Names Have Meanings

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The light amber glow inside the tree was warm and still. The smell of sweet tree sap was still new to me and made my nose itchy. Though no matter how interesting the home was it didn't take away from the awkward tension between Moss and I. He hadn't really looked in my direction since we walked into the tree and went straight to his room. I was on the first floor fretting over what I should do.

'Should I go up there and talk to him? No, I can't do that when he obviously doesn't want to be around me.' I paced myself over the soft fur rug as I chewed away at my growing nails. 'But Brynn said to keep him company while she cooks. What would happen to us when she comes back and sees that I am not doing as she says!?' A shiver runs down my spine as I think about her motherly wrath.

That's when I glance over to the storage room on the first floor and take note of the dried herbs that were hanging on the wall. There was Aloe Fern, a medical plant that is ground into paste and used for healing open wounds.  That is the plant that both the wolf brothers and the healer used on me to help speed up the healing process while also reducing the amount of scaring.

'That won't work. Moss has bruises, not open cuts.' There was also a hanging bundle of reddish-brown branches speckled with yellow flowers. The flowers petals were like thin cuts of crumpled paper. I walked into the storage room and took another look at the familiar plant. The light in the room was dim but made it possible to see the room fully. It was small and crowded with stacked baskets. If there was any space on the wall not covered by the woven baskets drying herbs hung from naturally grown out hooks formed from the walls. My attention lingered back to the plant I went in this room for, brushing my hand against it. The plant was dried and faintly produced a spicy root beer like smell when moved.

'This looks like Witch-Hazel.'

I recognized the plant from one of the few hiking trips I went on with Mary. She used the bark to clear away my bug bites and her shallow bruises on her hand. My hands gently tug on the hanging branch causing some of the dried yellow petals to fall. the thick animal skin string that kept the branch hanging on the wall became undone as I unhooked the string. Now with the branch in my hands an idea began to brew.

'I this can help Moss feel better.' My hands gripped the wood tightly at this thought. My trembling fingers grazed against the dry and fuzzy bark again before looking back out to the fur rug. As I do so a shadow creeps across my vision before disappearing.

'What. Was. That!?'

The hairs on the back of my neck start to stand on end as I wait to see if anything else goes flying.

"click"

I hear a sharp chirp come from the carpet before something fuzzy starts to move. Carefully I made my way out of the room and pressed myself against the wall. I slowly back away from the carpet with the witch-hazel branch in hand. My eyes remained glued on the carpet as I continue to inch closer to the stairs. My heart pounded in my ears as my palms leaked sweat.

"Click"

Another sound came from the carpet and I stopped abruptly in my tracks. I held my breath and watched as something fuzzy crawled it's way towards me. It had large ears that sprouted from it's fur covered head. Large brown eyes met mine as it's crudely conformed nose twitched. It's skin covered wings were bent so the creature could walk on it's knuckles. A toothy smile seemed to appear over it's face fallowed by another chirp.

'Oh. It's just Branch.'

I laugh a thankful sigh of relief as I walk over to Branch and bend down to his level.

"Hi there Branch, what are you doing down here?" 

I smile and cross the branch infront of my chest. Branches eyes fall towards the crinkled flowers on the branch.  His whole being begins to radiate excitement as he move towards the branch. He lunges onto it causing me to almost drop the witch-hazel into the ground. His tiny teeth begin to nibble at the bark in a playful manner as he moves his tiny body up and down the branch.

"Wah! Branch!"

I shout out in a panic as I try my best not to drop the small bat. I quickly made my way over to the fur carpet and slowly lowered both branch and the witch-hazel. Even though I settled Branch down it didn't stop Branches play.

"W-wait a minute Branch, I need to use this for your brother."

I slowly reach over try to break off a piece of witch-hazel but Branches tiny body moves in the way. I brush his fur softly which makes him slowly stop and climb over to me. His little nose twitched in protest when I lift my hand away from him. I let out a little playful laugh at his reaction wanting to play with him for a little while longer.

"You took out his branch?"

A low voice calls from the top of the stairs. My spine does a little jump as I was taken by surprise when I heard Mosses voice come from behind me. I turned around to see exactly we're he was only to find he was still on the stairs looking down at the two of us. My body freezes as I look at him, unable to see his eyes through his thick hair.

"His branch?" My voice let out a cracked voice which made it seem high pitched. I cleared my voice before looking back down at Branch. Branches little body has now crawled his way into my thighs, tickling me with his little feet. Branch looked back at me and turned his little head curiously. I copied Branches action and smiled at him. After a good minute I turn back to find Moss behind me now, bending over to pick up the branch off of the fur carpet.

"Yes. Branch got his name from this actually." Moss sighed as he knelt beside me and held the witch-hazel. "When branch was born he, like other pups, was not named. For Bat Beastmen we get our names on our first flight. Branch was very fond of the bushes with yellow flowers and naturally landed on them when he went out to the forest for the first time," Moss laughed as he thought back to a memory he must have had. "I got my name when I flown to the Healers Kin Tree and landed on the moss that grew on the branches."

Moss had a long pause as I watched him play with the witch-hazel. In his big hands the branches looked nothing more than small twigs that can be easily snapped between his fingers. Out of curiosity I had to ask why he was so fond of the Healers Kin Tree for his first flight.

"So...Why did you fly there..?" I mumbled the words through nervous breaths, knowing as soon as the words passed through my lips it was better to not ask. I turned my head away in shame, scolding myself in my own head.

'Its none of your business! Stop asking about personal things you idiot!'

I grab at my arm nervously before apologizing. "S-sorry. It's none of my business, you don't have to tell me."

The two of us sat in silence as we watched Branch grab at the witch-hazel. Moss seemed to have relaxed a bit after I didn't press him any more about his name. Even though it was quiet except for Branches nibbling it seemed the atmosphere seemed to have gotten better between us.

"Avery, can you come here for a minute?"
Brynn's gentle voice calls through the entrance of the tree. I leave the two brothers and the warmth of the tree to help Brynn.

"You called for me Brynn?" I squint my eyes and look around to see a shilloute emerge from around the corner. Brynn's small body waddles over carrying a large bowl. Out of reflex I reach for the pot so Brynn didn't have to carry such a large object. Brynn leaves the bowl in my care leaving me to realize the stone was hot, almost scalding. In my best effort I try to set the steaming bowl down only for Moss to grab it from my hands.

"I got the food. Let's all come inside and eat." Moss gestures for Brynn and I to fallow but Brynn stops my approach to fallow Moss.

"Go inside and eat, pup. I need to talk to Avery about something."

Moss obeys and walks into the tree without protest leaving Brynn and I outside under the shaded darkness.

"Avery..." Brynn's voice was full of nervousness and unease. "Remember when I asked if you were of age?"

I pause and think for a moment. "I remember you saying you don't think I am of age."

It was quiet after that. The shallow breeze pushed through the hanging branches causing them to sway in the eerie moon light. Brynn seemed a bit more worried, with her eyes darting to the ground and her arms hugging one another. It made me feel uneasy why she had brung this up, especially now.

"...Avery, do you understand what I meant by that?" She was calm and serious as her eyes finally met mine. "I'm asking if you have gone into heat yet."

My head started to spiral while confusion filled my thoughts. "What's going into heat?" I tilt my head to the side and give her a curious look. My question seems to make her freeze like a statue. Her body became very stiff and her breathing became shaky.

"Heat. G-Going into heat, like for reproductive purposes your body-" Brynn stops herself before saying any more. I watch as the gears in her head turn, trying to reason with herself over something. "For example, your body becoming very hot or males comment on a special smell you started producing," She grabs my hand and pulls it close to her. "For us bats we bleed. Our reproductive organ leaks blood and other fluids that produce a smell to attract mates."

That's when it finally clicks in my head what she was trying to say.

'She wants to know if I already gotten my period, but why exactly?'

"Brynn, I bleed like that too. I have had it for years now," I reassure her that I am a healthy girl but it bothers me on why she brought it up now. "But Brynn, why are you asking?" Brynn doesn't answer right away as she stares into my eyes. Relief washes over her but only briefly. The relief was soon replaced with confusion.

"You bleed to? But that means...your not a Bird Beastmen!?" Brynn panics even more.

'Why the hell is she asking me this?'

"Brynn you're kinda scaring me now. I, for one, never said I was a Bird Beastmen," My brain started to pulse too. I thought back to the night I was with the wolf brothers, the night they worried over the mythical dragons, and more importantly humans. I overheard them that night talking to one another and from what I remember humans aren't considered good.

'Its like we are the black cats or bad omen for this world.'

Which scared me a little to say anything about being human. Now, seeing Brynn's reaction, I am terrified for the possibility of being chased out or killed.

'But Brynn wouldn't do that.' Brynn's eyes shake with fear and uncertainty.

'Brynn's like my mom. She cares for me.' Brynn grabs my hand roughly and continues to have a terrified expression.

'Brynn...?'

My eyes began to well up as I try to find the words to say.

'Don't leave me alone again. Not. Again....'

"Brynn. I am..an, well apart of the Ape-Beastmen family. I am sixteen years old and I'm going to be seventeen in what should be in two months," I partly confess to her and tuck away my tears. I grab her hand gently and try to comfort her. "I'm sorry I didn't say anything." At this point I am pleading to someone, anyone to help not make her caste me away at this moment. "I'm sorry. There's really no excuse in why I didn't answer you when we first met. I never really new when to bring it up again. I'm really, really sorry."

'I messed up. I should have said I was a Orangutan or some type of ape. I really hope whatever I just told her was a thing, really.'

It was quiet and still again as I waited for Brynn to say something. The breeze finally left leaving the world still and cold again. "It's alright Avery. I was just asking because Soren..Sorens twenty-two. I just wanted to make sure he wasn't forcing someone underage.

I could only give her a broken smile and nod in fake understanding. We went into the Kin Tree and ate the Mashed fruit. It was full of smiling and laughter after that. But what Brynn said still lingers in the back of my mind. It eats away at me, making it clearer to me about how the colony really is like.

'But I Am underage.'


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