It was a slow climb but he was making progress, gaining confidence as he got higher and higher, steeling himself not to look down, and fixing his eyes on the fruit above him as if it were the flag. Occasionally his small pouch would catch on branches, which would require careful manoeuvring to free it, but he pressed onwards, pulling himself from one branch to the one above, securing his foothold then heaving himself to the next and then… He was at the top.
He worked his way onto a secure perch and looked around. Swarms of insects drifted through the air, the soft almost lazy buzz all around him. He smiled as the sun hit his face, raising his hand up towards it.
Despite the short space of time they had spent amongst the trees, it felt like years since he had felt the sun on his skin properly, and smelt the fresh breeze instead of the stifling air at the forest ground. He reached out, grabbing one of the opaque fruit and pulling it from the branch, marvelling at the colour of it. He looked at it for a moment, unsure whether to eat it or not. His stomach rumbled loudly, and he abruptly realised how hungry he was. He looked at all the different insects eating the fruit.
He carefully studied the one he picked, turning it gently in his hands. He sniffed it, it smelt faintly sweet, and suddenly he was back home, sitting at the end of the long tables with the other children. Everyone was laughing and shouting, the very small children chasing each other in circles around the tables. He smiled. The harvest was always his favourite time of year. In front of him a bowl of stewed fruit steamed gently, filling the air with it’s sweet scent. Opposite him were Ilya and Thyal, her hand on his shoulder. They were laughing. His mother sat on one of the other tables, enjoying the festivities with the other adults. He was smiling as he ate his stew.
Then he was back in the tree canopy. He smiled sadly at the distant memory, knowing those times were past, and then without pause he took a bite out of the fruit. It’s sweet juices filled his mouth and spilled out onto his chin.
