Our Journey (the Fourth Book in the Her Weakness series)

Chapter 59

Clarke's POV

"They live in trees? Like in giant hollowed out ones or in treehouses?" Raven asks.

"It is very rare for anyone to live in a hollowed out tree, but I do know some do that if the tree is older and can be hollowed out without disrupting the ecosystem. But what I mean is that they live in treehouses. They are rather well hidden, so it is easy to miss them if you do not know what to look for."

I try to look for the treehouses, scanning the horizon as our horses continue their trek forward. Lexa and Lincoln are the only ones that have been to this clan before. Since Lincoln is stuck in the back, his horse pulling the wagon, Lexa begins leading. I keep my horse beside hers, following her lead.

Lexa stops our horses in a seemingly random place and knocks on a tree. A hollow sound comes back and I look at the tree in confusion. I nearly jump right off my horse when it looks like the tree opens.

"There-there's a door. In the tree." Raven stutters out, completely dumbfounded.

"Yes, it is the way to the stable. The tree is not a tree, it is part of a wall painted by one of the greatest Yujleda painters in history." Lexa explains as she clicks her tongue, encouraging her horse to walk through the door in the not-tree.

Raven hesitantly reaches out as she passes through the door and taps on it, staring at it with wide eyes when it doesn't feel like wood.

"There's a door in the tree." Raven repeats, still staring at it as she passes.

As we get through the doorway and look back, the wall that was there looks like a wall from this side. Mismatched brick, a mix of dark brown and green, easily blending into the forest scene. There are horses here, some looking up at us, others continuing to walk or graze. The stables, made of a darker wood than I'm used to seeing so I assume it's jungle wood.

We dismount the horses and the stable hands assist us. We go through everything, it's a routine by now. Lexa leads us again, with us carrying what we need, out of the stables and back towards the door.

"The main entrance is not in the stables, and I would like you to get the full affect of this clan." Lexa explains.

I walk hand in hand with her, adjusting my backpack. We walk towards another tree. This one is huge, it's wider than I am tall, and there's visibly a door. A door built into a tree.

"This is an actual tree, right?" Raven asks.

"Yes, it is." Lexa confirms.

"It looks like something giant fairies would use." Raven notes.

Octavia gasps loud enough to make Raven's gaze snap over to her. "Elves are just giant wingless fairies."

"What? No they're... Oh my god they are." Raven says.

Raven and Octavia begin debating that as Lexa and I exchange an amused look. Lexa opens the door for us and I'm the first to step inside. I gasp aloud when I do, pausing just inside the entrance.

"Holy... What?" I breathe out.

The tree is completely hollowed out, the sides looking like petrified wood. Along the sides is a long ramp with edges so no one falls off. It looks like it flattens out in places. The ramp itself looks like petrified wood as well, or polished until it's glossy and beautiful.

"I feel like a freaking fairy right now. This is awesome. I have to say, I didn't expect the ramp up." Raven admits.

"Not many do on their first trip here. As this is a city in trees, just having ladders or stairs would not work. Some cannot go up ladders or stairs. I know that it would be difficult for you as well, Raven. So there is a ramp. Yujleda is one of the foremost clans in making their cities available for everyone."

"Awesome. Wait, do you guys have wheelchairs?" Raven asks and Lexa nods. "That's a stupid question, I've literally seen people in them down here. And those flat spots, they're for resting, yeah?"

"Yes, so they do not have to go all the way up in one go. Trust me, it is difficult for some able-bodied people as well." Lexa says.

Lexa takes my hand once again and we begin leading our group's ascent up the ramp. It isn't too steep, but it is a noticeable strain on my muscles. We do pause a couple of times for Raven, who either discusses elves being wingless giant fairies or whatever's on her mind. As always, it's entertaining. It gives us gems to ponder like this.

"Wait, I've got it! Elves, like in that Satan myth-"

"Santa, babe." Octavia corrects her.

"Right. Potayto, tomahto. The little elves, they're wingless fairies! They even grant wishes!"

"That's brilliant." Octavia admits.

And this.

"Wheelchairs are so unoriginally named, they're literally chairs with wheels. Wheels with chairs attached to them. Wheelchairs."

"Like rocking chairs. They're chairs, that rock." Octavia chimes in.

The way up feels a lot longer than it probably is and I think whatever gods there are that there weren't stairs. I would be dead inside. I mean, we're all sweating and panting and Octavia lets out a quiet, breathless cheer when we reach the top. There's another door, which also looks like it's part of the tree they just took out and made into a door. It swings open easily and tmy breath catches once again.

Lexa wasn't kidding, they really do live in the trees. But with hardcore tree houses. They're entire houses, in trees, made of trees (they're wood houses). There are wooden bridges between trees and houses, the larger of which hold up to three or four houses. Along the paths and bridges are luckily railings, so it's a little less nerve wracking to be up this high.

Next chapter, more exploring of Yujleda! Pretty cool so far, right? And guess who has to send her computer back to the manufacturer so they can figure out why the heck it won't charge! This girl! It won't affect posting or anything, I type these chapters up on my old phone and I have my old laptop I haven't touched months so I can still do homework without too much difficulty... But this'll be fun. After classes today, I'm going to try to figure out how to ship it from campus... Whoo! Anyway, that's enough about me. I'm just hoping that telling you guys I'm doing this that I won't put it off haha... Thank you all for reading and for your amazing comments! Stay awesome!