She and her father are the only two people allowed to venture beyond its walls.
Luwan, on the other hand, loves to explore.
One day it leads to trouble: He is captured while spying on a group of strangers.
Disney-Hyperion
The Takers have returned.
If We Were Giantswill be published March 3, and isavailable for pre-order.
A man ascended the trunk, moving with the liquid grace of a jungle cat.
Kirra was help-less to do anything but watch as he got closer and clos-er.
The man bent over and squinted into the net.
He gave her a little wave.
I was hoping to find the leopard that has been patrolling these parts.
So sorry to disappoint you.
Mome shrugged and sat down cross-legged on the wide branch.
And what are you doing on this fine afternoon?
Kirra shook her head.
Or rather, she tried to.
Being trussed up like this did not lend itself to much mobility.
She settled for an eye roll.
Well, at the moment I seem to be stuck in this tree.
Momes brow crinkled, match-ing the deep wrinkles that lined the rest of his face.
He gestured at Kirras predicament like he had just noticed she was incapacitated.
And why are you like this?
Mome raised one eyebrow in a question.
Youdid this, Kirra said.
This is your net.
Like a wild animal.
perhaps you should not have wandered so close to my home.
Like a wild ani-mal.
Thats hardly fair, Mome.
You change the location of your home every month or so.
Its hard to keep up.
He waggled a finger at her.
One can never be too careful.
Ive seen many things in this life, young lady.
He studied her for several moments.
Do you know what I think?
Kirra tried to blow a stray lock of hair out of her face.
I think you have sad eyes.
Theyve always told me that youve seen some things in this life, as well.
After a long silence he added, Yes?
You know I dont talk about things like that.
But we cannot know the future.
So what else is there to talk about except the past?
How about we talk about you getting me out of this net in the very near future?
Are you sure youre not a leop-ard?
Kirra just rolled her eyes again.
Kirra was unceremoniously deposited onto the broad branch with a thump.
She clambered to her feet, rubbing her lower back where she had smacked the limb.
I thought leopards always landed on their paws.
Im not your leopard, Mome.
He tilted his head this way and that, chin in his hand, studying her.
Finally he gave her a dismissive wave.
Oh, I suppose not.
But you should come to my humble house anyway and share a drink with me.
Im working on a new concoction with honey and berries.
You will love it!
Mome talked with his hands and his eyes went all crinkly when he was excited.
Kirra was still dusting herself off.
I would do that, Mome, really.
But I need to get to the salt caverns be-fore dinner.
And Im late already.
She turned to step away, but Mome took her gently by the shoulders.
We have not chatted in a long time, and I have plenty of salt at the moment.
Kirra chewed on her lip, weighing the offer.
It would be nice not to have to haul herself all the way to the caverns.
And Mome always treated her with kindness.
I know about borrowing, she mumbled.
And I know about neighbors.
Mome gave her a gentle smile.
I had a feeling you did.
The old man leaned in and tapped her forehead.
I think that a time when you learned to borrow from neighbors is part of your story.
Kirra turned her head away.
He nudged her in the ribs.
If you and I start acting neighborly and borrowing from each other, who knows?
The practice might catch on with these folks.
Mome gestured at the surrounding forest.
He spoke to her as a fellow outsider.
how far away is your new house?
Mome pointed directly overhead.
Thishe kicked at the fallen netis my last line of defense against all things leopardy.
He reached up and disappeared into the leaves above.
Kirra sighed and followed.
Okay, this is pretty cozy, she admitted.
But why do you change houses so often, Mome?
He always did that.
Most adults answered right away, even if they werent completely sure about what they were saying.
It was like they just wanted to get the conversation over with as quickly as possible.
Mome taking time to weigh her words was proof that he took them seriously.
it becomes easy to confuse what truly belongs there with what doesnt.
What do you mean?
He turned back, fixing her with his soft gaze.
Its the people in a house that matter, not the house or the pos-sessions.
Mome glanced away, looking absently at the sur-rounding trees.
When he spoke again, his voice was much quieter.
Not being too attached makes that easier to do.
Kirra flinched as if he had reared back to strike her.
The older man noticed the reaction.
He gently placed a hand on her arm.
Sometimes when I say things to you, I can see storm clouds roll across your eyes.
He patted her for a while, letting Kirra gather herself.
Final-ly, Mome said, Will you at last tell me what happened to you?
Share part of your story with mewhere you came from, perhaps?
I may be able to help you, Kirra.
She just shook her head.
Theres nothing to tell.
Everyone has a story.
I dont like stories, she said quickly.
Oh, Im so sorry to hear that.
They are what make us different from the animals, you know?
What are you talking about?
Kirra knew she had to step carefully.
Mome could surround her with Memory Traps before she even knew what was happening.
This could end very, very badly.
it had been so long since shed heard a new story.
Or even heard anyone say something good about stories.
Salt was not the only thing that the Tree Folk failed to share with one another.
Mome leaned forward from his perch in the ham-mock and gestured to the forest floor far below.
They should be in charge of everything!
But the beasts do not have stories, and that is our one advantage.
He grinned and waggled his eyebrows at her.
Its like magic for your mind!
Mome clapped as if his body needed an outlet for all of this joy.
Mome leaned even closer, trying to establish eye con-tact with her.
And perhaps most importantly, they can teach us about ourselves.
Kirra allowed her mind to flash backward, only for a moment.
She saw a man, a woman, and a small boy sit-ting beside her around a campfire.
The woman turned in her direction and
No.
Kirra shut that memory down hard.
Finally, she shrugged and looked back at Mome.
Her voice was very quiet.
And sometimes stories are just for fun.
Mome broke into a giggle that made him sound like a much younger man.
That is indeed the truth, and isnt it wonderful?
Mome shook his head, still letting loose unself-consciously with his child-like snickering.
Do you know any just-for-fun stories, meerkat?
She slurped the last of her drink and handed the emp-ty cup to Mome.
I think I should be getting back home now.
Okay, the past is out.
He wafted the drink under her nose.
It smelled so good, she found her-self accepting it.
Let us talk about the present, then, Mome went on.
How are you getting along with your Tree Family these days?
Kirra leaned back and sighed.
Oh, theyre the same, I suppose.
She shook her head.
Luwan is as crazy as ever.
Im glad you two have each other.
I have not seen him buzzing around here recently, so hey tell him I said hello.
Catch him in one of your leopard traps and tell him yourself.
Hes the one who deserves that kind of treat-ment, not me.
I might just do that.
Mome took a deep breath, and his grin faltered a bit.
Loba concentrates on the hunt while Maham does the fishing and foraging.
They are a good team.
And they are kind to you?
Always, Kirra said quickly.
They have provided eve-rything I need, ever since the first day I got here.
Never a harsh word.
I owe them everything.
I know, I know.
Mome held up his palms in a placat-ing gesture.
They take very good care of your physical needs.
She gave him a look.
I dont need that, Mome.
Just because I dont talk about where I came
Everyone needs heart care, meerkat.
Its a simple fact, and nothing to be ashamed of.
She stared at him.
She had not cried since shed ar-rived in this forest, and she did not intend to start now.
weve never made a real connection .
You come from somewhere else, Mome said softly.
It took her several moments to answer.
And that makes them uneasy.
She chewed on her lip in thought.
I mean, doesnt everyone around here come from somewhere else?
Why do you ask?
they look different from each other.
And they sound different, too.
The first Tree Folk did come from many places.
Its a patchwork community of sorts.
Mome sighed and poured them each a bit more of the berry drink.
You have more in common with these people than you think.
Kirra was silent but made akeep goinggesture by twirling her fingers in a circle.
As you know, communities can come to an end for many reasons.
Whatever the reason, sometimes survivors need to find a new place.
Thats what brought all these different people to the forest.
Mome gestured to his little hideaway.
Since they were running from something unpleasant, they decided to hide up here in the branches.
Create a safe haven for themselves.
Or at least make it so they feel safe.
Mome let that soak in for a while.
Eventually Kirra looked back up at him.
So thats why this communi-ty .
isnt like one big family?
Why people are polite but not, you know, friendly?
They might share when they need toin an emergencybut they dont share whats truly important.
They dont share themselves.
His words, though spoken gently, crashed against Kir-ras ears.
Mome paused and tapped her on the forehead again.
Like you, theyre not only afraid of others .
Theyre also afraid of themselves.
They are trying to forget their own stories.
He sat back again.
But a community without stories is a sad place, he went on.
It has no past, and so it has no future.
Sometimes not crying took all her concentration.
Mome looked at her silently with sad but kind eyes.
He didnt sayEverything will be okaylike most adults did when kids felt terrible.
Finally, the older man spoke.
If youre not careful, meerkat, you, too, may forget where you came from.
You may forget your story entirely, as these people have.
Mome shook his head.
But then he stood and stretched, and lifted Kirras pouch from the branch where she had hung it.
Before you return home, I would like to show you something.
