Blood & Honey
Tomorrow: Lou
by Mahurin, ShelbyThe chapter opens with Lou and her companions sheltering in a magical hollow within La Fôret des Yeux, protected from an approaching storm by Madame Labelle’s spells. The atmosphere is tense, with the group living off meager rations like pine nuts and wild onions. Lou attempts to bake bread from ground bark, showcasing her determination to add variety to their bleak diet. The setting reflects their precarious situation—hidden from enemies but constrained by their surroundings.
Interactions among the group reveal their dynamics: Beau’s disdain for Lou’s cooking, Ansel’s polite hesitation, and Reid’s supportive yet humorous attempts to encourage Lou. The playful banter contrasts with their dire circumstances, highlighting their resilience. Lou’s frustration with their limited food options and Beau’s teasing add levity, while Reid’s affection for Lou provides warmth amid the group’s hardships.
Madame Labelle interrupts their moment of camaraderie, forbidding Lou and Reid from leaving camp due to the heightened danger. She emphasizes the threat posed by huntsmen, witches, and the king’s guard, especially after Florin’s death. The group’s wanted posters, inaccurately depicting Lou and Reid, underscore their notoriety. This confrontation reveals tensions between Lou’s desire for freedom and the practical need for caution.
The chapter ends with Reid humorously choking on Lou’s burnt bread, eliciting laughter from Beau and concern from Ansel. Despite the mishap, Reid’s unwavering support for Lou reinforces their bond. The scene encapsulates the group’s ability to find humor and connection even in adversity, while the looming storm and external threats remind readers of the challenges they still face.
FAQs
1. How does the setting of the Hollow reflect the group’s current circumstances and emotional state?
Answer:
The Hollow serves as both a physical and symbolic refuge for the group. The description of the “roots like fingers” and the protective magic shielding them from the external storm mirrors their precarious situation—hidden but not entirely safe. The melting snowflakes represent their fragile protection against external threats (huntsmen, witches, and the king’s guard). Meanwhile, the “gray twilight” and absence of animals create an atmosphere of tension and isolation, reflecting the group’s weariness and the emotional strain of being hunted. This setting underscores their temporary respite in a dangerous world where they must remain concealed.2. Analyze the significance of food and resource scarcity in this chapter. How does it impact character dynamics?
Answer:
Food scarcity highlights the group’s dire circumstances and creates tension among characters. Lou’s attempt to make pine bread from bark and water demonstrates their limited resources, while Beau’s refusal to eat it and preference for onions sparks conflict. This mundane struggle over food reveals deeper frustrations—Lou’s defiance (“I simply refused”), Beau’s fastidiousness despite their situation, and Ansel’s polite hesitation. The contrast between Lou’s creative solution and Beau’s stubbornness reflects their differing coping mechanisms. Food becomes a symbol of their larger predicament: forced to adapt to harsh conditions while maintaining personal dignity and relationships.3. How does Madame Labelle’s authority create tension, particularly with Lou? What does this reveal about their characters?
Answer:
Madame Labelle’s prohibition against leaving camp clashes with Lou’s rebellious nature, as seen when Lou bristles at the word “forbidden.” This tension reveals Lou’s fierce independence and resentment of control, contrasting with Madame Labelle’s pragmatic but authoritarian approach to survival. The emphasis on “you” (Reid and Lou) being primary targets highlights their heightened danger while also isolating them within the group. Lou’s immediate desire to defy the rules (“picnic” suggestion) underscores her impulsive streak, whereas Madame Labelle’s focus on strategy reflects her calculated, survivalist mindset. Their conflict illustrates the struggle between safety and autonomy in extreme circumstances.4. What does the interaction between Reid and Lou reveal about their relationship and its role in their current situation?
Answer:
Reid and Lou’s physical intimacy (kisses, comforting touches) shows their deep emotional connection as a source of solace amid chaos. Reid’s willingness to eat the inedible bread—despite choking—demonstrates his loyalty and desire to support Lou, even humorously (“Bon appétit”). Their whispered exchange about the stream reveals both their need for private moments and the constraints of their hunted existence. Notably, Reid pulls away “too soon,” hinting at unspoken tensions or responsibilities. Their relationship serves as both a refuge (countering Beau’s teasing) and a liability, as their high-profile romance makes them primary targets, as emphasized by the wanted posters.5. How does the chapter use humor to balance the darker elements of the narrative? Provide specific examples.
Answer:
Humor provides levity against the backdrop of survival struggles. Examples include: 1) Lou’s exaggerated complaint about smelling like “a dragon’s” breath from wild onions, 2) Beau’s dramatic rejection of the pine bread (“sprout legs and attack him”), 3) the wart on Lou’s wanted poster, which she indignantly recalls, and 4) Reid’s exaggerated choking scene, which Beau finds hilarious. These moments humanize the characters, making their plight more relatable. The contrast between dire circumstances (bounties, hiding) and petty squabbles (onion smells, burnt bread) creates a realistic tone, showing how people use humor to cope with stress while underscoring their youth and resilience.
Quotes
1. “Though I couldn’t see the sky through the thick canopy of La Fôret des Yeux—or feel the bitter winds rising outside our camp—I knew a storm was brewing.”
This opening line sets the ominous tone for the chapter, using the literal storm as a metaphor for the growing tensions and dangers surrounding Lou and her companions in their forest refuge.
2. “I simply refused. A girl needed something with taste now and again—and I didn’t mean the wild onions Coco had found this morning. My breath still smelled like a dragon’s.”
This humorous yet revealing quote showcases Lou’s stubborn personality and the group’s dire living conditions, highlighting their struggle to survive in the wilderness while maintaining human comforts.
3. “Forbidden it. The words rankled. No one had forbidden me from doing anything since I was three.”
This quote captures Lou’s fierce independence and resistance to authority, a core aspect of her character that drives much of the conflict with Madame Labelle and the group’s dynamics.
4. “Word has spread about Florin’s death on Modraniht—and bounties have risen. Even peasants know your faces.”
This pivotal moment reveals the escalating danger the group faces, explaining why they’re trapped in the Hollow and setting up the central conflict of being hunted by multiple factions.
5. “The artist had given me a wart on my chin.”
This brief but memorable line adds levity while showing how Lou’s reputation has spread through the kingdom, combining humor with the serious reality of being a wanted fugitive.