old familiar friend

Solace. How many times have I gone to the steam looking for solace?

How many times have I gone to the stream looking for solace and not found it?

Ha

Today seems to be a day when my body decided to take over despite my best efforts to pay attention to those who gathered at the stream. Finding solace for me.

Many came and went and yet I kept dozing off. Catching my head nodding. Startled by my own deep even breathing. Sleeping is not something I do well .. especially sleeping in any kind of public venue. Today .. I shattered all my rules about that. Not intentionally .. mind you.

Even Ayg .. damn I forgot all ready. Even the big warrior brother of Ba'atar's warned me about sleeping around women. A thing I knew well indeed .. however the knowledge did not seem to stop the inevitable nodding off I kept doing.

I am ashamed of myself .. there was a time I took great pride in being able to speak to many people at once .. aware of each and every person around me. Today I am sure I left many wondering if I was even conscious. I suppose it was obvious that I was not .. but ... I will be more careful in the future.

I spoke to two prospects today. Two young girls doing their washing at the stream and taking the usual good natured .. or not ... ribbing from the First Wagons. Now I have noticed that no one uses names around prospects. Not just prospects to the Tribe but Tuchuk seeking their place at the First Wagons. This is not my way .. but I respect the changing customs and I will not use their names around the prospects. This I believe was more of a custom before I was Ubar and times have a way of returning and moving just as people do. Anyway .. as I said ... this is not my custom. Since my name is mine to use or not use as I see fit I gave the two Tuchuk girls my name. I fought hard and a lot of blood was shed in the earning of my name. My blood and other's. I am proud of it .. and I share it when I feel like sharing it.

Yamka .. a Leather Worker. Young from the outer wagons. She spoke well to me .. she spoke of her father and her mother and from her speech I am convinced they are proud strong Tuchuk who have raised her in the ways of respect. Initially I am pleased. Time will tell as always and honestly I am no longer the one she has to impress. But first impressions have left me with enough motivation that I will keep my eye on her out of interest in how she will do.

Noelani. Another Tuchuk miss who is seeking her place at the First Wagons. This girl is a Haruspex though. Interesting indeed. She told me Spiriit was training her. An honor. I told her so. But I also told her to find a blood and bone sponsor in the next three hands. Some of her answers to me were not what I would like to see in a Spex of the Tuchuk. But she is young and shows promise that will blossom I believe under a strict teacher.

All in all my time today was much as many other times I have found at the stream. People .. friends. New acquaintances. Even sleep among the chuckling water .. deep grass ... and endless Sky.

Solace.