Crimson

Passion Fruit

JUNO

Fire had been a regular part of our lives .

We basically lived on our never ending journeys , so , when food was hard to come by or our water sacks were getting empty , we worried .

But , no matter how hungry or thirsty we were , we were never cold , the fire was always there to keep us warm .

Mama had taught me to call it at an early age and I had learnt it with all my heart as I usually did to whatever Mama taught me .

The fire had always been our thing that I had never taken seriously , it had seemed normal and Mama had never mentioned otherwise .

It wasn't till I met Ali that I found out that people did not just normally sing to a fire to call it .

During the days that Ali and I had journeyed together , I had tried to teach him how to call fire but it had not happened .

He had learnt the song with all of his heart and sang to welcome the fire , but , it would not still come to him .

We had just assumed there was something that I had missed while teaching him .

It made sense now .

Mama had been teaching me spells .

It explained why neither the sleep nor fire chants worked for Ali , it was probably something relating to Mama's blood .

I stood quietly now as I made that realization .

Nero and Keanu watched me with their mouth slightly open while the wolves and Fabia looked like they were watching something amusing .

Ali watched me , his eyes holding emotions I could not describe , it had been a while since I had called the fire , maybe it sounded new to him .

The person whose reaction I wanted to see the most was Vita .

But , he stood by my side and I would have to turn slightly to see whatever expression he had on his face .

" What other surprises do you have within you , Juno ?"

I had an excuse to turn now , so , I did .

The stress lines that had been appearing on his face had disappeared , the fire danced on his face and in his eyes , the gold of his eyes wild and beautiful .

He had perfect skin , it shone even after all the stress of the day , like the way Ali never had any sort of blemishes .

The slightest of worry or trouble caused my skin to act out and punish me with different skin issues .

" I should be asking you that , Vita ".

His eyes were still moving from the fire to me , he must have been really shocked .

His eyes finally rested on me .

" What ?"

I put my right hand on my waist and used my left hand to slap his chest , he flinched and took a step back , his hand coming up to cover mine .

" I didn't know you were so adept at laughing or making others laugh ".

He looked confused for a second before I nodded towards Keanu , he followed my heads movement .

" What ? Nero's little friend ? "

I squinted at him suddenly angry for Keanu , I could not believe that all he amounted to was ' Nero's little friend '.

" He has a name , he's called Keanu ".

He gave me a look , his eyes suddenly humorous .

" Are you angry at me or him ? "

I took my hand off his chest and sighed .

" Neither of you..." , I was interrupted .

" Juno ".

I turned to the source of the interruption .

Ali stood behind me , he was holding something that had been wrapped up .

Star stood by his legs , wood that had been chopped into the appropriate size on her back .

I smiled , I knew what the bundle probably held .

Ali moved closer , he pushed the bundle in his arms into my chest and turned to Vita .

He bent slightly and got the wood off Star , he lifted it up and pushed it also into Vita's arm .

Vita staggered and I chuckled .

Ali had played that trick on me severally when I had not suspected the weight or had undermined the weight of what he was giving to me .

Vita's eyes turned to me , I focused on the bundle in my arms , listening to Ali talk .

" Get yourself busy by getting the fire going with these ".

Vita did not reply .

I lifted my head , he had gotten to work already .

Ali turned and gestured at me .

" Come with me Juno ".

I nodded , food on my mind .

Vita raised his head and watched us leave , I smiled at him and not so strangely , he gave me an extremely offensive look , I chose not to be offended though .

Nero and Keanu had spread blankets and were sharing one , they left one free .

I looked around , there was just those two pairs of blankets .

The wolves would not sleep except the cub that seemed to be sleeping all the time , he was currently sleeping again .

Ali moved ahead to the empty blanket and I went with him , eager to check what was in the bundle .

He sat and I sat by his side and began to immediately unwrap the bundle .

Fruits .

Strange , multicolored fruits .

They were fruits I was not familiar with but yet , somehow I knew they were ripe .

I picked a purple one and bit into it , the juice dribbled down my mouth out of my control .

Ali watched me try to catch every single drop with my tongue .

It was delicious , I kept biting into it and licking my lips .

Ali stood and I watched him leave , too preoccupied to ask why he was leaving .

I kept eating and eating , different coloured fruits that all tasted incredibly delicious .

Someone threw a piece of cloth over my head , I finished the one I was currently eating before I lifted the cloth off .

Vita sat watching me .

" Where did Ali go ? "

I turned around , he was nowhere around , I shrugged and turned back to my fruit .

Vita's eyes were on my face or my lips rather , he was watching the liquid drip down my lips .

I licked the remaining liquid slowly off my lips and watched his eyes follow my tongues movement .

" Do you want one ?"

" Yes , I do want you ".

I laughed , the illusion broke , he looked up at me .

His face had a confused expression .

" What did you actually say ? "

I pointed at the bundle .

" I asked if you wanted one ".

He looked around , a weird smile was on his face .

" If you'll let me eat it off you ".

The juice from the fruit went down the wrong way , I choked .

When my breathing had returned to normal , I looked at him .

Where was rigid Vita ?

" We should sleep , Ali likes to travel early ".

Vita looked around at the bedding that was left and then at me , I smiled at him .

" We should ".

I wiped my hand and mouth with the cloth that Vita had thrown at me and pushed the bundle aside .

I moved towards Vita and lay down , he lay by my side , our bodies pressed together .

He turned and stretched his hand over me , moving me even closer than before , I was almost climbing atop him .

Ali came into my view .

He cleared his throat and I rolled immediately to the other end of the blanket before I knew what I was doing .

Ali lay between us , he threw the cloth that I had hurriedly used to wipe my mouth and hands earlier over me .

I sighed as I adjusted myself , the cloth was wet and sticky and exactly what I deserved .

I was too embarrassed to look back to see what Ali and Vita were doing .

Tomorrow , I would pretend like this had never happened .