The children returned to the cabin and Aleksandr was happy with the time he was able to spend with his siblings. Once they found more of the fruit, they sat down near the river and ate lunch together. It reminded Aleksandr of the picnics Ila would take Raine and him on when they were younger. They would find a spot somewhere sunny yet shady and have a meal of delectable honey cakes and berries.

  Then the three of them would lay down in the grass and watch the clouds drift by. Aleksandr remembered the very last time they went on a picnic together. Ila had just married Taryn and was pregnant with Isa at the time. The sky was clear, and spring had just arrived. Raine had eaten far too many sweets and was sleeping peacefully on the grass beside Ila. On the other side of her, Aleksandr laid on the grass and stared at the sky, his hand outreached to the heavens.

  “What are you thinking of my son? “Ila asked brushing Aleksandrs bangs out of his face. His hair was black as night and his skin as pale as the moon. His eyes, however, were the same as Ila’s, a rich chocolate brown. She watched her son take in the sky.

  “What’s my papa like? “Aleksandr asked looking at Ila with his eyes full of wonder.

  Ila paused for a moment, “Your father, why do you ask?”

  “…”

  “He is a stoic but fierce man. I met him one winter when I was just a young woman. He said he was not from Auroran nor any of the other great nations. “Ila began. Aleksandr listened to his mother hanging on to her every word. “It wasn’t long until we fell in love and then you happened. Well, you and Raine of course.” She chuckled.

  Aleksandr looked at his gloves before turning to his mother. “Is he like me?” he asked, his small voice trembling.

  “No, no one is like you Aleks, for you are one in a billion.”

  Isa was asleep being carried on Raine’s back and Aleksandr knew they all wanted nothing more than a warm fire and a hot meal. Hopefully their mother had prepared something tasty from the bounty of Aleksandr’s previous hunt. As Aleksandr, Raine and Isa approached the cabin, Aleksandr noticed there was no smoke coming from the chimney top. Seeing this made Aleksandr run to the door and swing it open. He walked into the house and out of the corner of his eye he could see a hand limp on the ground.

  “Mother! “Aleksandr yelled kneeling to the ground and placing Ilas’s head on his lap. Raine quickly followed inside and put Isa down before rushing to Ilas’ side.

  Isa sleepily rubbed their eyes before saying, “Mama?”

  Raine placed their head on Ilas’s chest listening to her heartbeat. “She needs a healer!” Raine cried tears running down their cheeks. Isa also began to cry, and Aleksandr tried his best to keep it together.

  Aleksandr brushed the hair out of his mother’s face before shouting, “Go find Taryn! Hurry Raine!”

  By the time Raine returned with Taryn the sun was down. Aleksandr could do nothing but cradle his mother’s head in his lap. Her breathing was incredibly shallow, and Aleksandr watched her chest slowly rise and fall. Isa was inconsolable and nothing Aleksandr could say seemed to calm her down. Aleksandr heard the gallop of hooves approaching and Taryn entered through the doorway followed by Raine and a short old man Aleksandr did not recognize. Isa saw Taryn and immediately ran to him, burying her face in his coat. Taryn placed his hand on the top of her head before turning to Aleksandr and snarling, “What did you do?”

  Aleksandr’s blood ran cold before stammering, “Nothing, I swear!”

  Taryn quickly ran to Ila, harshly shoving Aleksandr aside. “Get out of here! And you come help me!” Taryn bellowed and the old man helped move Ila on the futon Raine dragged out from the other room. Taryn laid Ila down on the futon before turning his attention back to Aleksandr who was still sitting on the floor. “I told you to get out of here!”

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  “Taryn listen, it- “Aleksandr pleaded to his stepfather, but Taryn wouldn’t listen. His stepfather loomed over him with anger and disgust.

  “It’s what? Not your fault? I don’t want to hear it, you little monster, and if you know what’s good for you, you’ll leave!” Taryn yelled, causing everything in the room to shake.

  Aleksandrs fear turned to anger at the suggestion. He looked at his mother and siblings, before replying. “I’m not leaving.”

  “No? Then I guess I’ll help you! “Taryn spat, lifting Aleksandr off the ground roughly by his arm and leading him towards the front door. Aleksandr could see the man examining Ila while Raine and Isa watched silently in the corner. Before he was forced out of the house, Raine and Aleksandrs locked eyes for a moment, and he offered them a look of reassurance, something Raine did not meet.

  Taryn slammed the door shut and Aleksandr could feel the tears swell, causing his eyes to sting. His face was red, and it felt as if the earth was crumbling underneath him. The cold air filled his lungs, and all Aleksandr could do was try not to hyperventilate. Aleksandr wiped away his tears and climbed the tree on the side of the house. He looked through the window and could see the old man placing flat stones on Ila’s temple, forearms, hands, calves, and feet.

  The old man disappeared out of sight and Aleksandr could see Raine and Isa sitting at the table, both of their hands placed on the wood surface, their open palms raised towards the sky. Their lips moved and even though Aleksandr couldn’t hear them, he knew what they were doing. The old man came into view, and he seemed to be holding something in his hand. An incense stick that the old man lit with the fire from the chimney. He waved the incense stick above Ila. The smoke swirled around her like a cloud.

  He watched for some time before he started to doze off in the tree. This did not last for long as he snapped awake when he heard the door open followed by footsteps. Aleksandr leapt from the tree to the rooftop and saw Taryn and the man on the doorstep. The two men stood in silence before finally Taryn cleared his throat and broke the silence. “Well?” Taryn asked.

  “Your wife is in a deep slumber, even I cannot wake her up from. She is very weak- “The old man began but Taryn interrupted him.

  “What about my son? How is he? “He asked.

  “The child is untouched for now but I’m afraid if something is not done, then neither of them will survive. “The old man said getting straight to the point. Aleksandrs heart dropped to his stomach, and he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “This couldn’t be happening. This must be a dream. “Was all Aleksandr could think.

  “What can be done?”

  The old man began, “There are remedies that we can try but I’m afraid there only temporary. I’ve only heard of one thing that can treat something this extreme but- “

  “Just spit it out!” Taryn gritted through his teeth.

  “I wouldn’t normally suggest this but quite frankly time is running out, I fear they will not live past winter. There is a cure, which is said to heal any sickness or affliction. But be warned the journey is dangerous, only a madman would attempt such a thing.” The old man replied searching in his bag and pulling out a piece of parchment paper. He handed the paper to Taryn who looked at the contents inscribed.

  Taryn blankly stared at the man before letting out a hallow laugh, “A map? To the Tree of Eve? Surely you jest. Why in the world would I be interested in something like this?”

  The old man sighed before saying, “This is no joke, Taryn. The Tree of Eve is almost as old as the world itself. Not only can it heal the sick, but it is said to grant blessings to those who consume the fruit.”

  Taryn’s brow furrowed with annoyance, and he clicked his tongue. “Tsk, I’m not interested in old wife’s tales. Listen its late, why don’t we reconvene in the morning?”

  “Of course, I will let you tend to your wife. Keep an eye on her fever. “The old man advised to Taryn before walking to his horse tied to the fencepost. Aleksandr watched the old man ride off in the distance before noticing Taryn looking down at the map. He stuffed the map in his coat pocket and headed back inside.

  Aleksandr laid down on his back and stared up at the night sky. He removed one of his gloves and reached his hand out. The wind whistled, the clouds were full covering the moon and most of the stars. Time seemed to slow, and all Aleksandr could think about was his family. His mother sick in bed, and his siblings stuck with that sorry excuse for a man. At that moment, Aleksandr knew there was only one thing he could do. And he was not going to fail, no matter the cost.