Fall

The incident with Sam ended any further contact. Amanda was content that Elder Shuang followed his word and added more inclusivity for his Buddy Tao Sect. So, weeks passed with the lively season. The interchanging of the Sun and the Moon did little to affect Caleb and Amanda's livelihood.

Caleb's knife warped from overuse, so he was forced to learn to shape wood with his vitality. He surrounded a piece of wood and Admittedly, he produced much more realism and detail in less time, but Caleb still liked the feeling of real wood in his hand and cutting piece by piece. By now, his room was crowded with figurines, each designed after every person and animal he saw.

Amanda discarded the hatchet and used tendrils of vitality to collect more wood. She even made a separate shed to store it. She grew reluctant to sewing, as she made more than enough clothing. It was a waste to hunt another wolf or bear, since they had more meat and hides than needed.

Amanda thought it was cruel to do so. Caleb added that overhunting created more work. They both also thought that it could wipe out wolves and bears, which then could disturb the ecosystem of prey and predators. What else kept the deer and rabbit populations in check? What else established territory and prevented new animals from taking over?

The rest of the summer slipped by like a Caleb's hand up Amanda's pleated skirt. Actually, they spent most of their summer indulging in their time alone. There wasn't much else to do otherwise. As the days grew hotter, so did their time in their bedroom…

Soon, strong monsoons swept through! Unlike the later dry monsoons, summer monsoons brought monstrous flooding! Swirling whirlwinds whipped through the Monotone Woods, stirring up trouble and uprooting plants and animals alike! A week could pass entirely bogged down by the pouring skies!

One late summer day, a particularly strong monsoon ripped through the Monotone Woods! The Fir trees shook at their foundation and Villages panicked! Animals burrowed deep into their homes or hid deep in caves! Birds left long ago in migrating flocks!

Caleb hugged Amanda from behind as they cooperatively formed a connection with the monsoon. Since they willed it, the weather drizzled faintly overhead.

Amanda asked, "Should we stop it?"

Caleb lazily grunted.

"This is the natural order of things. If we interfere with the rain and winds, that disturbs how much water is spread across the lands. Not only that, but the monsoons occur seasonally. If we stop the flow, then the cycle stops entirely."

Amanda turned around and pulled on Caleb's beard.

"You just don't want to do anything at all, do you? Excuses, excuses, excuses…"

Caleb kissed Amanda's forehead.

"There's nothing wrong with preserving our life together."

Amanda softly shook her head.

"I still keep thinking about how we aren't do enough."

Caleb gave her a reassuring smile

"It's better to do nothing than to ruin everything by not knowing how our actions affects others."

Amanda straightened her hair out.

"I'm not sure if that's true…"

A faint voice shouted in the distance.

"Go away! It's mine!"

Amanda crawled over Caleb and looked out the window.

"It's more people."

Three men ran through the Monotone Woods. Their clothes whipped in the raging winds and their bodies were soaked to the brim.

The long haired redhead shouted, "Give me some of the bark! I only need a handful!"

The short haired blond yelled, "I need that the tree! It has the last ingredient for my invention!"

"F*ck off!" screamed the black haired man in front. "It's mine! It's not yours!"

Caleb scratched his head and groaned.

"You're not thinking of getting involved— ah, I should've known."

Amanda hopped off the bed and burst through the window. She hovered in front of the three men.

"Why are you here?" she demanded.

A thrum of vitality entangled the three men in place. They struggled for a moment, but realized their efforts were fruitless.

"Who are you!"

"Let me go!"

"Don't take it! It's mine!"

Amanda sighed and dragged them in front of her.

"You, speak first."

She pointed at the black haired man. He shook his head back, moving the soggy hair out of his eyes.

"My name's Pete! Pete the Planter! I practice the art of Penjing. One day, I bought a seed from a traveler and it turned out to be a rare find! It's the unique Gupta-Percha Tree, a one-of-a-kind! I tried to hide the news, but these thieves found out nd tried to take it from me!"

Amanda brushed back her hair and pointed at the long haired redhead.

"You?"

He tried bowing his head, but awkwardly failed.

"I am Oscar. I used to live as a simple farmer, but my father fell ill. I did everything I could, but the doctor said he needed a handful of Gupta-Percha bark to do anything. I spent months searching and finally found a Tree I could harvest. Please! My father has just a week left, so I have to get back home as fast as I can!"

Amanda shifted her earthy eyes to the blond man.

"I need to harvest a substance from the leaves of that tree. It makes a stretchy substance that is perfect for making a prosthetic leg. I spent too much time finding a way to let my sister walk again… I, Quincy, will be damned if I let it go to waste!"

Amanda sighed.

"Then why are you all fighting over this small tree?"

She levitated the sapling so she could inspect it. It grew about as tall as half her arm. Tiny buds sprouted on the thin branches. A strong hum of vitality surrounded the small tree.

"It's mine! They can't even pay me for it and they'll kill it with their greed!"

"My father doesn't have anymore time to wait!"

"I can't bear to see my sister looking sad anymore!"

Amanda waved her hand and shut them all up.

"You could have waited together and solve your troubles one at a time. If you asked Pete first, you all could have traveled to Oscar's father and delicately harvest as much bark needed without killing the tree. Then, Pete could bring his tree to Quincy or Quincy could stay at home researching until the tree grows its leaves. You could get your leaves after the tree grows more."

Pete yelled, "I don't want those thieves anywhere near my Gupta-Percha Tree! They'll take it from me, kill it, and then maybe kill me! I don't care about whatever excuses they make up trying to steal what's rightfully mine! Did they put in any effort to grow my precious tree? I don't think so!"

Oscar sobbed and cried, "Please! My father's life matters more than anything I own! I promise to repay you if you can help save him!"

Quincy scoffed and said, "I wanted the leaves. Is there any problem with wanting to take some? They'll fall off of the tree when autumn comes around, so you won't need them."

"I don't know you fools!'

"Please, I need your help!"

"You don't need the leaves! Do you know how important they are to me?"

Amanda felt her blood burning and a headache grew with every addition word they spoke.

"Shut up!"

She waved her hand and commanded a connection between the monsoon and the Gupta-Percha Tree! An influx of raging energy stormed into the plant, causing it to wildly grow! In an instant, it bloomed miniature green flowers and tiny fruit! Leaves sprouted all over and thick branches protruded from all directions on the trunk!

"Goddess above!"

"Holy Spirit!"

"By the Tao Sects!"

Amanda let the Gupta-Percha Tree land in front of them. By now, it towered about thirteen meters above the heads of the demanding men.

"Take the tree and leave. If you come back, I will punish you."

"Thank you, Holy Spirit!" cried Oscar. He ripped a few handfuls of bark and stuffed it into his bag. He left shortly after.

"Please excuse my inappropriate actions. I did not know your respectable person was here."

Quincy kowtowed to Amanda.

"May I take some leaves?"

Amanda gestured to the tall tree.

"Try it."

Quincy bowed and then gave his thanks. He grabbed a few branches and broke them off from the tree. He left after harvesting the leaves.

"Goddess…"

Pete remained on his knees.

"Ugh… Annoying."

Amanda waved her hand and the Gupta-Percha Tree uprooted itself. Some of its roots tangled around Pete's body and lifted him onto a thick branch.

"Take the tree and leave me alone."

"Goddess!" Pete yelled as the tree took him into the distance. "I will worship you for the rest of my life!"

Amanda grumbled, "That was too annoying!"

Caleb finally got up to the window and called out to her, "Yeah, it was. Still, that's one way of dealing with the monsoon."

He looked up to the weakened monsoon.

"This will give a weaker rainfall, but the flooding won't cause as much damage."

Amanda flew into Caleb's arms and hugged his chest.

"See how annoying it is?" Caleb told her. " This is three people fighting over one thing, so how much work would it take to fix all of their problems? How much work would it take to make sure they are all satisfied? In the end, they will rely on us to solve everything and we will lose our freedom."

Amanda sighed and rubbed her head against his chest.

"We have to help them if they come to us. Doing nothing is wrong."

Caleb shook his head.

"If we keep helping us, they will keep coming back to us for help. Human always want more than what they have."

Amanda tugged on his beard.

"Aren't we still human?"

"We will never be human again. This Inheritance gave us power. We will live beyond the Neeman Village and many generations to come. It's better to focus on what we can have together than to worry about others."

Amanda giggled.

"Being more withdrawn doesn't stop us from encountering new people and new things. It's fine if we make friends and help others out because it's the right thing to do."

Caleb frowned.

"Is it really the right thing? People will abuse our help and even hurt others in jealousy or envy. I know you want to go back to the Neeman Village, but what if the time comes that someone takes advantage of our inexperience and holds them hostage? What if infighting happens? What will we do if they grow to be too many people?"

Amanda pulled his sapphire eyes to face her.

"We'll have to take the chance that our help goes a long way."

"Fine. Nothing matters if I can protect us from the World."

Caleb bent his neck down and kissed Amanda. They got busy in the bedroom once more.

When autumn arrived, their passion cooled down. Squirrels prepared for winter, insects cozied to pass the cold, and flowers wilted. Life took its sweet time to prepare for longer days. Time moved on, ignoring whatever happened, like usual.