Shadow Warrior

I was sitting on my platform .. I had over done it and was tired. Insides still restless though .. thoughts spiraling all around and running up and down my spine ... so I carved on a tiny piece of wood. Wood is scarce .. highly prized. So the action was given the attention it deserved which directed my thoughts somewhat .. at least a little.

I heard a .. "I need you to take care of Also One for me Fonce .. " before I saw just a hint of Cana on the way by and I swear there was a particular ghostly smile around her lips before she disappeared around the corner of my wagon. Also One ... my black gaze traced back to the space beside me and there was a small boy sitting next to me on the platform.. legs hanging over the side like mine. If I had to guess I would have said he was three or four years .. well come to think of it must be more like three since I could wager this was one of Ba'atar's and not the baby ... I had not met him and I was gone about three .. you get the idea.

Now my black gaze met black gaze and I was the first to break the stare with a half grin. Nervous. That would be me. He did not seem so. Gave it to him for courage in the face of a Fonce.

I thought about taking him for a ride but I was exhausted and the thought of one more ahn in the saddle ... I just could not wrap my head around. So I asked him if he wanted to go to the stream and he nodded. Not big on words .. I learned this rather quickly about Also.

I slid to the ground and set him on his feet. Also can walk .. good for Also ... because I was not going to carry him around. Now some .. perhaps even most Tuchuk learn to ride before they can walk and we as a people spend most of our time in the saddle .. moving ... always moving with the herd as we look for grass. But around Fonce .. Also was going to learn that walking was a skill as well. Never know when you are going to be without your kaiila. Seemed to happen to me a lot. So Also and I used our legs to take us to the stream.

We sat and took a rest from the walk and I finished the carving of a fish from the piece of wood. I gave it to him .. the fish not the blade of course. He looked at it for a long time and then he threw it in the stream.

huh

I learned a lot about Also in that moment. I like Also. Also has some potential.

I taught Also how to take a piss into the stream without hitting your boots. It will be a lesson we have to repeat a few times I think. Then I taught Also how to walk around in the stream to hide the fact that you got some on your boots. So that you get yelled at by your mother for playing in the stream .. not teased by your brothers for getting piss on your boots. Which does two things for you .. avoids any teasing from your brothers and makes you look good with them for getting in trouble. Which all warriors need .. of course. A warrior without a woman nagging and bitching at him is a lonely sad looking warrior indeed.

The Central Fire was growing dark and bleeding out across the Sky and shadows were growing long when Also and I made our way back towards the main fires. I saw Also safely to the Ubar's wagons before I found myself back at my own .. very tired now but ... I would have to say ... a lot better for the company.