The Whispering of leaves

Baba

                    As the rounded beige walls and the flat mushroom top of the Hashouga family home appeared from behind the dense thicket of gnarled Vavim-ro trees, the stone path transformed into a steep staircase that cut into the hill. The deep cracks which had formed hundreds of years prior had only deepened since, making the staircase uneven and buckle in some places. The hardest part, Moeba thought, braced herself for the difficult ascent, tightened her grip on the pail, and started up the stairs.

The front courtyard of the Hashouga house was a maze of native and exotic plants, small stone statues, and hidden alcoves. Thick vines crept up the side of the tall house, nearly choking out all light from the rounded lower windows. Moeba passed through the maze's entrance, patting the moss-covered head of a sitting stone statue that smiled warmly into its teacup. As she approached her destination, the pail of water seemed to grow heavier with each step. Moeba weaved through the leafy maze passing multiple small alcoves dimly lit by candlelight, guided by the faint scent of herbs and spices until she arrived in the backyard. The maze widened into a round yard enclosed by a swath of trees, ferns, and bushes. Soft glowing turquoise moss coated the terrain everywhere but a small patch of flat stones at the center of the yard, where Baba sat hunched over a large steaming cauldron, surrounded by woven baskets filled with various veggies, herbs, and nuts. The light of the moon, the moss, and the glow bugs made it easy to forget that it was still the middle of the night, but not entirely. The attendance of the full moon was of the highest importance for tonight and the nights to come.

"Baba!" Moeba called from the maze's exit as she struggled to speed walk over to her, "Where is Angolu and Chutja? I've brought water for their dish."

"They're inside but they'll be out in a moment. Here, come help me with this." Baba's voice was as rugged and gnarled as the thick leafless branches that protruded from her head like great antlers. As Moeba approached with her sloshing pail jangling noisily, Baba slowly rose from her seat of mushroom clusters and grabbed a pair of worn potholders, tossing one to Moeba as soon as she set her pail down. From the opposite end of the steaming cauldron, Baba shot Moeba a curious glance as they hoisted it from the squat brass stove.

"So when are you gonna tell me?"

"Tell you what?"

Baba gave Moeba a knowing smile as they set the cauldron on the spongy turquoise moss, which promptly turned the area into a deep crimson.

"What you saw in the forest that has your leaves so perked up," Baba said casually. Ever the observant, Moeba was never able to hide from her, not that she ever felt a need to. Not waiting for an answer, Baba hobbled to her wide mushroom cluster stool and began peeling the skin off of Roli sprouts. No matter how interesting the topic, if there was work to be done, Baba would multitask through any conversation. Perhaps she did that on purpose, to take some of the pressure off of answering tough questions, whether or not that was the case, Moeba was grateful for her Baba's steady patience. Absent-mindedly picking at the bark behind her neck as she idled over to the adjacent Mushroom cluster. Moeba chewed on her words, Fiddling with her fingers as Baba continued rhythmically peeling off the thick layers of skin from the Roli sprouts and tossing them into a wide-rimmed woven basket.

Still focused on her fingers, Moeba finally said, " I met a Borino Fairy in the woods. He seemed lonely and like he wasn't well supplied for his travels, so I kinda...invited him to stay with us. An offer he may or may not take us up on." After hearing her description aloud, it occurred to Moeba that she had made the encounter out to be more significant in her head than it actually was. The Hashouaga family was always partial to opening their home and aid to strangers, how was this any different? Aside from the fact that Borino fairies posed a massive threat to Plantoi sentience, the lonely singer was just another creature that could benefit from some support. As the tenseness leached from her shoulders, Moeba peeked up at Baba who stopped her peeling.

Then why does Baba look like that?

The deep crevices in Baba's face seemed deeper, the shadows cast on her face somehow harsher and contrasted her now pallid bark. It was like seeing a lifeless puppet that looked like a more withered version of her Baba. Dread crawled up Moeba's spine like a spider with knives for legs. She had never seen Baba like this before. Baba whispered something incoherently.

Before Moeba could ask what was wrong, the heavy wood door at the back of the house slammed open and Angolu, Chutja, Wamry, and Gaezhiq filed out with arms laden with heavy pots, pans, and cooking utensils. Little Bahnra trailing behind with a massive basket strapped to her back, overflowing with various uncooked plants. Everyone was already engaged in boisterous conversation as they strode towards the central cooking station.

One after the other, they all set their loads on the moss and stones, Wamry already moving to set a heavy dish over the stove as Angolu pulled out a cutting board. Turning to Moeba, his thin bluish gray vines swirling, Angolu said, "Moeba, this year you're in charge of the Vojel water. I'll grab the bowl for you, but you can start cutting the herbs and adding the other ingredients to the pail. By the time you're done we all should be finishing up the cooking, so you can begin the purifying ritual once you're finished, yeah?" Moeba nodded, grabbing the cutting board and knife and moving towards the farther end of the field, away from the clamor of preparation and Baba's shocked countenance. Once she was settled at the edge and cradled by overgrown ferns and bushes, she overheard the childish high pitch of Bahnra. Trying to inconspicuously listen in, Moeba began dicing.

"Baba, what's wrong? You don't look well!" Moeba could almost see Bahnra's face twisting in confusion.

"Yeah, you've been looking kind of pale Baba. Are your joints hurting you again? I told you, you're way overdue for a pruning, Your branches are going to get too heavy to hold up!" Angolu added.

"No, that's not it. Leave my branches alone, you stubborn boy. I think I just need to go lie down before we begin, this heat is withering." Baba's leaves rustled as she rose, and Moeba fought the urge to look up, and lost. Her eyes immediately locked on Baba's, which said, We'll talk later. Breaking the stare, Baba hobbled back to the house.