The Dreamer: The Book of Godspells

CHAPTER EIGHT

Inside the treehouse, I saw children playing and laughing. They were taking turns climbing up and down ropes hanging from the top of the treehouse, showing off their acrobatic skills as they swung and somersaulted through the air. It was like its own little playhouse, a place where one could let their imagination run free and their bodies move wildly.

Cyril, with his curly hair and mischievous grin, was clearly the leader in this particular treehouse cove. Eda mentioned there were many, so this must have been only one. I watched as Cyril whispered to another chubby-cheeked toddler with wide eyes. They looked alike, just enough to be siblings, but who knew if anyone here was related? Eda, with her long braids and bright eyes, climbed up one of the branches of the trees as if they were balance beams and hung from a tree as if it were her own personal trapeze. I watched her showing off to who I could only suspect was Colik, as she flipped, tumbled, twirled, and spun. She landed gracefully on her feet and looked directly at Colik. So, it was for him.

"So, Piper, do you want to be a Scirge yet?" Eda asked, turning her eyes to me now. I looked at Colik for help.

"I don't think Piper will be a dreamer of falling," Colik answered with a shrug. I really wanted to ask more about what they were talking about, what Colik meant, but I could tell that now was not the time.

"Isn't that for her to choose?" Eda eyed him with skepticism. I nodded to show I agreed with Colik, but she didn't seem convinced.

"I think it may be time for us to go. We appreciate your time here, Eda," Colik said, but Cyril walked up.

"Is there a tiff here?" he asked, sensing the rising animosity.

"No, not at all. I was just saying it was time we went. We appreciate you offering a ride to the edge of the woods, but we must make our leave back towards the Citadel now." I looked around, acting like I wasn't paying too much attention, uncomfortable with the interaction in front of me. I could tell Eda wasn't ready for me to go, yet Colik insisted we had overstayed our welcome. A few children, who could not have been over the age of six, were super high up, swinging on vines as if they lacked any fear. They were throwing a pointy object at each other that looked sharp enough to definitely break the skin, the skinny sword reminding me of a foil blade that fencers used, but with an odd handle.

"Monso o'l mido. It means move or be moved," Cyril shared, noticing my interest above and ignoring Colik's gesture to leave.

"It is a game we like to play to test our own fear of falling. To what purpose are we to help those dream of falling if that is what we fear?" A little girl came up behind Cyril with a huge smile. She was tiny, like she hadn't eaten in weeks, and her eyes were wide. They were a deep green, like moss, and she had long, light brown hair with one strand of silver.

"Why would you have to..." I tried to ask, but Colik cut me off again. He still hadn't explained anything to me, but then again, perhaps he hadn't had the chance to. I hoped that was why.

"As dreamers of falling, that seems wise. We couldn't have dreamers falsely helping humans if they weren't aware of their own fears, now could we?" Colik interjected. The small girl looked at him with an offended look, but he was looking at me when he said it. Then I caught on; he was explaining to me, in his own secretive way. The Scirges, dreamers of falling, helping humans dream. Somehow, and for some reason. That I was still not certain about. I nodded at him and gave a genuine smile as if to silently say thank you. Surprisingly enough, he gave me a wink in return. I felt my stomach drop.

"How does the game go?" I asked, doing anything to distract myself from the lingering feeling of Colik's wink. Why did I like that?

"Well, we have a needle leaf with a seed inside to give it weight, a pointy little thing, and we hit it back and forth with our swars. If the seedly hits your swar, your team gets a point. You play within the vines of the trees, and of course... don't fall off."