The Day Has Come

Shandra could barely sleep in two days would be her coming of age ceremony. She had to wait for the first full moon after her 10th birthday. She was so excited, she could feel the breeze,it is starting to warm up and the sun that came from her window. The warmth hearted her body slowly, breathing with length taking in all the sweet smells that vanish when the cold northern wind comes with winter. Her brother the warm southern wind a sign of the frutal season is coming. Warm days to play in the creeks with Darwin. Walk the forest with him and still write in a journal. They have filled many. During winter they only came out once a week, if the snow was not too deep. The message beg was well worn and many stories has been passed in its pocket.

That reminded her that they were meeting today. Her body vibrates with anticipation. It has been a while because he has been plowing the fields for a month. She had blessed the field for Darwin and his father to have a good yielding crop this year. She has done this each year for them. At first she did not tell Darwin but he found out the second year. At first he was upset because she withheld the information from him. In the end Darwin thanked her and at the end of each season she would bring a couple bushels of vegetables, white potatoes, sweet potatoes, turnips, carrots, cabbage and bunches of greens. Those vegetables feed the castle for most of the winter.

She took two biscuits from the kitchen and put them in the message bag. She started her walk to the forest. The sun was almost directly over head almost true midday. As she crossed the big stream a rustle from the bushes she was heading towards. She paused listening then a beautiful ten point buck. Shandra smiles he was the baby fawn from years ago. Once she was on the bank she slid her hand from the top of his head down his neck to his back. 'You have grown quite a bit. You are a beautiful, strong buck. May your offspring will be as majestic as you and your mother.' Shandra said bowing her head, smiled pat his neck once more and headed to the spot she was going to meet Darwin. She closed her eyes and let the smells greet her nose. Scents of new growth, the first flowers, sweet, earthy, and floral. 'Oh the trees are waking up' she said with a smile touching the rough bark of the tree that she first saw Darwin in the field many years ago. She looks up letting the small beam of sun shine warm her face. She was going to be high Priestess over this land one day. Her smile widen even more. Joy flowed through her body. She heard some twigs and brush being crushed under a boot. She did not turn to see who it was, she already knew. 'So the field work is done for now?' Her face still tilted towards the sky. 'For now' said a voice she had not heard all winter. A rich warm voice that alway brought a smile to her face. Without looking at Darwin she opened her eyes and started her climb. She could hear Darwin follow. She climbed till she was half way up the tree. This branch could hold her and another branch was close that would hold Darwin's weight. I could tell he has been working the field, his clothes were covered in dirt and moist with sweat. As she sat straddling the branch she started to dig in the bag. Pulling out the book that she had been writing in all winter. As she looked at it she remembered some of the stories she had written to him. She glances up to see Darwin climb the last few feet and rest on his branch. 'Beautiful day isn't it?' He said with a bit of wonder in his voice. When she looked at him she notices that he also had a bag. This brought a question upon her face. But Darwin just smiled and pulled out a book of his own. 'You made yourself a book too,' Shandra said with excitement in her voice. They both smiled at each other and handed each other the book they brought. As Shandra put the book in her bag she pulled out 2 biscuits and a small pot of honey that she had been saving all winter. 'So how is the field?' 'It is plowed and ready to be sewn, it was hard work but I like it.' He flexed his right arm as he said the last part which made Shandra laugh. 'What are you planing to grow this year? Anything interesting?' She took another bite of her biscuit. She willed a branch to move so she had a good line of sight of the freshly plowed field. 'Some wheat, barley, turnips, and maybe some potatoes. If I remember correctly you liked how good my turnips are.' Darwin said with a smile. The light was bright and she could feel the warmth of the sun heating up the leaves around her. 'Two more days till the full moon.'

There was something on her voice that made Darwin feel a bit apprehensive. Something was not right. She had been looking foresto this for all the time he has known her. He looked into her eyes. Her eyes made his heart feel closer but still at arms length. Was she worried? Was she scared? What was she thinking?