*Palaver

Creative writing exercise, a short story based on the word (and with the title):

Palaver

S-23-INDIGO walked down the blackened slope. A recent forest-fire had bared the earth in places, covered it in ash in others. It had been caused by a vulcanic faultline, running through this region, but only recently active. The ash was lukewarm, and strangely soft to her feet, in an almost disturbing way. It filtered between her toes and molded to her soles as smoothly as if there was nothing there. Between the gravelly patches and the smouldering volcanic rock, S-23-INDIGO felt like she was walking on air.

She passed from between charred stumps into the remnant of the old forest. The rain of ash that had only let up recently has silenced the woods, layering ash on the ground, the leaves, the branches and whatever animals hadn't been fast enough. Tiny footprints in the ash were the only evidence of the confused inhabitants of the forest returning. A soft thump sounded between the grey tree-trunks, the weight of the ash was pressing down on the branches unrelentingly, and an equally soft swoop sounded a branch's truimphant freedom.

In the silence of the grey forest, S-23-INDIGO looked around critically, absently digging her toes into the ashy carpet. Under the ash, the big toe on her right foot hit something, soft like the ash, but with a very different texture. She was mildly puzzled for a moment, frowning down at the offending toe, but the most disapproving frown didn't make the soft intrusion go away. She leaned down, careful to keep her toe in contact with whatever lay under the ash, and started digging.

Slow with care, lest she damage whatever it was that lay beneath, she uncovered a sapling of the forest. Its lone two leaves were covered in a fine grey coat even after she tried to wipe them clean. Knowing very well that trees breath through the leaves, she spat on the little sapling, washing its tender leaves clean of ash.

"Hello, little one." She smiles at the shiny green leaves. "I'm so happy you survived, my little sapling. I have something to tell you." She leaned closer, her breath dampening the two leaves as she whispered. "Don't give up yet, green one. The Steel Folk might be conspiring against you, but you don't stand alone. We're all with you, all four clans, we are. Don't let them tell you otherwise, just because of a slight scorch-mark. We're all with you." She nodded, grinning happily at the little quivering plant. "Now, be sure to tell that to your father, if you haven't already. Yes, it's quite alright, quite alright, go on. Oh and... I expect S-23-VERIDIAN to show their faces real soon."

Above the heads and leaves of S-23-INDIGO, the sapling, and the grey-coated trees, clouds had been gathering over the forest. Just as she finished her whispered conversation, thunder rumbled overhead. As the raindrops hit the treetops, they mingled and washed away the ash. Slowly but surely the forest was being washed clean.