I was in a dream. It was obvious due to a multitude of reasons, but the most glaring reason was because I was watching myself in this particular dream. I also knew that if I willed it, I would be able to wake up instantly, but I would rather not. It was a more pleasant dream than the normal ones so I decided to sit back and watch it play out.
We were at the river, bathing, and girls only. Little sister, my mother and me all sat inside the netted off section inside the river. I was quietly washing my sister’s back while mother washed mine, engaged in a wild conversation with my little sister and it went something like this.
“What’s that?”
“A raspberry tree?”
“-Why does mommy eat that?”
“I only eat the leaf sometimes.”
“Why do you eat the leaf and not the fruit?”
“Because it helps me.”
“Can I eat it?”
“No-.”
“-So why shouldn’t I eat it?”
“Because it won’t help you.”
“Why doesn’t it help me?”
“Because you haven’t grown up yet.”
“When will I grow up?”
“You’ll know when you’ve grown up.”
Zoning out on the conversation, I slowly floated around inside my dream to take a closer look at my own face inside this dream. I had a carefree smile on it. Suddenly I felt cold water on my face.
-I opened my eyes only to be greeted by a wet sloppy tongue. It was just Suticat waking me up. I glanced around him to look up at the sky. Through the tree top canopy I could see it was already gradually brightening. It was past dawn.
With a groan I got up, shaking off the leaves I had used to previously cover myself. My body was stiff and sore from lying on the rough ground, so I took a moment after standing up to check out my body. After a small shake up, I waddled over to Shiara and Sarratina giving them a rough jerk each.
“Hey! Shiara, Sarra, waaaaakkkkee up…” I gave a loud yawn. I was still feeling tired, but we needed to get a move on and make the most out of the daylight. I didn’t want to be making the next part of the journey by night. There were the Vampiric-bats, but more importantly, the Night-hogs. *1
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
Shiara quickly woke up and started to loosen her shoulders. I was about to shake Sarra again, but she suddenly got up, whilst rubbing her eyes. She took a quick look around before promptly lying back down again.
…I was speechless. Clearly she was still groggy with sleep. Sadly, we really couldn’t afford to sleep any longer. I shook her shoulders again until she finally got up-with her eyes still closed.
“Huh Jasmine, why the rush? I had this really bad dream that I-“ Her eyes opened and she stared at me in shock as she gradually began to remember everything that has had happened so far. She coughed in embarrassment. “-Uhuh…not a dream…”
While we munched on left over apples, I decided to unroll the map and take a look at it. The map only showed vague outlines of the jungle’s borders and was mostly useless to me now, but I decided to unfurl it for the other two’s sake.
“So where are we at?” Sarra nodded towards the map. I pointed down to a spot slightly south of the centre of the jungle.
Shiara came over as well. “So what’s the plan?”
“We avoid the central monster infested region and keep heading east until we reach the edge of the jungle. We will then head north a bit more until we reach the capital.” We were still on a timer to leave the jungle, but our food situation had improved with the apples. I was hoping to reach the wild berry bushes by nightfall.
“Well, let’s get going.” I rolled up the map again, tucking it back into my sack. Taking a glance at the twin towering trees, I confirmed my orientation and began heading due east. A soft wind picked up behind us as if encouraging us along.
…
We had barely travelled a few kilometres before Sarratina started up a conversation again.
“Hey Shiara, I already said this to Vixen, but when we get back to the capital, would you be interested in working for me?”
“Working for you?”
“Yeah. Of course, as I said before, this would be separate from your reward for saving me. That way we can keep in close contact as well as provide you with a job.”
“…Did Vixen agree? And do we get good food if we work for you?”
“…”
“…”
“…What?”
“-Vixen sort of agreed, and yes, there is decent food- better than most of what we have been eating.”
“Than I’m happy to as well. But for how long do you expect us to work for you?”
“Well, however long you wish to. You can even continue working into your hundreds until you die of old age if you want.”
“Yeah, our village chief kept working even when he was over two hundred and twenty years old-“ The other two were looking at me strangely. “-What? I guess you might be shocked that he’s still working when he’s so old-“
“-Not that!”
“Did you say two hundred?!”
“…Yeah?”
“,,,”
“Wait a second Vixen…how long is a year?”
“…Why are you asking such a silly-“
“-Just answer me please.”
“A year is sixteen months-“
“-And a month?”
“A month is thirty six days. Same as everyone else! Why are you even asking?”
“What Sarratina is trying to say is that most people only live up to just above hundred before dying of old age.”
“Oh really?! But quite a few people in my village were in there two hundreds…” …Was there a difference in people’s life expectancy? I hadn’t had much contact with the elderly back in the slums, nor discussed private matters like age with anyone, so I hadn’t realised.
“Hmm…a difference in life expectancy, but you didn’t even realise it…. could it be…that your village matures slower? ...Maybe, but the only difference…ah! It might to do with your bloodline.”
I turned around. “You might be onto something, but can we stay focused please. If you have the energy to talk about unimportant subjects, you should use that energy to walk faster!”
“Yeah, sorry Vixen, I know you need to focus. It’s just the quiet is a bit unsettling and boring my nerves-.”
“Wait Vixen, Sarratina, I just realised, maybe her slower growth explains why she’s lacking down there-“ I spun back away as I felt their eyes head down my body. Ignoring the strong déjà vu, I continued marching on.