The Call of the Sea

Chapter Two

Having traveled along the river with song and laughter, Saranjigüür and Prudence left it behind, and were now on a large plain with something poking up above the horizon. "I haven't been over this way since before I helped watch over Wyllenötte," Prudence said, taking a deep breath and sighing.

Saranjigüür saw how much Prudence missed the tree and the forest, and said, "The grass here is changing. It reminds me of near your house, and how the grass is different in and near forests. I think we might reach a forest soon."

Prudence nodded. "I do remember there being one North of the city, near those mountains up ahead, I think."

"Mountains?" Saranjigüür wondered.

"Right there, on the horizon," Prudence said, pointing.

Saranjigüür squinted, and was able to make out the dark blue shapes. "Ah, there they are! Which side is the forest on?"

"Towards the sea, so... that'd be a little behind 'em and to the West," Answered Prudence.

The trees in the forest where she had woken up had seemed beautiful, so she asked Prudence, "What does Wyllenötte look like?"

Prudence glanced down at her, and held out their hand. "Here, I can show ya." Saranjigüür took their hand, and it seemed they were already on those distant mountains. Prudence was there, as well as others in simple and sturdy white robes who had feathery wings on their back- these must have been Prudence's siblings! In the midst of them was a tall shoot, taller than Saranjigüür. It was wider than one of her legs, but it still had the smooth bark of a growing tree. "We would take turns carrying up buckets and watering it, and plantin' other bushes and shrubs on the mountain." One of Prudence's siblings with wild and wavy red hair began singing as they poured out their bucket of water on it, a sweet and comforting tune that sounded like a hug. "Some of us would sing to it, too," Prudence said with a chuckle. "It grew so fast, and even when I left to help with plantin' other trees, it was still growin'."

Saranjigüür walked a little closer towards Wyllenötte, seeing how its leaves were thin and flat and spiky and set close together, and wondered what it would look like now. "Maybe it's still growing today," Saranjigüür said.

"That'd be wonderful!" Prudence said, with a laugh.

The scene on the mountain faded, and Saranjigüür blinked, finding herself on the field again. "What is that, again? How I could see your memory here, and in the forest, too?"

"It's the breath of your memories that you collect and hold inside ya- your zürtseg," Said Prudence, poking Saranjigüür's heart.

"Even my memories..." Saranjigüür said to herself. She looked up to the mountains and they were closer, slowly budding and growing. She also practiced blowing the horn, the notes getting louder and more confident as she went, floating up like clouds. Happy with her horn blowing for the moment, Saranjigüür put the horn back over her shoulder. "I think those are trees!" She said, looking to the left of the mountains which were now standing tall in front of her. She wanted to breathe in the smell of the leaves and dirt and hear all the birds chirping, and without thinking began to walk a little faster.

Soon, Saranjigüür and Prudence came to the forest, with its trees standing high above them. The shade was deep and rich, and the smell of the soil was healthy and full of life. Saranjigüür grinned, and wove her way around the trees to see more of the forest. Small patches of sunlight dotted the forest floor. Hopping from one to another, she hopped into one that had a little grass in it! She looked up and saw a clearing that had a column of sunlight pouring into the middle of it.

Saranjigüür stopped to take a deep breath, and noticed she was beginning to feel hungry. Remembering the ayatalkh in her deel, she took out a handful, and offered some to Prudence. "Thanks for askin', but I don't need any right now," They said. Saranjigüür nodded, and popped a few ayatalkh into her mouth.