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He led me to a shed behind his house, opening it and taking out a bundle of canvas and rope. He handed them to me, then set an oil-wick lantern at my feet, a scythe, two bedrolls, and cooking supplies. Even a pair of worn shoes for me. The insides were soft, which I was grateful for. The skin on my feet was extra sensitive since I hardly used my human legs, and rough leather felt like sand.
We carried everything into the house, and he showed me how to pack everything up, so we had our fair share. I shoved the last of the jerky inside it. At least I didn’t have to cook that.
We have hours until sunset. We can make it pretty far into the jungle until then.
He handed me a scythe, and I laughed. “I can’t use this. I’ve trained with a sword, never a scythe.”
I can show you how.
“Great, more work,” I muttered.
Kaga snorted. I opened my mouth to respond, but Squiggles squeezed my neck. “Squiggles needs some water,” I said. I headed toward the ocean, which was only a short walk from the back of Kaga’s house. Gently, I lowered Squiggles into the water. Kaga came up to my side, watching what I was doing with interest.
How long can he be out of water?
“Not very,” I said. “He could stay out infinitely if he could master his magic.”
Octopuses have magic?
I placed Squiggles on my shoulder, his wet tentacles weaving into my hair. “Of course. All sea creatures have a little magic. Some animals, like octopi, are a little more intelligent than others.”
I have an idea. Stay here. Kaga left me and ran back into the house. A moment later, he ran back to me, his hair flopping wildly as the sun’s rays lit up his face. I stared for a second, wondering what it would be like to kiss those lips again, then shook myself. It must have been too long since I last shared a hammock with someone. That was all it was. I was positive.
Kaga handed me a glass jar with a wire wrapped around its mouth and then up, forming a handle. He dipped it into the water, filling it, then offered it to me. There are streams and ponds along the way we can refill this with.
I took it gratefully, surprised by his thoughtfulness. “Thank you, this is perfect.”
We headed back to the house, gathering our gear. I attached the jar to my satchel, hoping the water wouldn’t spill out too much as we moved.
Let’s go.
I reluctantly waved goodbye to the comfortable beds. I had been looking forward to trying one out for the first time ever. Whenever I came to land, it was for only a day, and only to the small village here to trade. Kaga lead me down a winding path through the sand that eventually turned to dirt. Palm trees of all shapes and sizes loomed over me, joined by other trees I didn’t recognize. I’d never gone this far into the island before.
As Kaga led me down the winding path, the palm trees cast long shadows over us. The air grew thicker, saturated with the scents of tropical flora and the distant sound of waves crashing against the shore. We ventured deeper into the island, leaving the familiar behind.
The path narrowed, and the trees intertwined overhead, creating a natural canopy that filtered the low sunlight. The leaves rustled gently in the warm breeze, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of adventure stirring within me. This was uncharted territory, a realm of mysteries waiting to be uncovered. The feeling of wonder surged in my heart, and I knew exactly what Kaga meant when he said he wanted to explore the whole realm.
Occasionally, we passed by small streams that meandered through the lush foliage. The sound of trickling water was soothing, providing a comforting song to our journey. Kaga pointed out these water sources, assuring me we could refill the glass jar he had given me along the way. Squiggles had already crawled in it, not wanting to stay out of the water for longer than he had to.
As we walked, the terrain gradually shifted. The ground became softer, and the sounds of wildlife grew more prominent. Birds of vibrant colors flitted between the branches, their sounds carrying back and forth. I marveled at this new and untamed world.
We pressed on, going further into the jungle. The path became less defined, and we had to tread carefully around tangled roots and fallen branches. Kaga’s familiarity with the island proved invaluable as he skillfully maneuvered through. He slashed overgrown greenery with his scythe when needed. I followed his lead, trying my best to keep up. At least I didn’t have to unsheathe my scythe.
Time seemed to blur as we navigated toward the heart of the island. The sun began its descent, casting an orange glow through the dense foliage. The air grew cooler, hinting at the approaching twilight. Kaga turned to me with a smile, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
We should set up camp soon, he said, glancing around for a suitable spot. Tomorrow we’ll be able to set up camp closer to the moonflower.
I nodded in agreement, weary. His excitement was catching, though, and I was starting to get it. I just hadn’t spent this long on legs in my entire life. We found a small clearing bathed in the fading light, its grassy floor soft beneath our feet. We set down our gear, and Kaga immediately got to work, making the canvas into a tent, something I had no experience with. When he was done, we unrolled the bedrolls and arranged them for tonight. It wouldn’t be too bad, but the beds would have been softer.
The oil-wick lantern flickered light, warding off the encroaching darkness until Kaga built us a fire. Another thing I had never done. Shadows moved across his face as he worked, his expression serious as he concentrated on making camp for us. We ate rice, cooked by Kaga, along with the dried jerky as night fell, the sounds of the jungle accompanying our meal. Insects chirped, and unseen creatures rustled in the undergrowth.
“You haven’t told me much about why you don’t want to be an ambassador,” I said after I finished a bite of rice. “Don’t they get to travel?”
You’d think, said Kaga dryly. I’ve been with my parents to multiple places, but they only visit the ruler or person in charge, then go home. They have deadlines to meet that force them to move quickly.
“Hmm. If you were an ambassador, couldn’t you do it differently?”
Kaga put down his fork. I asked that once. My parents paled. They did try to have fun once, but were severely reprimanded when they were late for their next meeting. They drilled it into me to always be on time. They told me they’d have time for fun when they retired. Why?
