Chapter 6: The Day Has Come

She took two biscuits from the kitchen and put them in the message bag. She started her walk to the forest. The sun was almost directly over head almost true midday. As she crossed the big stream a rustle from the bushes she was heading towards. She paused listening then a beautiful ten point buck. Shandra smiles he was the baby fawn from years ago. Once she was on the bank she slid her hand from the top of his head down his neck to his back. 'You have grown quite a bit. You are a beautiful, strong buck. May your offspring will be as majestic as you and your mother.' Shandra said bowing her head, smiled pat his neck once more and headed to the spot she was going to meet Darwin. She closed her eyes and let the smells greet her nose. Scents of new growth, the first flowers, sweet, earthy, and floral. 'Oh the trees are waking up' she said with a smile touching the rough bark of the tree that she first saw Darwin in the field many years ago. She looks up letting the small beam of sun shine warm her face. She was going to be high Priestess over this land one day. Her smile widen even more. Joy flowed through her body. She heard some twigs and brush being crushed under a boot. She did not turn to see who it was, she already knew. 'So the field work is done for now?' Her face still tilted towards the sky. 'For now' said a voice she had not heard all winter. A rich warm voice that alway brought a smile to her face. Without looking at Darwin she opened her eyes and started her climb. She could hear Darwin follow. She climbed till she was half way up the tree. This branch could hold her and another branch was close that would hold Darwin's weight. I could tell he has been working the field, his clothes were covered in dirt and moist with sweat. As she sat straddling the branch she started to dig in the bag. Pulling out the book that she had been writing in all winter. As she looked at it she remembered some of the stories she had written to him. She glances up to see Darwin climb the last few feet and rest on his branch. 'Beautiful day isn't it?' He said with a bit of wonder in his voice. When she looked at him she notices that he also had a bag. This brought a question upon her face. But Darwin just smiled and pulled out a book of his own. 'You made yourself a book too,' Shandra said with excitement in her voice. They both smiled at each other and handed each other the book they brought. As Shandra put the book in her bag she pulled out 2 biscuits and a small pot of honey that she had been saving all winter. 'So how is the field?' 'It is plowed and ready to be sewn, it was hard work but I like it.' He flexed his right arm as he said the last part which made Shandra laugh. 'What are you planing to grow this year? Anything interesting?' She took another bite of her biscuit. She willed a branch to move so she had a good line of sight of the freshly plowed field. 'Some wheat, barley, turnips, and maybe some potatoes. If I remember correctly you liked how good my turnips are.' Darwin said with a smile. The light was bright and she could feel the warmth of the sun heating up the leaves around her. 'Two more days till the full moon.'