He drank some more of the water while he swam. Jacob could feel himself getting better and the scratches on his face didn't hurt anymore. He saw his reflection in the pool and saw the scar wash away. "Woah, what is this water?" Jacob drank more and more. It was great, it left him feeling stronger. His muscles felt relaxed and he stretched in the water. Plopping his hands down, he noticed a flower. It was purple and shaped like a bluebonnet.
The Flower had small flickers of something floating around it, the small lights matched the colors of the flower pedals, purple orbs circle the flower continuously.
Jacob went up to smell the flower, it was alluring. He had the overwhelming compulsion to swallow it.
Jacob picked the flower, a drop of liquid fell onto his fingertips. He tasted it. 'Sweet.' He crushed the flower into his mouth and bit down. It was like honey, sticky and chewy but it clung to his mouth. While he was busy chewing, he dug at the roots and pulled the rest of the plant out. There was a root on the bottom, it looked like a long potato. Jacob gulped down the flower and stared at the root cluster.
It was purple, like the flower itself. There was a strange shape to it, it looked like a heart. Not the silly valentines day card type of heart, but a beating, pulsing one. The violet fluid dripping from its stem was sweeter than any sugar Jacob had ever tasted. He licked the side of the root and froze.
There was another taste, but it wasn't on his tongue. Somehow he was tasting something with his brain, the feelings were substantial enough to cause him to lose conciousness. He laid there motionless on the hillside in the water, naked and exposed.
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Shortie saw him sleeping and played in the water. It was cool and refreshing. Twenty minutes later, he was tired of playing and shook off. The spray of water shook Jacob from his trance.
"Huh?" Jacob looked around and saw the purple potato in his hands. 'I don't think this is a potato..' he put his clothes on and kept the root with him.
There were a lot of grasses nearby, Jacob took the time to weave a crappy looking basket. He couldn't carry everything and anything was better than nothing. An hour later, the basket had a lid and straps for Jacob's arms. It was more like a backpack that rubbed wrong. He took off his shirt and ripped the sleeves from it. Lining the straps with his sleeves, it rubbed a little less.
"I'm ready to go whenever you are." Jacob got up and saw Shortie napping against a rock.
It was almost night time, they had to find somewhere to rest. Jacob collected some broken branches and wood, putting them in the basket to burn later.
"Shortie?" Jacob walked over and saw Shortie dreaming, he kicked his leg, it sent Jacob falling over into the water. The splashing woke Shortie up.
"Aren't you done playing in the water?" Shortie stood up and stretched.
Jacob got out of the water, he was soaked, his clothes were soaked. 'Great.' Squeegeeing the water off his backside, he said, "Its okay, I'm fine." He brushed himself off a few more times and started walking. "Lets go find a place to make camp." Jacob led the way, he walked off the water until he was somewhat dry. They made it to a clearing in the trees, it wasn't wide but it had grasses in the center that was easy to clear.
Circling some rocks, Jacob found a somewhat flat one and put it in the center. Its gentle bowl shape made it less likely to spill juices into the fire. Jacob had chosen it specifically for that reason. Putting some of the undergrowth from the grasses as kindling around the base, he stacked some of the wood scraps around the rock and lit the fire. There were only six matches left, he was worried about the future but but he couldn't live in fear, or catch a cold. Striking the sixth match, he held it gently and lit the fire. When a small flame started in the kindling, he went around and lit the other sides.
Warming by the fire, a bit of smoke wafted in his face. The smoke entered his lungs and Jacob coughed heavily. Backing off, he waited for the fire to get going and put the root on the stone. It crackled and popped, the sweet aroma turned to the smell of caramel.
The violet liquid inside began to condense and thicken, the root shrank a little, its skin wrinkled and a smell that had never before been smelled wafted into Shortie's nostrils.
He perked up and approached the fire. He had been tired since playing in the water, the rest did him some good. The smell of the root made Shortie drool, he wagged his tail and sat down beside Jacob.
"Want.Want.Want.Want." Shortie stared at the root like it was a treat that he had earned.
"Not yet, its almost done and I want some of it too." Jacob wasn't sure how long he had to cook it but he was growing impatient alongside Shortie.
Shortie stuck his tongue out and panted while he waited by the fire.
Jacob took the spear and stabbed it into the root to pick it out of the fire. It steamed in the night air. There was another rock nearby, setting it down, Jacob cut a third of the root off. He looked at Shortie's massive body and sighed. Then he passed the bigger section over to Shortie and bit into the root.
'Heaven.' Jacob savored every bite, when he was done eating he wished there was more.
Shortie licked the root clean and then peeled it open. Inside, there was a shiny purple ball. Jacob reached for it before Shortie could finish eating the root, swallowing it.
'Core!' Jacob remembered the terms the Elders had used during the banquet, he tried to break the core in half but it was impossible for him. Biting down, he couldn't get it to break. It was only the size of marble, but it was glowing a deep purple. Jacob swallowed it.
Shortie finished the root and licked the side of Jacob's face. There was a stain of purple on his tongue, Jacob wondered if he also had a purple tongue because of it, then he looked down at his fingers. They were covered in purple stains like he had robbed a bank. Purple color dyed his skin. Scratching at it, he couldn't get it clean, even in the water. He was stuck with purple hands for the time being.
Irritated, he gave up and sighed, 'At least I'm not sticky.'
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