”Pete—Peter Bernar—ddone. You didn’ come…come for the—the animals?”
[ he chances a glance over his shoulder and away again, catches a glimpse
of dark hair and doe eyes. she looks safe.clark ingram looked safe too.
peter lifts a hand to gesture disjointedly at the cages all around the barn,
head turned away again save the occasional fleeting glance. ]“Ththey keep sayin’ I can’ ah…can’ take care of—of dem all.”
"No, of course not, why would I take the animals?“
Padding closer to wire cages the girls sticks her fingers through
the mesh, stroking her fingers across the matted fur of a rabbit,
it’s not in a good condition but she can talk about that later-
not questioning his misdirected glances in her general direction
or the lack of eye contact.
"I believe you love these animals, their enclosures are cramped but-
they’re yours all the same."
”Whhh—who ah’ you?”
He doesn’t turn to look at them.
"My name is Dakota- why? Who are you?“
He glances behind himself
out of habit, squinting before
turning back to the woman.
”I know. Tree-Hugger,
as others call it. But
i prefer Vegetarian,”Cass replies,
smiling when her laugh
fills the air.“Great!!
Listening to the wind rush
past them as Autumn leaves
bustled past she smiled.
"You and I are similar then,
aside the vegetarian diet.
It’s a same I’ve haven’t seen
you around before.“
Gesturing to the right
she beams.
"Just this way?”
open;
Sam studies the note for a few moments,
but it still doesn’t make any sense to him.
He sighs. “Can you read this?”
Peeking over his shoulder the Pagan brims with
laughter, it’s simple- a riddle but incredibly easy.
“Of course I can! Look-
The part of a bird that does not fly,
Can swim in the water
and still stay dry.
It’s a riddle but it’s also in Runic.”
Just how did he
never see her before?
She lives here,
same as he,
yet this is their first
interaction.”That’s odd. i live here too, although i refrain
from killing the animals that live here. a garde-
n is usefull for my lifestyle.”
Cass replies,
smiling.”Is that alright?”
It doesn’t trouble her that
she’s never stumble upon
him before, the woods are
vast and deep.
“If I am not strong I cannot protect them,
what is your lifestyle- if I may? It’s odd
too find another who lives out here.”
Releasing a bright laugh,
she nodded.
“Of course!”
He listened intently,
unsure of how to respond.
the way she speaks,
thinks, makes him curious
as to just what she does,
and why she must kill
the animals of the forest
he practically lives in.
”That is quite the answer.”
The man replies,
head tilting in
curiousity.
It doesn’t feel right to
come clean without
explanation beyond
that.
"See- I live here. I protect
this place, the animals, even
the plants but if I survive only
on what I find; I will grow weak.
Spindly. So when I kill for food,
I honour the animal. Use every
part I can, even the bones.
It’s heart must always return to the
Earth. Where it belongs.“
Smiling back the Pagan
runs her thumb over the
spongy surface.
"Would you like to join me?”
“Why?”
A pause-
“I killed this animal you see.”
The words are like sand,
they claw at her throat; it feels
wrong to admit she’s a killer.
"In order to justify this act, I
have honour every part of it-
this includes burying the heart.
I think it returns the animal's
soul to the forest.“
Regarding him with a kind
smile the Pagan took a
moment to look at the stranger,
listening to the silence around
them for a moment as if the
the wind were whispering
secrets in her ears.
"Am I right?”
"++ B)"
Send ++ to meet one of Datoka’s family members.
“Hi there, stranger!”
A familiar smile and Niamh is beaming at the stranger,
his face seems friendly, if not pale, but that doesn’t matter.
A slight squint and once again the Woman is bubbly as ever.
”I know you! You’re the redeemed Fellow
that came home with my Daughter!”
Hands clasped in front of her the woman shuffles closer,
closing her hands around one of his- perhaps a little
too close but he was part of the family now. Whether he
liked it or not.
”I would request you take care of her, not that I
doubt you for even a second but she can be a
real handful and she’s much younger than you.”
Pausing she waves herself off, she can’t critise Dakota’s
choices if she wants her to succeed.
“Just please take care of her, honey.”