Barbarian Lover(16)

We head out of the cave into the snow and walk a bit further down the path, toward the thick copse of the pink, flippy trees. I hear footsteps crunching behind us and know that one of the hunters is shadowing us. They’re always very careful to keep the humans watched – not out of anything negative, but simply because we’re clueless about this world. They don’t want us to get hurt.

Harlow studies the trees. “I wish they had a lot of branches like the trees at home. That would make this so much easier.”

I nod, moving into the ‘forest’ of trees. Some of them have a split branch at the top where it forks outward, but for the most part, the trees are straight up into the air, with just feathery fronds for leaves that jut out of the bark. They do look like one big eyelash covered by a lot of smaller ones. “Let’s just use saplings, then? It’ll be less cutting.”

Our snowshoes are simple creations – they’re one long piece of wood twisted into a teardrop shape and lashed together at the heel. Leather has been crisscrossed to make a mesh for the center, and they’re strapped on to the foot. The good news is that they don’t require a lot of construction, so we should be able to take care of them easily.

Harlow and I pick out a likely tree. It’s a little shorter than we’d like, but if we cut directly at the root, it should be long enough for Claire’s light weight. Harlow picks out a nearby sapling and we both get to work cutting at the stem. The weather’s colder than usual today, with big fat snowflakes falling out of the gray skies. I worry that they’re going to think the weather’s not good enough for us to travel and delay our trip.

I need to go. Soon. The sooner the better.

I dig at the snow with my mittens, searching for the root. The ground here, once I dig down far enough to find it, has a curious bluish tinge to it, and I swipe at it in surprise. Just another example of how this place is different from home, I suppose. I clear a bit more of the dirt away, noting ironically that I’ve dug almost two feet down in snow, and we’re on the hillside, which means it’s less deep here than other places. A moment later, I uncover something whitish, and I begin to dig at it.

This plant doesn’t have a taproot, like I expected. It has a…bulb. Like a turnip? Excited, I dig with my knife and my mittens, ignoring my original task in favor of this new one. By the time I’ve uncovered the plant in its entirety, I’ve found a root-like bulb about the size of a beach ball. It smells woodsy and is whitish in color, and when I heft it onto the snow, Harlow comes over to my side to take a look at it.

“Is that a potato?” she asks excitedly.

“I don’t know. Do you think it’s edible?” They only seem to eat meat around here.

“I’m willing to try it,” she says with a laugh. “I was a vegetarian before. This has been hard for me to adjust to.”

I’ll bet.

We saw off the woodsy stem for the snowshoes, and I carry the tuber itself inside, pleased. Maybe we can bring a few aspects of our human diet to these people and increase everyone’s food. I like the thought of contributing instead of just constantly taking.

That night, we eat slices of roasted root along with our raw meat. The root itself is declared edible by Kemli, an elder woman who is the tribe’s expert on plants. She’s confused why we would want to eat it, but everyone tries out the cooked slices and I see hands reaching for seconds. I’m pleased and happy.

I’m less pleased when Aehako pulls me aside. “Do you want to delay the trip? It’s growing colder by the hour.”

“What? No! Don’t be ridiculous. It’s fine.”

His brows draw together and he nods at the cave entrance. “Come. I’ll show you.”

I finish my bite of not-potato and head after him. A bitter breeze is coming in from the front of the cave, but I suppose it would just reinforce his decision to stay if I go get my cloak. So I suck it up, cross my arms over my chest, and follow him as he leads me outside into the night air.

Another foot of snow has fallen since early this afternoon, and the air is definitely colder. Aehako takes a few steps out, and then turns to look at me. “The wind has changed patterns,” he says, gesturing at the sky. “It’s now blowing from the east.” Well, the word he says isn’t east, but that’s what the translator turns it into. “It will hit the mountains and then turn back here, which means even more snow.”

“So?” I say, trying to sound nonchalant. “It always snows. What does it matter?”

He steps back toward me. We’re out of the warm light coming from inside the cave, and it’s darker out here than I expected. I instinctively move closer to the cave wall to block the breeze, and I can’t say I’m sad when Aehako moves in front of me, blocking even more of the chill wind. “Humans are fragile,” he says. “I would not want you to hurt yourself on this journey.” He reaches out and brushes a lock of hair from my face. “You may be fierce in spirit, but your body is puny.”