Chapter 4

There was a tree, an ancient, majestic old thing with swooping branches and leafy alcoves. Its bark was dark like the soil and rough. It was at least two armwidths around and it twisted and curved into the sweet forest air. This tree was surrounded by more ancient and more majestic old trees. Yet it reached high into the air, the topmost branches struggling to keep up with the bigger trees. But this tree was special, or so it seemed to Kieran. The whole tree tugged at his being and made him feel wild and untamed, a feeling he relished.

Kieran loved the tree from the very beginning, from the very start. The first time he spotted it he knew he wanted to climb it to the very top, to see the forest and his village beyond from that height. The tree seemed to call to him, it rather pulled at the pit of his stomach, it pulled him up, up, up. The tree pulled him to a height only birds knew, where the air was clear and crisp and the clouds seemed in his reach. When he first saw the tree he and Emma had been running, chasing each other round and round in the chilly spring morning.

They shrieked and laughed, stumbling and tumbling (on Kieran’s part) and climbing up and down trees (Emma only, Kieran couldn’t climb trees, well actually he had never tried). They raced through the forest, Emma running after Kieran, trying to catch him. He couldn’t remember what had started the game, whether he had done something to make her pursue him or vice versa but either way they were now they were sprinting after each other giggling hysterically. It was a very simple game, whenever one of them caught the other they switched, the person who was caught was now the “catcher”.

Kieran knew Emma could catch him in a flash if she wanted to; she was far faster. He had seen her dart through the forest when he pretended to be sleeping in the warm spring sun. She hadn’t known he was watching. Just the week before they had been lying in a grassy meadow, grasshoppers bouncing all around watching ants go about their daily work when the sun had lulled Kieran into an easy sleep. He had dreamed of something terrifying though and, when he was startled awake, he sat panting for a moment trying to remember. He looked around, the sun had sunk to a mid-afternoon height and it was a bit cooler than it had been before his nap. Kieran noticed his cloak was gone. Emma was missing too.

“Emma!” he called.

“I’m right here silly,” And there she was, right where she hadn’t been a second before. Kieran was sure of it.

 But she always pretended, acting like she couldn’t quite keep up, although sometimes, like right now, she forgot herself. Kieran dashed ahead of Emma but she was catching up, her bare feet flying through the leaves and foliage. Kieran felt a sudden splash of fear, the converse of his supposed emotions. Fear? But the odd sensation was washed away by a shout from behind him.

“Ha! I’ve almost got you!” Emma shouted. Kieran scampered away but right as he entered a particularly dense grove of trees something flung itself onto his back. Kieran felt himself lose his footing and he flew into the air. Kieran hit the ground and somersaulted, Emma tumbling after him. When they rolled to a stop Kieran struggled to push Emma off of him, both of them started giggling and wrestling, rolling over and over. Finally they paused; Kieran was out of breath, he made little huffing sounds every time he let out a breath. Emma poked him in the stomach.

“I think I won,” she said smiling. But Kieran wasn’t paying attention. He had looked up. There, looming above them was a giant tree. Something about it took his breath away, as if Emma had punched him in the stomach instead of poking him. It was bursting into bloom, the spring had fed it well and it was opening and spreading and just… vibrant. Kieran froze, then shoved Emma roughly off of himself.

“Hey!” she sounded hurt and surprised.

            “Shhhh,” Kieran didn’t even look at Emma, he was too transfixed with the tree. He stood up and took a tentative step towards it, never taking his eyes from the beautiful tree. Kieran’s neck was craned back trying to see the farthest branches, “Oh, how simply beautiful,” he breathed.

            “What is? Oh, you mean the tree?” Emma followed Kieran’s gaze and looked at the tree as well. The glory of it did not seem to strike her as it struck Kieran, “It’s just a tree, what’s so special about it?”

            Kieran tore his gaze from the tree and looked at her with incredulity etched on his face, “Well, just look at it! Can’t you see how… how majestic it is! Oh I want to see the world from the top! I bet I could see all the way to Bremen from up there!”

             “Honestly, I see nothing special about it, it is just a tree in a forest. There are millions of other ones just like it surrounding you Kieran!” Emma sighed, and Kieran looked at her again in amazement, she brushed him off and acted as if he were a silly child.

            “Oh Emma, couldn’t you teach me to climb trees!” Kieran looked at her pleadingly, “It’s a wonderfully useful skill, right?” He smiled at her in a way he had learned she couldn’t resist and hoped, hoped, hoped she would teach him.

            Kieran was learning that he loved the outdoor skills that seemed to come naturally to Emma. And to his extreme enjoyment, he was slowly acquiring them all. They had spent one golden afternoon a few days before finding paths and tracking animals. And yesterday Emma showed him how to move through the forest without making a sound. Emma slid through the thick undergrowth like a shadow, barely a sound and not moving a single branch. Kieran on the other hand clomped around like a wounded animal; no matter how quiet he tried to be the leaves always rustled, the branches always swayed.

            Emma had giggled herself silly, literally holding her sides and shaking as Kieran tried to sidle through a patch of brambles but instead only catching his clothes and scratching himself raw. Kieran loved this side of her, her eyes flashing and mane of hair flying as she laughed until she cried. Kieran watched her and smiled too, ignoring the thorns digging into his skin and the scratches across his arms and legs. That night he waited anxiously for his father to ask about the scratches but his father didn’t even notice; he just gave Kieran his supper then went back to workshop, never saying a single word.

            The scratches had scabbed over during the night and they weren’t bothering Kieran at all today, in fact he had all but forgotten them. Now he was too preoccupied with convincing Emma to teach him how to climb the tree.

            Emma seemed to be mulling it over, she looked at Kieran and then smiled, “Oh fine, I’ll teach you“

            “Thank you!” Kieran smiled.

            “Anytime” Emma looked around then back at Kieran, she smiled, “First you have to warm up.”

            “Huh?”

            “You have to get ready, stretch and stuff!” Emma looked knowingly at him the instructed in a superior voice, “Hop up and down a bunch.”

            Kieran was baffled but did as she said. Hopping in place then on one foot like she instructed him to. Next Emma assured him the flapping his arms would help him reach higher. After a moment or two of doing this Emma burst into laughter, the sound of it echoing around the forest. Kieran stopped his antics and looked at her, finally cottoning on the joke.

            “I don’t really have to warm up do I?” Emma shook her head, shaking with laughter. Kieran could feel the ridiculousness of the situation and how the embarrassment was creeping up from his toes.

            “That wasn’t very nice you know,” he said slowly, embarrassment turning to anger, “actually, it was downright mean.”

            “Oh but you looked so stupid! Hopping around like that! Oh!” And she dissolved into laughter again.

            Kieran could feel his face flush scarlet with anger.

            “Fine then!” the words were shot out of his mouth like poison, “laugh if you like, I’m leaving!” Kieran knew it was childish to turn his back and walk away but this was infuriating! Emma seemed to have two emotions, extreme anger and mocking indifference.

            Kieran had gone scarcely gone two steps before he heard Emma calling him back, he ignored her and continued walking.

            “I’m sorry I laughed! But it was so funny watching you,” she paused and giggled a bit, “I didn’t think you would actually do it! Oh do come back, I didn’t mean anything by it. Kieran, come back! I’ll teach you how to climb the tree! I promise I will this time!”

            Kieran was still angry and the fact he was being so immature only incited a deeper anger. Emma’s calls started to sound more upset. Then all of the sudden he was jerked violently back by his arm. Vivid words flowed around him that surely, if spoken by Kieran around the village, would have gotten Kieran a good thrashing. Kieran landed on his bottom and looked up to see a furious Emma glaring down at him.

            “I was talking to you!” the expression on her face was horrible, it was contorted and irate. Kieran could feel his mouth hanging open, shocked, where was the sweet little girl from just a minute before? She had suddenly turned into the violent girl from the day they met who had pushed him down the ravine.

            Emma was still shouting but Kieran realized her voice was more hurt than angry. Maybe he had hurt her feelings by walking away, he had never thought of Emma acutely as a human being with feelings too. In fact he rarely thought of anyone that way, he couldn’t exactly say how he viewed other people, but it certainly wasn’t as feeling and emotional as him.

            Kieran could only look up at her, trying desperately to find his voice. When he finally found it, it came out as a low croak, “Emma,” He tried again, “Emma, I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” Her voice quieted and she looked at him, looked long and hard at him.

            Then Emma spoke, her tone low with carefully controlled anger, “Kieran, you better start thinking about the effect you have on other people, and how you treat them.” Then she stood up and walked away. Leaving Kieran sitting on the ground of the quiet, still forest.

            The next few days were horribly boring for Kieran. His father had started work on a new stable for the lord who owned the land in the village and so was home even less and left Kieran with little to do in the days following Emma’s violent outburst. Kieran felt embarrassed and guilty over how he had treated Emma, these were entirely new feelings for him and guilt especially curled and uncurled hotly in his throat and stomach, making him want to squirm with the total unpleasantness of it. It was so strong he avoided the forest for over a week, making himself well seen in the village so no rumors would run about.

            Not that they would. Kieran wasn’t generally well liked. His father’s unpleasantness was enough that most people steered clear of the family. People paid little attention to children to begin with and combine that with a father that was well acknowledged to be very bad tempered and it made Kieran practically invisible. But this was all very well with Kieran who viewed any attention as bad attention. It was always better to be forgotten and left alone. Except when it came to Emma. Kieran didn’t enjoy it that much when Emma paid no attention to him, in fact he rather disliked it.

            Still, the days dragged on. Kieran spent his time wandering around the village alone most of the time. He avoided the other children; he didn’t feel much like talking with Astrid or Lukas. Unfortunately, Kaja caught him skulking around near the smith’s early one morning, grateful for the warmth, and dragged him away to join in with the others in a game of find and chase. Kieran was utterly surprised to find himself having fun.

            The next day followed in the exact same manner, except that Kieran himself went and found the game by himself. Kaja was ecstatic to see him and the others were kind as well, Lukas even made a comment about how he was turning into a regular social person and Kieran couldn’t help but smile. They ran through the streets again, swiping a bit of food here, and a trinket there. It was all good fun, being with other people lightened Kieran’s heart in a way that he rarely felt. But the feeling was becoming very familiar to him and Kieran couldn’t say that he minded.

            Kieran spent every day for almost week like that, streaking around the town under the warm sun in a large band of children. Looking in on the litter of kittens in the mill and catching mice to race along the side streets. Some days they just wandered and others they played wonderful games like Kieran had on the very first day.

            “Now!” Kaja shrieked, “Run, Kieran! Magda is coming!” She seized his hand roughly and nearly yanked his entire arm off as she burst from their hiding place behind some old shipping crates and sprinted up the street, Kieran in tow. Magda, a younger girl of about eight with a cramped sort of face, let out a squeak of surprise indicating she hadn’t known they were there then took off after them. They had been playing the hiding game for most of the  day now and Kieran

            Kieran was unlucky enough to be well acquainted with the feeling of Kaja dragging him and quickly found his footing and raced ahead of her, only to have her catch up easily. They ran giggling through the town, other children popping out of hiding spots and joining in when they were seen coming. They went on playing, Kieran himself being the Finder a few times and Kaja multiple times as she had an unlucky affinity for being too late in her escapes and even her superior speed was useless when she ran right into the Finder (like she did with Lukas). But the game was loads of fun and Kieran barely felt the hours slip by and before he knew it, it was time for dinner and to go home. Kaja parted wistfully with Kieran, making him promise to play again tomorrow. Kieran agreed and she lit up, twirling around a few times before giggling out a good bye before heading up the streets to her house. Kieran watched her go, smiling at her bouncing gait, then turned and made his way to his own home.

            When Kieran left his house the next morning the sun was shining down brightly, evaporating the wisps of damp mist left over from the night before. He made his way through the town, heading for the area where the children gathered normally. He was looking forward to seeing the other children and playing the entire day again. He had actually enjoyed the day before and didn’t even miss the forest  so much. He still felt the odd tug in his stomach from the tree though; it still made him want to jump and climb and swing from its branches. And he missed Emma.

            He was pondering this when something caught his eye, a flash of green on the dull grey of the wall surrounding the town. Kieran saw that it was a branch about the length of his arm lain across the top of the wall. It was full of green leaves just blossoming which meant that it had been cut from a tree and placed there by someone. Kieran went over to investigate. Three leaves had fallen from the branch and rested in the dirt; Kieran picked them up and inspected them. He half recognized the leaves, he had seen them before, obviously in the forest with Emma. No wonder he had recognized them.

            Kieran was just turning away when it struck him, he knew exactly which tree these leaves came from. He jumped up and down a few times trying to grab hold of the rest of the branch. When he did finally grasp it, he inspected the switch quickly once more. It was green on the inside and had been cut off cleanly with a knife. Kieran was willing to bet everything he owned he knew who had cut it. Emma. She was sending him a message! Maybe she missed him, maybe she had something to tell him. Kieran turned around and hurried off, leaving the piece of his tree laying on the ground next to the wall.

            The trees filtered sunlight down onto the forest floor and everything around Kieran was dappled and beautiful. Kieran felt the beauty of it all swell in his chest and he had to clench his fists to keep himself from screaming and laughing and dancing with joy. This was his true home, he felt happiest here. The way the birds sang in the trees and the insects buzzed around him sounded like the most glorious music. How could the somber hymns played in the church be considered closer to God than this, the spectacular tune He created Himself? This was God’s true house, the dazzling sun and bright life around him seemed a much more holy than the dank, stone building in the town.

            Kieran was still pondering this when there was a rustle from up ahead and someone stepped onto the path in front of him.

            “Hi, Emma,” Kieran said. Her arrival had startled him as it usually did, though Kieran knew she had brushed through the bushes on purpose to make a sound. She stood stock still in the middle of the path, her arms hanging limply at her side, her dress as earthy green as ever. She had her signature look on her face, the one she almost always wore when really scrutinizing Kieran; it was confusion and wonder and suspicion and a little bit of happiness. Kieran could spend all day just trying to read a single  moment in Emma’s face, when she was expressive that is. Emma seemed to have a veritable ocean of feelings just below her surface but the only part she showed was the dull, blank sheet. Except sometimes her emotions got the better of her and they burst across her face in a collage of hidden things. Lately, this seemed to be happening more and more, and Kieran could only wonder what else she hid below her calm demeanor.

            “Hi, Kieran,” Emma took a long step forward and held out her hand to beckon Kieran to her, “Come on, I’m going to teach you how to climb a tree.”