He was Almost Absorbed by the System

Chapter Forty Six - Miner's Son

The two boys were carefully watched as the adults negotiated a trade, the wagon filled with bodies of meat in return for some fragments of crystals, pretty stones, fish and underground varieties of mushrooms.  Willow was delighted to learn where the fish he loved to eat came from and Slate was more than happy to teach him.

"Underground there are caverns where the water is all salty and grandpa said if you are bright eyed, you can find rock crabs and lobster and clams as well as stone fish and deep water fishes.  My grandpa said his brother lost a leg when he was a boy so he couldn't be a miner like the rest of us, so he became a fisher instead!" Slate spoke proudly of his family. The boy with dark grey skin had brilliant silver hair, that was loose and long, each strand flowing about his head as if it was made of the precious metal. He was shorter than Willow and stouter. He also didn't have the claws that Willow had, his nails were short and blunt.

"What's a miner?"

"A miner is a person who digs in the rock and sometimes collects the good rocks for building houses and stuff like tables and seats. They also collect shiny rocks for.. I don't know what they are for!" The boy turned to his grandfather. "Grandpa, what are the shiny rocks for?"

The adults gave warm indulgent smiles as the boy's talked. "Ah, the crafters like the shiny rocks, remember," his grandfather's voice was deep and gruff, but warm when talking to his only grandchild.

"And women like the things the crafters make from them," one cave warrior added, causing chuckles amongst the men.

"Did my mom like shiny things?" The boy suddenly asked.

The elder's tone broke a little as he replied; "Of course, you have the necklace your pop gave her, right?"

The boy fished out the large pendant dangling from his neck from wear it hid beneath his tunic. It was a sparkling white circular pendant with a hole in the centre, through which a leather thong had been threaded, so it could be tied about the boy's neck. There was a crescent shape of jet partially framing the hole. "Yup!" he agreed on seeing it.

"Crafters carve the rocks?" The little red headed boy asked, then turned to his father, "Dad, I want to carve the rocks too! Can I?"

"Ah, I don't think it's the same as carving wood, son," his father said evasively.

"Don't worry," the boy with silver hair smiled, "when I grow up and become a miner, I'll get you some shiny rocks and you can carve them! But you must carve me something, 'k?"

"'K," the other boy agreed, grinning broadly.

"Right, time to go boys," the elder warrior of the woods advised them. "Leaf, take your son home, directly, there is enough of us to guard the wagon."

"Aw!" Both boys protested in unison, but the adults would hear no arguments.

"It's time for you to sleep," Willow's father told him.

"You have chores, me boy," Slate's grandfather advised him.

"Bye," Willow waved as he climbed onto his father's back.

"Bye," Slate said, grabbing his grandfathers hand and waving sadly.

****

Willow returned home, animated and more lively that his mother had seen him for sometime. He bounced around the main home, little Corn chasing him on plump, stubby legs as Willow rabble excitedly about his adventure.  She rubbed her swollen belly, while listening to him carefully as he spoke about his new friend and the fish that came from cavern pools and shiny stones that could be carved. It took sometime before he was calm enough to sleep. The woman was glad he was happy, but she was worried that her easily distracted boy had something new to lead him astray. I will just need to keep him occupied more, she thought as she fell asleep beside her husband.