Chapter 9 Courting curious creatures of the forest
Aeon hummed a made-up tune as she moved gracefully through the woods, her footsteps light and deliberate. The air was crisp, carrying with it the scent of pine and earth. She held a woven basket in her arm to stash whatever she could gather along her way, ripe fruits, edible flowers, or rare herbs that didn’t grow in her garden. Socrates, her faithful canine with a shiny black coat, followed closely at her side, his ears perked up in constant sharpness.
Sunlight filtered through the canopy above, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor. Recent rains had turned the surrounding woodland greener and more alive, yielding fresh sustenance for both humans and fauna.
Birds chirped cheerfully as they whizzed from tree to tree. Bees and insects flitted from flower to flower, while squirrels and chipmunks and salamanders skimmed behind tree trunks and branches with careful stealth.
The forest was never a quiet place, but it had a way of quieting the mind, especially for Aeon. She had always sought nature’s embrace to calm her when she was anxious, or comfort her when she felt sad.
A deliciously familiar scent drew her into a grove of pomegranates, its branches drooping low, heavy with the vibrantly colored fruit. She inhaled its ambrosial fragrance and picked a bunch of ripe ones.
“Mother will jump for joy when she sees this,” she muttered, dropping the fresh produce into her basket.
A mild breeze brushed on her cheeks as she came out of the thicket, bringing with it the scent of leaves and earth and rain. She looked up and spied the dark clouds passing over the canopy, but she didn’t flinch. She loved being showered under the rain.
Yet, despite the serene surroundings, Aeon found her mind wandering, unable to shake thoughts of Diego. Three days had passed since he had left the Everglades, seeking refuge in the mountains and searching for allies to aid in his revolution.
She couldn't help but worry for his safety. She yearned for his return or perhaps just a quick meet up at the shed. She anxiously awaited his visit, hoping for a glimpse of his face and the touch of his lips once more.
Socrates barking in the distance startled her, interrupting her head trip.
“What is it, Soc?” she chirped, wiping the faint smile off her lips.
She scampered over to see what caught the dog’s attention, and came upon a rocky slope with offbeat plants sprouting among the grass. Their leaves were large and elongated, and some had large, strange-looking flowers sticking out on a single sturdy stem. She took a closer look.
Oddly, the flower was generally black with two of its petals stretched out like veined wings, each a handbreadth wide. Long purple whiskers protruded from its center where deep purple bracts nestled, holding a cluster of green buds shaped like spades.
“Hmm… what do we have here? I haven’t seen anything like this around here before…” she muttered under her breath, peering at one bloom that seemed to stare back at her. “At a distance, they looked like flying monsters straight out from hell, but they’re just innocent flora thriving in the woods… and I think they’re cute.” She glanced at her companion. “What do you think, Soc?”
Socrates panted next to her, staring at the bloom with wary curiosity.
“This is amazing, isn’t it?” she said, letting out a chuckle. “Now, what should we call it? Bat plant? Demon flower? No… mm… how about… Black Lady?” she gasped. “Yes, that’s it… the Black Lady of the Glades. I’d better take a sample for mother to check out. This plant might have health benefits yet unknown…”
She uprooted an entire plant and carefully placed it in her basket.
Lost in her thoughts, Aeon was suddenly startled by a shrill screech, shattering the tranquility of the woods. Large wings flapped as a raven perched over a branch on a nearby willow. The bird’s tail quivered as it stared at her with its beady black eyes.
“Oh, you startled me,” she said to the raven, letting out a weak chuckle. “But aren’t you lost or something? Ravens don’t usually visit this part of the outback, right?”
“That’s right… she’s not from here. She came with me. And her name is Riva,” said a voice from somewhere.
Aeon turned, her eyes widening in surprise, as a woman of her age emerged from the foliage. The woman's attire was totally unconventional. The length of her arms and part of her neck were adorned with intricate tattoos, marking her as a bearer of ancient traditions.
“And who are you?” Aeon asked, taking a step back.
The woman beamed. “I’m Armina, daughter of Blumeia, the last living augur of Augurria.”
“Oh… and I’m Aeon… daughter of Phaedra of the Everglades. Uh… what brings you to my neck of the woods?”
Armina laughed. “I can’t believe it. You don’t remember, huh?”
“What? Why? Is there something I should—”
“We’re cousins… your mother and my mother are sisters—”
Aeon blinked in astonishment, unable to comprehend the existence of a cousin, let alone one with such a unique heritage.
She gasped as a distant memory popped up. “Aunt Blu! Yes, I do remember— then you must be… Crowshanks? We used to play and swim in the marshes—”
“So, you remember. But no one calls me that since I was eight, Aeonice,” Armina scowled. “Does anyone still call you Bambooch?”
“Ooh… yeah… I mean, no… and it’s Aeon for short.” She shook her head in amusement. “Wow! It’s been so long, cousin…”
Aeon's curiosity mingled with excitement as Armina explained the purpose of her visit. Blumeia, the wise augur, awaited Aeon's presence, desiring to meet her and share the secrets of their shared lineage.
“What happened after the last time you were here? You seemed to have disappeared from the face of the earth, and mother never even told me where you lived or… and I never thought to ask, either—” Aeon’s gaze swept over Armina’s skimpy outfit.
“You’re wondering why I’m dressed this way?”
Aeon gave a weak nod, flashing a lopsided grin. “Oh, but not to criticize your fashion sense… just curious about its… uniqueness. Because honestly, I kinda like it.”
“It is our clan’s unique culture, actually… your mother used to wear the same garments before she moved to our grandfather’s place and married your father. At least, that’s what my mother told me.”
“Really? That means I can wear something like that too?”
“You can… but maybe not around here. You should come and visit our ancestral home in the headlands.”
“Which one?”
“The Avonstone Peak. It’s a three-day trek from here and can only be accessed on foot if you don’t have wings. Take the wormhole in your cellar and you’ll get there in half a breath.”
“Cellar? In our house?” Aeon said, cocking her head. “Last I heard, we don’t have one…”
“Duh, Baashi Apo’s laboratory?”
“Oh, that?”
“It used to be a cellar, in case you didn’t know.”
“How come you know more about our house than I do?”
“Well, I guess because you spend most of your waking hours out here…” Armina said, flashing a gentle smile as she gave the surrounding woods a sweeping gaze. “I can’t blame you…”
Aeon's heart swelled with a newfound sense of belonging. She had never imagined having a relative so different from the world she had known, someone who carried the weight of ancient knowledge and tradition.
As Socrates wagged his tail, sensing the welcoming energy that radiated from Armina, Aeon felt a surge of anticipation.
“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s head back. I can’t wait to see Aunt Blu.”
With a renewed sense of purpose, Aeon welcomed Armina's presence, her heart brimming with questions and a newfound appreciation for the depth of her ancestry. As they ventured back toward home, the fruits and flowers in Aeon's basket forgotten for now, she couldn't help but wonder about the mysteries that awaited her in the arms of her cool and enigmatic cousin.