Lets get ready to.....Rummmmmble!!!!

Morning came and I found myself in the wagon, fingers wrapped around one of the chains, and Catch saying it was time to get the dung. Damn how can she be so happy in the morning? I was never fully a morning person beyond just watching the lift of Lar Torvis. Then I would go back to bed. I told myself..today I would venture out. Today I would ask Catch if I could help her with anything. Today I would find that slave and introduce myself. Yes, I had big plans for today!

I just took a piece of warmed bread and gathered the dung sacks. I was so ready! Today was going to be a good day, yes. I wasn't going to be afraid, I wasn't going to let anyone keep me from finding some joy. From learning my new life. Yes...today today today.

I must have been feeling brave, cause when we reached the fields disheveled strands of grass and land by the night of bosk herds across them I didn't even try to follow Catch. I was going to be a bit more independent. I walked out, mostly looking for the slave that cut my outfit, yet trying to still keep Catch in sight, cause I wasn't feeling....that brave. I picked up chips and saw something run across the ground causing a few slaves to jump back and move out of its way. For a moment my heart jumped thinking Alvis! But the closer I got to see it, it was nothing but one of the hugest urts I have ever seen! So I backed up also, and lost my sight on Catch. It was still a bit dim out and there were so many slaves, I got a bit worried. I was telling myself to claim down, no worries, I would find her. Just fill the bags. I had just finished the first one, when I put it down to bind the top, and a foot snapped out causing it to fall over and half my chips to spill back to the ground. I gasped, and felt anger rise up when I turned to see who would dare do such a horrible thing!

My luck, it would be Honey standing there, with two other girls beside her with hands on their hips. Now, it didn't surprise me at all from the frame of the two beside her, they had to come from the North. Bonds bred big and hearty there. Be in control Red...be in control, show no fear in the face of a snow sleen. Cause that was the way I was seeing her right now.

"Just leave me alone Honey, I have no time for you"

I was proud of myself as my voice didn't show how un eased I really was. She said she was surprised I was still alive, but not shocked to see my bells. Showing her own ankle to show it was bare. She went on to say it means I was not trusted and pretty worthless. Pity I couldn't take the switch to her, she taunted, and from the look of the other two beside her, she must have told them I beat her all the time or something. They clearly had a dislike for a Nothern Mistress's fury. I felt a dread come over me again. I tried to keep my eyes on Honey who was now pacing me like I was her prey. I kept telling myself in my head, she was just trying to scare me. That was all. Just trying to scare...Oh shit! She jumped on me, going right for my hair with both hands! She got a good grip but it left me the one benefit. I let a small fist go right for her nose! The fact I hit her in the face seemed to shock her. Did she not remember the fights me and Von got into over stupid things..like the last beet in the garden, or even the last bit of rope to bind the other in the tree with, once we saw who lost the wager to climbing the stone wall fence the fastest? She released one hand and the lost of balance caused me to stumble back, as she let a fist find my cheek and it felt like it exploded! We were hitting and scratching, rolling around stumbling up and just when I thought I had her, letting my nails sink into her neck as I was ready to let a fist go right for her face again, the other two jumped in.

Now, I have never gotten such a true ass beating in my life, as I got then. I might be going down, but I was going down with a fight. My legs were kicking and my fist flying, I was wanting to pull any hair tangled in my fingers and scratch at any flesh that found my nails. They had me pretty much pinned to the ground just trying to fight off hovering bodies. Suddenly there was a loud sound of someone yelling and pulling the girls off of me. It was that slave from yesterday telling them to be ashamed of three on one. I didn't even wait to thank her, agree with her, or anything. I got up and took off running. I was hurting, embarrassed, and I couldn't find Catch! I just ran all the way to the stream, cause if not anything else, one couldn't NOT find the stream. I knew the girls would still be working for a bit, and I needed to feel safe, and I knew I wouldn't be able to find His wagons, so..the stream it was.

I wasn't there long, I had just walked in with my cloth on and everything. Washing my face that felt bruised and cut. My arms were sore and scratched, my chest and neck. I am in so much pain. I washed up, tossing my cloth on the grass to dry as I let the cool waters sooth my aching flesh. I cried some, wanted to go home, wanted to hide in the wagon, wanted someone to hold me and tell me it was okay! I was sniffling trying to gather up my pride when I looked over and saw the nameless slave watching me. She spoke to me sternly.

"You know you left your sacks there right? Unfilled"

"Yes I know, in case you didn't notice, it seems something came up"

"I think you should get out of that water, enough self pity has been soaked away, go and finish your work"

"How can I go back? They will attack me again!"

"Would you rather your Master find out your not doing your work. Which beating to you think will be worse?"

I didn't like...she had a point.

"I am embarrassed. I can't believe I just ran off like that. Do you know Catch? I really wish she was here"

"Don't worry about what anyone else thinks of you. You will not live long here. The only one that matters is the one who put that collar on you"

"But I don't know that man, he was sent to collar me and unchain me by my Master"

She gave a grumble and reached her hand out to help me out of the water.

"You know what I mean. No matter what someone does to you, puts on you, tells you, it shall always be...just Him. Learn that, accept that, and you will see life will be so much better. Now go get your chores done, leave your clothing here to dry and you can get it when you come to wash up again"

"Thank you...He calls me...Red"

"Your welcome, and I am called Yasmine. I was once where you are now. I hurt, I struggled. But I am free and happy beyond words in my collar. Even when I ended up here, it was a source of new joy. Enjoy it. Embrace it, and damn, that is nice shiner you have"

She laughed and started towards the wagons, and I started towards the fields once more, I kept my head high, though it throbbed, and I was walking around naked to find my sacks. They were where I left them, but filled. One of the slaves leaving said she knew where my Master's wagons were. I was thankful, she told me to follow the line of blue edged wagons to the ones with red canvases and I should see the wagons of His by the ones with the yellow spoke wheels behind His.

There I went, it took me a while to get on the right track, but I found them. I hung up the sacks, and started towards the stream again, remembering, blue edges, red canvases, yellow spokes. I finished washing up, dressed, and went to get the bota's I had finished to fill, gather up buckets to fill, anything I could fill with water I would find and do so. So I could learn the way back to His wagons with ease.