Home sweet home

I was happy to run up the steps to into the wagon. Like playing tag with Von as kids, it was the place I suddenly felt once I touched, I was safe. I must have forgotten to breath as I suckled a deep breath of warm air once I walked in. I made sure the flap was very secure and closed. I walked in, as if for the first time and saw it really was huge. These wagons were at least twice the size of the wagons we had been traveling with from the North. I wondered how many bosk it would take to pull them. I found the spot I had made mine the day before, tossing the dry cloth on the pile of bota's I had to finish. I just wanted to lay down for a moment. I wanted to wrap the blankets around me and say...safe, safe, safe, safe! Stretching out my foot I felt a chain at it, that caused a shiver to tingle its way along my leg until it gave a stomping dance across my spine to the back of my head. Lifting up I reached over touching the links. More tingles. I blushed, there by myself as the first thought to bubble up in my head and burst with warmth was..I wish I was still chained in His wagon. I missed it. There, I was truly safe. Damn Catch's words making sense now. I wished I was locked away safe in here. How selfish of me. I was already a chore for Catch, I wanted to be a permanent one. Drawing the chain out as far as it would go, I let the shackle wrap loosely around the ankle that wasn't locked with bells. I would leave it there for now. How crazy. Chains were now my stuffed fur sleen of comfort. Thinking of sleen, I wondered what had happened to Alvis and Lilly. Poor little house sleen lost in this mass of wagons and new life. I hoped if they were killed, it was swift and humane.

I pulled over the leathers I had worked on the other day. I checked all the stitching, after attacking that poor man with flinging them at him. I blushed deeply once more. What a crazed fool I must have looked like. I shall have to tell him I'm sorry next time I see him. I hoped it wouldn't be late at night like he warned. I let my fingers be moistened by a bit of oil from the small jar I used before while working on it, and checked all the seams. My fingers started to stain again, when...a thought hit me. I looked over to my covering I was given, then to the leather at my fingers. I had an idea! Go me! I was excited at my idea! Jumping up I started towards the door only to find even a lightly placed shackle still had some tug. So once I picked myself up and rubbed my tender ankle I was on my mission again. Pushing back the flap of the wagon, I looked around to see if any mean scary Honey and her gang of wayward slaves were near. All was clear. I walked down the steps enough to find a bucket, a barrel, fill the bucket and run like the wind back into the wagon. I was almost ashamed of my fear. I looked over the pieces of leather looking for one that looked the darkest as it might have been the most recently dyed. I placed it in the bucket of water watching its stain start to bleed out a bit. Perfect! I then stuffed down my cloth clothing that was given. Now to let that soak for a bit, I would see how it came out in a few ahn's. I carried the bucket towards the entrance flap and pushed it out to the heat and light of the day on the platform. Now...where did I want to start?

I decided, to learn my new home I would clean it, though in reality, it was very clean already. I figured, I could work on my cleaning skills. With the freedom of movement, I could do a full front to back cleaning. I started with pushing any chest and baskets out to the platform, and yes, scolding myself every time I looked out to see if those bad bad slaves were out there. Then I would fold all sleeping furs and blankets, taking them out also. All the baskets filled with neat things I couldn't wait to look through and finally the fur carpets to shake and hang over the railings. Once it was empty, minus the center brazier, I started to learn..the wagon. I walked its length, looked over the frame that went from boxed shape to leather canvas, ties in the inside, ribbed arches, bits of pegs and metal, and various ventilation openings on top. I let fingers touch along where the leather and wood met on the walls, seeing if there was any gaps or anything that might be of concern. I didn't know much on wagons, but I was enjoying teaching myself. I looked at the way the binds were knotted and hoops of rope at the edging kept it tight along the wood frame. I started from top , or what I could reach, to bottom. Using a rep cloth to dust off the built in shelves, the sides of walls, then finally worked on cleaning the floors. I took a soft cloth and started to rub down the chains. Oh sweet Odin...me an chains. Their links were a nicer song then the bells that were a chorus of sounds as I moved. I would bring in the carpets, then the trunks, baskets and bedding. By then I walked out and poured the bucket of my dying cloth over the edge. I ran to refill the bucket with fresh water and rinsed both pieces until the ebony color stopped flowing. My cloth...was nice and evenly colored. I loved the dark hues in contrast of my hair. With my freckles and pale skin, lighter ones just didn't seem right! I hung the cloth over the wagon rail with the bit of leather to dry. I went in and gathered up all the rest of the leather, in the basket and put it by the door. I didn't know where it belonged and I'm sure Catch would tell me or take it when she saw I finished.

I started to stitch completely the straps on the bota's and bind some cording from the cork and neck, also give a last lining of waterproofing on the old seams and new stitches I was doing. About half way done I walked out to check on the cloth I left to dry. I gasped when I saw a slave by it. I don't think I have ever saw her before, maybe at the stream this morning. I felt my heart rage fully as she had my cloth in her hair. She looked up to me with a smirk, she was pretty. Light brown hair with golden highlights, and the lightest brown eyes to match. She didn't say much but watched me with that damn smirk. Finally she tossed me the cloth. Before she turned and walked away...she said she gave it a few cuts to not make it so bulky and for me to try to bit of cording around the waist. I could thank her later...and before I could speak, she had slipped between wagons and was gone.

I was dumbfounded. Was she being kind or mean? I was afraid to see what she had done to the cloth I'm suppose to be wearing! I held it close to my chest as I walked back inside the wagon, and finally spread it out. Oh the shame! She had cut it like that of a bond's wear! How..did she know? Its slit was down low in front below the navel. Brazen! It was a bit high along the thighs, and the sleeves had been cut. I took a moment to use the thread from the slave leathers to even up the edging. It was pretty. I noticed it could be wrapped and made into different designs also, just from this single cloth. I think Big Red would have been proud of me. Showing a hint of fashion, even if it was just slave wear.

I looked to my wrist, I forgotten I took my bracelets off and left them in His wagon. I felt my heart ache a bit. I felt, alone. The first slave to speak to me had done so and left. I should have followed her. I let my fear keep me here. I had to get out, I didn't want Him angry with me. If the women were so quick and harsh, His will might be...deadly if disappointed.

I slipped the cloth on, finding a piece of long black ribbon in the baskets I wrapped around my waist. I felt...pretty. I liked the look of my hair against my shoulder spilling down my back with the ebony cloth. Oh goodness. Vanity was something I never had before. So aching and surprise were my emotions this evening. I continued to work on the bota's until I was about finished with the last one when I saw Catch return. She looked tired from her long day but always had that happy feeling. Like almonds and sweet verr milk. It was very nice. I was so happy to see her. Catch...was the only constant in my life so far. I think without her, I might have allowed myself to break. I was starting to understand my feelings a bit more. She had Him in the beginning, that is why I felt that burst of thrill and eternal pleasure in life when she was near Him. I didn't know Him to know why she felt that way truly. But maybe cause He was her constant. I let my mind fill with the haze of His face. I smiled. Story lines that itched. I wondered if I offered oil would I get the pleasure of one of those line's tale? It was something to look forward to. She said for me to get bowls, took a few ehns for that to register in, before I got them. I spoke of my day, must the surface of it, I wanted to tell her so much more. The first one today I would be able to speak to. I had one of the warm meat sausages in my hand as I settled beside her....and as I ate, as I was happy. I couldn't believe I fell asleep.