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.