Mezoo and Her Band of Tuchuks!

The night came alive with a cacophony of sounds from whistles to kazoos and thumps and rattles. There was a melody there if you listened hard enough of course. The young spex led a motley crew of miniature musicians over hill and dale of the stream while they practiced their "special" song. One by one they followed her and even Little Ba'atar had a tapping rattle in her hand hooked in her perch on Mezoo's hip. Lil Fonce made her home riding on Tug's shoulders. Also had the job of pulling up the end with a small drum he kept time. The one thing that stood out most was that big shining smile the woman had. She was singing nonsense verses and the babes would repeat the last word :: Hicory dicory dock. DOCK! they had this part down pat now.


The tears that gathered in her eyes were partly from love and amazement, but then again also from amusement at seeing this splendid display of...music? Her hands come in front of her and begain to clap to the rythem of the song. They broke ranks and ran to her, showing her their instruments, all talking at once to tell her of their day with Mezoo, and how she had helped them to make these fine musical instruments and had taught them songs. The pride and love that grew in her heart was that any mother would feel, and she lay a gentle hand on each little head, and spoke something encouraging to each of them.


She was not a fool, and recognized that the words to the songs they sang were to help chase away bad things in the night, and she realized that this was Mezoo, keeping her promise to help protect them from the thing in her dreams, and true gratitude brought a mist of tears to her eyes.


They told of maybe spilling red paint on the steps of the wagon, and she told them it was not a bad thing. It would be there always as a memory of this day for them. She even listened to the tale of a spat or two over instruments and such, and had laughed. They had worked it out among themselves, evidently, and that is what families do.


These were her children, the legacy that she would leave behind, and she loved each of them, and was proud of how smart, intuitive and lively they were. Pure Tuchuk from the tips of their toes to the tops of their heads, what more could a mother wish for?


The excitement of their day began to dwindle in hunger and exhaustion, and they were sent off with juneau to their dinner, their baths and their furs. Hopefully in that order, but she had a feeling that a few might miss that bath, falling asleep in their dinner, but that was okay too.


As they left, she returned to what had been occupying her time before their arrival, throwing rocks into the stream. Mezoo had spoke to her, telling her that the children would be safe. Her throw falters as she nods. This is what was of importance right now, their safety. If they were safe, she could handle anything.

Taking up her stones, she began to throw again and spoke casually to Mezoo, telling her there was one more favor for her to ask of her. Of course, the young spex agreed without hesitation.


That is when she told her that she wanted Mezoo to help keep an eye on her children should anything happen to her. Tug had no blood family left, so Rook would see to the raising of him. Tarra would take Another One, since he was her grandson, and Aamon and Birmmah would take the four youngest, since they were their grandparents. It was no secret, that eventually their uncle Ayguili would take the young spex as his mate, and that would put her in a perfect position to help watch over the younger ones. She had puzzled this all out in her mind, and to her it was the plan that would need to be followed, should she not be there.


Where had she gotten this idea of putting her affairs in order? From Fonce. He had mentioned something about him doing the same, in the event that he did not return from the Love Wars. At the time, she had not wanted to hear of it, but upon reflection, she realized that as things were, she needed to do the same. She had spoken to Rook about many things, about the children, how the wagons would be divided between them. Of the special treasures that she had saved from Tayco and Lochlan, to be passed down to their sons. Of personal items that she wished others to have. One was Ciegue. He would go to Fonce. She had the two flutes, given to her by her by her mother that she wished to be kept, then handed down to her daughters when they were old enough to understand the significance of them. Just smaller things like that.


To the young spex's credit, she did not make the usual noises about nothing happening to her, she nodded and accepted Cana's wishes with the same grace and dignity that she did all else. This says much about her. But oddly enough, she had a request of her own. Cana would return to talk to her, to tell her all was well, and for her to keep her chin up. She promised she would......if she could.


Somehow this all turned into a conversation about the dead, and Cana told her that she was often visited in her dreams by her Mother, that was long dead, but she had not been to visit in a long time. Mezoo allowed that perhaps she was busy.


The dead are busy? This was certainly something new for her to think upon. The spex said that yes, she might be busy, that forever was a long time to sit and do nothing. She felt that the woman was very busy watching over Cana and her children. For some reason, this gave her more peace in her heart. As long as her children were being watched over and protected, then she could accept that her Mother was busy.


They were joined by the drummer, Sahli. He was an odd man, but there was just something about him that endeared him to her. Perhaps it was because in that long, lean body, and that serious countenance, she saw something almost child like, and it spoke to that maternal part of her.


Talk turned to drums, and she asked him if he could repair one, and he had said yes. She had noticed that the head on the one that had belonged to Lochlan's father was not as tight as it should be, and that maybe Sahli could fix that. At first, it seemed like an excellent idea.


Wrong.


She thinks it might have been when she said something about it not being a Tuchuk drum, and he asked what kind it was. A Mamba drum.


You should have seen how quickly the drummer paled at the thought of touching a drum of flesh eaters. It had never occurred to her, that the drum head might be of something other than animal skin, but it sure as hell occurred to Sahli.


It did not take her long to see that he was immensely uncomfortable about it now, and she would allow the matter to drop. She would never put him into the position of working on something that would be distasteful to him. The drum was not that important.


People came and people went. For a time Fonce came and sat beside her. There was something about him that made her feel stronger. Maybe it was because they have been friends for so long, and she had an affection and respect for him. It was amusing to watch his girl catch as she languished by his side, her head on his thigh. She is not even sure if he realized the effect he was having on the girl, and that made it all the more amusing to her. She liked the girl a great deal.


Finally, she was so tired she almost could not move and left the others to go to her wagons to try and sleep. Hopefully, a dreamless sleep.