The Reach .. of Thought

The air was cold .. the day was a reminder of weather behind us. But the Central Fire was warm on my cheeks .. sinking deep into my scars and bringing the feel of them to life upon my face.

I was riding Kai .. the big old kaiila was still alive and just as obnoxious. If the years I had been gone had slowed him down any it was not showing yet. I liked that .. made me feel as if nothing had changed and everything was the same.

Dee came to find me .. something I was not looking for. I was touched that she would think about me .. I was not her master. But then she told me why she had come .. and she shared with me the things that Catch had sent to me.. along with the message.

I did not know what to think .. how long had it been since someone went out of their way to find me out here and .. make my day just a little lighter ... a little better.

I rewarded Dee with a little of my time and energy. I gave her instructions to find Catch the next day and start teaching her the basics. Little things .. like where my slave wagon was and where she would be sleeping. She could fight with pink on who got which spot.

That night I returned back to my wagon and Catch was sleeping in a little ball. I have never known a woman to sleep so soundly. I had to wonder what she was dreaming about .. what had filled her mind so full that she could sleep so peacefully. It amused me.

So I did not wake her.

I unlocked the steel from around her left ankle and replaced it with a set of bells.. covered her with a fur. Tomorrow would start her first day as

Catch .. slave of Fonce of the Tuchuk.