Days of Change

The days seem to rush by, each filled with new challenges, new things to ponder upon, new responsibilities. Was she up to the new challenges put before her. Yes. She will meet each one in the only way she knows, with quiet determination. So many changes have taken place, sometimes so many that they overwhelm her, but she marches on.



She holds a great deal of pride in Ba'atar and the things he is trying to do. They have lay, curled in each other's arms and talked way into the night of his concerns about their people, his plans for them, how he will try to adjust the thinking of some, and even at sometimes adjust his own thinking. They do not always agree, and there is nothing wrong with that. It gives them opportunity to bring things out into the open, and to discuss all sides of them. Sometimes she will take the opposite view just to let him know what to expect from others that may do that. But in the end, he knows that she had an undying faith in what he is doing. A knowing that his ways may be different than the men who have set the Grays before him, but he does not make any decision lightly, or without thought.



The downside of this new position, is that he is no longer solely hers. She must share him with the people now. This just serves to make what moments they have together that much more precious. She tries to make the most of that time, and tries to see that the boys are there for it.



Then there are the gifts, things left at their wagons. Goodness,why? Now, the gifts from Noya and the leather workers were much appreciated. The clothing was beautiful, well made and fit perfectly. But then again, she would expect nothing less from Noya. The covers for their wagons had been either replaced, or repaired, which took a great deal of worry off of her. She was the same way with Ba'atar as she had been with Tayco and Loch. Getting the wagons ready for the move was her responsibility. Theirs was to choose the beasts to pull them, and it had always worked in the past, and would work this time too.



There had been smaller gifts too. Pots, baskets, dried fruits, berries and meat. She saw that all of the extra meat was distributed to those in need. Women that had no one to hunt for them, the elders who had grown too old of body to hunt. This too, she considered as part of her duties. Especially the finding out of those that were in need, which took up a great deal of her time. And she also found that as she walked or rode through the wagons, she was stopped quite a bit by people that wanted her to say something to the Ubar about this, or to tell him about that. Many wanted him to intervene in petty squabbles, things of that nature. She handled as many as she could, and promised to speak to him on the others. It made her weary on some days.



Then there was the gift of the slave in the dung sack. Now what was this? Was this something else she would have to get accustomed to? It had made her head hurt. However, the girl seemed to have survived those first couple of days surrounded by dung, and having to listen to others talk about her. She had finally been cleaned up, pierced and branded, and declared a camp slave for now. That works. It seems that Only found her abandoned out on the plains during his hunt and brought her back. Since, at the time, he was an unnamed, unscarred warrior, he could not keep her, so gave her to the Ubar for now, and in essence to the people. Perhaps when he has earned his scars, he will ask to put her in his personal collar. But for now, she was a camp slave and under the tutelage of her and her girls. She claimed to not be afraid of hard work, but that was yet to be seen.


So many changes. And there were those that balked at change, just as a bosk bull will do at times, but eventually, they would have to learn to accept, or life would be more difficult. None of the changes were harmful, just different, and considered to be for the good of the people.


And that was what was most important, the good of the people.