@Antha and tessa both had been known to stir from slumber well before the sun's first rays had broken the horizon, so it came as no surprise to tessa when one morning she found herself waking to her sister's shadow.
laying next to each other, they shared more warmth than words as she took her time in waking. eventually she asked,
would you like to come gather herbs with me? our women will need them this year.
perhaps antha herself! she shivered with joy at the thought.
it seemed unspoken they would wait to exchange deeper conversation until they broached the edge of the summit, but as the naked, twisting branches of the maples came into view, she looked towards her sister once more.
antha woke when tessa did, stirring at the slightest movement from her sister. she'd always been a terribly light sleeper. but she didn't mind it. mornings with tessa were always the same; peaceful, quiet and sweet under the gentle sunlight while they each gained their bearing in the waking world.
after a time, tessa extended an invitation. of course,
antha smiled, and followed her lead in content silence. when the sisters had found something worth investigating, antha finally spoke again. i believe we should start an arlathan. we are already safe here, which means safety doesn't have to be the primary goal. i think we could make it something more. something greater.
she imagined a garden. budding life in its many forms. she offered a soft smile and provided a shallow nod. i think that's a lovely idea.
she believed in their security, but found it difficult to imagine what antha meant by 'greater'. do you know where you would like to have it?
there's a valley at the southwestern edge of the mountain, a secluded place,
antha told her in hushed tones, as if passing on a secret. the idea almost felt like one now, in its infancy. only the alphas could approve such an endeavor. i thought we might turn it into a garden.
the idea captured her. the urge to create was strong within tessa; no life of her own could she bear, so she instead she turned to aid the other women. there are many flowers we could harvest; i know of lilacs growing to the east.
she laughs and smiles. we could build the medicine cabinet inside, too.
lilacs. of course tessa would already know where beauty could be found in atautsikut's new territory. antha's own smiling laughter followed her sister's. of course you do,
she teased gently, but her voice was full of love. tessa could sniff out a single budding flower amidst winter's gloom, when the occasion called for it. we should keep our medicines and patients near to the entrance of the valley, i think. mothers and children at the far end.
she couldn't help it. she had a garden back home that she had lovingly tended through her illness. it had rended her heart to leave it behind, though she would have followed antha to the ends of the earth. mmm,
she agrees with a nod. the herbs will be close enough to retrieve for the women who need it, but far enough not to be a danger to any babies that might wander.
she expected atautsikut would keep a close watch on the children, and that it might not matter, but it was good to think ahead to prevent tragedy. she had known a boy when she was young that had sadly ingested poison and lost his life to his curiosity.