Pain..under the flesh.

I woke up alone. The smell of honey and sorrow was thick. My own vision was blurred with emotions, attempting to lean up from sleeping on the ground which left me sore. The first thing I saw, when I could finally see was Big Red handing Tunnuk an arrow. She looked so at peace, and it left me wondering why I was a mess. She must have spent the morning finding her most beautiful dress, Honey must have brushed her hair a hundred times to make it shine so, and put it up in elaborate combs and jeweled pins. I just placed the woven blanket around my shoulders, and walked to a wagon to lay in it. I didn't want to face today. It would be sunset before anything would happen. I couldn't deal with it right now. I just couldn't. I didn't need to. Big Red walked in, and just laid next to me now. Instead of me embracing her, she held me. So much older and wiser my Twin seemed. I grasped tight to her, and my heart wept when my eyes refused. She sang softly, a song Blushes taught her, to calm my restless beast, as Blushes said Mother use to say when I was a baby. Only the song would ease my soul, and help me sleep.

Dream away sweet little red,
Just dream away......
Dream of strong men in battles won,
So your safe in the halls of your home.
Dream away little red,
Just dream away.......
Let nothing torment your beautiful soul this day,
Just let your mind dance in clouded bliss,
For your heart beats at peace's caress.
Dream away little red,
Just dream away.......
Today is now a memory in hope chest's,
Locked away...
Tomorrow will bring a new view of
Today's lessons that lead the way.
Dream away sweet little red,
Just dream away.

She was still there when I woke up. Her fingers against my cheek, and she smiled so delicately. I think it was her strength that fed my soul. She would keep me alive. We walked out together and I was surprised to see it was almost dusk. I almost panicked when she pressed a finger to my lips, and leaned whispering in my ear.

"I didn't wake you cause the moment we had was the best one I could ever have as a last memory. I shall think of the peaceful look on your face, and how you clung to me. Take this bracelet, add it to yours and know, I am here with you, always. Our hearts will always beat as one. We will meet again one day, and I will be waiting for you."

She kissed both of my cheeks as I slipped the bracelet on my wrist. Golden with etchings of bosk horns along the surface. It was for strength. Three wagons had been stripped of their canvases'. Upon them were the bodies of the Merchant, a slave I would learn that took her own life grieving the Merchant's death, my sisters hope chest, and many of the Merchants goods. The second wagon had all the fallen Warriors, their weapons, and a bond bound before the Northern Warrior, who begged to travel with him. The third held the two young Warriors. Bound beside them were the rest of the three silken girls, I felt a pride that Tunnuk would honor them with prizes they had sought, for it was obvious they went after the girls under the wagon when they saw our weak our livestock was. They would travel with the young brave Warriors. I stood there, watching Tunnuk light each fire under the wagons that would start to climb up each wheel. He stood beside me, as tips of arrows would be lit, and one by one, my sister first, then the girls, were given mercy from the fires pain as the arrows pierced their hearts. I stood there, with Honey beside me for many ahn's watching the fires rage. It wasn't until I thought my knees wouldn't be able to keep me up any longer did I return to the wagon with Honey's help. I could only see flames whose image was burned into my mind. It was the reach of each tip towards the sky that lulled me to sleep finally.