said. “You don’t always agree with us, right?”

“No,” Shaynen agreed slowly.

“But we all compromise, right?” His father asked.

“No, you always tell me what to do.” Shaynen said. His parents snickered.

“Well, you’re also a child and we’re your parents.” His mother shrugged, standing to her feet. “We have more information and experience than you.”

“What does that matter?” Shaynen planted his hands on his hips.

“Well, let’s head back to camp and I’ll try to explain.” His mother helped his father to his feet. She held out her hand for Shaynen and he took it. Also taking his father’s.

“You are running around in the dark. You can’t see much, but the little that you see seems clear because you’ve never had the light before.” His mother said. “You don’t know what colors exist or exactly what shapes things are. But we have a light, and while we can’t see everything. We can see a lot more color and shapes and farther than you can right now.”

“But as you get older, the things you experience will create the light for you to see by.” His father picked up the analogy. “No two people have the same light or see the same things.”

“It’s also true that you see some things clearer than we do.” His mother said. The three entered the firelight of the camp again. Lined along the edges of the camp was the bulk of the traveling party. Holding lights and making a barrier around the camp. Between them, Shaynen could see the doctor around the bonfire where dinner was cooking. He noticed the doctor only because it was so rare to see him around the others.

“There you are!” Wren called as the family approached. “We waited for you guys to come back before we started dinner.”

“You’re a lifesaver, Wren.” His father said. She smiled and ruffled Shaynen’s hair as he passed.

“I think Crina and Reo are still looking for you,” Wren said as they passed.

“I’ll bring them back,” Shaynen’s father said.

“Can I come too?” Shaynen asked.

“I’d rather you didn’t,” his mother said quickly. The look on his father’s face stopped her.

“I’d rather he stay here,” she whispered sternly over Shaynen’s head.

“It shouldn’t be a problem if he stays with me,” his father said. His mother didn’t look convinced.

“You promise to stay within my sight?” His father asked Shaynen directly.

“Yeah,” Shaynen said.

“But the-” his mother stopped and looked at Wren. She got up close and whispered into his father’s ear. His eyes widened in alarm. He looked down at Shaynen.

"Wren, take Shaynen and start packing up. We're not going to stop tonight." His father said.

"What? What about-"

"I don't want to stay!" Shaynen yelled overtop Wren's protest.

"Okay, fine." His father said quickly. "It's not safe here, so we need to pack up and go. Get everyone together. We can eat as we go."

Wren nodded and ran to the nearest group to relay the information.

"Aelius," Shaynen's mother started, but was stopped by his father, holding up a hand.

"Let's not argue about this. It'll be faster to take him with us. An extra pair of eyes will ensure we spot Crina and Reo faster and we can get out of here sooner."

"Is it because of the…" Shaynen asked but couldn't finish. Remembering his mother asking him not to say anything.

"Yes. Let's hurry." His father took Shaynen's hand tightly and the three again left the camp. Yelling for Crina and Reo. Only a few minutes in Shaynen regret insisting on coming. The ick fresh in his mind had him paranoid about what he and his parents were going to find. A worry that his parents shared, Shaynen could tell by how close his father was and he was far ahead his mother kept.

"What happens if we don't find them?" Shaynen asked.

"We'll find them," his mother said.

"Did you ever find Phosi? Or Thanya?" He asked.

"We did,” his father said gravely, but didn't elaborate. Shaynen didn't want him to. He kept his eyes stained in the low light. Naturally able to see a short colorless distance in the dark. He wiggled his loose tooth as he walked. Pushing it harder as they wandered farther in the dark.

"Over here!" Reo called, startling Shaynen into shoving his loose tooth hard. Filling his mouth again with blood.

"Are you okay? Did you step on something?" His father asked him. "You made a sound."

"My tooth is loose," Shaynen said.

"Already?" His mother asked.

"Already what?" Crina asked as she and Reo jogged up. "There you are! Where have you been?"

"I-" Shaynen was cut off by his mother.

"Shaynen's got a loose tooth," she said. Giving him a little wink to say he doesn't have to explain.

"Wow, that's super early!" Reo said.

"We have to head back. Quickly," his father ushered the party back towards camp.

"What's the rush?" Reo asked.

"It's unsafe to stay here tonight," his father explained quickly.

"You know, if you leave your tooth out, the ivory dragon will come take it to his horde." Crina said. "And will leave you something special in its place."

"That's true. How loose is your tooth?" His mother asked. Shaynen opened his mouth and wiggled his loose tooth.

“That is very loose,” his mother said.

“You could probably just pull it out.” Reo said. Shaynen wiggled his loose tooth, deep in contemplation. “I’ll pull it out for you.”

“No!” Both of Shaynen’s parents objected. Shaynen pushed and pulled the loose tooth until it stopped giving resistance.

“It came out,” he said. Holding the bloody tooth in his hand.

“Oh. Does anyone have a small pouch or something?” His mother asked, sounding tired. The lights of the camp came into view as the small group rounded the corner. The enormous bonfire was out, and the wagon was tightly packed up again.

“I do, here.” Crina produced a little drawstring pouch just big enough for Shaynen’s tooth. He slipped the tooth in it and shoved the bag into his pocket.

“We’ll just hold on to it for now, and when we camp tomorrow, you can leave it out.” His mother said. “Just keep it in your pocket for now.”

“Okay,” Shaynen said. Tonguing the gap in his front lower jaw where his tooth had been. It was bleeding.

“Right, everyone in.” His father called. Picking up his pace to jump into the driver’s seat. Shaynen climbed alongside him, his mother rounding the other side. The wagon jumped to a start, and the party began moving again. Shaynen’s stomach rumbled.

“Can I have something to eat?” Shaynen asked his mother.

“Oh sure,” she said. Turning around to ask after the dinner the camp had been making.

“Are we going to travel all night?” Shaynen asked.

“We might,” his father said.

“Oh,” His mother turned back around. Shaynen looked back at her. “It sounds like dinner’s over. It’s already gone.”

“Oh,” Shaynen felt the bile creeping up the back of his throat. His hunger started clawing at him painfully.

“We’ll… we’ll find something tomorrow?” She offered.

“Okay,” Shaynen said. Trying not to cry.