“Ahhh, yes, one of my favorite happenings in the realm, when the forest flows into the river valley. It is truly a handshake of beauty. The thick greenery of the forest meets the soft grass fields of the valley.” Ferdinand raised his gangly limbs as high as they would go. He filled his lungs with the fresh, open air of the valley.
“The mouth of the river, that’s my tribe,” said Mundi, pointing at a curve in the river, which was met by grand weeping willows. Their leaves swept the ground in the breeze coming off the water, making a peaceful swooshing sound. Quaint thatched buildings lined the bank of the river.
As they approached more buildings, the rhythmic harmony of water flowing through a mill sparked John’s senses. “What a nice place to live,” he grinned at Mundi. “Explains why you’re always in a jolly mood.”
A toothy smile stretched across Mundi’s chiseled face. “It’s not half bad, my friend. I only wish I could stick around more.”
“Your family has so many shops and to-dos… and what-fors in every town up and down the river. Now you have your guardian tasks. It’s no wonder you have time shut your eyes for a moment of sleep,” declared Ferdinand in his usual matter-of-fact tone.
“My plate is full; that’s how we live here. We do many things,” replied Mundi, proudly gripping the straps of his backpack.
“Luvenis!” A sturdy older man stood at the base of a willow tree. “I’ve been expecting you!”
Mundi hastened his pace, backpack clanging with every step. “Avus!”
The two gripped each other’s shoulders and touched noses. The man was broad and muscular, like Mundi. The man had defined ears that grew out to a point. Silky white hair flowed past his rugged shoulders. His face was draped with a long white beard and eyebrows that outlined his intense gaze.
“You have not met my human friend from the passageway,” Mundi stumbled.
John offered a hesitant wave. “Um, hello.”
Avus turned to John and smiled, softening his weathered, stern face.
“What do you have cooking in there?” Ferdinand grumbled, rubbing the pudge around his middle. “I’m positively ravenous.”
“Well, that’s no surprise,” Avus smirked. “Hoppers certainly do eat a lot for their small stature.
“Can’t be helped; we hoppers have an unusually high metabolism,” Ferdinand replied, in a matter-of-fact manner.
“Indeed, too much jovial goings on after the sun sets, I gather.” Avus raised his brow. “When you return to the hopper colony, tell Cornelius that the constant celebrating keeps us awake well after a decent hour over here. All the splashing, hooting, hollering, and carrying on…. quite unseemly.”
“We hoppers do know how to have a good time,” Ferdinand grinned sheepishly. “You should come by some time. It would not be the end of you to have a little fun every now and then. Cornelius has been waiting for a visit from you.”
“Thank you for the invitation. I will consider it.” Avus shifted his attention to Mundi. “Come, come… There is much to talk about.” He led them through narrow pathways between weeping willow branches. They passed porch after porch overflowing with flowers and pottery. Each front door had unique carvings.
“The doors represent their bloodline trait. We all have a skill passed through generations. You see?” Mundi pointed at a door with a carving of the sun. Its rays stretched from top to bottom. At the bottom of the door was a pair of hands cupped together to catch the rays. “Light catchers…”
“It’s wonderful. You would never know any of this is here behind the willows.” John gasped.
“That is intended, my friend.” He pointed to another door with carved trails and footprints going in every direction. “My family… we are trackers.”
Avus turned into the walkway leading to the trackers’ door. “My hopper friend, you will find a nice meal inside.” He pushed the door open and cordially guided them in. On the other side of the door was darkness interrupted by the warm glow of candlelight.
“I smell it already. Something delicious is bubbling over. Ever so thoughtful, Avus,” said Ferdinand, letting his nose lead the way.
“Aviam always has a meal going. She never allows a stomach to rumble in this part of the river’s mouth.” Avus stepped around an open room, lighting more candles. He clutched one of the candles and ignited a flame on a pile of logs settled in a grand stone hearth. “Rest here.” The candlelight revealed several dense cushions huddled around a wooden table cut from the trunk of a willow.
The aroma of candles and herbs seasoning his next meal filled the air. John felt a sense of calm rush over him. He plopped down on one of the cushions and eased his bag off his shoulders.
Mundi entered the room with a simmering pot and enough bowls to serve everyone. “Soup’s on! This is a good batch, too…. snapping gullies right out of the mouth of the river. They are mean if you’re in the water, but they sure do make a tasty meal. I absolutely, positively, can not remember the last time I was this hungry.”
“Nor can I,” Ferdinand muttered, hopping onto a cushion.
Mundi slid a bowl in front of the group and scooped a hearty serving of herb-seasoned vegetables and fish into each bowl. “These were caught today, just before sunset,” he declared. “No better catch than the fish right here at the mouth of the river.”
Each bite was like velvet in John’s mouth. The flavors danced around on his tongue. He ate, and ate, one bowl after another, until his stomach could not hold another drop. “Thank you, this was exactly what I needed,” he huffed, lying back against the cushion
Ferdinand moaned and rubbed his throbbing belly. “I don’t know if I’ll ever eat again, but it was worth it.”
“Ahh, nonsense, old wise one,” said Mundi. “All you have to do is loosen your belt.” As he released the slack on his belt buckle, his middle spilled over his pants. “That’s more like it.”
A croaking belch roared from Avus’s mouth. “A meal is never complete until the body gives its stamp of approval.” He wiped the bits from his beard with a satisfied grin. “Now, Luvenis, we have many things to discuss.”
Mundi gave an acknowledging nod. “John is here now. We can get to the matter of those things.”
John swallowed the lump in his throat. “Things? What sort of things?”
Avus held up a candle and lit it. “Rest easy, young man. This will guide us.” As the flames danced about, footprints appeared along the outside of the candle. They trailed all the way up to the flame. The elder tribesman slid a pipe across his lips, using the candle’s flames to light it. He slid his eyes shut.
“What is it? What do you see, Avus?” Mundi asked anxiously.
He unraveled a blank scroll across the table, then poured melted wax over the surface. The footprints spilled onto the scroll, making a trail. Trees, rivers, towns, and other parts of the realm began to pop up on the scroll.
“It’s a map,” whispered John. “Outstanding.” Everyone looked on astonished as details filled up the scroll.
“I see doors… three doors,” Avus muttered. “They lead to other realms.”
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