Chapter 245: Day 244

Day 244,

We’re on our way home.  This morning we said our goodbyes to Iole, thanked her for letting us stay with her and copy her book, and headed to the boats.  Lin made the crone a promise to come back and check up on her the next dry season.  I think she’s low-key angry that everyone just left the old woman on her own for decades without even stopping by to see if she’s still alive.

As for Iole herself, it was honestly a bit hard to get a read on how she felt about the whole thing, even after sharing dinner with her every evening for the past two weeks.  Not that she ever said much during those meals.  I came away at the end of last night thinking she was glad to have us around, but she was pretty curt with us this morning.  Then again, that might have just been tired grumpiness from only having slept a couple of hours after staying up all night.  I certainly know I was pretty out of it this morning.

Speaking of which, I’m alone with the boats at the moment while the other three are checking out this island we’re taking our midday rest on.  I was nodding off enough all day with the boat alternatingly rocking me to sleep and jolting me awake that I figured it’d be best to take a nap once we stopped moving for a bit.  Should be more useful for the rest of the day now.

Maybe that wasn’t the wisest decision, sleeping alone in unknown territory, but I was tired enough that my judgment was shot to the point where I was insisting to everyone that I’d be fine.  I guess it worked out though.

And so here I am.  Woke up alone, walked a bit while keeping the boats in sight to stretch, and then sat down and started writing.

Huh, I’m alone but no nature sprite.  Didn’t even put crabs in my boots while I slept or anything.  Guess it’s got something else to keep it occu-

The others are back, Cass taking the lead and behind her Lin and Maiko are holding hands and it’s adorable.

 

First day of the return trip down.  In proper bookend fashion tonight’s almost a replay of that first night of our expedition.  All of us around a fire, talking and smiling and laughing, even as I write, slightly apart from the others but promising to join back in soon.  Everyone in high spirits, not yet worn down from days of rowing, excited for our ultimate destination, and this time around we have the added satisfaction of knowing this trip went as well as we had hoped for, even better in some ways.

Watching the three of them, it strikes me that up until now (or at least before this outing) I’ve kind of thought of myself as the common point of contact for multiple friends of mine that I brought together more than them being friends with one another.  While that was never exactly true (and kind of self-centered to think) it certainly isn’t anymore.  I think it’d be fair to say that over the past almost-month they’ve all bonded with one another more than I have with any of them.  It’s a weird thing to watch from the sidelines when you’re not personally there for most of it.

Not that I’m complaining by any means.  I’m happy for them.  Maiko and Cass actually seem to have in-jokes now.  Half a year ago, and I wouldn’t have thought Maiko capable of humor.  Cass and Lin have me increasingly convinced that they’ve got some sort of silent agreement to double down on the “childish adult and adult-ish child” bit for dramatic/comedic effect when you leave them together too long.  And Lin and Maiko…

Seeing those two together gives me hope that Maiko might not feel the need to hide from people forever.

And now we’re singing.  Taking that as my cue to stop the journal for the night.

 

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