Flashback The Bare Necessities

[Neoma Gerbera]

2nd of Spring, 514 AV

Neoma tore through the jungle wilderness as fast as she could, her long, previously painted nails scrapping the ground and tearing up moss as she tripped and fell numerous times. The sweat that had formed on her forehead was now running down her nose in a multitude of colors- red from her blush, blue from the eyeshadow, black from kohl- it was all dripping from her face.

It was hotter in the Jungle than in it had ever been in Kalinor. And supposedly, this wasn't even the hottest it had gotten. She'd heard rumors from those who had visited the surface that here, it got so hot that Syna alone could slowly kill you, if Caihya didn't get to you first.

She had thought the stories were exaggerated; surely they were nothing more than scary stories, meant to keep disobedient children in their caves at night. But here she was, living proof that the Jungle was no place for Symenestra. Her long Symenestra legs seemed to tangle beneath her, her long arms did nothing but flail when she stumbled. Her fragile bones ached with each pounding of her feet on the ground and her muscles screamed for mercy. But Neoma knew she couldn't stay still long. If she kept in one place, animals could find her.

Painted images of wild beasts flashed through her mind. She had always been curious, always grateful to learn, but today, she wished that she didn't know about thehounds, bats, and other biting things that went bump in the night. She wished she didn't have images of Jaguars dancing in front of her closed eyelids each time she took a breath, or the feel of hairy spiders crawling up her legs each time she brushed against a vine. She wished she didn't think each breaking stick and each passing butterfly was a Myrian or Dhani, come to claim her for their slave, or worse.

Frankly, she wished she'd stayed home.

But now was no time for that. It was far too late to turn back. She had to keep going. She had to make it somewhere safe

[Neoma Gerbera]

Neoma climbed over a fallen log slowly, her breath coming out in fast, brief huffs. The air was moist, making breathing a labor intensive skill. Sweat beaded on the surface of her already damp skin, running down her body in warm, wet beads. Her pale skin was red, and rough to the touch in many places from Syna’s harsh love.

Luckily, Syna was to leave, soon, and Leth was to come. The sky was fading, bleeding from a bright blue to soft pinks and purples. The air was still hot, still boggy, but now it carried a harsh bite to it that warned of cool evenings and cooler nights. The sounds of the day that had once seemed comforting soon grew eerie and strange. The trickle of a stream seemed ominous. A bird’s call was no longer a familiar reminder of home, but a foreign cry of pain and confusion. Even the soft hum of bugs held a potential danger when the light grew low.

Her arms and legs were sore, as was her lower back from carrying her bag. Her eyes stung from the assault of salty sweat. Her throat hurt from breathing heavily through the day, and her mouth was dry from a lack of water- not because there was none to be had, but because she had not dared stop.

Giving in to the cool lure of the night, Neoma slowed her steps and turned slightly, heading towards a stream. She dipped her head and tried to cup her hands to catch a drop of water within them, but she could get nothing. The water slipped right through, dripping back to its stream. Next, she tried to find a large enough leaf to act as a cup. The forest was flush with large leaves, and a large enough one was not difficult to find. However, the eaf was not strong enough to withstand the weight of the water, and merely collapsed before it ever reached her mouth.

Frustrated and tired, Neoma entirely disregarded any manners she may have had and all her father had taught her in favor of a drink. Neoma bent her head and dipped her mouth to the water, drinking as a deer might. She drank her fill, then opened her bag and- sitting on the ground- ate a bit of the food she had carried. It would not only fill her empty belly and give her energy, but also would lighten her load. Then, the lone Symenestra pulled out her tent.

But even as the night steadily approached, Neoma knew she would never be able to sleep.

The sounds of breathing and living things were too close. She wasn’t used to the crowded feel of the jungle, let alone the jungle wilds at night. Neo had no desire to even set up the tent. Instead, she lay on the ground, using the tent roll as a pillow, and closed her eyes, dreaming of home.

The cave walls danced before her closed eyes, its brilliant edges sparkling with jewels and gems of all kinds. The Symenestra- the beautiful Symenestra- how she missed them. Her father and sister went about their work in her mind, dancing and weaving, crafting, building wonderful things, and climbing all about. She missed climbing so! The girl opened her eyes just in time to stop a tear from falling, but what she opened her eyes to made her heart soar. Trees!

Neoma ran to the nearest tree, all but rejuvenated at the mere thought of being able to climb. And though it took work to adapt to the hard bark from the sleek cave walls, Neoma picked up the skill very quickly. Her toes dug into the holes in the bark, grabbing at footholds easily, perhaps more easily than they had taken to the sleek cave walls. Her hands led her into the heights of the tree, where she could rest and look down upon her items, and not only that, but the rest of the forest as well. All of it was within her view, from the green vegetation to the animals that ran from canopy to canopy.

Neoma smiled for what may have been the first time on the trip and settled deeply into the branch she rested upon with a sigh.

Perhaps she wasn’t so far from home after all.