He made hope sound easy but I saw the same humans Amicus did. Perhaps something to be protected, but also a people more resilient than the other living creatures. We protected them for that reason, didn't we? Because they were worth protecting. "I believe that too. even when I don't, I know there's hope. If I ever say there isn't, I hope you'll remind me," I said without losing the cheeriness if my voice.

Amicus nodded with a soft smile. "Of course. I'll remind you whenever you need it." He walked with quicker or longer strides than me and reached the tree first. "It definitely looks like one of those plants you mentioned."

All I could do was hum in response. The tree twisted up taller than me, but not much taller than Amicus. A few bits of the plant-life clung to the tree but now that we were close, the space beyond became visible. Quickly we moved until just in front if the lattice, close enough to see the remains of a vineyard stretching in front of us.

Jewel tones stretched in front of us twice as numerous as colored the tree. Not so much like a sea, but perhaps like the sea at night with a few glints of light coming from reflections. s palpable glow set it all alight. I didn't think I missed light so much. I knew I missed it but I also tolerated the darkness in the way anyone used to it would. But close to this strange glowing light, I nearly dropped to my knees as my emotions passed over me. As much as I lamented the grapes, I had to admire this scene.

"It's strangely beautiful," Amicus said, breaking into my thoughts. His normally soft face looked softer and his eyes a bit wider.

"Yes..." I stared into that inky black with it's colored bits of light as if transfixed. Suddenly, I turned and hopped back to the tree. I scrapped a bit of the plant off the bark and popped it into my mouth. My face screwed up as an intense flavor hit me and I spat it to the group. "Eck, it's sour and oily. I wonder if humans could eat this?" I couldn't say either way since I wasn't in the habit of tasting human foods and analyzing the diet. A plant was a plant though. Unlikely things grew all over the place and something edible would grow.

"Remember, we can at least hope."