First Forest - Viola Grace Page 0,1
wait? They might not let you in.”
She chuckled. “Then, they would have a problem. Thank you for your help.”
He bowed slightly, and the transport left.
She walked toward the gatehouse and smiled. “Hello. I am here for a wedding.”
She slid her documentation along the counter.
“No one is allowed in the forest without clearance. You had better get back in your transport.”
She inclined her head. “Please run the identification.”
He snorted and swiped her ident card. His eyes went wide. “Professor Nahe! Apologies. I wasn’t expecting you to look like...”
He waved at her.
“Yeah. I get that a lot. Can we get on with the clearances, and you can confiscate all of my tech.” She smiled politely.
“Oh, yes, Professor.” He snapped into work mode, and she soon was having her clothing examined for artificial fibers, and her communication and entertainment items were removed and stored for her.
She was given a large square of fabric to take her clothing in, and when she was properly attired, the door opened, and she stepped through.
She might not be considered a villager, but she had still been born inside the forest. That gave her a certain cache in her research circles, but right now, it meant only one thing. It was time to go home.
Abiha walked for two miles, stopping at familiar streams for water and continuing on as the sun went down. She was going to arrive after dark, which wasn’t ideal.
The village lights flickered ahead of her, and she altered her steps to the standard village glide to avoid making too much noise as she passed the homes where families were gathered for dinner.
She found her mother’s home at the far edge of the village, and she scratched lightly at the door. It took a minute before her sister slid the door open. They stared at each other for a moment, each taking in the maturity of the other. Ledana Alwe stepped aside and let Abiha inside, closing the door before she was enveloped in a hug.
“I didn’t think you were coming.”
“I sent a letter to mother last week. Didn’t she get it?” Abiha returned the hug.
Ledana was one year younger than she was, but they looked like twins. “She might have, she’s been tense over the wedding. Jimon’s family is fine with me, but Mom is holding on to the ancient tradition.”
“Well, I have my ceremonial clothing with me, so I can do the asking tomorrow if you like. Oh, shit. I have to go to the temple.”
Ledana’s eyes widened. “Go. Shoo.”
Abiha nodded, put her shoes back on, and walked to the large, dark structure tucked under the trees. She left her shoes on the ground and walked up the steps and into the temple, kneeling in front of the altar and bowing. “Kiloh of the forest, please allow me to stay within your demesne, eat of your food, and drink of your water.”
The water fountain turned on after a moment, and she exhaled slowly. It wasn’t the first time the forest had answered her, but it was the most direct.
“Abiha, you have returned.” A familiar voice accompanied footsteps that approached her.
She slowly straightened, her hands precise and settled on her thighs. “Priest Garo, you have not aged a day.”
He crouched next to her.
He literally looked the same as he did when she had left. He had argued with her parents about her departure, but her father’s illness couldn’t be cured with anything in the forest, and he wanted to complete his research and teach others before he died. He couldn’t do that in the forest, and he needed help dealing with his radiation degradation.
He had died in intense pain, but he knew that his work would be carried on by those he had instructed.
Priest Garo smiled. “You are being kind. Rest assured that I have felt every moment that you were gone.”
“Um, that’s very kind of you, but my departure was necessary, just as my return is.” She smiled slightly.
“The forest has offered you water. You will not drink it?”
She blushed. “Pardon. I have forgotten some of the niceties.”
The scoop for the water was nearby, and she scooped up some of the water running in front of the altar, and she sipped at it before pouring what she didn’t take on top of the statue of the stag. She scooped up a second dipper and looked at the priest. She offered it to him with her head down. He took some, and then, he handed it back to her, and she poured it over