Faded Flames

Chapter 6: Spring

The harsh and grueling winter eventually came to an end, opening the way for spring to bloom forth with colorful flowers, green trees, and warm weather. Clan Lavellan spent most of the season traveling back south towards the ocean waves, welcoming the warmer climate with open arms. The Keeper rode ahead of the clan on the back of one of their strongest halla while everyone followed close behind in their aravels, only ever stopping to do trade with the human settlements or to hunt. They were drawing near to the waters, and Lona could barely contain her excitement. 

She and Fai were both seated at the edge of the house-turned-carriage aravel, the sails raised high as the aravel seemed to glide with ease - the Keeper's magic pushing them forward as though they were sailing by sea, with the halla pulling the aravel in the direction it needed to go. Behind them, Nahari was fast asleep, the sails of the aravel providing perfect shade from the sunlight. Kala sat up ahead on one of the halla with a few of the other hunters. Davayan was resting on her back, babbling incomprehensible words with a smile on his face as Lona and Fai made funny faces at him to get him to laugh.  

"I can't wait until we reach the beaches again!" Lona squealed with delight, kicking her feet as they dangled from the aravel. "I've been wanting to go swimming for months now!"

"I missed the warm weather and the ocean breeze!" Fai called out dramatically. "Soon it'll be hot enough to swim all day! And all the neat shells and rocks we can find- it'll be so fun! We'll have to see how many pearls we can collect, too! I've been hoping to save some to make things."

"Yes, yes, yes!" Lona laughed. "I'm going to spend all day and all night in the water, and I'm gonna find the prettiest seashells and- Oh, Fai, look!" Lona shouted, pointing off to the side. The trees slowly began to clear away, providing the perfect view of the ocean from a distance. She then turned to Nahari and shook her awake as fast as she could. 

"Sis! Sis, wake up! You have to see this!" she yelled, jumping up and down excitedly in the aravel. Nahari mumbled tiredly as she sat up, her hair a tangle mess as she yawned and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. 

"Mnnuh...?" she mumbled. "Are we there yet...?"

"Just about! You have to come and see- the water is beautiful!" Fai called out. "I can hear the gulls from here! And look how far the water goes out!"

Nahari slowly sat up and crawled her way over to the edge of the aravel, her vision still blurry from being forcefully woken up. When she finally could see clearly, however, she noticed the shimmer blue ocean off in the distance, glistening like newly shined pearl against the sunlight. She could almost smell the seawater from here. 

"Wow...." she whispered in awe as the three of them stared out into the distance together.

"It's so lovely from up here. Ohh, I wonder if we can get some paint! Maybe we can make it from something- or get it from the shems in the city. Some blue and green and other colors for the water!" Fai said excitedly.

"I know the shems have lots of paints that they sell at the markets! We'll have to beg the others to buy some for us whenever they leave for trade!" Lona squealed, closing her eyes as she felt a strong breeze pass them by. "Oh, I can't wait!"  

It would be a few more days before Clan Lavellan reached their camping spot by the sea - but the moment they arrived, every child (especially Merilona), threw off their clothes and rushed into the water, diving into the ocean with squeals and shrieks of delight while the adults went about unpacking and unloading everything.  

Nahari was the only child who walked to the ocean's edge, still fully clothed as she dipped her bare feet into the shallow water. She took a seat in the sand, drawing shapes with her fingers while everyone else swam around.