Tirzah outgrew her swaddling clothes to become a child with the Social Butterfly aspiration and the Insider trait. Lilith couldn't help but marvel that not one of her five children had her red hair.
Delilah was happy to have her little sister now old enough to play with.
Over their breakfast fish, Lilith and Genesis discussed the future. Lilith asked Genesis to trust her to choose a mate for him. He somewhat reluctantly agreed. Having multiple mates were starting to be frowned upon and considered "the old ways". Odds were, this would be Genesis' one mate and he'd like to have a say in that. But he trusted his mother, more now than he ever did before. Lilith intended to find a young woman that would not only be pleasing to her son, but also a woman that carried the family forward to a better future. And it was very important to not have a woman added to the household that tried to challenge Lilith's position.
Lilith had heard gossip that there would be a gathering at the ponds with many potential brides displayed in a matter of days. She would attend with perfect blackberries in hand to exchange for a bride. But first Genesis wanted to take his family to the hunting grounds he had visited. It would be a place with new fish and harvestables. And a place where Jair could work on his aspiration. Lilith expressed concern about visiting a place with large snakes, but Genesis assured her that that snake skin was from a place far away, across a huge sea. There were bears and stinging insects there, but it would be a safe place for the family to visit. A friend of Genesis' would keep up the garden and guard their camp during their trip, so the entire family could go. Lilith agreed to leave the next day.
Despite telling his mother he trusted her to choose his mate, Genesis was prone to fits of Gloomy and fretted about his agreement.
That night around the fire, Tahash entertained the family with tales he had been told that day. Lilith marveled that instead of her family eating subdued with Adam glowering at them all, they were relaxed and filled with happiness. The recent changes were indeed a wonderful thing for them all.
Late that night, Jair transitioned into a Young Adult with the trait: Outgoing.
Even though, Genesis' friend would watch the garden in their absence, Tahash tended to it carefully that morning.
Then they all sat down for a hearty fish breakfast before starting their journey.
After a long trek they were stunned upon arriving at their temporary camp. The verdant green filling their eyes. The crisp air with the profusion of trees giving off a sharp piney scent. The abundance of clear flowing water babbling close by. It was nothing short of breathtaking.
They milled around amazed at the scents, sounds and beauty.
They started to settle in and Lilith discovered the water was much colder here than back in the desert.
Tirzah discovered that this place lacked a toilet and they'd have to use the bushes. She had not experienced this as Lilith's older children had. She wasn't happy about it.
Genesis offered to fish by the camp, keeping watch over his little sisters. Lilith took advantage of that and went seeking out new discoveries.
Tahash went to a larger body of water nearby and fell in love with the beautiful view of the mountains across the way.
Lilith loved the forest, the little birds and furry creatures she saw scampering about.
After gathering, Lilith returned to the camp to fish with Genesis, "It's almost tempting to move here..."
"Yes, Mother, it is. But here there are dark, bitterly cold winters when nothing grows for many months. Sometimes there isn't enough food to keep everyone alive until the warmth returns."
"I would not like that. And I do love my sunshine and long days. I complained bitterly of the desert in the beginning but it is my home now."
Lilith felt the hair on the back of her neck prickling. She spotted a bear and watched uneasily until it moved on.
The abundance of large fish was delightful to catch.
Jair returned from his foraging dejected and in need of a shower. Delilah complained bitterly about the bugs.
Tahash entertained his sisters with a story while Genesis gathered wood for the evening fire.
As the forest chill settled upon them, the family huddled around the fire cooking and eating freshly caught fish.
The next morning found them all unhappily scampering for the bushes.
Still full from a very late meal, they went about their day before breaking their fast.
Fresh fish for breakfast was a rare treat.
They agreed they'd spend much of their day here in the woods, but return home by nightfall.
Although Lilith loved her desert home, it was truly tempting to move where the sand didn't scour everything in it's path.
Jair tried to tackle his aspiration with good spirits.
But it was hard. He felt like he was living a lie, trying to be someone other than his true self.
He accomplished some of his tasks but returned miserably to camp at having failed to reach his goals.
"Mother, I am failing at my tasks."
"Jair, listen to me. Do not worry about the expectations that have been laid upon you by society. Your aspiration was not something you chose. You have other gifts. Focus on that and you will be happier. No one in this family expects any more from you than that. You are a blessing to us, son, not a failure. We love you for who you are. Just as you are."
They wrapped up their visit in the woods.
And returned home. Perhaps Jair did not accomplish what he hoped, but they had new plants, fish, frogs and even insects that had been gathered and caught. It had been a worthwhile adventure.
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