I sit on a rock beside Mia, looking down into the pond. I'm hot and tired from all this walking. And, well...
I'm hungry, and thirsty.
I haven't eaten anything today, except the gross mush, and I haven't drank anything at all, either.
My mouth is dry and it feels sticky and uncomfortable. I don't like it one bit. The air here is still thick with that smell, too. And I'm pretty sure it's going to rain.
The older woman sits on another stone, watching the rest of us silently. She seems to be lost in thought.
Eric is pacing around the edge of the pond. His arms are crossed, and his brows furrowed.
He doesn't seem any happier than I am. Maybe he's trying to figure something out. Or maybe he's just antsy and frustrated. Maybe it's a combination of all those things. I can't tell from this far away. But he looks agitated.
Hestia sits on a rock next to the woman, looking up at her with wide eyes. Her hands are folded in her lap. She doesn't seem nervous or afraid. She's just staring intently, like she's waiting for something to happen. Or like she wants to know more. I wish she could talk...
I wish she could tell me if she understands.
The older woman is staring back at her now.
They stare at each other, silently.
The silence is getting a little too weird for me, so I turn back to Mia. "What do you think they're gonna do next? We're just sitting here...?"
"I don't know. They're acting like we're supposed to be here. And the guard doesn't look like it wants us to move."
"Yeah..."
It's just sitting on its own rock.
But every time one of us looks at it, it makes a sound, and its hands go to its hips. As if we're about to be in trouble, and it needs to remind us of that fact.
I don't like that it's watching us. I'm worried it might decide to punish us. Or maybe even hurt us.
And there's nothing any of us could do about it, if that happened. We'd have no choice but to take it.
My gaze shifts back to Hestia.
"...Hey. Mia...do you think...Hestia knows what they're talking about? I mean...she was watching the older lady really closely earlier."
Mia tilts her head and thinks about it.
"I'm not sure." She admits, looking back at Hestia. "I mean. It's possible? But she's got no way to tell us if she does."
"Unless she can read and write." I offer.
"...Do you think she can?"
I shake my head. "I have no idea." But then I frown. "She hasn't tried to do it to communicate so far, though."
"Yeah...that's a good point."
I purse my lips.
It would be amazing if she knew how to read and write. Then she'd be able to communicate. We wouldn't have to play guessing games every time we want to understand what she wants or is thinking. But I'm pretty sure that she can't.
I'm not sure why she wouldn't know, but....
I think Hestia would be writing if she could.
I glance at her again, but she's not looking at me. She's still watching the older woman.
"...Hestia."
Of course she doesn't respond.
I've started mentally calling her that - even saying it out loud when talking to Mia. But it's not like I've told her.
Mostly because I'm afraid she won't like it. That she won't want me calling her that, or maybe that it's not what she thinks her name should be, or something like that.
I know she should have a say but....
Since she can't really communicate her actual name...I just want to be able to call her something that's not 'the girl' or 'the mute' or whatever. Even in my own thoughts.
"Sarah?"
"Hm?"
Mia tilts her head, watching me.
"...What are you thinking about...?"
I purse my lips.
I'm not really sure how to explain it.
But Mia's expression is understanding.
She puts her hand on mine and squeezes.
"Hey."
I glance back over to her.
Her eyes are shining.
"We'll find a way through this, okay? Whatever's coming...we've got this."
I blink, looking back at her. "...Yeah. I hope so."
She nods. "I'm sure of it." She says.
She sounds so certain.
"...I hope you're right." I say, softly.
"I know I am."
I wish I had her optimism, but I've never really felt confident like she does.
She always seems like she knows exactly where she's going, and exactly what to do to get there.
Even though I know she doesn't this time.
But she doesn't seem scared.
Or even worried.
Maybe that's why I like her so much.
I look down at my hands in my lap, and I feel her fingers squeeze mine.
I smile.
"...Thanks, Mia."
"Of course." She says, smiling back.
The sun has started to sink low over the horizon, the light dimming, and the clouds in the sky are a dark orange. The air feels heavier than ever before.
I don't think any of us are sure what to expect. What does a trial or test look like for these aliens? How will we be able to pass it when we can't even understand them...?
The guard suddenly shifts and stands up, looking at the sun setting in the distance. The woman stands up, too, looking at him, and then back at us.
Hestia follows suit, her expression serious and determined.
Eric walks over to me and Mia.
We're all watching each other. None of us know what's coming, but it looks like whatever's about to happen is about to happen soon. I can't help but wonder how this will go. What kind of trial are they going to give us?
What is the test that we have to pass to survive?
The guard speaks up in that grating language of his, and the older woman turns to face him.
He's gesturing to the sky and then to the forest.
She nods slowly and turns to us, pointing to the water in front of her and speaking again in the same language. "Krrrth..."
She repeats it a few times, and Mia shakes her head.
"I don't understand that word. I'm not sure what it is...?"
"...Well, she keeps pointing to the water..."
The older woman points to the sun, and then the forest. She repeats that word a few times. "Krrrth."
I frown.
What could it mean...?
Mia is trying to figure it out. I can see her mouthing the syllables over and over again. Her eyes are focused. She's thinking really hard, trying to make sense of it all.
I don't have a clue, either. But maybe she can get it.
If anyone can, she can.