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Quest: Winter's Burden

Kudzu sat quietly in his little wagon, staring at the carefully wrapped sapling. Elle was inside, visiting with Mira as she did every week...but Kudzu had insisted on staying outside. The snow was up over Elle's ankles when she walked, and the wind was bitter and cold. The twins were warm by the fire, but who was watching over the young jacaranda tree?

Kudzu leaned forward, readjusting the termal wrap with young, clumsy tugs. He would watch over it, even if he could do nothing to help the others freezing around him.

It pained him each time he looked, the ice encrusted branches, laying still upon the pure white forest floor. So many had stilled early, succumbing to the chill that tained his breath white. It was a killing time...

But also a birthing time. Despite his worry, Kudzu knew the tiny lichens were edging along the branches...fiddleheads pushing up through the crackling frost, and fat mushrooms blooming in the rotwarm hollows. Taking a slow look around the clearing, noting the gleam of the ice pattern along the eaves and the lattice of the frozen branches, Kudzu sighed in foggy acceptance.

Soon, spring would come, and the forest would be bright with flowers. The young jacaranda would be flush with lavender blooms, finally old enough to spray its colors, and the twins would be walking by then...

Kudzu smiled at the thought. He could already walk, for the most part. Perhaps he'd teach them, once the sweet young grasses had pushed through the snow!

Taken by the thought, Kudzu pushed up to his feet...hands flat upon the icy ground until he could wobble up straight. Walking was a challenge, but it was necessary...as strange as it seemed to pick a new location once you'd settled. It made more sense to the boy to hunker down, heavy and rooted, but the spark of his spirit refused to sit quietly. Wandering towards the cottage, falling every few steps to hands and knees, Kudzu made his way across the white yard of the cottage grounds.

The path to the door was lined with delicate flowers, delicate spears that pierced the snow. Crocuses. He could almost hear Elle's voice, patient with explaination. One of the late winter blooms. Settling down upon his bottom, panting in misty exertion, Kudzu peered at them as he took a rest. Like slender tulips, almost, bright and heavy with seed!

Struck with sudden inspiration, Kudzu leaned forward to touch the pale bloom. Tiny black seeds smudged upon his finger, and the boy inspected them closely, struck with a lovely idea. If he kept some crocus seeds, he could plant them even earlier next year...and they would have a better chance against the snows!

Smiling with a wave of contentment, Kudzu tugged the end of his sash forward...chubby fist closed around the fabric. He'd keep them, right here on his belt...just like Elle kept her keys!

He was still dabbing at the blooms when the front door opened. His guardian never left him alone for long, not that he would have minded...but it felt good to be swept into her arms.

"You made it all this way? I'm proud of you, Kudzu!" Elle settled a warm kiss upon his cheek before turning towards the open door...hefting the heavy boy higher on her hip.

Kudzu shrugged his robe back into place, letting the pollen stained sash drop to his waist. Despite the aching chill, he was proud as well, and the amethyst gem upon his forehead gleamed with healthy gentle light. For every passing, there was hope...and before long, the winter would fade into spring!

Slowly, as worry left him, a few blooms upon Kudzu's temples flared and blossomed. The sapling was safe, and the twins were healthy. And though no one but Kudzu knew it, the beautiful crocuses would be blooming even earlier next year! He was too young to understand death, but just old enough to understand balance...and Kudzu snuggled against Elle with a wide and sleepy yawn.

Maybe, in the morning, he could collect a few maple seeds! Who knew what next years garden would hold.

Kudzu shivered slightly, despite the warmth, and nestled in against Elle. His guardian, however, slowed...setting the boy slowly down upon the warm carpeted floor. "Heavy boy!"

The gem upon his forehead shone brightly from behind his verdant curtain of his bangs, pale eyes searching curiously across Elle's face. "Heeya?"

"Heavy. Yes!" Taking a closer look, Elle settled to her knees beside the child. Mira was nursing the children by the fire, she wouldn't be missed for a few minutes yet. He looked so cute, she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

The feeling of warmth, spreading outward like ripples, had begun to fade. Kudzu took a breath, gave his leafy mane a shake, and smiled. The change was remarkable, like watching a first sprout bloom.

Pushing himself up along the wall, both hands out, Kudzu wobbled and balanced. "Haaa." He sighed with the same sound as the wind through the cold trees, distant and slow. He had blossomed, no doubt, and two small hands closed over Elle's rough woven belt.

Rustling her hand fondly atop his head, Elle took one hand and led Kudzu into the front room. "Come show the twins how you've grown. You're supposed to protect them, after all!

Kudzu knodded. This he knew. Taking Elle's hand tightly, the young boy tottered into the living room, leaves fluffing the the warmth of the fire. "Yss."