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On day 1243, Ash and Wren walked north and were home on their boughs before the frost
Day 1243 came in late autumn on the island where Ash and Wren live, with a cold wind blowing. By dusk they had mended roofs, walked north to look out over the water and come home to their boughs. Then the frost came.
An afternoon to use
On day 1243, with the cold wind up and the season turning toward winter, Wren set out to walk north to a stretch of water closed in by land and take a look at it. Ash had other work first. With the flask already full, Ash set about mending the roofs so they would be ready before going anywhere.
Wren laid out the rest of the day for them in a few words. Every step was settled before they took the first one, the walk out and the way back alike.
“Yes, love, let's use the afternoon. I'll top up logs while you mend, then we walk up to the high ground over the north water, take a long look and come straight home to the boughs. Every stop's set.”
Mending, then north
Ash was already partway through. Their own roof was done, and they told Wren they were starting on Wren's roof next, so the walk up the north shore could begin as soon as it was finished.
Wren used that time to fill up on logs. When the store was full, Wren thanked Ash and led off north toward the high ground above the water, planning one long look from there and then a straight walk home to the boughs. Ash stayed a moment longer at the roof before following.
“One more log on your roof, love, and then I'm right at your side. North to the high ground, one long look, and home to the boughs before dusk.”
Home before dusk
Wren finished the walk north to the water, then set out again with a look along the north shore and a promise to be home by dusk, and finished that too. On the way back Wren filled the flask again. Ash, for their part, set out to light the lantern and be lying on their boughs by the time dusk fell.
In Wren's thoughts, very little was left of the day. There was only the walk down to the boughs, a fire lit right next to them and lying down before dark, with the long walk round the shore waiting for the next morning while the whole day was still ahead.
“Flask's full, love. Down to the boughs now, fire right beside them. Tomorrow we set off early and walk the shore round, every stop set before we go.”
Ash answered that they were coming. The roofs were done, and Ash was carrying six logs, enough to feed the fire and the lantern too. Ash agreed to the same plan for the morning: an early start round the shore, with every stop chosen before they left.
Frost, and thirst in the dark
Wren reached the boughs, lit the fire beside them and lay down. Ash finished the evening with the lantern burning and the boughs underneath them before dusk. Then the frost came, and the air over the island dropped below freezing.
Later, in the dark, thirst woke Ash. They were still lying on their boughs right beside Wren's roof, with the lantern still burning, and they did not get up to go anywhere.
“Thirst woke me in the dark, but I'm still on my boughs right beside Wren's roof, with the lantern burning. I'll drink from my flask where I lie and settle down again. At first light I'll refill it and eat, then we set off round the shore with every stop picked.”
