She almost felt guilty. Almost, but not quite. She just couldn't stand it any longer, she had to know how her family was. And there was only one way to find out. She had to be sneaky. Rummaging around in the supply wagon at the clan fires, she came up with what might just work as a disguise. An old pair of leathers, a tunic, a ratty old coat and a few other things. She put on the leathers, found a length of rope for a belt, then slid her braid down her back, tucking it into the waist, then came the tunic, and the old coat. It all helped to give a little bulk to her slim frame. She then crouched down and took some dirt and rubbed it on her face to maybe darken her skin a little, then came the wind scarf that she wrapped over her head and around the lower portion of her face so that only her eyes were visible. The finishing touch was a cloak that further hid her from view.
Choosing a kaiila from the pens she rode out into the herds mingling with the other out riders and the bosk. It was not long before she saw him and the boys. The baby was fussy and crying, and he didn't seem to know exactly what to do. They were all in need of a bath, that much was evident even from where she sat watching. She almost rode up when she saw Another One take One's bola and hit Also with it. No wonder the boy had bruises on his head. Two continued to fuss and cry, and she almost laughed when she saw Ba'atar trying to get him to take water from the bota.
The oldest two were griping about being hungry. When he passed them off some jerky, Another One refused it, saying he wanted real food like Mother cooks, something hot. One chimed in that he did too. Also One just nodded in agreement with the older two. You could almost feel the frustration pouring from Ba'atar's pores. He tried to explain to them that real warriors did not eat hot meals when they were in the herd.
It was Another One, her little thinker that looked to his father and said......Then take us to the wagon, find our Mother and she will make us hot food. Ducking her head to keep from laughing, she could have just hugged him at that particular moment. And as if to add his two bosk to the argument, Two took up his wail again.
Ba'atar reached for the reins of the kaiila that Another One and Also One were riding, then nodded for One to follow, and turned and started for the wagons, still trying to calm Two as he rode. It was a bit dangerous, for her to get any closer, but she decided it just might be worth it. She followed them at a distance and soon realized where he was headed. She gave a bit of a disgruntled chuckle and fell back and just watched.
He took them to his mother. Now why did that not surprise her? She could only imagine the conversation they were having. And she pretty much knew that all of the blame was falling on her. He left the boys there and rode away. She sat on the kaiila watching as Birmmah ladled stew into bowls and got the boys settled. She also saw Aamon duck his head hiding a smirk. She needed to talk to him, soon.
Turning the kaiila around she rode back to the pens, thinking on all of this. If he allowed her to come home, perhaps the next time he asked her what she did all day, and she told him that she took care of his sons, there would be a little less disdain in his grunt.
Choosing a kaiila from the pens she rode out into the herds mingling with the other out riders and the bosk. It was not long before she saw him and the boys. The baby was fussy and crying, and he didn't seem to know exactly what to do. They were all in need of a bath, that much was evident even from where she sat watching. She almost rode up when she saw Another One take One's bola and hit Also with it. No wonder the boy had bruises on his head. Two continued to fuss and cry, and she almost laughed when she saw Ba'atar trying to get him to take water from the bota.
The oldest two were griping about being hungry. When he passed them off some jerky, Another One refused it, saying he wanted real food like Mother cooks, something hot. One chimed in that he did too. Also One just nodded in agreement with the older two. You could almost feel the frustration pouring from Ba'atar's pores. He tried to explain to them that real warriors did not eat hot meals when they were in the herd.
It was Another One, her little thinker that looked to his father and said......Then take us to the wagon, find our Mother and she will make us hot food. Ducking her head to keep from laughing, she could have just hugged him at that particular moment. And as if to add his two bosk to the argument, Two took up his wail again.
Ba'atar reached for the reins of the kaiila that Another One and Also One were riding, then nodded for One to follow, and turned and started for the wagons, still trying to calm Two as he rode. It was a bit dangerous, for her to get any closer, but she decided it just might be worth it. She followed them at a distance and soon realized where he was headed. She gave a bit of a disgruntled chuckle and fell back and just watched.
He took them to his mother. Now why did that not surprise her? She could only imagine the conversation they were having. And she pretty much knew that all of the blame was falling on her. He left the boys there and rode away. She sat on the kaiila watching as Birmmah ladled stew into bowls and got the boys settled. She also saw Aamon duck his head hiding a smirk. She needed to talk to him, soon.
Turning the kaiila around she rode back to the pens, thinking on all of this. If he allowed her to come home, perhaps the next time he asked her what she did all day, and she told him that she took care of his sons, there would be a little less disdain in his grunt.
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