The Upbringing

Chapter 6) Explanations

Chapter 6) Explanations

"Ugh, when am I going to be able to eat something?" Eon voiced his question for the third time. After the Timekeeper had rescued Eon, they had resumed their course, walking through, or over anything in their way.

Eon's stomach had been calmed a bit by a large berry the Timekeeper had given him shortly after they resumed walking, but that had been a good two hours ago.

"Soon, it isn't much further to our stop for tonight."

Eon looked up towards the sky, trying to see through all the leaves and branches. As far as he could tell, one of the suns had already set, and the remaining two were slowly making their trajectory across the sky.

They walked for another half hour, until they stopped at the edge of a small clearing. It was about half the size of the one they had first arrived in. On one side, a medium side cliff rose up made of grey rock. A decent size waterfall fell almost right in the middle, creating a small pond, which fed a stream that bisected the clearing. All in all, it was beautiful, after seeing so many trees for so long, Eon would take anything, even hard ground for a while.

"We will rest and eat here, in the morning I'll give Goldenclaw a call, he'll carry us the rest of the way."

Wasting no time, the Timekeeper walked to a sandy area close to the pond, and started marking the land.

"Who's Goldenclaw, and what are you doing?"

"I'll explain who Goldenclaw is later, as for what I'm doing, I'm seeing where to place the posts for our tent, didn't you ever go camping?"

A sulen silence fell over Eon, after a deliberate hesitation, he answered, "No, I never actually went camping, sometimes during the summer, I would just sleep in a small clearing in the woods by my old house."

"And what covered you then?"

"Nothing, the star-lit sky would be my blanket, with the grass as my mattress, and maybe sometimes a light jacket or book-bag as my pillow."

"What if you got cold?"

"Oddly enough, I never got cold when I was outside, especially after Shady started coming with me"

"Shady? Who was that?" the Timekeeper's curiosity about his personal life was starting to bug Eon, but deciding it would be a good way to blackmail him if he refused to answer Eon's own questions, he kept his patience.

"He was..." not knowing how to describe him, Eon chose the best word who could think of, "my companion. An amazing grey mutt that showed up one day at the edge of the woods I would constantly explore. After the first day, he showed up every single day, sometimes at the orphanage's door, to wait for me."

"I see, you have given me much to ponder Eon, and as I can see that the affinity to the earth is strung within you, I won't set up a tent tonight, and instead like you, sleep in the earth's womb."

For some reason, knowing that he wouldn't have to sleep in a tent reassured Eon, even though he couldn't think why, yet, the Timekeeper's words troubled him to some digree, nagging at his mind until he voiced his question.

"What do you mean my affinity to the earth?"

"Let us eat first, and then I shall explain any question you may have, as long as it's in my power to do so."

The Timekeeper built a decent size fire for light and heat.Motioning for Eon to sit down beside him, he reached into his robes and pulled out a small bag. Emptying it, he revealed two round cakes, a flask of some red liquid, and two apples. He gave a cake and apple to Eon, and waited for him to take a bite.