the red sun had set, stars hidden in the haze and smoke. there existed nothing but hazy darkness, and the woman had situated herself carefully in the crook of an ancient oak, gaze settled on the brightest star discernable, only visible when the breeze stirred the ash. crickets called, and moths fluttered by clumsily. somewhere, frogs croaked in symphony, and at the very edges of her hearing she could make out the reaching call of a solitary loon, haunting and low.
soft sigh left her, and she gathered together all their names. Lavender, for the girl had vanished too suddenly, been too small and delicate for the Wilds. Easy's name rested there too. she loved the girl, but hadn't quite been able to show it, at least not enough. and now she rested alongside her sister. her father, his bones surely ash, now, the rest buried on a peak she'd never set foot on except to bury him. and Shale; for the bones she'd found in the ash had been too far from where her father's ought to have been.
her eyes feel shut, and she allowed herself one moment to feel sharply all the keening sorrow, let it burn through her swiftly. and moment to draw close their faces and then to let them go. she could not dwell, could not forget what her father would have done.
and so she dropped from the tree and began a search for game.
soft sigh left her, and she gathered together all their names. Lavender, for the girl had vanished too suddenly, been too small and delicate for the Wilds. Easy's name rested there too. she loved the girl, but hadn't quite been able to show it, at least not enough. and now she rested alongside her sister. her father, his bones surely ash, now, the rest buried on a peak she'd never set foot on except to bury him. and Shale; for the bones she'd found in the ash had been too far from where her father's ought to have been.
her eyes feel shut, and she allowed herself one moment to feel sharply all the keening sorrow, let it burn through her swiftly. and moment to draw close their faces and then to let them go. she could not dwell, could not forget what her father would have done.
and so she dropped from the tree and began a search for game.
« Next Oldest | Next Newest »