Lion Head Mesa There is an elephant on my chest

Safiya woke after days of fighting and she could barely breathe. Her chest ached so badly. She wanted to cry and scream. The pain was a least a semblance of more bearable. But she was still hurting. It wasn't an easy transition. She stretched and whimpered as muscles that had not been used were cramped and painful. The side of her head hurt like crazy. She wanted to open her eye and knew she could not. Blindness was not a fun time.

She smelled her sister near her, but did not see her. Had Tiye been the only to care for her? Had everyone else abaondoned her, but the one sister she had been unsure even loved her. She would take it of course, but well. She would have liked to see her brothers, her father, her mother. Perhaps she was too ugly now for her parents. 

Safiya stood on shaking limbs and took one step, two steps. Anxious to get moving again. She felt as weak as a nerborn kitten and she hated it.

silvertongue's continued health was guaranteed only if she remained belen. but the arrival of four unknown, divine children confused the fellahin, threatening her delicate memory. siptah. ashikaga. makono. these had been the young ones presented at the last ceremony she could remember. queen satsu had named them before the court, and ramesses had presided. who were these others? the girl belen had been sent as emissary and gift to blackwater islands before the birth of toula and sethnakht; she did not know these names. and so she kept to herself, avoiding anything which pressed a headache upon her in confusion. surely these were only noble pups, perhaps of high standing. but the girl before her glassblue eyes was in a class of her own, a servant to higher power. "dear mazoi," she murmured. "i am belen. let me help you," she insisted, sweeping to the young one's side. "lean on me, si? we will walk together."

Safiya was surprised from her concentration from the wolf Belen, she thought she had heard her name. But she could not remember it. But then she was told it. And she nodded. Thank you. I'm Safiya. But you can call me Fiya if it's easier.

She took a breath then, and the woman's words stirred a part of her she was trying to bury. Because Soto, was not good or kind. He was darkness so they said. Even if he had treated her well. And then she spokie softly. Will you teach me the language you speak? I can teach you my father's language in, in trade.

"safiya. a very bright name," silvertongue murmured. there was curiosity in her as to why the mazoi wanted to learn her own words. "i would love to learn," she said warmly, "but there is no need to trade. i shall teach you what you wish to learn, safiya." the glassblue eyes shone. "will it distract you from your pain?"

Fiya nodded. We were meant for greatness. Then she grew quiet. She was not so great right now. But she would be. Of that she was determined. She would be whole again some day. She would fight again someday. This this was a setback.

Safiya wasn't sure if it would distract her. But she wanted to know the language that Soto spoke and she wanted to hear the words that that bastard had said to her as he had ripped her eye out and gouged her throat. So she could repeat them back when she did the same damn thing to him. But she would take his very life. ANd she hoped he'd piss himself.

I'm not sure, but I hope so. Because this pain is pretty awful.

what had hardened this young warrior? silvertongue had never asked; it was not her right as fellahin to question, but to accept. yet she was curious all the same. "do you want to talk about it, safiya?" at last came her soft inquiry. "we can speak in whatever language you like," sweetened offer with a practiced smile, though its shine was genuine in concern and perhaps mild admiration for the youthful mazoi who had proven herself already.

Safiya smiled. The one singular eye crinkling up with a sliver of mirth and joy. Showing how she had been perhaps before all of this.

Whats to say? I got tangled up in the old age. Girl meets boy who treats her well. Not mean to her. Father and emperor and hebshet don't like him. Say I am wrong to trust him. But he has never harmed me even when he could but he is not a good man.

Safiya stretched and whimpered. Tried to work feeling into her unworked limbs. She took a step or two with a grimace.

But he is nice to me. I consider him a friend at least. Well he was captured by my father. Tortured I'm sure. And his cohort wanted him back. Ambushed me and Machi. Took my eye to prove a point. And here I am and they're free.

She looked up at the she wolf.I'm gonna kill the one who took my eye. I am. ahe nodded resolute. And tried a few more steps.

a boy? but she was so young! and to have come by hurt? "are these boys?" she asked softly, unsure why a father might act in such protective violence. it was not something she remembered for herself, only the moonbright snow outside akashingo and a gentle voice assuring her not to be afraid. safiya was filled with resolution. "it may not be easy to kill them. if he cares, why is he around the man that hurt you?" tones pressing a bit; wondering.

Safiya had no answers for the relationship of her and Soto. And she had not seen it as more than an innocent friendship. She had been far too young to think further than that. And even now she was not sure they were even friends. She hoped so, but he was not always the same wolf. And she knew this. 

They are boys, but I think there is more to it than that. The adults did not share with me their concerns. Other than to tell me to stay away they were bad. ANd I suppose I found that out didn't i. She motioned at her ruined form.

Safiya frowned in thought. I think the bonds he holds with that wolf are far more than teh one she holds with me. And I am the only wolf he treats kindly I believe. But I have only seen this wolf a pawful of times. I just wanted a friend and it all turned into a nightmare.

this still did not answer silvertongue's question. safiya's father had a reason to be concerned, even if she did not know it. still, she understood too the pull of the wild things, the rush and the need to have relationships with which not even a pharaoh could interfere. and what was more; she had little recollection of a father at all, let alone one who protected her even to flawed degree. "if this wolf told your friend to hurt you, would he do it, mija?" silvertongue murmured, daring to slip her arm around the thoughtful shoulders if the young guardian allowed.

A tilt of her head and Safiya shook her head. mujhen nahin pata umm I don't know. It seems that Soto the one who is nice to me is the leader not the other one. But I don't know. It is a possibility. I know that now.

Safiya made a sad face. But if pharaoh demands it of me. I would in turn have to hurt him as well. Wouldn't I, as Mazoi. It is my job.

THat was the sad truth. And one she had realized that last time she had seen Soto. They were on separate sides. No matter how much they wished they were not. And were either to be forced to harm. They would very well have too.

Safiya gave a soft sigh at teh physical hug. It had been so long since she had felt a touch in kindness. Around here at least.

"you would." but that was not what silvertongue had asked. in that alone was her answer: this friend might well do the bidding of his leader. "what were those words you said?" the fellahin chose to inquire next. "they were very beautiful. que hermosa," she proffered now, remembering what safiya had asked. something stirred within silvertongue, a vague and uncomfortable feeling of maternal instinct.

Oh Safiya knew. There wouldbe a day. And it would be a hard day. But she was Mazoi. Her days would be filled with hard days.

Foya smiled sadly. Softly.I said I don't know in the tongue of my father.

Safiya nodded. It is a beautiful language. 

[

"tambien lo es este," silvertongue murmured. "i learned these words from my mother and my father. no one spoke them again to me until — until —" but her mind would go no further. juarez. crowfeather. akashingo. "well. it has been a long time. your friend, he speaks this way? where did he learn it?"