Axiom ~ 10!

~ Ten ~

Crickets chirped in the dark when the kids snuck in through the Elder’s window. They each hopped onto the floor, in turn shushing the next one as their feet crunched on the popping shells they’d thrown a day before. 

The ruckus was anything but stealthy, and the Elder was long awake without moving a muscle, or flinching an eyelid. He hadn’t decided what scheme to pull on them yet, but at the same time really didn’t want to get up. Any chance they’d forget mid-way and let him sleep? A firm nudge in his shoulder proved otherwise, his hopes shattered like the pleasant dreams he’d been having. 

“Elder.” A young voice impatiently whispered.  “Elder.”

The old man just rolled over in his bed, away from the poking. *Mmmmjjmm* “No~o~o.” 

The half-asleep response drawled out in a haze to the attempt to wake him. An unamused voice piped right up at normal volume. “Who has the pail of cold water we got from the well?” 

The oldest girl very plainly asked as the mousy voice–still outside–chimed up nonchalant conspiratorial banter. “I’ve got it!” 

The old man found this exact moment the perfect time to yawn wide and stretch with dramatic flair. What was so awfully cozy? It was soft and smooth. Rubbing his hands down aching sides, he was reminded of the lazuli robe he currently donned. Oh dear. He’d let it air in the wind for a little while he did the usual morning routine. “Mmmsproutlings.” 

He exhaled the word more than spoke it. “I distinctly recall first light being mentioned. It’s dark.”

Without missing a beat, the oldest girl clamped her hand firmly on his shoulder, he was after all still very much laying down. “No. First light is when we leave. Didn’t you get my message?” 

The old fool did recall a youngster pointing at him, but the contents of the late-night whispered conversation had been… vague. It was far too early to pull one over on him, but given there were… he counted breaths. 

Five. No, six of the children here? The chances of him having a peaceful day were nil. Especially since they were going through with this awful plan that involved effort, being up, and walking. Oh, he didn’t want to think about it anymore. 

With a supported push, he sat up. A nagging pull involuntarily tugged at his lower jaw, eyes closing as a yawn loudly stated its presence. With a grunt and a rise, he long-stretched his arms above him. “Do I even have time to wash and eat?” 

He asked flatly and as a matter of fact, his face full of a matching expression. The female group leader chimed her confident voice up again, clearly she had put the other rascals up to this. “Pail of water all ready and we’ve all got sacks stuffed with leftovers, and the occasional stick, and rock. Because we liked them.” 

The Elder stood at attention with hands on his hips. “You’re taking innocent sticks and rocks out that far? How irresponsible! What if something happens to them? What if they’re lost or chip? No no no, none of that. I want all sticks and rocks on my table for safekeeping. They’ll be here when you get back and you can pick them up after.” 

He scoffed and redid his belt so it was tied in a way he was pleased with, already moving the door while not being snippy about the excess bag-weight. He had tried phrasing it in a way that would make them leave the unwanted encumbrances behind. 

Sure enough, the kids didn’t like the idea of losing their favorite rocks on a long trek, and did as they were told while the Elder took off at full stride towards the stream. The old fool frequently considered this trek the most difficult part of the morning as the incline got steep on occasions, but today it was made with determination.

The stream ran from the salt flats and surged inland, carving through the landscape in several locations. The awkward path of the water made a clean divide where a small hill should have been. It was exactly such a miniature cliff that was the slippery slope the kids kept trying to lead him across, so he avoided hills when he could. Taking the flattest and easiest route–even if that took the extra minute–got him there with minimal strain. Unfortunately, the stream wasn’t deep enough on the flat side, so each morning he had to wade inward a little deeper than he liked for a proper depth.

It took some doing with his body in the state it was, but nothing some strongly applied willpower couldn’t push him through on. As an additional bonus, the cliff sides served as decent sight blockers, and it let him wash in peace. As expected, the zippy little squirrels effortlessly caught up to him. 

The pail was handed over, and the Elder yawned wide again, rubbing his eyes to glance in the direction of the apiary. Apparently, he was spotted doing so, as the eldest girl had her arms crossed and cleared her throat at him. Before he could question her, she just pointed at the bag of food currently at her feet. Why carry what you could put down, and why let the Elder make an excuse to wiggle away?

“We’ll wait around here, Elder. In case you accidentally wander off.” Her voice was ironclad. Confident in this plan of theirs.

Resigning, he undid his Lazuli robe and grey Gi where he stood, and tossed the clothing over without folding them up. Old scars on him were plain to see, and they looked incredibly unpleasant up close. The oldest boy took the robe, but his eyes were locked on the injuries while his face contorted in phantom pain. The Elder was only wearing his pants, but even then, they could deduce some of the injuries went further down his sides, and likely spread across the legs. 

The children were speechless from seeing those scars up close for the first time, so the Elder broke that uncomfortable silence. “Let the robes air, maybe beat them with a stick a few times to make the fabric breathe. I don’t know how well that robe handles much of anything yet.” 

The Elder was eerily thin, and his arm strained just from picking up the pail. While the old man didn’t make a sound, the children gained a glimpse of insight on why everything physical seemed so difficult for the older people in town. With a body like that, the Elder looked so frail that even the youngest boy could test the old man’s salt–and win. 

This wasn't enough to force them to reconsider this whole venture when their worry met the iron will of the oldest girl. She was holding firm, so they did as well. It was just the six of them, less than she’d hoped, but the usual crew was here. No. Make that five, the third girl ducked out and was going home without as much as saying bye. Not up for more of this, which wasn’t uncommon. 

She did leave her sack though, so more snacks for the trip. That left the oldest girl, the oldest boy, the youngest girl, the youngest boy, and the mousy voiced boy. Good enough, they were the core group anyway. 

They all heard the humming from their Elder as he waded deep into the stream where the depth of the water was significantly more noticeable. They could never discern what kind of song the humming was, they just didn’t know it. 

It was one of those things that came from outside of the village, and their curiosity craved answers. A few meaningful glances later, and all but the oldest boy who was taking care of the robes crouched and stalked closer to the song. They thought they were doing well! 

However, as soon as the first face came around the bend the humming had already stopped. The youngest girl took a step back, eliciting glares from the rest of the crew. When she turned around her caught expression very clearly declared. “We’re Abyssed.” 

“I so look forward to hearing what reason you all might have to sneak up on an old man bathing. Especially when it was specifically asked that old man wasn’t to be bothered.” The Elder’s voice was passive and flat, but it made all the children squeeze their eyes shut in defeat and copy the ‘got caught’ expression. An old sigh was easily heard.

“I suppose it no longer matters; I can’t keep my secret spot hidden for much longer. I just about can no longer reach it anymore. Is everyone present?” His voice sounded defeated, a wet cough breaking up the way he was speaking. 

“No.” The oldest girl replied in defeat. There was no point in trying to hide anymore as the old voice continued. 

“Fetch whoever is missing, forget the bags, and leave your robes on the bank. What I’m showing you is under the water.” Confused, but interested, the scampering happened fast as the aged voice recovered. The oldest boy was involved in a hurry and just followed suit with robes and bags in tow. The group carefully stepped around the bend, since there was only so much bank to keep stable footing on while the stream sharply cut one of the hills in half. They found the Elder breathing steadily, deeply, and with repeated practice. 

He interrupted himself when he saw the small ones. “Alright, ask.” 

His already tired voice got right to the point as he needed to use both his hands to lift the pail and drink. Warm saltwater was great for bathing, but not for drinking. Questioning gazes did the rounds, but they fell on the oldest girl, the de-facto voice for this little band. She gave in, unable to lie to herself that she did in fact have several questions. 

“You humm this song that we don’t know, and we wanted to hear more. But that’s not the question I want to ask anymore.” She steadied herself for the big one. “Are you… alright?” 

Even a child could tell that he was having difficulty just breathing. He was out of breath, looked like he was about to fall apart, and was using both hands to lift a simple pail. The aged man pressed his thumbs into the inner rim of the small bucket to set it down. 

“...No, my dear. I’m not.” He wasn’t looking at them, rather he was steadily squinting into the water of the pail. 

“The song is a lullaby that I used to… sing.” he trailed off, mouth still moving to make the soundless words. “A long time ago.” 

With a stern breath, he put the container down and began wading into the water, stopping before the dangerous drop off approached as he wasn’t going to finish his answer about the song. He pointed up to the ridge and asked a flat question. “Does anyone recognize where we are?” 

Small eyes glanced, and the mousy voice chirped to life. “It’s where you fell.” 

The Elder nodded. “I always marvel at your memory.” 

Warmth fueled his smile as he saw the small boy crawl out of his shell from the praise. “When I fell that first time you all managed to trick me, the current swept me away. It pulled me under and under, and when I came up, I was in a cavern. I could breathe, and it wasn’t dark. What does that tell you?”

The oldest boy was pumped up with energy and wonder. “Secret Cave!” 

Excitement replaced trepidation in the group, but the oldest girl narrowed her eyes. “How is a cavern not dark?” 

The Elder peered into the hidden depths of the stream, searching for an answer. “I don’t know, and I believe it’s time to pass that torch on. Perhaps one of you will figure it out. Perhaps the children after you. Consider it a trade for the bad news I’m about to give you.” 

The oldest girl had a strong guess what this was going to be about and seared the wound early. “You can’t make it to the forest and you can’t give us our names.” 

Hearts dropped all around. The attention on the conversation between their leader and their Elder, who continued the chat. “I’m terribly sorry, my dears. I cannot make it to the forest. I expect I would make it about halfway, if my memory serves me right, as I just can’t see how far it actually is. Your names however. Well…” 

The Elder raised his head up and smiled at his children as he stabbed his thumb at the water below him. “Nobody listens to what they can’t hear. So… if I happen to be talking to myself while in an isolated corner where I can’t be overheard… perhaps the Fringe won’t be listening.”