The heat rose as the morning grew to afternoon. Hakk sat on the floor of the dilapidated building. About him were strewn bits and pieces, odds, and ends.
Beside him lay the wooden box, its drawers open and empty. Removing entirely the four middle drawers he revealed a covered stowaway drawer, unlatching it. Inside it was adeptly cut thin animal skin papers bound in twine, beside it was an assortment of even more bits and bobbles, a book with yellow curling pages, and tucked in the far right side wrapped in a metal string a stack of 10 golden orange Ro.
Hakk unfolded the animal skins and hung them over or on various objects near him and placing the book upright he fanned out the pages. From the side of the hidden compartment, he pulled out a rounded astrolabe. Rust had eaten away at it and it creaked as he moved the mechanics of it, the labels were mostly faded worn or eaten. He finished removing the rest of the drawers and laid it all out.
A tumble of noise came from the door as footsteps crossed the door, Ayumi peeked inside under her arm she carried a bundle of seaweed still dripping wet.
"I did dry it out."
"Mmm." Hakk stood up with the metal disc in hand, walking to her he passed it off and continued on
"What's it?" She held it in her one free hand as she turned it over the rust dying her hands an orangish yellow hue with each turn.
Hakk continued traveling beyond her, his eyes followed the tree line as he turned about, stopping he approached an area just off to the side of the house. There a few fell trees lay rotting in the summers sun. Walking to the edge he followed the logs, jumping to the next until he came to their end. Here the grove of trees steadily rose in a large bunch before again tapering off. Just beyond was a large branch, his arm barely able to reach it.
Under him, the rotting logs creaked and moaned giving way slightly. Hakk looked over the house, a steep peaked roof whos shingles were all but gone leaving behind a patchwork of interlaced thatched twig like grass. Bending his knees he shifted his weight as the logs whined again.
"What is happening?" Fog approached from behind the house, a bucket of water in both hands as he walked closer to Ayumi.
Ayumi shrugged her shoulders and handed the metal disc off to Fog. "Here."
"What am I to-" Fogs voice trailed off as he tried to hold the bucket and the device, dropping the device in the water as he did.
Hakk descended the trees his gaze casting off to Fog as he approached him his stare unmoving. Fog watched the slitted eyes as every bit of hair on his head began to agitate.
"You look fuller." Hakk's voice echoed in the air.
Fog froze as his hands let slip the bucket that crashed on his feet splashing the two of them.
"Wh-what do you mean…" Fogs lips quivered as his voice shrank in volume, his gaze remained locked.
"This." Hakk raised his hand to his own face and lightly dragging it from his nose to his chin closed it bu pinching his thumb to his pointer and middle fingers.
Fog remained unmoved his gaze still locked with Hakks.
"Is there a body of water nearby?"
Fog raised his arm and pointed down the way slightly behind the other. There almost indistinguished was a slightly worn path that weaved into the dense thicket that surrounded them.
Hakk nodded and went back into the house, returning a few moments later holding a small object in his hand.
"Here." Hakk placed through Fogs still extended arm a hairwork bracelet and drew it slightly tight about it. On the piece was two stones with crystal covers around them carved various paisley motifs and a loose flat stone under the crystal. The thread was a coffee brown color woven in small decorative braids that ran through a bolo clasp. Beyond the clasp trailed twin tails topped off with two small ornate carved beads at their ends. "If you cut your hair can I have a lock?"
Fog face drained as his mouth hung agape, did not answer.
Hakk turned to trail off down the small path barefoot and all.
"Have fun at the castle Hakk!" Ayumi called from the house as she hung up the seaweed on a long pole she had propped up by two sticks.
"Wait until I return." Hakk raised his hand with his fingers forming a V and waved without looking back.
Ayumi waved in large motions with the one hand she had free and then continued hanging the green plants to dry.
For some time Fog remained unmoved as the suns rays beat down on him.
"What… did he mean?" Fog bent down and slowly picked up the bucket with the astrolabe, under it, his feet had crumbled into a broken clay mess. Fog stood still watching as his feet reformed themselves "And what is this?" Fog looked at the bracelet.
Ayumi moved to pick up the door from the stairs, dragging it on its side she moved it under the cover of a large Camphor tree and dropped it with a loud thud flat on its back. Plopping down she lay down sprawled out with hands and feet reaching to almost the edges of the door itself.
Ayumi raised her hand up in view of Fog, a nearly identical one hung about her forearm. "Hakk makes stuff it's one of the pieces."
Fog approached Ayumi setting the bucket on the rotten door and then taking a seat himself.
"Why did he ask about my hair." Fog bundled his hair and pulled it closer the ends swayed in the slight breeze as if they were feathers on the wind.
"Because it's pretty?" Ayumi turned to her side and poked at his hair as it moved away just before she could touch it, a giggle escaped her lips as the corners of her mouth curled up.
Fog looked down at the bracelet in his hand. Along with the woven bands, there were small strands that stuck out. Touching it he felt the coarse nature of the thread his face went white as he turned to Ayumi.
"T-this this…. is…"
"Hair? Yup. Isn't it good?! Though these aren't his normal pieces." Ayumi quickly grabbed at Fogs hair catching nothing but air, as it broke apart and vanished into smoke within her grasp.
Sitting up she raised her wrist to eye level and brought her wrist to the one in Fogs hand.
"Look at the little rocks." Ayumi pointed at the first one of hers, unlike Fogs she three crystal covered stones that aligned hers. "See how this one is going the direction of Hakk."
"Compass magnets?"
"Sorta Maybe?" Ayumi tilted her head to the side. "He calls them...R-ro...Roka?"
"If you get lost I can't find you then?" Fogs shoulders sunk as he turned his gaze to the ground.
"Nope! But it's okay Hakk will find you and then me!"
Fog lifted the astrolabe from the water setting it down on the door. Getting up with the bucket in tow he wandered to the stairs where he sat down and placed his feet in the buckets remaining water.
"Say Fog are you going to come with us?" Ayumi spun the astrolabe on its side like a top.
"I...my name isn't Fog."
"What would you like to be called?"
"I..." Fog's mouth moved but no sound exited it. Lifting up his head he stared into the sprawling woods before him. Trees seemed to pass by his vision as distantly the sounds of thunder rumbled above his head and the clouds began rolling by. The air grew heavy as it became chill and the leaves began to call as they rustled against one another. "Glei" His words echoed above the sounds about.
"Pretty name, G-lei?" Ayumi stomach growled, picking up the metal disc she walked up the stairs beside Glei. "Time for eats Glei!" A broad smile opened on her face as she offered him her hand.
Glei took the hand, stepping out of the bucket.
"So, weeds again?"
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