Terra Natus

XI

"When we are all together, when we are all alone..."

"What are we doing?" Isa asked in a whisper, unsure whether or not she should interrupt, but also unsure how much longer she would be expected to lay prostrate upon the ground; the smell of dirt overpowering with every intake of breath.

She lay with her head turned towards Nephro, who was also prostrate upon the ground, only a little ways from her. His head was turned towards her as well, though his eyes were closed in concentration.

"We're listening." He answered, then all went quiet between them again for a time.

She tried to listen, she really did. She held very still, even stilling her breath in the hopes that some sound would stand out to her that simply hadn't before. Well, some sound that she hadn't already been hearing all morning anyways, without having to lie on the ground. Such as, the bugs and birds and the gentle shuffling of leaves – that particular sound one she felt she'd never grow tired of hearing.

Perhaps if she knew what exactly it was that she was trying to 'hear'...

"Listening for what?" She finally asked, unable to help herself, after the silence seemed it might stretch on forever.

"Bouldy boys." Rubus answered from across the way, and she turned her head to look over at him. Though, how he could hear anything with his ears as hidden beneath his bushel of hair as his eyes were, was beyond her.

All four of the Plant Brothers, and herself, were lain this way and that, about a body's length from one another, in a small flat clearing, in the midst of the ravine they'd been traveling along.

They'd left early in the morning as usual, the Tree Beings, the Plant Brothers, and the human, and had traveled with the sun until it shone, hot and heavy, straight above them. They had all stopped then, to eat and drink and rest and...to do...whatever it is they were doing now.

"Bouldy...?" She began, but Hedera interrupter her.

"You know, the Stonies." He said, hopping easily up to his feet as he spoke.

"Stonies?" She repeated, trying to puzzle it out, while also following suit and pushing up until she was on her knees, as it seemed the others were beginning to stir as well. Apparently, they had 'heard' whatever it was they were 'listening' for.

Nephro stood as well, reaching down and taking Isa's hand as he went, pulling her up after him,...and not immediately letting go of her hand afterwards.

Realization dawned as she stood, and she gasped, "The Rock Brothers? Is that where we are going next?" She couldn't hide the excitement that filled her at the thought, and she looked over at Nephro, a small smile of anticipation playing at her lips.

What would these Terra Brothers be like? The Plant and Tree Brothers had turned out to be so different from one another, she could hardly imagine what to expect now.

Nephro smiled in return and waggled his eyebrows at her, then he took off back towards where they'd left the Tree Beings earlier. He going from 'stopped' to 'harried walk' so quickly, that Isa was jerked into motion after him, as he still had a hold of her hand.

"Stiffs would no'a told you as much, but they couldn'a find the Blockies without us." He said as they walked. "That's why they had to come find us first."

She was surprised by this information, and looked over at him questioningly.

"Well...they may have found them eventually," Artem added from her other side, linking arms with her, "But they need us to do it fast-like."