Of Trust and Companionship

“Sen, it’s your turn,” Father’s voice rang out. Bard looked back at the tree and then at Sen. “Bard, take her to ‘that’ place.” Bard’s mind drew to one place in question, and he looked back at Father in surprise. Sen reached for his hand and he smiled before taking off his bandana and handing it to her. She mimicked him and ultimately, he turned her around and helped tie the bandana, avoiding catching the hairs in the knot. She tilted her head about, adjusting to the darkness that was her world. He noticed she tilted her head back, and he pushed the bandana a bit lower on her nose.

“Hey,” she said, and he tsked.

“You need to be blind for this, Sen. No cheating,” he chided. Sen’s ears wiggled a bit, and she ducked in embarrassment.

“Well, you know the way,” she said as she raised her hands in front of her. He grabbed them and she flinched it their chill. He chuckled and moved one hand into the crook of his arm so he could walk next to her and still support her. He pulled lightly, and she stepped forward, slipping a bit. Without her sight, she was very unbalanced, and he realized how much harder this was on the other end.

“There’s a large rock in front of you. We’re moving to the side. Now lift your foot… higher. Okay, now step forwards,” he directed. Sen laughed as she stumbled around, clearly amused. It was different on the other side of the spectrum.

Bard guided her up to the upper levels and noticed where they were at. While he paused, Sen stood patiently by his side. They were in the southern third of the forest, meaning they needed to head to the northeast. He gathered a plan and then began to guide her. Now, seeing all the rocks they had come across, he was amazed at how little he had stumbled. Sen had watched out where to step and done well, even if it hadn’t felt like it. Bard had her separate a bit so they could maneuver through bushes, and Sen hummed.

“We didn’t come through here before…” she remarked.

“Nope,” Bard noted. He wondered if she had partially memorized the terrain because after that, she was a lot more hesitant to move forward. He hadn’t seen her so slow and unsteady before, so it was a bit new. A few times she stumbled and he kept her steady. Shortly after, she began to cling to him more tightly. Bard found her reliance endearing, a bit cute. He paused and reoriented himself and looked at the routes ahead. One was short, but full of rocks, while another was long but pretty easy going.

“Sen… there’s a short way, but it’s full of rocks, and the other way is pretty clear, but it would require more twists and maneuvering. Do you have a preference?” he asked. Sen straightened and then tilted her head.

“Um… I think I want to be done sooner, so could we go on the short path?”

Her simple complaint was almost expected. He snickered.

“What?” she asked.

“Oh, I just figured you would say that. Just hold on tightly now,” he remarked, pulling her along. The path got increasingly difficult, at times Bard had to have her stop so he could move forwards and find a good footing before guiding her forward. She was a bit too eager sometimes, and it spooked him when she threw herself towards him before he was ready one time. As they struggled to stay upright, Bard noticed Kai nearby, watching. It seemed he was done playing with his friends. They stopped shifting and Sen apologized. Bard held her close and wanted to scold her, but she couldn’t see what was before her, so he felt not to.

As they made it through the crags, they came out into a descending path that lead into the eastern side of the wood. It was simple going from here, and they walked to his old shelter he had made that first year in the wood.

When they arrived, Bard was a bit dismayed that it was just a lump of dirt and branches now, the weather having broken through it’s structure easily over the last decade. Father was nearby, just as he had always been, growing up.

Bard stooped and reached for the bandana.

“We’re here,” Bard said as he helped her pull it off. She shook her head, causing her hairs to work overtime to stay out of sight.

“Finally,” she sighed, scratching her head. Her eyes fluttered a bit as she took in their location.

“Well done. I see you do well to rely on one another and hold a respectable amount of trust. That will serve you well. Tell me, what did you learn about each other during this task?” Father said.

The silence stretched as Bard pulled his arms around and thought about it. He then furrowed his brow. Wasn’t this a task for Sen? Why was he participating so much in her token?

“Wait… isn’t this for a token for Sen?” Bard asked. Sen stood up straight and Father chuckled.

“It is. However, there were things I didn’t teach you as a child because you were not ready for it.” Bard was about to say something, but he became silent. So it was like Emotion. He shrugged and sighed. If he still needed instruction, then there wasn’t any reason for him not to participate. A part of him was a bit upset, but a greater portion was curious what he hadn’t learned because he was too young.

“Bard is very trusting. And I want to live up to that trust,” Sen said, reminding him that there was a question to answer.

“Don’t tell me, tell each other,” Father said, and Sen quickly blushed.

“I could say the same about you,” he said, lowering his head to get a bit more eye level. Sen bit her lip and then ducked.

“Oh?”

“You also aren’t the best at leading… but you learn quickly, and you’re very caring,” he said. She went through a range of emotions at his words and then became silent. Her gaze changed to firm and steady, with an underlying tone of teasing.

“Bard, you are a bit of a klutz, and you don’t seem to understand direction.”

“It’s a bit hard to tell where here or there is when I can’t see,” he remarked.

“True, but I couldn’t tell if you were trying to make it harder for me or just that lost. Didn’t you pay attention to the sounds under our feet? It helped me when I was going over the rocks,” she pointed out. Bard bit his lip, and she quickly caught that embarrassment. “You didn’t? But, you listen to the songs of the forest.”

“Honestly, I was just trying to stay upright, so trying to focus on my surroundings when I couldn’t see was a bit tricky,” he pointed out. Sen chuckled at this.

“So… how did I do?”

“Well,” he thought back on what it was like on both sides. “It did hurt for a while,” he said, moving his hands in-between them. She squirmed. “And you were clinging rather hard when you were blindfolded.”

“That’s all you have to say?” she squawked.

“I thought you were cute. And I could tell that you were comfortable and overly trusting sometimes. It was a bit frightening when you jumped at me, but at the same time…”

“You wanted to live up to that trust,” she finished, and he nodded. She half smiled as she cocked her head.

Father’s voice interjected.

“Guiding someone takes more than knowing the path. You have to trust each other to share what’s ahead and how to face it together.” He then shifted closer to them as his words continued. “This exercise is like building a home. You’re blind, if not partially blind to how the other grew up, but you’re guiding each other into a new life. If you don’t ask questions or share the steps, you’ll trip over each other’s assumptions.”

As he finished, Bard looked to his hands and recalled how Sen had acted on the rocky path. He hadn’t thought about that, but it did make sense. At the least, he appreciated that they could laugh about their differences in approach instead of getting mad about it. His mind returned to his travels with the catfolk and how some of the couples had interacted. Their words, he couldn’t remember, but he did recall the way everyone avoided them while they yelled and fought with their words. Even Bard and Kai had steered clear during that time. As he looked over at Sen, he hoped he wouldn’t fight with her like that.

“It’s a good thing we’ve been sharing stories about our past with each other,” Sen said as she looked up at him.

“Somehow, I think that’s only part of the message here,” Bard said, and her smile turned to curiosity.

“Very astute, Bard.” Father praised. “Though, we should regroup with Kai and head back to your camp. While you have dinner, I’ll share the next part.”

As Bard looked back, he saw Kai wagging his tail happily. Bard indicated for him to come over, and he dashed over, nearly plowing into them. Bard covered his eyes and shielded Sen from the spray of dirt and rocks.

“Glad to see you too,” Sen happily cheered as she popped her head around. Bard wanted to warn Kai not to do it again, but she had already grabbed him and was starting to usher them up his side and onto Kai’s back. They followed after Father as they made their way back to camp.

Bard enjoyed the scenery and felt Sen wrap her arms around his middle, resting her head against his back. He touched her hand and she tightened her grip, rubbing against him. It was soothing in a way he couldn’t explain, and distracting. He hardly paid attention to their surroundings the rest of the way to camp.

As suddenly as she had snuggled him, she stopped and jumped down, complaining about how hungry she was. Bard shook his head as he grinned, realizing they had arrived.

“Alright, I hear you,” he said as he slid off Kai before joining her in preparing the meal.

When the fire had gotten going, Father settled himself in his usual spot and shifted around till he was comfortable.

“Remember what I said about building a home?” Father asked, drawing their attention. Bard and Sen assured him they recalled. He hummed before speaking some more. “A home isn’t born. It’s built—tree by tree, stone by stone, decision by decision. You two have the plans, but you have to share them.”

Sen cast a confused glance towards Bard, but he shrugged.

“Sen, when you think of a future family? How would you like it to look?” Father asked.

Sen remained silent while she thought and then spoke.

“I sort of liked Elvira’s home. It has space for others and for her family. Though it is a bit big and cold because it is made of stone. It’s also too quiet, so I think I would prefer trees instead of so much rock.”

Bard’s eyes went a bit wide at that answer.

“Bard?” Father indicated his turn.

“Honestly, I hadn’t thought about it much. The stones had a simple background tune.”

“But I didn’t know how to listen to the rocks yet,” she pointed out. “So… it might be different, but still.”

“I see.” Bard said softly.

“Would you be fine letting Sen decide what the home is supposed to be?” Father asked. Bard opened his mouth and then paused.

“I think I’d mostly be okay with it… like I said, I hadn’t really thought about it.”

Bard didn’t really have much else to say. But he could sense that this needed some thinking.

“And Sen,” Father started with her again. “Did you do your own cooking growing up?”

“No. My grandfather did quite a bit when my mother passed away, but then eventually dad did, and I joined him. Otherwise, the others brought us food.”

“Hmm. I’m used to cooking alone. And usually unless I ask you to help, you’ve mostly let me do the cooking while we’ve traveled,” Bard pointed out as he looked at how she sat to the side while he chopped at some roots.

She quickly bit her lip.

“Is that bad?” she asked. Father Tree laughed, his branches shaking.

“No, Sen. It just means that for now, he hasn’t held any expectations of you cooking for him,” Father answered.

“For now?” Sen asked.

“It’s different when there are children and other people you need to take care of. Bard is likely going to become busy when he fully steps into his role as Chief, so cooking might not happen without some help. However, while you two travel, he isn’t upset that you haven’t helped.”

Sen’s mouth formed an ‘O’ as she nodded slowly.

“The concern is when it comes to questions that you have differing opinions about,” Father warned.

“Like what?” Sen asked. Bard froze.

“Well… Sen, your father didn’t like you to go out and explore much. Conversely, Father had me roaming the woods. Which way would you want it to be for our family?” Bard said, and he heard a hum of approval from Father. Bard noticed a few roots move and begin writing in the dirt nearby.

“Well… I would rather them be safe in our home,” Sen said, looking embarrassed. “There are the shades, and then the dryads and humans that I don’t exactly trust that will be around them.”

Bard nodded as he listened. She had fair points, but despite that, he felt it wouldn’t be wise to keep them as sheltered as she has been.

When he offered his thoughts, Sen squirmed. She didn’t seem all that convinced.

“Now then. I’ve written some questions over here, though you’ll likely have more as time goes on. You both grew up in homes where survival came first, and everything else came second. That shapes how you see family. But what works when you’re just getting by doesn’t always work when you’re trying to build something bigger—like a family with children who’ll rely on both of you.”

Bard moved the roots over by the fire to roast while he boiled some water for the remaining dry meat.

Sen had moved over to the scribbles in the dirt, and Bard joined her while he waited.

Bard noticed a few questions jump out.

How were you disciplined as a child? Was it normal to ask for help, or was self-reliance expected? Did your family do things together regularly, or was everyone independent? Though… there were quite a few that he hadn’t expected. Things about ‘bedtime’, traditions, guests, arguments.

“Father?” Bard asked, and he felt a branch against his back, comforting.

“Sometimes, the questions won’t have an answer from you, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t expectations. Your parents gave what they had, but it’s different than what you are going to build. So you two will get to choose. You can keep the best of what they gave you and leave the rest behind. I’m sure you don’t want your kids to sit on a rock for days like you did.”

“You sat on a rock? Why?” Sen asked.

“I… I’ll tell you some other time,” Bard said quickly.

Father chuckled and Bard scowled at him.

“Speaking of children… there are some other things I will have to explain to the two of you…” he said calmly.