Follow me. For the next two months, we will wander onto the unknown paths of A Time to Die. I expect we’ll meet new characters, foreign places, wondrous inventions, and maybe a little danger…
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Character Interview #3 — Willow
Hi Willow, thank you for letting me interview you. Tell me a little about yourself.
I’m spring eleven, albino, and live in the forest.
You certainly get to the point. Why do you live in the forest?
This is where my people are. You should live in the forest. It is much better.
But don’t you want to travel and discover big cities?
Someday I will. I will not live there, though. I will live with Elm and my family. We must care for the trees.
What are some things you like to do?
What do you mean?
You know, for fun. Hobbies.
I like to walk on tightropes. I like to barter with traders when they bring technology to my village. I like to climb trees, but I must be very careful or I’ll have to atone. Atoning is good, but I’m still afraid sometimes.
What does atoning mean?
We should not talk about it. Alder does not like sharing our ways with people outside the village.
Okay, well how about this, who are your closest friends?
Elm. He is my grafting partner. Parvin and Jude-man are my friends, too. Who are your friends?
Well, we’re not here to talk about me.
Why not? We could be friends.
That’s nice of you. Let’s move on. What—–
Don’t you want to know me? I want to know you. Where are you from?
Of course I want to know you. That’s what this interview is for, to focus on you. Not me.
I think I need to go now. I need to fix my sling and gather stones before we go hunting tomorrow.
Wait! We just started the interview!
I need to work. Everyone else is working. I should help them. You can come with if you want.
I can’t. But may I ask you one more question?
Okay.
What is one thing you fear and one thing you love?
That is two questions. *giggle* But I am afraid of darkness trapping me. When it is night out and I get stuck — like in a cave, or under a falling tree — I get very afraid.
I love games! Hiding games, games with stream pebbles…any games. And I love stories. Jude-man tells good stories of princesses and warriors.
I love games, too. Well, I’ll let you go prepare for your hunting trip…if you have to.
. . . .
Oh, alright. Thanks for stopping by my blog.
Welks!
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What would you like to know about Willow? Ask in the comments!
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Dear Willow, Hello. I feel a little shy asking you things. I know you like people, and I know you love deeply. Do you ever wish you lived somewhere else? Do you have any secret wishes in your heart that noone knows about? What do you mean “grafting partner”? Is there anything you’ve ever wanted to try or do that you can’t do where you live? Why do you say your age as “spring eleven”? Were you born in the spring? So if someone is born in the winter, do they say “I’m winter 12”? What’s your favorite food? Do you have brothers and sisters; how many? Are your eyes red, or do soem albinos have other color eyes? Have you made friends with any traders and their families? What kind of technology attracts you? Thank you!
[from Willow]
Don’t be shy, CC-lady. I like questions.
Do you ever wish you lived somewhere else?
Nowhere else is home. The forest is my home. I like to visit, but never live in other places.
Do you have any secret wishes in your heart that no-one knows about?
*giggle* Of course! They’re secrets! I save my secrets for Elm…when we graft.
What do you mean “grafting partner”?
Elm is my grafting partner. We will share our lives forever and love each other. We will become a mother and father and then great-grandmother and great-grandfather together. Do you have a grafting partner?
Is there anything you’ve ever wanted to try or do that you can’t do where you live?
Hunt giant fish. I hear that far away, after much traveling, there is a big water with fish more giant than our stone huts! I want to hunt one. Or ride one. Maybe I will ride it and then hunt it.
Why do you say your age as “spring eleven”? Were you born in the spring? So if someone is born in the winter, do they say “I’m winter 12”?
Yes! I was born in spring. Alder — our leader — is winter-old. He is past our numbers so we don’t count them anymore.
What’s your favorite food?
Cattails. Yum! And duck. Elm is a good hunter of duck.
Do you have brothers and sisters; how many?
No brothers and sisters. It is good — we wouldn’t fit in our hut.
Are your eyes red, or do some albinos have other color eyes?
Elm says my eyes are purple. I do not see them unless traders bring a mirror. Elm’s eyes are early sky blue. Most everyone’s eyes are these colors.
Have you made friends with any traders and their families?
No, we don’t talk much. Only trade.
What kind of technology attracts you?
Everything. Someday I will get many animal pelts and trade for something all my own.
Thank you!
Welks!
Wow, CC asked great questions … I want to know those things, too! I don’t know anything about you (although I’m looking forward to meeting you in Parvin’s story when I get to read it), but I’m curious about what/who your people worship. Also, does your culture have a strong story-telling tradition? If so, what kinds of stories do they tell? What are your favorites? Thanks for taking the time to answer me!
[from Willow]
I want to meet you, too, Stacy-lady! Come visit and bring a story, please.
I’m curious about what/who your people worship.
Sometimes we talk to trees — Alder does it the most. He’s our leader. But Jude-man sometimes visits and tells us about his God who made the trees. I want to know more about Him — he must be very creative and beautiful to make our trees.
Does your culture have a strong story-telling tradition? If so, what kinds of stories do they tell? What are your favorites?
We do not tell many stories except old stories of the people who did not care for our forests. But Jude-man comes with many stories. I will remember them, then Elm and me will tell them on and on when we get old. My favorite is the boy with the sling who killed a giant-man. I have a sling. I think I could do it, too.
Thanks for taking the time to answer me!
Welks!
Hi Willow. I think you’d get along well with my little girl. You are both very caring people. Tell me, if you could change one thing about your world what would it be?
[from Willow]
Hi Adam-man! Is your little girl spring eleven, too? She should come visit us. You, too.
Tell me, if you could change one thing about your world what would it be?
. . . Don’t tell Alder. But I want him to let people stay in our village, like Jude-man. Jude-man can teach us things. I want to learn and hear his stories. And…I sometimes wish there was no atoning. I know we must, but Jude-man says it’s not good. I want to know why because then maybe we can stop. But don’t tell Alder!