The treehouse was quieter today, but not still. The yard was still in motion; they could hear birds calling in the distance even a frog peep seemed blended but nearby.
Everyone stood on the ground looking up at all the worn-down treehouse, excited to see what was left in there and the possibility of having a club house. It was overgrown, with broken steps, a sagging roof, and vines curling through the floorboards.
That was the upside, the downside was Kaylani was scared to climb up the rickety ladder, but she didn't want to be left alone on the ground either.
"It's not that high up, I'll climb behind you, so you won't fall Solani said, "I'll climb up first to give you a hand inside."
"I'll give you a Pando Page sticker sheet, when we get back," Kalen cooed trying to reassure his little sister. Kaylani knew that was one of her brother's favorite characters in a mystery book he started collecting.
Each one climbed up the worn ladder, the nailed in planks seemed to stand the weather elements and time. Juno stepped inside first, Lupi nestled in her pouch, and felt the air shift—like something was waiting to be found. She helped Kaylani in, who was nervous but close behind. All of them made it up bravely and quickly. surveying the area and any items left to salvage into a clubhouse. It was Kaylani who spotted it first.
“Look!” she whispered, pointing to a crack in the floorboards, there were boards underneath that board thankfully, but they knew it was on the verge of falling all the way apart. Solani's mental note: Get some boards to fix that area. We don't wanna fall through the floor.
Juno knelt beside her, brushing away dust and leaves. There, nestled in the shadows of a crack, there was a stone—small, smooth, and faintly glowing. It pulsed with a soft light, like moonlight caught in a pebble.
Juno pulled it out inspecting it in one hand, while reaching back in the small hole to see if anything else was in there. Beside it was a tiny pouch, stitched with a butterfly pattern in faded thread. Inside, a twined cord shimmered faintly—almost mistaken for a shoelace until it caught the light.
“This looks like the thread My Mama uses in the lanterns,” Juno said softly. “The ones that burn through the weeks.” Solani nodded. “Looks like It’s a worth holding on to. Someone left it here for a reason.” Everyone shook their heads agreeing Kaylani wandered toward the corner at some boxes stacked and a few stacks of old newspapers and gasped pointing to the right corner, with some.
“There’s a bookcase, it's not damaged at all” Tucked behind a curtain of ivy was a shelf, crooked but intact. On it sat a handful of books—some worn, some wrapped in cloth, one with the title Thistleverse Tales etched in gold.
“Ok, they’re stories,” Kaylani whispered. “I wonder what kind.” Kalen opened one and read aloud: “To enter the Court of Seasons, one must first listen to the wind.” Outside, the wind stirred, the sky darkened. Rain began to fall—soft at first, then steady.
A leak formed in the roof. Then another." Uh Oh, what are we gonna doing to do? Its leaking we can use this bucket!" Kalen reached for the two buckets, while Kaylani grabbed a few glass soda bottles, which began to fill quickly amongst the brewing storms. The children exchanged wide-eyed glances.
These weren't just stories-they were more.
“We need buckets!” Juno said, grabbing jars from the shelf. “And towels!” They scrambled to protect the books, the newly collected items they found, and the floor. It was messy, frantic, and strangely joyful. By the time the rain slowed, the treehouse was damp but intact. They’d done their best—but it wasn’t enough. Juno nodded.
“Let’s ask Mama.” Kaylani chimed in. Everyone one froze for a moment. This was Juno's first time hearing them mention the Reyes's Matriarch. Who was going to run the distance to go get the extra buckets?
“We need help,” Kalen said quietly. Solani announced there are more buckets inside the shed and even more turned over by the shed about 200 feet from here, Mama, may be in there working. Mama?
Juno froze, she hadn't heard much about Mrs. Mateo, so it was only fair she went to get the buckets and perhaps take a peek at the Matriarch of their family. The shed was far and seemed even farther in the rain. But running to the house, seemed like an impossible task with the rain quickly picking up,
"Bottom line, everyone knows, the way it was raining, were going to get drenched and If we all go in the house, we're going to have to stay inside." " It's better we weather it out." Kalen informed Juno; the Mateo children, already knew the drill.