Summer In The Mountains
Winter passed slowly but eventually it loosened it icy claws and spring wormed it’s head out of the damp earth and greeted the sun. Plants began growing, the deciduous tress began budding.
The Steef had also become more active, the whole of the underground Steef civilisation was swarming with activity like a bee hive. The whole place was in chaos, but there seemed method to the madness, one of which Bailey couldn’t grasp,
“What’s happenin’?” she finally asked Alika, “Everyone’s all rush, rush, rush, what’s it all about?”
“Winter has passed,” Alika explained, “We can go back to where we belong, among the growing things in the deep wilds.” Bailey wasn’t sure how to answer this so she took the statement mutely. So the Steef were moving back to their summer homes? Bailey wondered why they weren’t going back down south to the Mongo Valley. She’d ask Stranger later.
“Bailey, could you fold the bed sheets for me?” Bailey nodded and went to fold the sheets and blankets.
¤§¤
“Stranger?”
“Um?” Stranger lay with his eyes closed, Bailey leaned up against him, it had been a long day and everyone was tired.
“We’re moving soon aren’t we.”
“Yes, I guess we are.”
“Why don’t they go back south? Sekto’s gone, they’re not in danger anymore…”
“I guess…when yer’ve been afraid fer so long, goin’ back so quick is kinda hard.” There was a pause; “They’ve bin afraid fer a long while kid. They need time.” Bailey nodded and snuggled up to Stranger’s warm stomach. Stranger absent-mindedly stroked Bailey’s hair. Bailey yawned and closed her eyes, and she was soon drifting off to sleep.
Tomorrow would be a long day.
¤§¤
The next day did turn out to be long one with a lot of things to do and Bailey worked just as hard as the Steef; bringing and fetching and carrying, packing various things and getting stuff ready. She found out that when the Steef moved to their summer homes they didn’t take anything they couldn’t carry. They’d be back come mid-autumn. As a result they only took small things with them when they moved to their summer homes.
Within a week - amazingly in Bailey’s eyes – her Steef family were packed and ready to leave. Bailey couldn’t believe it, when her and her mother had moved house when Bailey was eight years old it had taken over a month.
“So…we’re leaving, tomorrow?” she asked as she flopped onto the floor of the front room there evening before they were due to leave.
“Yep.” Said Haigar enthusiastically, “You gonna love it in the summer homes Bailey. I’ll havta show you all the secret places, it’ll be fun.” Bailey chewed her lip thoughtfully,
“Won’t it be…dangerous…travelling on our own?” she asked.
“Oh we won’t be travelling alone.” Said Daimen, “The tribe go together, there’s safety in numbers.” Bailey nodded but couldn’t help thinking that it would be a good time for attackers…
Bailey yawned suddenly. Stranger chuckled,
“Bedtime fer yer squirt.”
“But I’m not…not…” Bailey protested sleepily, she yawned again and blinked slowly. Stranger chuckled again and picked her up. Bailey was asleep by the time he’d put her to bed.
“Night kid.” He muttered, before kissing the human’s forehead and leaving quietly, softly closing the door.
¤§¤
“Wake up Bailey.” The voice was warm and coaxing but Bailey was having none of it. With a sleepy protest the human pulled the sheets higher and snuggled down into her pillow. “C’mon kid, I know yer warm an’ comfy but we gotta go.”
“Bur it’s early…” Bailey mumbled.
“I know kiddo.” The voice said gently and patiently, “But we still have ter go.” Bailey opened one amber-hazel eye. Stranger came into focus. He smiled, neon green eyes bright. “Mornin’ kid.” He said. Bailey yawned and stretched.
“Mornin’ Stranger.” She yawned.
For the first time Stranger realised how much he had affected the human. When they’d first met Bailey’s accent was precise, a proper British accent (not that Stranger knew that), but now he sharply heard the difference. She drawled more like him now and he suddenly recollected all the times Bailey had used his phrases. And he knew too that he’d changed as well; in more ways then one.
They’d adjusted to fit each other. They’d each influenced the other in a hundred small ways; mannerisms, accents, how they saw the world around them…it just went on and on.
Maybe that was what being a family was about, Stranger thought, they knew each other’s darkest secrets, and it was okay. They had altered their ways and habits to make life easier. Maybe that was what families were all about…
Stranger liked this idea. A lot.
Bailey sat up and scratched her tousled hair, Stranger chuckled as it stuck up in all directions. Bailey looked at him with one squinted eye.
“What?” Stranger, still chuckling smiled broadly and shook his head. “
What?” Bailey asked more insistently, grinning and poking Stranger in the stomach. Stranger growled teasingly and caught Bailey up in his arms and into a hug. Bailey closed her eyes and put one arm around Stranger, rubbing her cheek on his fur. Stranger purred and raked his claws gently through Bailey’s windswept mane and smoothed it down.
“Love yer kid.” He muttered,
“Love you too yer big lug.” Bailey answered.
¤§¤
“Er Stranger, sweetie, Bailey can’t breath.” Bailey choked as the Steef wound her thick, green Grubb scarf around her throat.
“I ain’t riskin’ yer gittin’ sick again.” Bailey quirked a half smiled and rolled her eyes skyward. But she couldn’t be too hard on Stranger, she’d been just the same, making sure her Steef was protected from the cold and damp.
“Fair enough, but yer don’t havta choke me.” She grinned and poked him gently. Stranger grunted but he smiled as he pulled Bailey’s woolly hat over her ears. He looked her over, scrutinising. Finally satisfied he sharply nodded his head once. Bailey had one her Grubb warmsuit, thickest shirt and pants, her dark, fingerless gloves, and her woollens. At her feet was her personal pack, with spare clothes as well as her southern ones and all her supplies and equipment.
She’d wanted to carry one of the packs supported with wooden frames with the Steef’s belongings as well, but they hadn’t let her on the grounds she was too small. Haigar had grown so he had now had over two feet on Bailey so she couldn’t point out that he was just as short anymore.
Bailey swung her pack onto her shoulders and trotted out after Stranger. The rest of the family were all wrapped up as well with their packs ready and waiting. Stranger swung his own framed pack onto his shoulders, he was also wrapped up warmly. Bailey stifled a grin as she recalled the memory of herself making sure he was as such.
Daimen gathered his family around,
“Everyone ready?” there were nods and a couple of exuberant ‘YES!’s from Loki and Bailey. Daimen chuckled and led his family from the Steef home and joined the throngs of Steef flowing out of the caverns to meet on the snow plains topside.
Bailey looked back at the comfortable globe-shaped house that had become her home. Though she relished being outside and in the fresh air again, she would not have any qualms come autumn of returning here to this underground city where she felt safe from the world. But until then, she turned her back on the cavern, wherever her Steef family went, she would go too. Bailey took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Adventure was calling her name and she would answer it, with her new family by her side.
She was the only human among a different race. And though she felt incomplete with out Slig and Abe, Bailey had no doubts, this was where she belonged.
-----
That was so short I could cry…
