Whistle...while you work

I was taking the basket back to Master's wagon, just a hum of the early evening rolling upon the plains, and a few happy thoughts fusing with my tender aching muscles from working that stance pose thing from Selene. Though it was all good, I was liking the warmth. I think the high point of the night came as I was watching Catch walk towards the wagons with baskets with bobbling heads trying to make many many crimson points all across her arms. From the look of features, body motion and her hair, I will say....She was one hot mess! It funny. It was...damn funny. It was like a moving billboard of rope and wood, that wasn't painted pictures of food or drinks, even a slut or two, displayed at some new Inn or Tavern, no, this seemed like a sign of "Fucking, cluck, Fuck Fuck pluck." And when that vision danced across my mind I was almost on the ground laughing. When Catch about screamed my name, I had to fight for a breath before running to help. Taking one of the baskets, I have to say, it was one of the first times I have ever seen an angry vulo. Not that I knew anything about vulo's but ain't ever seen them like this. I asked if these were some rare meat eating vulos or something. So we had baskets of vulos and no place to put them. These fuckers were steady trying to eat my fingers. I had to think..think...think. How to make a vulo happy? How to calm the savage beast? How to get......Oooooh yes I got it! I shall have to thank Master for this idea next time I see Him. I simply took the basket and dunked it in a barrel of water. I mean, it worked for me right? Catch was asking questions, and I don't think she really got the jest of the action as she pulled my arm to bring the vulos back up. I have to say, maybe if I had a few more ihn's to keep them under it might have worked but right now...They were more pissed after the daze came out from over them. By then, Catch thought of the slave wagon as a good nesting home, as I had suggested one of the supply raid stuff wagons, but it would be a lot of work to move everything. Catch was right, hard to work with pissed vulo wanting to eat you. She went to start moving stuff out of the slave wagon and I attempted to move chains and a few things when I walked out to the platform and this huge black vulo came flying at me! It was trying to eat my head! At that point one of the wet vulo heads popped up to take a snap at my finger and just as an reaction I grabbed it and starting to use the wet flapping vulo to make the big black one go away! I think the Black Vulo was as stunned as the poor vulo in my hands that I had used the vulo as a weapon. It wasn't till later that I figured out it wasn't a big ass black vulo flying at me, but at that moment, everything was a vulo. Catch pulled me in the wagon, and I stuffed the now very dazed vulo back in the basket until we could finish up. Catch pushed a huge old trunk by the entrance so we could tie down the flaps enough to keep them inside. She ran out with a jump over the trunk, I lingered a bit to make sure the passed out vulo was still alive, his legs were moving, so he was good. Now, it took a couple ehn's for it to register that she just said...lets go get the rest. The rest??? Armed with baskets in each hand..Thanks Catch, we headed to this vulo wagon. I have to say first off. Stinky. Little bastards smelled bad. Or it just smelled there. I would have to make sure to hang some scented wax near the wagon cause I didn't want Master's camp to smell like.....This. It was more of an adventure trying to catch them! Only one accident, I jumped at one, and it went right under me. Splat! Lets just say.....Dinner. Dinner and a wound, the small little beak stabbed me in the side! Nothing major, but it was sore. I got scolded good by this Vulo Mistress that came out. She attempted to make me feel guilty for treatment for Master's gifts, but damn it, hard to feel bad when I was bleeding. Then She told me..TOLD ME...I would be back tomorrow for some vulo care lessons. I sure would be. One of my first major lessons...No pissing off Master's close people. Yeah I know, shouldn't do any Free Person, but truly not Master's people above all! I figured since She was giving Him a herd of vulos, either Master LOVES vulo, or this was a good gift for some reason. Then something amazing happened. Catch whistled. The vulo came. Whistle and the vulo will come. That was some crazy shit! She told me to try, of course I can't whistle for nothing! It sounded like someone getting their lungs crushed under the clawed foot of a kaiila. Though, I did try. So there we went, finely feathered and worse for wear by the time we got them all in the wagon. We finished pulling some of the slave stuff in the supply wagon, after a long bath in the stream, I don't think I washed my hair enough for I felt...dirty! By the time I hit the furs near the fires with Catch...I was out.

Catch....a rainbow

I have been around Master's wagons a bit more. Beyond going to see Manga, and picking up on some training with Yasmine and Selene all between normal chores. I watch Catch come back and forth as she spent extra time getting dung in the mornings. I still find myself getting a bit....jealous? when I see Dee come around looking for Catch. Why was she here when I was trying to wait for me and her to cross paths? Damn it. Of course, I didn't think anything about Yasmine. Yasmine was Yasmine. She was busy these days harassing and trying to keep salve and oils on her chain sister's head while the hair was starting to grow back. I still find that a bit funny. I have to say, Yasmine gave me a few very good idea's. Armed with an idea, I was walking towards the wagon with a sack full plains urt. This one was pretty big, I was happy it had gotten caught in the snare I set and not the cage. I don't think I would have liked to reach in and grab it. He was fighting something awful in the sack, and was moving quickly before he would chew himself out, cause I kept shaking him back and forth to keep him from getting a grasp on the sides. I did a good aim towards Yaz, knowing it would dart out as soon as I opened the top. Now I have to say, I have gotten pretty good at knowing which way the head would shoot out. Yes, within ihns it went flying out as Yaz was good at snapping that neck first. Once the head was collected,I would be back to collect the other flung limbs later. I was getting pretty good at knowing where wagons were. I found Dee's wagon and yes, yes, yes! I saw a washing basket set out. Opening the lid, I dropped the Urt head in the basket, closing it back out and taking off.

So yes, I was ready for lunch. Manga was showing me how to cook some vulo. We spiced the broth, and put it in bota's once it cooled. It would keep for a few days, and she traded her special spiced broth with Healers for whatever wares they had to trade. We had taken out the bones from the bits of vulo, and then while it was still hot we stuffed it with slender strips of verr cheese. It was wrapped in maple sugar soaked tarsk strips, and it was just heated on a rack for half an ehn on each side, then placed on a plate with bits of crushed redfruit on the side. I have to say.....it was delicious!

After I finished cleaning up around Manga's fires, and she made another basket of herbs and spices to take back to my Master's wagon's, I would take an ahn and work on lesson's with Selene. She was showing me how to hold a pose today. Now, honestly when she broke it down to..just being still, I thought..how stupid, who couldn't do that? Clearly, I couldn't! She said when girls learned to dance, they learn how to hold a pose, and mold their bodies to keep that pose until permission was given to dance. It could be something like to Display, or just strike a beautiful pose to show every contour of the body. I still wasn't getting why right now. But Selene was there, moving my body around. Her hands were all over me! Pressing the small of my back in, my hands up over my head, like she was an artist making sure everything was perfect. Lifting my left heel, turning it slightly, pressing my hips out, my shoulders back, my chin up slightly and head turned just a bit, so a bit of my red hair would just brush against my right shoulder as the rest fell to the side, so it wouldn't go totally across my back and shadow the form of my back. She even turned my hands so the back of hands would touch each other, making my fingers spray out slightly but still be straight foward. I was quivering and sweating! I wanted to move, but no, I didn't want to show failure. She told me to breath slowly from my nose. Close my eyes and just think calmly, as if I'm the only one there. Don't think of the ache of my muscles but enjoy the warmth running across my flesh, inside out. It was amazing. I slowly opened my eyes, and felt my cheeks instantly flare up in a blush as her Master was looking at me. He praised Selene on my position and praised me for being a good student. He called me beautiful. I found, I liked the compliment, I liked the pride...I was beautiful!

I wondered...if this was how Catch felt. This was how I saw her. I saw her like the morning rainbow reflected from the delicate heated morning dew. She seemed as sweet and flavorful like different sweet syrups on shaved ice that was so vivid you would want to just watch the crystals sparkle with each different line of reds, blues, greens and yellows forever, but you knew you had to eat it quickly before it melted forever into just a swirled puddle through the wax cup. Catch never melted. She was just sweet colors that shone across the wagons. I think that is why....I was looking for her so badly. I wanted...the sweetness of happiness.

Canvas of confusion

I had taken stones towards the stream to wash off some of the dye from the surfaces I had scraped. I knew it would leave only the stain, locked in the ridges. I was watching the colors of water run up along the shoreline of stones, and dirty sand. The sand by the edge was darker by the waters markings of touch, it had tawny browns and deep mocha's like chocolate, a bit of cream in clumped masses, that sparkled when I tuned my head slightly. It would be a sheer coating of green, grey, white and blue when the waters lapped across it. Like flesh wrapped in silks of a dancer, for the ground would mold into a different texture with each wave. I took full advantage of this with lifting my toes when the water came in, and pressing them down in cool pillows of ground giving way under the pressure of my feet when it went back to the stream. Different each time, different. Never to match the pattern again. I liked...the thought. I got to touch it first. My bit of victory to be given the gift from nature, even if only to my toes. I saw the motion of Mistress, but honestly the wind made things clear before I could see any feature of her face. The scent in the air was vibrating with the feel of pepper and burning wood. I miss the smell of burning wood. I would never admit that out loud. They seem to take wasting everything here...personally. I can understand that though, our life here was based on whatever nature allowed us. Us....Oh did I really say that? Us? I did. It made my heart jump, as it came out naturally as a breath.

Now, I was feeling brave, had a lot on my mind, I headed towards the Mistress....carefully. Cause sometimes one can just feel....danger..danger..danger. I lowered close, but not that close. Which quickly was corrected by Mistress as the space was filled in with my ass hauling quickly to Her side at the beckon. I was weary. I was. Perhaps I have grown...spoiled. Mistress was always kind and wonderful, filling my head with visions, and thoughts when She spoke to me. Today...Mistress Mezoo...not so happy looking. It didn't stop me from trying to offer a bit of light, but it was secondhand offering. Mistress was not pleased with that. I had kept a distance at first when I should have went close. Oh, I felt shameful for that. She only wanted me to come up when I cared enough to open my heart and offer my service. Not an after thought. Ouch Ouch. Now, we spoke about my Master a bit. How much I didn't know about Him. Again, my fault. That didn't sink in till later though, right now I was still a bit angry, cause I didn't know anything anything! I knew how to avoid, I knew He liked my eggs, but a man can't live on eggs alone. I knew.....the rare times I got to watch Him, see Him, study Him, life seemed to weight a bit heavy on His shoulders, like caramelized sweet breath that looks like and soft from the plate but to hold it, it was weighted against the palm with the filling and firm candy coating locked on by flames. It was rich beyond words, and no one would really get the concept of it, but the baker that created it. People just all wanted a taste, to say, they had tried it. I was one of them also, but perhaps not taste, but just hold it. See if I could find any break in the shell that sealed the tender spots that people dreamed of.

Mistress didn't show much of a change in emotion. I just babbled away though, glad Mistress wasn't a weaver I'm sure I would have found my lips sewn shut! I explained, sorta on the surface, but I had a feeling Mistress knew what I was saying, not sure if She knew my culture but we all can't be that far apart on tools of future. My stones with the designs of the Runes. I wanted to just stuff them in every open wound of life my Master had. Not cause I was all dreamy eyed like Catch over Him, I'm not, not cause I loved Him, I don't. Maybe, cause deep down inside, I was thankful, and I respected...what He gave me. I was learning that what I was forced to submit was a choice and a choice I was happy He offered. I was..enjoying this life He allowed me. I wanted to give something back. For yes, festival was a time of rejoicing, but I had never seen a Rune tossed that gave doom. They would tell of hardships, they would tell of yearnings, but in the end, with strong will, and faith, people could accomplish what they sought. I hoped He would find what the Runes would lead Him to. So He could come home, relax, and tell me how the fuck He likes His bosk, and I could serve it with confidence!

Jeeze.

But I had a feeling, Mistress understood my unsaid words. She pressed my cheek against Her thigh, before I knew it, fingers had captured my flesh, and the pain was just a grasp of white with a scarlet warm over as She painted a bruise there. For a moment....She had tranquility in working colors and pattern.

I, of course ruined it.

By wanting Her to do the art...my way. I was given a lot of lessons that day, and much to think about. I had gained a gift, I would have to thank Mistress for. Knowledge, to make me worth more. So I sat there, with my stones, and my throbbing face, thinking.

Stone past towards the future

The first thing I did when I got home was leave everything on the platform of my Master's wagon, well the gifts and other stuff that was "His" though everything is His, some of the His I knew where to put away! I just dragged ass to the slave wagon curling my fingers around the chains, and fell asleep.

I can't remember the last time I slept so hard. I felt as if I just laid across the lush fur carpets, not bothering to pull out the sleeping furs or blankets. I just needed to feel the cool links of chains at my skin, and the sound of the breeze against the leather and bone canvas.

My dreams were like bubbles just floating around in my little world I get lost in when I sleep. I am a dreamer. My dreams were made of fantasies, memories and even dreams of reality. I have never had a nightmare in my life. Even when Mother died, I didn't feel lost. Entirely. I had Big Red to snuggle against, and Blushes to keep those memories alive. Death is something scared to us. I found it is as strong here. It can be sad, but its not for mourning. Its a rejoice, not so much life ending, but of it just going into another realm of natural order. Flesh was just the first step of our path, to die was what was necessary, to continue to truly live. I have come up with my own theories and thoughts on death, but those things were not as exciting to think about, as my dreams. Right now, in the mist of bubbles just bouncing all over, I saw flashes of me and Big Red as children in the warm season running through fields of flowers and grains. We had our long red hair just pulled back in green ribbons to match our green little velvet dresses. Even in my dream I heard the childish giggles, and I saw the small toddler of Von trying to keep up with us. I watched the three children rub golden petals against each other's cheeks and stains at flesh as they rolled against the grassy hills tickling each other. Reaching out to grab this vision I wanted to keep it there, as it was daring to float up above my head, it popped at my finger tips, like a burst of shimmer once a cool hammer hits the white of metal on the anvil. I had to keep my hands bound behind the small of my back in a tight curl at my slender wrist. I watched myself run to the center of the festival with long streamers of ribbons in my hands to trail after me. I had to see the tossing of the Runes. People would just cheer and be happy. Runes were blessings, magical and gave luck. I watched them dance across the ground with gentle clicks of knocking against each other. They pressed down settling and the designs were beautiful. I didn't need them read to know, they would just make me feel better, seeing them in their own patterns before me. It was like everything else froze as I watched the last stone leave its airborne toss and land against the dust in a great thunder of edges rounded before it fell to its rested position.

Destiny found in the past, to be carried to the future.

Destiny.

Yes, I had to have it. I had to give it away. I was so angry. Just so mad about every bit of the past being torn away from me like a clawed fist ripping away chunks of what was...me from my body. Huge holes gapping, bleeding, as the flesh was just tossed to the side as a simple gesture of..what was then, means nothing now. Get over it Red. You feel safe and then the memories just are nothing more then masses of torn flesh on the ground, staining it with the goo of me still wanting to paste it back in. Once its gone, it never fits again. I think that is what happened the night I lost everything like small painted green pebbles in the grass. I wanted to scramble to find them, all of them, press them back against my heart. Reality was, just let them fall, and use those stone paths to keep walking across.

I needed more stones.

I had to have them, I had to create a path to walk against to keep going.

I felt bad for scaring Catch I think. That was the last moment we spent together that night. Before the need festered and the confusion. I get it now. I do. Like watching builders construct a stone wall. Each piece was there, one had to create the way to work it into its place. You couldn't change the stone, for it would lose its beauty, its original foundation that was the reason it was picked.

I wanted to give a bit of what I believed in. I was lost in creation of my stones. Scratching the surfaces with another broken stone, rubbing in some of those dried paints into the forms to soak into the porous marks. All this anger in me, was only over being unable to figure out what to do with these memories, lessons, times in my life. I had to build that cobble stone path, that would be my future. Form it under each step, though now it would only be dirt and grass that was under my feet. No one would see this path but me. No one would understand it, but me. Only I could build it.

Forgiven, but never forgotten. My stones would show me, there as so much more out there, it was time to let go of the grounded tree I was trying to climb afraid to move and keeping, just waiting to be saved and refusing to move on.

I won't be afraid, no one could save me, but me. I was afraid to walk alone, until I looked up and saw the form of those who never left, offering me a hand, to take that step forward.

Oh yes. I was ready to shove a stone into a few places. Damn it, I was going to make it.

I hate You......

We finally made it home it was very late. I was given the chore of taking the sleen pups to the Sleen Master's wagon. I hear He has a scary girl. I have never seen her, but not sure if I want to. I put down all of my gathered goods, and one by one I walked each of the Sleen in a Sack, towards the wagon taking down the hanging bota's and just hanging the sacks on the side of the wagon pegs. I figured once they started yelping for release from the leather sacks, someone would notice them. All five were hung carefully, and I went back to find where I had left my baskets by Manga's wagon.

I was exhausted. I just wanted to go back and crawl into His slave wagons, bind my ankle with a ribbon and chain, and sleep for ahn's! Manga had other plans. I got there, she already had a small pot over the fire, melting wax. The rich scent of honey was in the air, and she motioned me over. She showed me how make candles. In one, she tapped some power in the wax, it smelled so good, almost powerful, it soothed my mind and for a moment, I forgot everything that bothered me that day. She seemed to notice the change in mood instantly, chuckling as she put a slice of tospit under my nose that snapped me out of instantly. She gave a little tisk and warned me to not breath in too deeply. These were a special mixture for a very special candle. She handed me a clay vase, it looked like a vase, a very ugly one, telling me to get some grease and line the inside of it. I did so as told, bringing it back, she put a woven wick in the middle and told me to keep it centered while she poured the spiced wax. I turned my head to keep from inhaling too much like she warned me, but it smelled so good, beckoning...I loved it. Taking the vase from me, she put it in a bucket of water, that just rose to the top but not inside to cool the wax.

We made smaller candles and she gave me bits of wax to make my little aroma chips I like near the fires. We would have a good supply now of them. Then the roots, and flowers were split, and put in bundles, most for her, but the rest for me to take to my Master for Him to decide what to do with them. She made a small basket up, it looked pretty. It had small jars of spices, the jar of wild honey, and finally she would work the candle out of the greased vase that formed it once it set, cleaning it off, before putting that also in the basket. She grinned and told me to make sure to leave everything on His wagon platform, He would know who its from. I figured....no problem. I was so ready to go anyway. I...just wanted to go back. Selene and Yasmine were long gone, and I watched Her for a few ehn's, watch me.

Tell me, little red slave, why do you look so angry.

I think I hate Him, Manga.

Hate is a strong emotion. One can't have it without love, that is the balance of life.

I would nod, cause I truly understood.

I hate that He turned me into this. I love what I am. I hate that I have been so angry at what I lost to not see what I gained. I hate that I fear Him. I hate that I yearn to show Him everything I have learned. I hate Him, for making me see, how much I truly want Him, and the fact I didnt' need to be at His side for this to happen.

Ah, I see. I think that happens when one has been touched by the essence of a Super Sexy Spexy.

We both laughed. I see the girls had shared a bit with Manga too. The sparkle in Manga's eyes was that of a teenager.

Manga, stop before I hate You too.

Little Red Slave, hate me all you want, its the most touching thing about life. Emotions.

Makes it worth living.

You are so right Manga, so right.

Transformation

It was a long walk. Only towards the end did I get enough nerve to beg a Master on a kaiila to allow me to sit behind Him. I thought my feet were going to fall off! Heck even the Elder Mistress seemed to be walking with no issue at all, and She had a bad back! We slept under the stars, and I was scared snuggling close to the Elder Mistress and Yasmine that might while the shadows all seemed to have their own sound that went on and on louder then a drummer sitting right next to me.

I'm not sure when I finally fell asleep, but I heard the morning crickets and before I could open my eyes I felt the droplets of moisture falling over my face. Great, it was sprinkling out! Just my luck, it would rain! The mud would come out of my bells and everyone will hear them! I tried to put my hand over my face, cause it seemed to be coming down faster, and it was..snarling? Snarling rain? What the? Pushing back and up I was almost face to face with a huge kaiila who was drooling and eating the strips of jerky he took out of my satchel! Ooooooodin's mercy....he was drooling all over me! Ewwww!

What made it so much sweeter was Yasmine had been watching the whole thing and was just gasping for air laughing once I looked over at her. Yasmine was laughing so hard, she didnt' seem to be able to really breath, and Selene was looking very concerned. I just shrugged, snatched my half chewed satchel and started after the Elder Mistress a long way ahead of me. I looked over my shoulder to watch Selene fanning Yasmine's face, and I figured..hell let the bitch die. Really funny. Blah!

Our day was long. There was no joke about that, the Elder Mistress, who I learned was called Manga, something Her grandchildren came up with long ago that stuck, that she even had slaves call Her, had me go far into the dark edges of the Valley with Her. Manga had no fear, where I was trembling. I heard the deep breaths that just rolled off the walls, and she said it was the narrowing of the valley causing the path to deepen its echo. Made sense, but still pretty damn scary. We dug up roots, and pulled vines from the walls. Took some of the dirt from the ground that felt moist and very cold at my hands. Then we finally walked out and as a treat we filled baskets with wild ramberries. Again that night we slept under the stars, but it didn't seem as bothersome then, after the valley. I watched the stars and let tears roll down my cheeks, wondering if Von would be laying across the stone fence wondering about me and Big Red. I'm sure he would be calling me every bit of bosk spew there was, thinking I had taken to big city life and forgotten about the North. I just wanted to go back home and blacken his eye for that! Mind you, even though I was the one assuming it! Pity it wasn't further from the truth. I think Von would like it here. No, he would love it. I....was falling in love with it. The open sky, the smell of aging wood from the wagons, bosk that always laced the breeze, fires and always roasting meats. The people were so alive here. To see with slave eyes was to see everything, every detail in life I had been missing.

I listened to the sounds of moans in the air, that seemed to be spiked with the scent of sex. We didn't have tents, didn't need them, it was warm out. I watched the shadows in the grass move in unison, and it was the first time, I felt...the yearning. The yearning to be wanted in such a manner. To be beautiful enough inside that it would seep through my skin and beckon The One, to look...interested.

The next day, we were moving around the grounds of a field of thick tall bushes. The small red berries were poisonous. We collected those in glazed clay lidded jars. We also carefully took eggs from high nest, and these plains hawks would be trained as hatchlings. Manga found a couple bee hives towards the far east, and we were getting dung chips to build a fire under it to smoke them calm when out of no where, the pretty blonde slave that was right next to me, screamed and was...gone. By the time I unfroze myself to turn around I saw the Masters with lances taking the wild sleen down that was dragging the limp slave away. There would be two bodies instead of one. I was just numb, not sure why it shocked me so badly. Wasn't it just a way of life? But death has never been so close, standing right next to me. We let the small smoldering fires start, as the Masters told us to get a few leather sacks out of the pile. The downed sleen still had some milk which meant, there were sleen pups close by. I think we searched for an ahn, before we found the small burrowed hole in the ground. The pups came right out at the sound of our steps. There were five of them. They were so cute with their small six legs and sharp pup milk teeth. One by one we stuck them in the sacks and hauled them back. By then, Manga had taken out wax and honey, filling jars and placing the wax in a large lined crate. With the pups being found the trip was cut a day, as we would stay just one more night. By then, we had moved around to where the red clay could be found, feeding bota's of verr milk to the pups while we started to dug up clay and put it on poles that would be dragged back by the riding Master's on kaiila's.

The walk back wasn't so bad, we got to hold a pup a piece, or the sack of pup rather, as we would only allow their little heads to pop out. It was a long weary walk, as we were strapped with as many baskets and a few girls were pulling post also, on the way back. It was quiet for now, the girl had been burned instead of fed to the kaiila's to keep the blood down from the air while we were on open grounds of the plains. Breaking the Silence Selene looked over to me.

I never asked...who do you belong to?

Before I could answer, Yasmine on my other side, seemed to decide to answer for me.

She belongs to the Super Sexy Spexy Master.

Selene seemed to let a look of awe come over her features, as if this was something amazing.

Really? If I belonged to the Super Sexy Spexy Master I would be right at His side at all times! Why are you here with us instead?

Again, Yasmine and Selene seemed to be talking to each other though both looked at me while they spoke and Yasmine spoke again for me.

She is dodging Him like a vulo tossed in a sleen pen.

Why would you do that? I mean how are you going to get to learn and know Him if your not around?

That is what I was thinking, but not my place to judge you know? I know I would be trying to watch and learn His patterns myself.

Yes, see what He likes to eat, how He sleeps so you know how to layer His sleeping furs, which leg He favors so you can add extra grease to that boot.

I would offer to stitch His leathers any day. Have you seen the way He walks when coming back from the herds, the way those spurs click? Do just melt like sugar for!

How about when He is on the kaiila? Did you see....

I let them continue to talk as I looked to the small fluff of sleen head that popped out of the top of the leather sack in my hands, figuring this would be the only moment I would get to speak about the topic.

I guess in all my anger, I forgot to look for what I was searching for. He was always right there.

It all made sense now. I wanted to get home so badly.

To watch and yearn

I was feeling antsy. Maybe it was from not seeing [Avoiding] Him. I hadn't been to Master's slave wagon for some time. Just to get my oils, grab some lotions, clean it out and then I was gone again between mixing with the chores of the camp slaves, doing loads of leather washing, getting urts for Yaz, and making wax scents for the cooking fires....I found myself everywhere...but there.

Yasmine was on punishment for setting her Master's new slave on fire, well the girls really long hair and sent to sleep with the camp slaves. So I didn't want her to be alone, I would gather my blanket and go lay with her. Waking up to gather Dung, and do everything over again. It was starting to feel repetitive, when I decided, I would take a step out towards a group of wagons I had yet to venture to. There was a Master there with a bunch of girls. They looked pretty fresh, as in, use to be Dweller Freewomen, Fresh. I am guessing He was like a Slaver type of person that trains slaves. I don't think they have true Slavers here, but He had a group of about six girls He was working on. I got to thinking....as I watched...I had learned what slaves have to do, but had I learned to be a slave, feel the slave in me? No. I didn't know nothing of this refined beauty I saw in others. The inner beauty, cause I have seen some verr ass ugly girls just look so majestic when simply offering up a platter of bosk strips.

I didn't ask to join in, but I found myself a way to be useful by them so I could watch. An Elder Mistress was by the fires with a stone footed bowl, and a grinding stone in the middle. She was taking herbs and roots and making them into a pulp to mix for dyes or add to salves or just break down for drying and making into powder later. She said if I could help, She would teach me what she was doing. I gladly jumped to the task. The rich aroma of the roots and stalks still had a light dusted smell of fresh earth. Even though we rinsed them in bucket or they had been soaked first. I worked the stone in my hand against the roots that were spread across the stone base of the bowl, once I did my first roll of edging feeling the give way of each root just burst into shreds I found...I liked this a lot. For it was new and exciting, and I was watching the girls learn general slave positions. I discovered that the rich aroma that was found on the root was more alive and smooth once it was broken and even a bit more light and delicate once dried. When one added a hint of vinegar it would explode into life and hind the bitter scent of the vinegar instantly with whatever it was, as if to devour it. Mixed with some of the aloe from plants or even honey with boiled oils it soaks fully to the skin or hair, and the case with salves, it wont' stick to the bandages.

I wasn't sure how long I had been there, it was ahn's. The six slaves had been allowed a meal, and a rest for a few ehn's to learn how to put on their leathers, before starting again, with positions until a sheen of sweat was covering their flesh. My finger tips were pink and sore, but I didn't want to stop, I would look over now and then and see the Elder Mistress with her head back, snoring away. As crazy as it seemed when I ran out of something, Her hand was up giving me another batch. Always perfect timing. No fail, Her head would fall back and She would be snoring away once I started again.

I was starting to slow down, as I went through the wet or fresh roots, stalks, berries, flowers and leaves, and she had me wash out the stone footed bowl with a moist cloth and oil before putting it away, and bringing back one made of what felt like thick glass. It was rare to find anything glass out in the wagons beyond traded glass beads. It looked like something one might find in a physicians keep. They had healers here, but nothing as fancy as the Physician's of the city. She said this one was for the dried stalks and small seeds, even spices or other delicates mixed to make anything that needed to be concentrated carefully or dusted. She was explaining things like perfumes of the city was made this way, when I was shocked, pleasantly so, to see Yasmine walk up, but with another slave! How dare she have another friend! I felt the heated fury of jealousy start to run up my shoulders, the same feeling I get when I see Catch with Dee. It only calmed when Yasmine brushed a kiss on my cheek and told the other girl, who was called Selene, that I was the Red one she was talking about. Selene was.....breathtaking. I think I lost my breath more when she said the same of me! Me? No, not speckled Red. The Elder Mistress got up with a few grumbles of Her back, saying enough for now, go off and play with the other lazy slaves.

It was fun to see Yamine tease the Mistress she would come straighten Her back out again with the chunky slave from the back wagons again if She wanted! I took it many knew Yasmine in good nature as the Mistress just waved her off. I saw Yasmine gather up some of the Elder Mistress's things and follow Her talking to Her about Her back, how was the leg, finger still pointing to the left? I had to laugh. Selene took my hand and dragged me over to the group of girls as the Master that was teaching them scolded her for taking so long. Again, I was confused. The Master took Selene by the hair yanking her head back, and gave her a kiss that I think made the seven of us watching....our toes just curl! It took me a moment to notice that Selene was squeezing my trapped fingers in pleasure and writhing around so much even I was jerking here and there with the motions as she just wouldn't let my hand go! The Master gave her a firm slap in the ass before walking off, and Selene was giving this daydreaming look watching Him leave. Then she turned to the girls with a stomp of her foot, and said "Nadu!" quickly and I watched all six hit the ground fast. I even almost would have if she didn't have a firm hold on me still. Blushing I looked over seeing Yasmine dragging a huge crate towards us.

With that, Selene then taught us how to serve....with a sensual touch. I think my cheeks burned the whole time. Between learning how to stroke a side of a cup, mug, bota even with tips of fingers in suggestion, and how to place a plate or platter, even a huge tray before me so that its my body that is seen before what I was offering, then how to smile, flutter my eyes, give a side glance, even a slight parting of lips...everything she said..that mattered. I was....Shocked!

Wow.

She had waved the girls off a couple ahn's later to go back to their owners and then walked to the wagon closest by to get me and Yasmine a cup of juice. Yasmine downed it fast before jumping up. I frowned as she made the motion to leave, saying she had to run back to her Master's wagon to rub some salve on her crispy chain sister's head. If she doesn't then her Master wont' think she will have remorse...for the "accident" at the cooking fires. I had to giggle. Dang, she was something else, Yasmine.

Selene then told me about the gathering trip her and Yasmine were going on at first light, that I should come with. Gathering trip? While we waited for Yasmine to return, she told me about how they go with a group of Masters, Mistresses and other girls out past the realms of the far Outriders, to where the hills were taller and there was a distance cut in plains that formed a valley. There all the precious herbs, roots, spices and berries could be found, even flowers of such rich color that this trip was taken once a year to collect things to last until it was taken again. It was an important trip, and I would bring back so much my owners will be richer from my gatherings. All they need to do is send a slave. Didn't sound like a bad deal to me. I figured I hadn't seen [Avoided] my Master in days, beyond a shadow here and there. I wouldn't be missed. Plus I didn't want to ask cause I really wanted to go and I didn't want Him to say no! I thought about Catch and our night together the night before just by the stream, and the little fit I threw there. The Memories were haunting me. Home vs Home. I needed....to run away and think. I felt safe here, so I would run away with the Gatherer's and ...Gather.

Gather and think.

I let this become thick in my mind as Selene and the then returning Yasmine filled my bells with little balls of mud and wrapped my ankles all the way to mid calves with strips of leather to hide them. If the others thought I couldn't be trusted I wouldn't be allowed to go. This felt...wrong. I knew it was. I wanted to run and tell Catch, for...she was the only one I spilled my heart out to, though in small doses. I wanted her hug, and smile. Right now, I forced myself to shrug it off. Want to walk with the big Sleens, have to be brave.

Sure.

I laid between the two girls with our baskets set out and ready for our trip at first light. To the stars, I started to say my sorry's to the wind. Sorry Master, I wasn't brave enough ask, sorry Catch, gonna leave you with some extra chores, Sorry Yaz, gonna have to wait a few days for that Plains Urt. What was I doing?

Sleeping, I would think about this when we return.

Holding Luck

I was having this odd feeling. I wasn't sure what it was. It started to swell up deep in my chest, like a little knot that hurt when touched and you just can't remember how you did it! This was pretty much like that. I felt it. I was lost in trying to figure out this feeling as I walked towards the stream. I saw the Mistress there, the one with the fiery locks like myself. Though Her hair looked perfect, smooth and shiny woven into a braid, to where mine was all over, free and dancing in the breeze. Mistress was washing Her children's clothing, to where I had two baskets filled with clothing from the Warriors in my Master's family ring of wagons. I dared closer to do my washing near Her. I loved to talk and when I could find an ear to listen it was like a craving to spill out my thoughts. This day, I asked Her questions. On what She had done to make my Master irritated. So I would know not to do them! I figured it was a form of irritation, unless Master just liked to give a pop here and there in general, which also could be strongly..just that. His whim to do so. I just wanted to find out.

Mistress is very smart. I would have to learn about my Master myself. I wished Her luck with Her ventures in life, and she offered my luck back to me....saying to learn my Master, I would need it more then Her. That just wasn't right, no givie backies on luck! I almost said that, wanting to laugh with good spirits, as I think for a moment I was blinded by the enjoyment of the mood and thought Her to be Big Red. I miss my playful moments with my sister, and the feeling of here and now seemed to take me there. Maybe it was the Braid, it seemed perfect to me. Everything Big Red did, was perfect. No, this Mistress didn't look like Big Red at all, but the feeling at that moment...was of her and I savored it. The memory.

We spoke for a bit more after I promised to hold on to that luck for Her, it was Hers, and that is pretty much it. Hers alone, I would lock it away in a pretty box, and when She needed it, all She had to do is call on me. I felt sad when She walked off needing to feed the kids. I wondered where Mistress Mezoo was, or where was Catch? I looked out across the herds that were a deep brown of background like the Sky, and wondered....if He was out there on one of the kaiila's weaving through the mass, or those on post outside of the herd. I was...wondering.

I felt a deep heat start to roll across my arms, shoulders and over the light covering of material that fluttered around my curves. It was a beautiful day out, and even as I put the wet leathers on the drying rack, I couldn't help but wonder...why was that knot starting to throb again. I had no idea what was going on.

Feeling....Different

If I could flip through the days of my life like falling leaves from the warmer seasons being captured by the chill of the true Northern winds. Most the trees of the North didn't have full flat true leaves, more like branches with frayed fingers that sometimes poked. Rich in green coloring all year long. Those lucky enough to have richer farm land can keep glass pained windows of small housed gardens to where fires were kept and smoke drawing humidity to keep fruit plants growing even in the harsh winter days, cause there was never enough warm days to dare pray to Odin a stem of survival for most fruiting plants. Even in captured grounds kept warm in tree keeps, the leaves did change. Their greens would start to lighten or stain in reds, yellow and orange, giving a dance down not of the robust burst of green scent, but one that might have been of maple sugar and smoldering fire. An odd mixture but a true one in its aroma.

That is how I use to count the days. Pressing flowers, leaves, and grass in my books where I knew by the numbers my favorite tales could be found and ready to be read to me. Tonight would be the story found under the Dina petal's.

One of the Northern Free Woman found lost in the land that was filled with grass and wagons, sea's of bosk and boxed in only by the sky.

She felt out of place in this land, but honestly found herself just one of millions. Many looked like her, with hair red like the tips of fire, and spots that challenged the stars.

She started to feel the wrath of the new home, when her body started to form, her skin started to hue, freckles not to be outdone, darkened. She would look in the reflection of the waters, and wonder...who this woman was. This wasn't a woman who could remember plush couches, long velvet dresses, bracelets of gold that ran up her arm, along with twisted combs that fit around the start of her long red braid. No. This woman wore a shift of black, and had...hips.

Her hair waved like a flag in the breeze, and eyes sparkled in deep green that glowed in the contrast of her mass of crimson and collar of steel.

I watched as some just stared, and I had no idea why. Shocked over colors of my hair, but didn't many have red hair as me? I think so. I have seen redheaded slaves speckled here and there.

Maybe I was different cause they knew though I did the motions, I was still confused inside. I was unsure, I was still.....

Trying to figure it all out.

If they knew my struggle...why are they still..staring?

I was jealous, I wanted to know...what they were looking at. So I could figure it out myself. I was starting to feel bitter, as if everyone had the answer and wanted to make me sweat in anxiety cause they were making me have to figure it out for myself.

I told myself...next time, I had to lean up, and look into their eyes, so I could see...what they did.