3 years later.
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The dew still clings to the grass like soft magic. The fig trees sway in the breeze, tall and endless.
Jane is hanging laundry nearby, Amara dozes on the porch. Somewhere, Red is chopping wood, Unwatched…'Perfect.'
Cassia, Anecus, and Naia, all around the ages of 4 and 5 years old now, gather at the edge of the orchard path with great seriousness and far too many sticks.
Cassia holding the largest stick clearly signifying she's the leader says with authority "we're going to the far tree!"
Naia with curious eyes glancing over to the tree just up the hill overlooking their home "The really far one?"
Anecus ever the dramatic says in a hushed tone gripping his stick sword "the one with the shadows that look like monsters!"
Nodding, Cassia looks to the tree with a conqueror's gaze and commands "Yes! But we can't touch the red leaves, if you do. You'll turn into a goat!"
Naia gasps, immediately tucking her hands behind her back stepping away from a falling red leaf. "I don't wanna be a goat!"
Anecus "papa said goats are stinky." he says side eyeing a leaf brushing bast his shoulder.
placing her hands on her hips and pointing her nose to the sky "Exactly. That's why I'm the leader. I know all the leaf rules."
They march in a line, Serious faces adorned their soggy boots carrying their determined hearts. Anecus marks their path with pebbles so they don't get lost, Naia whispers to the trees for guidance, Cassia clears the way with her "sword."
Halfway to their destination through the canopy of flowers they encounter a squirrel. Naia gasps in recognition "it's a forest guardian!"
Anecus holds his "sword" at the ready "Do we fight it?"
Cassia with a very serious face "No. We ask for permission."
Turning back to the Guardian Cassia kneels and after a moment the squirrel runs up a tree. Turning to Anecus and Naia "he says the red leaves are safe now, but the figs are cursed."
Nodding solemnly Naia says "Okay, no figs"
Finally reaching the farthest tree it overlooked the entire orchard, gnarled and old with plump figs. Anecus with a tired breath "we made it."
Naia walks up beside him and tugs on a branch, "did we win?"
"hehehe you still got a lot to learn Naia, the tree was just our marker the real goal is what is beneath." she points to the trunk on the tree with her stick.
She digs at the base of the tree with her stick, uncovering a rock shaped like a heart. "You see." she holds it up. "This is a treasure."
Anecus in realization drops his stick "it's for mama!." Naia chimes in over his shoulder "and my papa and mama too!."
With a triumphant ending to their quest the three of them bask in the warm sunlight and sit down beneath the tree shoulder to shoulder, tiny and proud. Cassia guards the treasure. Anecus hums a song Jane sings while cooking, Naia leans on his back looking at the blue sky.
Back at the house Jane turns to scan the orchard for her little adventures. She sees them in the distance, so small, so safe. She smiles at the fact they can have moments like this before the world starts to creep in. "Let them have this."
They called it a quest but in reality it was a memory, some days the orchard became a kingdom and others a place of hidden treasures. With leaves full of rules and gifts on hands the three children carried another memory home without knowing how rare the morning truly was.
Two Stars, One Sky.
Afternoons in the Goldenfields were often swarmed with the hums of Jackerbees that loved to absorb the resonance of the willow trees.
Jane and Red are tending the garden being assisted by the bees.
Naia was sleeping on her mothers lap, rocking in a chair.
Anecus and Cassia are a little ways off, sitting beneath a sun warmed arch of vines near the stream, their world tucked safely between the earth and sky.
Cassia plucks petals from a flower, careful and slow. holding it up in front of Anecus. "This one looks like mama's eyes."
Anecus looked at the petal in dissatisfaction. "Mama's eyes glow more." He gabs a different flower and finds a better petal "This one's almost right though."
They sit close, knees brushing, Cassia hums off key but happy.
Anecus Tries to mimic her "That's not how the song goes."
Cassia smiles "It is now."
"...Can you teach me?" Anecus says
Cassia with her eyes closed "No, you just have to feel it."
There was a comfortable silence with the gentle wind brushing their skin. A bee floats near, Anecus flinches.
Cassia doesn't, "It won't sting unless it's scared."
Anecus admiring her bravery goes wide eyed "are you scared?"
Cassia shrugs and rests her cheek on her knee looking at her brother "not when you're here."
They both lie back in the grass, watching clouds. "Do you ever feel like… something's waiting for us?"
Cassia looks at him "Like what?"
Holding his breath he says words he doesn't understand yet. "I don't know, Something big. Like the sky is holding its breath."
Cassia doesn't say anything right away, instead she reaches over to hold his hand, after a pause. "When I get scared, I hold your hand."
He turns his head toward her, and for a moment, they're just two children who don't know they're rare.
Anecus smiles "When I get scared I look at you. Because you never look scared"
Cassia grinning with mischief "I'm not scared. Not when you're looking at me."
From a distance Jane looks over from the garden and sees them lying side by side with heads turned toward the sky. She presses a hand over her heart.
Later that night, the orchard is silent save for a few insects humming near the ground. Jane and Amara were at the dining table overlooking the living room, a fire cracked in the hearth basking the room in warm golden light.
Anecus, Cassia and Naia in sight the trio sprawled out along the floor, Anecus and Naia are curled up like they have never known sleep without each other, Cassia had one leg over Anecus's snoring face. Both mothers looked at their children with love and wonder.