Post by econdha on Mar 15, 2005 18:35:13 GMT -5
A thousand diamonds glittered on the black silk of blank atmosphere. It wasn't visible from the Dregg'Daena valley, though. Here an unaccountable number of diamonds shone on the ground. The rolling hills wore the coat of snow like a white hide tunic, like those that came from the VeeKaylund herds of white elk. Barren trees bristling like the woodwork beads that decorated the tribes clothing in pale imitation of the herds antlers.
Elkhana didn't give the cloud cover a second look. It was too saddening. The blanket had lifted only twice in the six years since she'd travelled here with Nallim to be his wife. The VeeKaylund couldn't appreciate navigation by the stars, they were used to this eternal ceiling of grey. It had been the most difficult thing for her to get accustomed to, her tribe revered the stars. They held a special meaning to Elkhana esspecially.
She fastened the last strap on Morio's harness. The white of his fur made his wooden brown eyes stand out nearly gold. He was decked in formal outfittings, beaded and embroidered. All her belongings were in the same condition. Most of her belongings had been replaced with expensive gifts from the rest of the tribe, as a condolance for her loss.
At first, just after Nallims death, the idea of leaving had been frightening. Travelling away from this valley alone with only an elk and her infant son. As the days had flown by the support and comfort of his family had disappeared. They began to veiw her as a burden, even in the weeks between the death and the funeral. By the time they'd consigned Nallims body it was evident that his kin would be pleased to get rid of her.
When they'd returned from Heeda'dar, they'd acted perfectly happy to have her. She'd never known until this morning that his family had been planning for him to marry a woman from down the river. His Quest had been an unexpected, unwelcome surprise.
She was ready now to return home to the people she'd been born to. To a people that knew stars. This home had never really belonged to her. Nallim was all that had held her. When his heart had given out...well at dawn it would be time to leave.
She led Morio down the path towards the river. The huts were lit from within by the cookfires of breakfast. No one was ou in the misty night. Elim stirred in the pouch at her side, sensing the impending travel. She pulled the flap back. "One last look at your birthplace, my son. Soon you'll see the land of your people. Soon you'll see the stars."
Down the trail was the Bwed'bindar river. The river was frozen solid, an emrald carved into a rippled sculpture of motion. The path across had been spread with woodchips and fire ashes for footing. Following the river down the valley, they reached the Bellan'Tor. A hundred time the size of streams that flowed into it. It was not totally frozen. The edges had solidified but chunks of detritus the elks head drifted in the current.
Elkhana didn't hesitate. She climbed up onto Morio's back, above the baggage. Elim's carried was covered in a tight wrapping that should keep the largest splashing out. The white elk moved down into the river.
It was deep, but not as deep as Elkhana had worried. Morio kept his footing easily on the slippery stones at the bottom of the river. She closed her eyes against the freezing chill of the water against her legs. The leather of her leggings protected a bit against the stinging blocks of ice.
Suddenly Morio shied, trying to go downriver. She hauled his head around in an attempt to keep him straight on. Then she saw what he was trying to keep away from. A much larger block was heading for them. It was the size of a boulder. It hit Morio boardside, knocking his footing out from under him.
Then it was a shock like needles and tumbling and wet and cold so bad she'd gone numb instantly. She was on the surface, suddenly, trying with ill-responding muscles, to get to the shore. She pulled herself onto the crumbling ice shelf. When it finally held her weight, she lay, near paralyzed on the burning cold ice.
Instinct forced her to her feet, she had to protect her son, and to do that, she had to live. The wind was ten times as cold as the water had been. She pushed through thigh deep snow, falling in through the crusty layer into the powder below. She made her way slowly towards a stand of trees.
One of them had to have dry needles benieth the ever green folliage. She fell into the hollow below one. It was a small cavern in the snow about chest high and half again Elkhana's height wide. She stripped off her frozen jacket and boots, clearing a ring for a fire, pulling more wet, snowy clothing. She checked Elim, he was dry, the carrier had protected him.
She pushed the needles into a heap and pulled her gloves off, fumbling in her wrap for her firestones. She cracked the flint and iron together, dropping a spark into the dry pine needles. It died and she struck again.
And again. And again. One needle burned without catching anything else. It was all caked with pitch and yet it wouldn't burn. Her fingers became harder to control. Elkhana slammed them together again and again. Sparks fell and died. Her tinder was soaked, lighting the pitch was her only chance.
Finally one caught a leaf. She blew on it, lightly and it caught some needles. She pushed more needles around it. A few more began to smolder. Carefully, she covered it, continuing to provide air with her breath. Now the flames would gropw, bursting forth with lifesaving warmth.
But it didn't. She lifted the needles. The spark had died. Elkhana dropped it back on the pile, pushing away, picking up the firestones with unfeeling fingers. She hit them together again, smashing her second smallest finger on her left hand, but there was no pain only a slight warmth.
There was no way she could start a fire now, her fingers were dying. Putting her hand on her sons carrier. Holding him, she curled up on the ground. She was never going to see the stars again.
The wind howled outside the tree as the two humans slowly froze to death. Miles downstream, the white elk had freed himself from the river, and was seeking the only world he knew. He scented the air, smelling the distant VeeKaylund trail. The weight of the burden on his back was something he was used to and it didn't slow him down. Stronger than the specialized scent of the trail was the scent of his rider. Of Elkhana.
Elkhana didn't give the cloud cover a second look. It was too saddening. The blanket had lifted only twice in the six years since she'd travelled here with Nallim to be his wife. The VeeKaylund couldn't appreciate navigation by the stars, they were used to this eternal ceiling of grey. It had been the most difficult thing for her to get accustomed to, her tribe revered the stars. They held a special meaning to Elkhana esspecially.
She fastened the last strap on Morio's harness. The white of his fur made his wooden brown eyes stand out nearly gold. He was decked in formal outfittings, beaded and embroidered. All her belongings were in the same condition. Most of her belongings had been replaced with expensive gifts from the rest of the tribe, as a condolance for her loss.
At first, just after Nallims death, the idea of leaving had been frightening. Travelling away from this valley alone with only an elk and her infant son. As the days had flown by the support and comfort of his family had disappeared. They began to veiw her as a burden, even in the weeks between the death and the funeral. By the time they'd consigned Nallims body it was evident that his kin would be pleased to get rid of her.
When they'd returned from Heeda'dar, they'd acted perfectly happy to have her. She'd never known until this morning that his family had been planning for him to marry a woman from down the river. His Quest had been an unexpected, unwelcome surprise.
She was ready now to return home to the people she'd been born to. To a people that knew stars. This home had never really belonged to her. Nallim was all that had held her. When his heart had given out...well at dawn it would be time to leave.
She led Morio down the path towards the river. The huts were lit from within by the cookfires of breakfast. No one was ou in the misty night. Elim stirred in the pouch at her side, sensing the impending travel. She pulled the flap back. "One last look at your birthplace, my son. Soon you'll see the land of your people. Soon you'll see the stars."
Down the trail was the Bwed'bindar river. The river was frozen solid, an emrald carved into a rippled sculpture of motion. The path across had been spread with woodchips and fire ashes for footing. Following the river down the valley, they reached the Bellan'Tor. A hundred time the size of streams that flowed into it. It was not totally frozen. The edges had solidified but chunks of detritus the elks head drifted in the current.
Elkhana didn't hesitate. She climbed up onto Morio's back, above the baggage. Elim's carried was covered in a tight wrapping that should keep the largest splashing out. The white elk moved down into the river.
It was deep, but not as deep as Elkhana had worried. Morio kept his footing easily on the slippery stones at the bottom of the river. She closed her eyes against the freezing chill of the water against her legs. The leather of her leggings protected a bit against the stinging blocks of ice.
Suddenly Morio shied, trying to go downriver. She hauled his head around in an attempt to keep him straight on. Then she saw what he was trying to keep away from. A much larger block was heading for them. It was the size of a boulder. It hit Morio boardside, knocking his footing out from under him.
Then it was a shock like needles and tumbling and wet and cold so bad she'd gone numb instantly. She was on the surface, suddenly, trying with ill-responding muscles, to get to the shore. She pulled herself onto the crumbling ice shelf. When it finally held her weight, she lay, near paralyzed on the burning cold ice.
Instinct forced her to her feet, she had to protect her son, and to do that, she had to live. The wind was ten times as cold as the water had been. She pushed through thigh deep snow, falling in through the crusty layer into the powder below. She made her way slowly towards a stand of trees.
One of them had to have dry needles benieth the ever green folliage. She fell into the hollow below one. It was a small cavern in the snow about chest high and half again Elkhana's height wide. She stripped off her frozen jacket and boots, clearing a ring for a fire, pulling more wet, snowy clothing. She checked Elim, he was dry, the carrier had protected him.
She pushed the needles into a heap and pulled her gloves off, fumbling in her wrap for her firestones. She cracked the flint and iron together, dropping a spark into the dry pine needles. It died and she struck again.
And again. And again. One needle burned without catching anything else. It was all caked with pitch and yet it wouldn't burn. Her fingers became harder to control. Elkhana slammed them together again and again. Sparks fell and died. Her tinder was soaked, lighting the pitch was her only chance.
Finally one caught a leaf. She blew on it, lightly and it caught some needles. She pushed more needles around it. A few more began to smolder. Carefully, she covered it, continuing to provide air with her breath. Now the flames would gropw, bursting forth with lifesaving warmth.
But it didn't. She lifted the needles. The spark had died. Elkhana dropped it back on the pile, pushing away, picking up the firestones with unfeeling fingers. She hit them together again, smashing her second smallest finger on her left hand, but there was no pain only a slight warmth.
There was no way she could start a fire now, her fingers were dying. Putting her hand on her sons carrier. Holding him, she curled up on the ground. She was never going to see the stars again.
The wind howled outside the tree as the two humans slowly froze to death. Miles downstream, the white elk had freed himself from the river, and was seeking the only world he knew. He scented the air, smelling the distant VeeKaylund trail. The weight of the burden on his back was something he was used to and it didn't slow him down. Stronger than the specialized scent of the trail was the scent of his rider. Of Elkhana.
, once again, very impressed. Once again I like the little ending lol.
