Miko:

My limp made the walk to the top of the trunk much slower. Once I reached the steps, I had to incorporate both my arms into the movement like an animal. One less leg made the total climb up the steps take almost twice as long. I reached the top and found the platform empty — she wasn’t waiting for me like before. “Ananke?” I yelled out, hoping to avoid scaring or surprising her. It was silent up here. Her chairs were tucked into the table, the tea set stacked neatly and untouched. Hobbling to her hut, I gave an audible signal that I was walking around with my voice and obviously loud steps.

Peering into her hut, nothing of interest was seen. She did not live lavishly; even her bed was made of flowers blooming on the tree and leaves curling at the edges. There was no sign of recent activity here, so I walked the perimeter of the top trunk, hoping to see a hint of where she was. Then my eye caught a glance of her — she was perched on top of a malformed bulk of wooden mass at the northwest side of the platform. The steps up the malformation weren’t ideal, so my arms did most of the work, pulling myself up fifteen feet with a few extravagant maneuvers that were necessary with only one leg. She was turned away from me, looking out into the infinite greens of The Garden below. I sat a few feet to the side of her with a deep puff of my chest. Our legs dangled in the air, which spiked my heart rate as my fear of heights sunk in. Looking out into the distance wasn’t as bad, so I avoided looking directly down. From this angle, I could see the mountain and sea we crossed to get here. Mors Interitus was so far away, making it seem small, but I knew from experience that that was false. “If I knew back on the farm what it was going to take to get here, I might not have ever tried in the first place.

Her head was rested in her left hand, maintaining her stare into the depths below. “None would blame you, dear boy.” She spoke slowly and solemnly.

“All of this, the view out in front of us — It’s not worth it, but it is beautiful. I have seen very little in my life, but this is surely the only place like it on the whole planet.”

“I thought that too at first. When it was all we knew, there was still an appreciation for The Garden. Before the curse, Khronos and I traveled all around, finding new places and naming new things. You’ll find many places in this world filled with just as much beauty.”

“Do you miss it then? Being out in the world. It has changed a lot, ya know? There are a lot of people past that mountain.” I pointed into the distance to clarify where I meant.

She sighed loudly, her emotion front and center on her face. “The worst part is, I have burdened Khronos to travel the world alone. He always comes to visit me when The Garden allows him and tells me of the places he has seen or how they have changed. I have learned much of your world through stories and small items he is permitted to bring in.”

“We have much in common, then. Back on the farm, I had only met a few people throughout my time there. Everything I learned was from a book or secondhand through tales and stories. Even since then, I have only truly met a few more people; A carriage driver and you and your husband. There were others we passed by or had short conversations with, but they were all rather meaningless. I guess I’m saying I know how you feel.”

She looked at me for the first time since the conversation started, “You are free to wander, no?”

I laughed. “You saw the shape I was in before, right? Moving about was not a luxury I possessed.”

She chuckled, jesting back at me, “You could have crawled around? I would crawl if it relinquished me from this prison.” Her mood shifted back.

“I am familiar with prisons, well, the figurative kind. My own body was a jail for a time. It took a change of perspective for me to change that. Perhaps you need a change of perspective?”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“I have lived a long time, boy. Many perspectives have come and gone, yet I am still here.”

“You have Khronos, though.”

She smiled, the thought of him bringing her back to life a little. “Yes, I do, but he has changed a lot too. This tree knows the power he holds over me, and it tends to control our interactions as a penalty or motivation.”

“He cannot simply come up here and visit you? He is a primordial. What prevents someone with such strength from doing what they please?”

“Hah! Khronos is no rule bender, never has been. That is sure to never change. For every individual he brings to The Garden, in failure or success, he is permitted time with me.”

“Oh, so why isn’t he here right now?” I asked.

“You have not yet failed nor succeeded.” She responded honestly. “Speaking of — you are here now and carrying the remaining fruits. What shall you do next?”

She gets straight to the point and tends to ask all the questions you don’t necessarily want to answer. Grandmother had that same pesky talent….” Not sure yet. I wanted to come here first, finalize my thoughts, and apologize.”

“Apologize?” She asked, confused.

“Well, yes...my brother would have slapped me silly for how I acted earlier.” I paused, thinking of Maleki while I rubbed my head — a likely area he would have struck me. ‘You would like him. You might not have changed his mind if he was up here, but he’s a better person than I am.”

She smiled, accepting my apology with a nod. “Your brother is many things, but he is not you. Don’t get obfuscated by his light, and let yours dim. He is not here right now because of his own choices, but you are due to your own.”

My head drooped, denying her kind words. “I’m here in the first place because of him. He carried and drug me to the very end. This wouldn’t be possible without his efforts.”

She demanded me with her words this time, “Did he climb up this forsakenly tall tree and have the courage to pluck the fruit?” I didn’t respond, her question being rhetorical. “No, you alone did that. You both made it this far because you worked together; at some points, one of you carried the weight for the other. Right now, he is down there, and you — you are up here doing what needs to be done.” She winked at me while mimicking my statement from our last conversation, a successful attempt to un-sour the mood

She was encouraging me. That wasn’t owed to me, and yet she was being nice. I was about to steal from The Garden, and this ancient primordial was giving me words of endearment. Odd… “Thanks, Ananke. I guess I needed another change in perspective.” There was silence for a moment before I broke through it. “How does Khronos visit you? Does he climb the tree each time?”

No, the tree-” She cut herself off, catching her words before they formed a complete sentence.

“The tree, what?” I asked.

“I have already said too much.” She said.

She had indeed. “So, the tree can bring him here?” I asked. She did not respond, moving her head back to the center, away from my eyes. “I’ll bargain with the tree then. Ask it to take me to the bottom.”

“You’ll bargain?” She laughed hysterically. “What do you have to offer to a colossal tree in your mortal form?” Her laughs flickered slowly, letting the moment carry on longer than needed.

I thought about it, and again, she had pointed out something I had not prepared for. The only items I had to offer I had to have to heal Maleki. Our previous conversation trickled into my mind, and I went back through everything she explained about The Garden and this tree, her contact with it. What contract could I make? The thoughts settled with me until an idea formed. “I won’t need to bargain. Last time we spoke, you said this tree was conscious to some extent.”

“Yes, it wields a heart and mind of its own.”

“This tree is like us, imprisoned and cursed. Its heart has been fractured since the first fruits were stolen. I don’t need to convince the tree — it will help me all on its own.”

She smirked, trying to hide her eye roll. “Your logic is flawed, but you might have a point. If the tree helps you, that will be its own doing. Although, it would not be unfair to say your idea is akin to someone asking a person they intend to attack for a weapon prior to their immediate attack.”

“You think this tree will give me a weapon too?” I stated in a dumbfounded tone, blinking quickly. She almost took me seriously, cutting herself off before replying.

I raised my hands in defeat at the joke. “There’s no need to get into the details. Let’s hope the tree sees my plan differently.” I said, standing up and pushing against the edge with my palms. One big breath of fresh air, and I took in this sight for hopefully the last time.

“Where are you headed?” She asked.

“I have a few more things to do. How will I beckon the tree when I’m ready?”

“The colossal tree is everywhere. Speak to it directly as you would to me.” She said plainly.

With much on my mind, I left this place for a second time, mumbling aloud, “Thanks again, Ananke. See ya around.”