The Legend of Aranyani

Chapter 12

The sun rose quickly, its heat beating down on the jungle. The warmth sizzled in the air, the trees shade trying to block the light from entering its domain. Shadows danced amongst the trunks, playing tag with the light as it attempted to peer through the thin leaves. The bird's early morning songs filled the humid air, their duets echoing into the cloudless sky.

Nate groaned, rolling on his other side as his body protested to wake. When he opened his eyes he was blinded by the light's successful attempt at filling the jungle. With another groan, Nate sat up, leaning against a rock as he rubbed his aching eyes. Yawning, he stretched his arms to the sky trying to relieve some pressure in his stiff back.

Once Nate's eyes adjusted, he lazily scanned his surroundings. His eyes involuntarily looking to the tall tree where Aina had slept. The gray tree trunk floated to the sky, its green thin leaves splaying off the sides, the branch where the woman had been, empty. Nate jolted awake, remembering the night before.

He was supposed to take the first watch while Seketo'a slept but he had allowed Aina to lead him away from their spot to watch the animals from the jungle. Which to Nate's surprised, he really enjoyed. They had come back to Seketo'a a while after and Nate had retrieved his journal, using the last of the fire's light to write what he had seen. Aina had gone back to her branch, falling asleep with ease. Nate was supposed to stay up but he must have fallen asleep while journaling.

Nate looked down at his lap to find his journal still open, a half drawn image of a Bango on the page. He sighed deeply, how could he have allowed himself to fall asleep. If an animal had come and tried to attack them, with Nate asleep they all would have been dead.

The humid air already tortured Nate with rolls of sweat as he looked back at the empty tree, finally realizing Aina was missing. Nate's heart skipped a beat as he looked to where Seketo'a had been sleeping to find the child sitting on his rock eating.

"Morning sleepy head." Seketo'a said through chews.

Nate grunted in response as he stood and put his journal safely back into his pack.

"Nice of you to keep watch." The child dangled his legs off the rock, bouncing them back and forth.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep." Nate ran his fingers through his hair. Dirt and sweat greased in his dark curls.

"It is alright. We were not eaten so I forgive you." Seketo'a said, taking another large bite out of his fruit.

Nate gave the boy a small nod and a grateful smile. His eyes unwillingly landed back on the tree to his right as he began to eat his own breakfast.

"She went to the river." Seketo'a said with a knowing grin.

"Who?" Nate asked, picking at the skin of the fruit, his stomach feeling uneasy.

"Aina." Seketo'a took the core of his fruit and tossed it. Nate ducked, the core skimming his shoulder, he turned to glare at the mischievous boy.

"What was that for?" Nate asked, picking up a tiny rock and throwing it back at the child. Seketo'a pounced out of the way, his giggles filling the warm air.

Nate shook his head, fiddling with his breakfast. His eyes took in his filthy hands, dirt laced in his fingernails. Nate inwardly gagged and put the fruit back in his pack before standing from the rock.

"I'm going to wash up and then we can head out." Nate said, brushing the dust off his pants.

"In the river?" Seketo'a asked, a smirk playing on his lips.