Flickering Shadows
<i>Pauil was three, and loved her brothers magic. Deeter was shy, and small for six, but he always had a bright smile for his baby sisters, especially Pauil. When their mother would go out at night to hunt, or meet with the other women, Deeter would entertain them with his magic. Wispy shadow creations, hands slinking out of the floor to tickle them, a hundred lips rising on his skin to sing for them- their sisters grew out of the wonder.
Pauil, she didn't. Deeter taught her how to spin shadows, she wasn't very good- it didn't come easy to her like it did her brother- but Deeter never let her become too discouraged. She ran after him, always in his footsteps, but she didn't mind. The other little girls in the village were afraid of him, no doubt their mothers had concocted some terrible story trying to keep them safe.
She held Deeter's bigger hand with both of hers as they listened to the woman scream. She hadn't found the time to teach her daughter how to swim, Deeter hadn't been responsible for watching her to begin with... but he was still blamed when she drowned in the marshy water. Deeter blaimed himself, and Pauil had tried to comfort him like he had always comforted her, when it didn't work she assumed it was because it was just another thing he would always be better at.
She was ten when she followed them up their home-tree, peaking their heads through the protective clouds just a hairs length past the highest branches. He sat in their cradel, and used his wirey weak arms to steady her as she came to sit beside him. Looking out, she saw the stars; Deeter apologized, he'd thought they'd been facing the Up There, he wanted to show her the trees in the Up There, but she was just as happy to see the stars, they looked close enough to touch.
Pauil saw a change in the eyes of the other girls, when Deeter talked about the Up There. Their fear slowly drained, replaced by wonder. He taught them how to climb safely, and Pauil felt smaller and more alone than she had in her life. Her big brother was teaching his secrets to others, he looked happy- nervous as always- but happy. During the Festival, Pauil and her two sisters were joined by many of the other girls, who asked if Deeter could be their brother too, it left a vile taste in her mouth even though she said she didn't mind. Deeter used his magic that night to make music for those gathered, and Pauil reminded herself that she was Deeter's baby sister, she shouldn't be upset that they thought he was amazing, she'd known he was amazing all her life after all.
Her mother took over magic training, though Deeter's tutelage had given her a clear advantage. When she was sixteen she started practicing forming an infant out of wood, and her mother chidded her for trying to carve a boy. Aside from Deeter there were no men, and it was thought best to keep it that way. She didn't agree, and kept her small wooden carving, knowing when her magic was stronger and her skills more developed, she would make her baby a son- perhaps only to spite her mother. Deeter asked her not to, but she didn't want to heed his advice, it was years away after all, she had a lot to learn in that time.
He spent more time in the higher branches, she learned something had caught his eye. One day sitting together he told her about the city of glimmering obelisks, and the sacred woman in red. Red was a flashy color, dangerous in their tree filled home that was so full of keen eyed lizards and preditorial fish. She must be very powerful. Deeter revield his intentions to speak to her, he had so many questions, and suddenly Pauil was afraid. What if he left and decided he found a better sister? Who would teach her future son how to make shadows dance and how to climb trees while she hunted and caired for their mother? Who would be their for her boy to look up to like she had looked up? He was better at magic than her, he knew what it was like to be a boy, she knew that if he left he might not return... So she begged he take her with.
To the Up There.
Someone had to be with him or he might not come home, and she didn't think anyone else would want to go. He promised it would be a quick trip, he wanted to talk to the woman in her flowing crimson, he felt he would die if he didn't. Pauil was more scared they would die if he did. But regardless of fear, she'd be brave for her brother, as he was always brave for her.