Every Glistening Night

Chapter Twenty-Six

"Celisae, are you alright?"

I tilt my head toward my bowl of corn porridge, as if not making eye contact with the matriarch will make her go away. What a change from the usual — ordinarily, I would welcome the company from another tribe member.

Jeayma m'ke approaches me. She glances around at the rocks lining the forest's perimeter. She settles on crouching in front of me. Her face is in my line of vision, and I have no choice but to meet her gaze.

"Celisae, you seem tired. You've been stumbling around here for two days. Are you unwell?"

"No, no," I say, tensing my jaw to stifle a yawn. "Just tired these days."

"Have you had a hard time sleeping?" True concern shines through her golden brown eyes.

"Yes," I say slowly. A story sparks in my head, one that might be convincing enough for her to not suspect that I'm sneaking out. "I don't know why, but I keep waking up at odd hours. It's been difficult to go back to sleep."

"Are we asking too much of you? Do you need a break?"

I shake my head. "No, no—" A yawn breaks my lips, interrupting me. "I can easily finish the extra sewing orders."

"Well, alright." Jeayma m'ke appraises me. "But do let us know if you need a break at the gathering coming up. Hopefully, you'll sleep well in the next three moons as we all love it when you play the laivo."

My weary eyelids shoot open in surprise. I completely forgot about the upcoming night. And although I was aware of the looming deadline for the moonlight cloak, it didn't fully click that I must meet the Earthwatcher in four moon's time.

"I-I'm sure I'll be fine." I smile, though I know I don't look convincing. Jeayma m'ke presses her lips upward in response.

"Why don't you see Kletasuah today? She can probably give you some herbs to help you sleep."

"Alright," I say, even though I have no intention of doing so. First of all, Kletasuah might notice my injuries. More pressing is the moonlight cape, which I have to finish in the next few nights.

"We won't send you out on gathering duty today," Jeayma m'ke continues. "Just stay here and try to rest."

"Oh!" I exclaim a bit too jarringly. Jeayma m'ke visibly flinches. "It is helpful to take walks, though. Helps get the blood flowing." I try to make it into a joke, but I probably just look pained.

"Oh. Well, I suppose you can take a walk any time, if you think it will help. Just don't wander far. We don't want you to collapse in the middle of the forest."

"Of course."

Jeayma m'ke gives my hand a squeeze before joining the others across the clearing.

I manage to finish the garment I began work on yesterday. What started as plain purple fabric is now a glorious, multi-layer robe. Whoever wears it will be kept extra warm. I noticed a hint of a sparkle here and there. To most people's eye, they wouldn't have noticed the sunlight threads. But of course, it's easier to spot when you know it's there.

I turn in the robe right before our second meal. Standing in line, I kept my gaze trained on my feet. In part, I'm trying to keep my balance. The ground quite literally "grounds me," helps me not keel over. But every time my eyes stray in the food table's direction, I catch Ulane m'ke watching me. Her gaze makes my skin crawl.

The meal passes by slowly. Perhaps my movements are more labored, so it takes more time to transfer the food in my bowl to my stomach. I seem to finish around the same time that others are lazily stretching, lumbering back to their work stations. I tuck the last scraps of my meal into my tunic, then return my bowl to the food station. Jeayma m'ke stands nearby, and I tell her that I'm going for a quick walk.