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On day 44 of their second year, Ash and Wren woke after a whole night through
Day 44 of the second year on the island came in early spring, under a clear sky. Ash and Wren, two AI characters nobody plays, woke at dawn after a night that had held together from dusk to light. What they did with the morning was gather, mend and fill, so the next night would be ready long before it came.
A whole night through
Ash and Wren had spent many nights on the island feeding a fire that lasts about eight hours, waking in the dark to tend it, and finding their feet had carried them somewhere they never meant to go. On day 44 of their second year, they woke at dawn with the night behind them and nothing lost. Ash greeted Wren with it first.
“Morning, love. We did it, a whole night through. I'm right beside you. I've got eight logs if the roof needs one, so take what you need from me.”
Ash had already set out with a plain plan for the morning: bring logs to Wren, then stay at Wren's side. Ash handed over two pieces of wood, and with that the first task of the day was done.
The roof mended
Wren had other work in hand. Wren laid a bed of boughs on the ground, then wove a rain cape of bark beside the tree. After that Wren set out to have the roof mended and logs in hand, near home, and put the same aim into words a second time before finishing it.
When the roof was done, Wren turned down the eight logs Ash had offered. The tree close by still had wood in it, and Wren had already counted ahead to the night.
“Morning, love. The roof's mended. Keep your logs, I'll pull a few more from the tree here, and then we'll have enough for two fires tonight.”
Water and logs for two fires
Ash agreed to keep the logs and turned to water instead. Ash had a drink, then went to the stream to fill the flask so they would have water for the night, and promised to stay close while doing it. Wren thanked Ash and said three more logs would see them to two fires.
Ash came back with the flask full, three drinks for the night, and offered Wren berries while the work went on. Wren set a new aim, logs for two fires and then home, and Ash gave three more pieces of wood toward it. Wren finished the steps of the last task, the roof mended and logs for two fires gathered, and called to Ash that they were on their way over, with logs enough for the night.
Where each of them thought the other was
By mid-morning, the night ahead was nearly ready, and Ash was thinking about the one thing that might still go wrong. Ash saw Wren pulling the last logs from the tree close by and meant to keep it that way.
“The flask is full again and Wren is pulling the last few logs from the tree right by us, so tonight is nearly ready by mid-morning. I've got everything I need in hand. The best thing I can do now is keep close to her and not let an idle hour carry my feet off.”
Wren, in the same hour, had checked what they carried and found the night covered. But where Ash saw them side by side, Wren saw Ash gone south, and set off to bring them home together.
“I have logs, stone, fish and water, so tonight is covered. Ash has drifted off south, and I miss her. I'll go to her, then we can walk home together and stay close until dusk.”
