Chapter Two

I woke far too early the next morning. Weak daylight painted the ceiling of the hut, spilling in the window that faced the tiered rice paddies. On the other side of a thin screen, my hosts still snored quietly. I rolled off my low cot onto my knees and reached for the bowl and jug beside the bed.

I quietly filled the bowl with water from the jug and splashed water on my face. Even so early in the morning, it was already balmy. That did nothing to change my plans. I had to convince the head of the science department and my overprotective parents that I was capable of doing my own field research.

The first time I visited Mount Salak, I was a grad student working on my thesis. I was with a mixed-gender group of seven from my university, and finding time to be alone in the jungle was nearly impossible. Now, three years later and graduated, I could return as an assistant professor. Alone. It was both thrilling and daunting.

After morning prayer, I stood and stretched. My hijab had twisted during the night, leaving my dark waves spilled across one shoulder. I slept with it uncovered and unbound at home, but it felt uncomfortable with only a screen separating me from mixed company. I twisted my long hair into a bun at the nape of my neck and readjusted my scarf.

I had taken the time to bathe and change my clothes the night before, so there was only the borrowed kain kebat to consider. The long, brightly colored cloth belonged to my host, Emak, who was kind enough to supply me with several wraps for my visit. I lifted the first Kebat from the small stack.

It was covered in thick bands of burgundy and gold in a thatched pattern reminiscent of the home's walls. I took a moment to appreciate the handmade skirt before I wrapped it around my waist. I was free to wear my pants underneath, but in the village, the skirt was required.

I left my small sleeping area and paused in the main living space. The fire in the center of the hut lightly smoldered, a faint trail of smoke rising to escape the window high in the back wall. I tapped my hands on my thighs as I walked over to look out the front door at the narrow path that served as the main street. It was quiet.

I squinted down the street to where it ended just before the tree line. It would be rude to leave without speaking to my hosts. I had time. Even as I walked over to sit on the edge of the porch, I felt jittery.

More than my career hinged on this trip. If I could find the elusive lily, and show it in its natural environment, maybe I could make a difference. Change policies. Find a way to save what little wild was left on the island.

Every year, the jungle shrank a little more to make room for cropland. It was progress, but it was also devastation. If I could prove that the lily still existed in the wild, prove that the jungle was worth saving, maybe I could shelter the rest of the national park. Maybe, I could still the knife carving at the edges of the land.

A loud throat clearing jerked me out of my thoughts. I turned toward the screen to see my hosts shuffling out into the morning light. My gaze flicked to Abah for a brief moment before returning to Emak. She smiled and nodded.

"I trust you slept well," Emak said.

"I did, thank you. And you?" I asked.

"We slept well. Thank you," Emak answered for her and her husband. She gestured for me to follow her.

I grabbed my knapsack and walked with her out into the morning light. Emak stopped at the edge of the porch to tip her face up to the sun. She smiled, deepening the lines etched into her copper skin, and I found myself smiling in return. Emak opened her eyes to look at me.

"Eager to get started?" she asked with a knowing smile.

I ducked my head. "Very," I murmured.

"Let me pack you food for the day," Emak said, starting to walk without waiting for agreement. She was quick despite her age.

I hurried after her. We walked down the road to the larger bamboo structure that served as the communal kitchen. Over a dozen women were already busy with food preparation when we arrived. They chatted with each other in the local language as they worked. I tried to join in the food preparation, but Emak shooed me to the side.

"You are a visitor," one of the other women said in stilted Indonesian.

I nodded hesitantly and scanned the large room. Along the back wall, five large pots hung over a trench full of flickering flames. The rest of the room held two long tables where the women were preparing the food for the men at work in the rice patties. After a few minutes, Emak emerged from the group with a folded cloth.

"This should suit you for the day," she said, holding it out to me.

I took the small bundle thankfully.

"Be back before nightfall," Emak cautioned.

I nodded. "I will."

For a moment, she looked like she wanted to say something. She gave me a tight smile and shooed me toward the door.

"Good luck," she said.

I smiled my thanks, already tucking the food into my knapsack. As I stepped out into the ever-brightening light, I smiled wider at the heat on my face. The sun had crested the hill to set the rice patties alight with glittering golden water and bands of emerald stalks. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

Maybe it was wrong, but a small part of me was happy to spend the day in the sun without the cosmetics my mother had given me. No brightening face cream after washing my face, and no sunscreen laced with lightener. Nothing to keep my skin from bronzing under the sun except the thick jungle canopy. My mother would be so annoyed. I bit back a smile and started walking.

∞∞∞

I tried not to seek her out. Now that I knew she had returned, I swore I could feel her presence the moment she stepped into my jungle. As if every breeze carried her scent and every bird call was an attempt at her name. I had only spent a short time at my nest the day before, torn between wanting to add to the already massive size and tear it down altogether. It was a glaring symbol of what I would never have.

By the time the sun was directly overhead, I could not restrain myself anymore. I swung through the trees, moving between the patches of light splashed across the jungle floor. A group of young langurs leaped out of my way as I passed, darting over to hide among the darker bodies of the adults. I moved quickly, eagerness making my heart pound in my chest.

A few moments later, I jerked to a stop at the edge of a small clearing. There she was. A gentle breeze fluttered the fabric of her headscarf as she crouched down to examine a cluster of red flowers. She was so close. If I only leaned out of the shadows she would see me.

I curled my hands and feet around the branch beneath me to resist the urge. I could never let her know of me. The village knew not to speak of me to outsiders. I only had to rein in my desires until my Kekasih drifted away from me again. Taking my heart with her.

I heard a soft sound off to my right and tore my eyes away from her long enough to look. A low shadow moved through the underbrush. I craned my neck to see better. The dark shape moved between the trees, dappled sunlight showing glimpses of black, coarse fur. A wild boar.

He did not seem to scent her yet. His slow, lumbering movements were deceptive. The beasts were frighteningly fast and vicious when they attacked. I narrowed my eyes at the boar as it moved closer to the clearing.

He was massive, larger than my Kekasih, and far heavier. She would not stand a chance against the boar if he chose to charge her. I looked between them. Was there time to put him down before he reached the clearing? I carefully descended from the canopy, silently moving from branch to branch.

Only a few arm"s lengths from the boar, my wingtip caught on a thin, dry branch. The snap was loud enough to cause all three of us to freeze in place. A heartbeat later, the boar let out a deafening scream that made my ears flatten to my head. I made a wild grab for the beast, but he lurched forward out of my reach.

I whirled around to follow his progress and growled under my breath as his charge took him into the clearing. My Kekasih stood up slowly, her face turning pale as she saw the large boar hurtling toward her. I could hear her sharp intake of breath from where I perched, rooted to the spot. My decision was made in that instant as fear for her life overwhelmed my fear of discovery.

I leaped from the tree, using both wings and limbs to hurl myself through the jungle to her. I roared, attempting to draw its attention away from her. It worked. The beast skidded to a stop, pivoting on its back legs to face me and charge again. I caught a glimpse of my Kekasih's terrified face before she turned to flee.

A moment later, the boar slammed into me. It took all of my strength to stay standing, as I wrapped my long arms around the boar's middle and heaved. Spreading my wings wide for balance, I pivoted hard and hurled him toward the tree line. His heavy body crashed through the underbrush and he squealed before fleeing back the way he had come.

I was still breathing hard when a short, sharp scream rose from the direction my Kekasih had fled. My heart stuttered. If something had happened to her… I could not bear to finish the thought. I took two long strides and launched myself into the sky.

It was dangerous to fly with the trees so close together, but I needed to reach her quickly. The boar was not the only danger in the jungle. I tracked her footprints, dodging low branches as I moved as fast as I could without tearing a wing. Finally, I saw a small figure crumpled on the jungle floor ahead.

"No," I breathed. "No, no, no."

I landed beside her and crouched, reaching out but not daring to touch. Was she…? I looked her over desperately, trying to see where she was hurt. My gaze snagged on the faint rise and fall of her body. Alive.

My eyes burned and I swallowed hard. She was breathing. I moved closer, and after fighting with myself, I dared to look at her face. The cloth that usually covered her hair had fallen to the side, allowing a single tendril of long, dark hair to fall across her cheek. It shone in the sunlight, various shades of brown and deepest black.

I longed to see if it was as silky as it looked. I curled my hand into a fist and leaned down to get a better look at her face. One cheek was pressed to the forest floor and I inhaled sharply at the sight of a gash above her eye. As carefully as I could, I shifted her onto her back. A large rock, barely visible through the dirt and leaves was stained dark with her blood.

My chest ached. She must have tripped running from the boar. Running from me. I tore my eyes away from her small form and looked around. I could not leave her here, but I could not take her to the village during the day.

The solution was there in the back of my mind, but I shied away from it. I could not take her to my nest. I knew enough from the village women to know that holding her in my arms and taking her to my nest would be unacceptable. But what choice was there? I hesitated, trying to think of the least invasive way to carry her.

Finally, I carefully wrapped an arm around her shoulders and scooped beneath her knees to gently lift her from the ground. Her weight felt so right in my arms, I had to pause to take a deep breath. I brought her to my chest and her head lolled to the side to rest on my shoulder. It was so close to what I wanted, but still so very far. I headed for my nest, trying and failing to stop the bittersweet pain in my heart.