Tree Singer

home more than he’s gone, probably. And you’ll still have me.”
Her friend swallowed and gave her a weak smile. “I know. It’s just—well, I don’t want you to—I mean, once we become initiates, we’ll be much busier. I won’t get to see you as much . . . and I hate that.” Cather turned her face away.
Was she nervous about something other than Tray’s leaving? If so, why?
Mayten gave a mental shake. She and Cather always told each other everything; she must be imagining it. But Cather had always been sensitive to changes, and the idea that Tray might leave them to go on a quest, was a big change.
Whatever the problem was, they could deal with it later. There were more pressing matters at hand.
“I’m going to need your help,” Mayten said. “There’s something wrong with the trees, and I can’t figure out what it is.”
Cather looked up, brown eyes huge. “Did your mother tell you that?”
“No, I sensed it, but I don’t know what it is.”
A tap on the door made them both jump.
“Cather,” her mother called. “It’s almost bells and tomorrow’s a big day.”
Disappointment flooded Mayten. She desperately wanted to talk with someone about the trees, and now there was no time.
“All right, Mama.” Cather stood, pulling Mayten to her feet. “Let’s pledge that no matter what happens tomorrow, we’ll always be friends.”
“Of course, why wouldn’t we be? But what do I do about the tre—”
Cather threw her arms around Mayten and squeezed hard. “Whatever it is, I’m sure your mother will help you figure it out. You’d better run.”
Mayten found herself pulled out of the room almost as abruptly as she’d been pulled in. Cather hurried to the front door and ushered her outside. Mayten waved a quick goodbye to Cather’s parents.
“Well, that was strange.” Anatolian nudged her hand with a damp nose and trotted along beside her.
What was wrong with Cather? She was usually the steady one in their friendship, the sweet, happy one. Tray loved jokes and games while Mayten was the quietest of their little trio. He also seemed totally unaware of Cather’s feelings for him—
The bell in the clan’s tower clanged.
“Race you home!” Mayten said, ruffling Anatolian’s ears. They both took off at a run, Anatolian pulling ahead with ease.
Mayten risked a glance back at Cather’s home. The dark had almost swallowed the building, leaving only the soft glow of lantern light as evidence someone lived there.
Mayten’s stomach knotted. She had a strong feeling, the kind of feeling she’d gotten from the trees, something more was going on here. Something other than the possibility of Tray’s leaving.
But what could it possibly be?

Chapter Four
Mayten’s family straggled into the community square the next morning as the sun was just peeking over the tops of the trees. Mother and Taiwania had left the homestead even earlier but getting the little ones up and dressed had slowed the family, making Mayten nervous they would be late. She breathed a sigh of relief as other families came in after them.
Savory smells drifted from an assortment of covered dishes displayed on tables arranged in two long lines at the back of the square. Mayten’s stomach growled, though she couldn’t eat even if she’d wanted to. Da’s breakfast rolls sat like bricks in her stomach.
There would be plenty of time to eat after the ceremony when the rest of the clan joined the initiates in a community meal.
The atmosphere reminded her of the solstice gatherings. The air fairly crackled with electricity and there were smiles on everyone’s faces.
Long shadows flowed from the large, rectangular stage perched about five feet off the ground with stairs going up each side, the illuminated details stark in the morning light. Mayten stood near the stage with the families of the others who would be leveling up. She shifted nervously from foot to foot until Oleaster bumped her shoulder with his and gave her a smile that calmed the flutters in her stomach. Wollemi stood in front of her. She hadn’t realized she was playing with his hair until he reached up, his small hand wrapping around her fingers.
She didn’t know why she was nervous, not really. There was no doubt in her mind she would be the next tree singer . . .
A whisper of emotion touched her mind, the same fear she’d felt from the trees yester eve, and an icy hand clutched at her heart. She wasn’t nervous about the ceremony at all, she realized. She was worried about the trees.
When the ceremony was over, she’d speak to her mother no matter how busy her mother claimed to be.
Mayten squeezed Wollemi’s hand and chanced a look around the square.
The clan had gathered about the stage, roughly two hundred people standing in family groups. Nine of the clan’s own would level up and receive their callings today, becoming adult members of the clan’s community.
She could see Cather standing with her mother and father. Her friend looked beautiful in her green dress, the top of her long dark hair tied back with a matching green bow. The clan colors—greens and browns—looked particularly good next to Cather’s hair.
The same colors did nothing for Mayten. She glared down at her dull brown pants and tunic. Clan clothing consisted of woven, loose-fitting garments of greens and browns with the adults wearing ceremonial white aprons that signified their callings. Some women wore dresses, but it was perfectly acceptable for a woman to wear loose-fitting pants like the men.
It had never occurred to her to wear a dress—dresses were impractical for tree-climbing singers. Still, it might have been more appropriate.
Cather saw Mayten looking at her and gave her a dimpled smile, nervously twisting the ribbon in her hair. Cather would be called to be a healer like her parents, there was no reason for her to be nervous—
Mayten frowned. Cather’s eyes were red, as if she’d been crying. Her parents’ eyes looked red too.
Had their family received bad news?
Tray and his parents, four brothers, and three uncles stood in a group