Silent Conections

Wind. Fire. Heat.

The flames whipped through the forest faster than the men could slow it. The women and children were being evacuated from the villages. Chaos was the only word that could describe the efforts. The people rushed trying to make it across the river before the fire. Toddlers clung to their mothers; the mouths clenched silently in fear. The children who were old enough to walk on their own tried frantically to stay close to their families. The adolescents helped to heard everyone into the boats.

Archamia stood in the shadows along the river bank. Where is he? She searched frantically for her brother. He had promised to meet her here. She wouldn't be crossing the river without him.

The flames were easily visible from the banks of the river. Time was running thin. The men were now getting into the boats. The women and children were well on their way to the edge of the forest and yet there Archamia sat. She would not leave with out him.

:still in the village Arubieus. The good heartiness wouldn't let him leave. the people had taken him and his sister in. Had made them a part of the family. This was their home now. But now... no.. soon there would be nothing left of it. it seemed that karma wasn't smiling on him again. By this point he was going from hut to hut looking for people stuck. He knew that he had to get out soon but their lives were more important than his.:
"Helllo?!!" Come on! I've gotta get out of here quick."
:The Smoke was black as night. He could feel the soot in his lungs and hair. He slowly started to make his way back to the shore line. Find his sister and make it out of this place. At first he took his time. soon he was running as fast as he could to what he thought was the line. He soon saw the outlines of the last few people in the water. He smiled to himself and let a sigh of relief.:

Archamia paced back and forth waiting. Time seemed to stand still, though the fire flew through the forest, as if ignoring the restrictions of time. It jumped, dancing from tree to tree, preforming a dance that only Satan himself could have choreographed.

The river was no more peaceful than the fire. It rushed as if trying to escape from the fire in the same frantic nature as the people. Archamia looked down stream. The last few men were getting into the boats, and still no sign of him.

Lord, please let him be safe. She prayed. He was the only constant her life had know. She depended on him. She once again scanned the river looking for him. Here eyes darted from fact to face; no sign of him. She sighed looking to the river again.

Soot fell from the sky, coating her normally pale skin in a thin layer of black. Her dark mahogany hair was wet with sweat generated from the fire.

Brother, where are you? She was beginning to worry now. He should have been here. The last boat had pushed out into the rushing waters of the river. The village must be clear. And yet he wasn't here. What could be keeping him. The thoughts wove their way through her head in the same way the fingers of flames wove their way through the the branches of the trees.

:Finally hitting the water he dropped to his knees and submerged his head and half of his torso into the water. As he lay there he let his eyes open ans look down into the water. The soot was so think that the bits and pieces could be seen in the water slowly floating away down the river. He popped his head back up and turned around to the roaring fire. It was enchanting to watch as it danced away with what was once his home. Sitting in awe he realized that he had to go get on the last boat and find Archamia.:
"Sister! Mia! Where are you?!"
:His eyes quickly scanned his surroundings looking for his sister...:

Arubieus' voice drifted into her ear. It was her cue to leave her spot by the river. She stood up and ran towards where the other had boarded their boats.

"Over here! Are we ready?" She asked looking back through the forest of flames. It had been the closest thing to a real home that the two siblings had lived in in the recent past.

"Is anything salvageable?" Mia asked hoping that by some grace of God, something had been saved. She stepped into the last boat and took her seat at the bow, waiting for Arubieus to push off into the river.

Behind them the fires continued to dance, the flames licking towards the two threatening to attack if prevoked. The wind had picked up; generated by the fire itself, a new microclimate. With each gust, the fire grew, as if devouring the breeze. The fear was evident in Mia's eyes.

:Arubieus set both his hands on the boat. He looked back for one last look at his home. he gazed for a few seconds and then took his attention back to the boat. He smiled at Mia.:
"Long time no see I guess? Haha. Shall we get out of here then?"
:He then with a heave push the boat out into the water and quickly jumped into the back of it. Letting out a sigh and turned to his sister.:
"So. Miss me?"

Mia nodded. It was time to go. The fire continued to pressured the two away.

"I'm not so sure that miss is the right word. You had me worried." Mia answered. "What took so long?" She turned her gaze from the fire to Arubieus.

As the boat drifted towards the center of the river, Mia began to relax. The river would create a natural border between them and the fire.

"Are we leaving the forest with the others, or are we going on our own way this time?" She asked. Although they had lived with this group for nearly a year now, Mia had resisted merging with the. She lived as a visitor in their midst.

Since she was a child, Mia hadn't felt truly at home in any place she had lived. She was a drifter; constantly searching for a place that she could belong.

:He looked at her in a slight daze. Thinking about what she had just said.:
"Well. I'm not sure. I mean they might need our help. But it might also be a sign from the gods that it is time to move on. What are your thoughts on the matter?"
:The river seemed to slow down. It seemed more calm. The fire was still raging:
"It is sad though. I will miss this place."

"I...I guess I'm not sure where we fall in all of this." Mia replied, "I love these people and they have done nothing but help us, but it's still not home." She looked at her brother. This was not a new conversation to either of them. This discussion took place every time they switched homes. "I'm still just a guest in a community of people."

She stopped. There was no need to continue what she was saying. The last sentence summed up her feelings on the matter. She had no problem staying, but she was ready to find a place she could call home. A place she could settle down in and be part of the community of people instead of being an outsider looking in.

:He looked at her. He knew the look in her eyes. she had always had it even when they were kids. He hated the look. He felt like the worst older brother in the world. He walked over to her and gave her a hug. He had been thinking about this idea for some time now. Maybe it was time to put it into effect.:
"So. I was thinking about something. Maybe its time we went home? I mean start a new home."
:It was a little sudden. But he thought that it might be the right time.: