Moon

1

Nestled somewhere in the forest lining the Hybo river was a fairly extensive and sophisticated network of circular houses built around the trunks of the enormous trees. The network was connected by tensile, braided rope used as zip lines and carefully positioned bridges. 

It was clear to anyone, that it had taken years to build. It was well-designed, and even better hidden.

Vyla's wrapped body was practically camouflaged against the bark of the tree she was scaling. The temperature was dropping, but the remnants of summer shone through the overgrowth of foliage that blanketed the forest floor. 

Her calloused fingers dug into the grooves of the bark as she hoisted herself and her sack up towards the main house. The extra weight no doubt slowed her down, but she still moved with an impressive fluency over the complex structure of the tree.

Every couple minutes she would pause to catch her breath, relieving her muscles from their straining temporarily, before returning to her seemingly never-ending climb. 

It would otherwise be impossible to climb such trees without years of experience, and a little bit of talent. 

Several gruelling minutes of climbing possessed her before she saw the bottom of the wooden beam of the main opening. Relief flooded her and she flings her sack over her head. It curves over the beam and into the room carved into the tree, landing on the wooden floor with a heavy thud.

Vyla grabs the edge of the wooden beam, her fingers bleeding from the climb, and hoists herself up, throwing her body onto the floor. Her entrances are usually much more graceful, but after such a long journey, she wanted nothing more than for it to be over. 

An exhausted sigh escapes her, and Vyla finds herself staring purposelessly at the wooden ceiling, feeling the tension and stress from her body disappear into nothingness. 

Vain, another member of her rough, sits on a cushioned, braided hammock chair, with a book in his hand and a pencil tucked above his right ear.

As unmoving and unbothered as ever, he all but spares a single glance in her direction, before returning to his book - despite not having seen her in months. 

"Good to have you back" he says, turning the page. 

Vyla musters up enough energy to pull herself up and off the floor, before reaching into her sack.

"Catch" Vyla warns before throwing a thick book in the direction of his face. 

Vain catches it swiftly, with little reaction, prompting her to roll her eyes, disappointed again to have missed her shot. 

"What's this?" he asks, analysing the red cover of the book.

"A history of clans" he answers, opening the book and skimming its pages. 

Vyla nods in agreement before pulling out an additional set of 4 books and dragging them over to him.

"Where'd you get so many books?" he eyes her suspiciously. 

"Been on the road so long ... picked up a few along the way" she says, swinging the sack over her shoulder.

Vain nods, returning to his book, deciding to ignore her. 

Vyla disperses the gifts and resources to the rest of the rough, and is met with waves of excitement and gratitude. 

Finally having a moment to herself, she makes her way to her quarters. Upon entry, she notices some new cloths Élma had probably made for her.

Grateful, she strips down from her constricting clothing and washes herself, before slipping into a loose shirt that hangs like a dress. 

She practically throws herself onto her hammock, and snuggles into the thick blankets she hadn't laid in for months. The hammock swings from the impact and she uses it to soothe her from her travels. Turning around she looks up at the ceiling, embracing the mundane and familiar sight.