Every Glistening Night

Chapter Twenty-Two

A nearly full moon hangs in the night sky, casting its beams through the gaps in the treetops. Leaves crackle underfoot, and jagged bits nip at the soles of my feet. They're turning orange and amber with the cooling weather and have just begun to bury the summer flowers. I hope Jeayma m'ke will send me out a few more times before the next half moon to ensure that our dye supply is well stocked.

Though she may think twice about it considering the low amount I brought back earlier today. By the time I left the cave, it was basically noon. I scavenged several handfuls on the way back to camp. Jeayma m'ke never looked so disappointed with me. I could barely meet her gaze. What's worse is the way she spoke to me. She wasn't angry, merely grieved by the low supply.

"Seems the frost has already wiped out the flowers." She shook her head. "What a pity. I hope we can fully restock before winter comes."

I felt awful about my lack of contribution to the tribe. I worked extra hard all afternoon, finishing two large orders of fabric. At this rate, I might be able to finish my remaining quota before the full moon. Then, I might be able to spend my extra time working on the moonlight cloak. Though in the past, when I finish early, they have me assist with sewing the remaining robes for trade.

An owl hoots from not so far away. Branches snap, and there's a rush of crackling leaves. I freeze in place. My head whips to the left, then to the right. It's likely an animal, but I don't want to take any chances. I search the trees for any sign of a human, any sign of eyes reflecting in the darkness. I'm met only with the dark silhouettes of tree trunks.

Inhaling a breath, I continue a little quicker now. The forest tapers once it nears the rockface. I grab a handful of crackling leaves before heading inside. They are as good as anything to mark my path. Frost hits me the moment I step into the cavern. I shrink into my outer tunic, wishing now for some sunlight to provide extra heat.

Really, the Earth Watcher should have reversed these tasks. It'd have been better to make the moonlight cloak in the summer, while it was hot, then make the sunlight cloak when the temperatures cool down. But of course, a blackmailer doesn't really care about their victim's comfort. They hold the power, so they call the shots.

Somehow, the cave's belly is brighter than the night outside. I suppose it makes sense given how much moonlight is concentrated in its depths. Still, it's counter intuitive and gives me pause when I hyperfocus on it.

Leaves litter the ground behind me. I drop one at a time, feeding the floor with the dried vegetation. The brown color fortunately stands out against the stone, and with the moonlight's radiance, it's fairly easy to spot them.

The light waxes with each step. I try to pad quietly, heel to toe, to not disturb the light beams. It's even harder to suppress my panting. The brisk walk has me winded. I take steady breaths in my lungs to catch my breath. I can't risk ruining any more of the moonbeams. Every single one is precious, and who knows when I'll be able to find more?

I round a corner, and moonlight hits me in the square in the eye again. I squint at it, angling my gaze at the ground until the initial shock wears away. Carefully, I remove my outer robe and place it on the ground. My hand lingers a moment on the fabric as I glance about. Relief decompresses my lungs, and I slowly stand upright. The moonlight is undisturbed.

My raeriel is next to dismount. I lay my bag on top of my robe, then slide the wooden instrument out. My finger grazes a string, and a loud note rings through the room. I startle, clamping my hand over the fingerboard to stifle the reverberations.

The damage is already done. Silver pours over me, coating me in a chilly, almost powdery substance. It glimmers against my darkened skin. If I weren't so upset that more moonbeams disintegrated, it'd look pretty.