Evanesterrin

Chapter Eight

The sun sank low in the sky, casting long, thin shadows across the forest floor. The sky was streaked with pink and orange ribbons of clouds. Through a window, Naeren could see Alden, Flynn, and Dale busying themselves, gathering wood with the help of several other people. They weren't venturing very far into the forest, and all three kept glancing nervously upward, watching the progress of the sinking sun warily. Finally, they had enough wood, and Alden and Flynn began to stack twigs and branches inside the dirt fire pit. Dale began to move the logs they used for chairs closer to the fire pit, and by extension, the light.

Flynn carefully made sure that all the dry wood was either safely inside the circle of stones that marked the edge of the fire, or stacked neatly in the pile of spare kindling, then bent low to start the fire. A thin trail of smoke started to rise a few seconds later, and Naeren tore her gaze from the window. She was exhausted from the ordeal of the previous twenty-four hours, and she had almost been nodding off as she stared out the window absently.

"Looks like the guys have got the fire started. We should get going," Naeren said, turning to Lumina as she spoke. Lumina stood in the small kitchen, her back to Naeren. Naeren saw her tense a bit, but Lumina nodded.

"I'm almost done. I just need to finish clearing up..."

Their hut smelled sweet and warm, with the aroma of yeast as Lumina had just pulled a baking sheet of sweet rolls from the oven. Tossing down her washrag and overturning a freshly cleaned mixing bowl on a towel to dry, Lumina carefully piled the rolls onto a large plate, and together, she and Naeren opened the door and stepped out into the gathering dusk. The fire flickered and leaped and the clearing was filled with woodsmoke, the snaps and pops of the fire, and the soft chatter of the people who were gathered around.

"We're almost ready to start! Where is Virion?" Alden said, briskly walking over to Lumina and Naeren.

"Probably still in her hut," Naeren said, looking at everyone sitting around the fire and seeing that Virion indeed was not among them.

"I'll get her," Lumina said, gently shoving the tray of rolls into Naeren's hands and rushing off to go find Virion.

"Oh, food! You can set it over on the large stump there," Flynn said, appearing at Alden's shoulder and gesturing to the remains of a huge tree, a stump that must have been three feet high and at least six feet in diameter. Naeren walked over and saw that there were several other dishes of food on it as well. It looked like Alden, Dale and Flynn had done well in getting the word out, and everyone had chipped in to contribute to the potluck.

By the time Naeren had returned to stand with Alden and the others, Lumina had returned with Virion. Virion held a plate that was covered with a thin cloth napkin which she pulled back to reveal the chocolate covered strawberries beneath. She moved to put it down, then returned to the other five to discuss the plan for the evening.

"We should start by learning everyone's names, it will increase trust and unity and all that stuff," Flynn said, running a hand through his hair in a slightly nervous gesture.

"We also need to try to show how serious a threat those things are without causing a full-on panic," Lumina added. Everyone nodded.

"How about we get food and get to know each other, and then get down to the serious matter? People will probably pay closer attention if they aren't hungry," Dale suggested.

"Makes sense," Naeren said. The six of them broke from their huddle and walked over to the table-like tree stump.

"Dinner is served! We will go around and introduce ourselves during the meal and after that, we will get down to the real reason why we are all here tonight!" Alden announced to the clearing at large, pulling several long skewers of meat from where they had been cooking in the flames.