Different

My times and the times of others around the fires do not often coincide. There were many ahns I would sit gazing at the flames lost in my own thoughts without ever coming across another soul. I knew they stirred around me but few ventured to the warmth when I did. I'd come to appreciate that for its own virtue. Tranquility. It was one of those days that I'd returned covered in dust from riding with thoughts only of a steaming bowl of blackwine and a moment's rest before tackling the herds again. Sometimes that is all you need to gather yourself and go a little further.

This night was going to prove different. My arrival coincided with the precise moment Fonce announced 'words of advice, don't ask'. My curiosity will one day be my downfall. I asked what it was I was not supposed to ask. There wasn't really an answer but an introduction .. This is Ogedaii. There were many new faces around the fires and to them I suppose I am the new face since I've not been around much lately. I wound up meeting a warrior named Ayguili as well. Fonce and Silk seemed to be right where I left them and still going at it with the others adding chips to keep the fires going.

My "well-intentioned" healer friend sidled up next to me to whisper in my ear what specifically she had been ribbing the men about and I almost choked. I ended up adding ohhh!!! Yes, yes, you mean like ... what was his name ... Schtump. Like Schtump's did? (You can fill in what ever you want for what's missing.)

The banter was fun to try and keep up with but I probably failed miserably. The bottom line was that I enjoyed the repartee of the evening even though my bee hive venture was squelched and I was scolded about endangering my friends. What the ...? Oh well never mind. They were invited by someone else to a different honey stash next season in the south.

It was about that time when I was asked again, "When are you and Ramza going to have children?" I managed to squeek out my usual answer then eased beyond the fires trying not to let every shield and defensive mechanism slam down in front of me. I was grateful for Amiya's intervention when she came running up.

The little sprite circled her arms around the hem of my skirt with scalding fat tears tracing her cheeks then handed me her straw doll. One of her older brothers had torn its head from its body and she simply knew that I would make it all right. I forgot everything else in the world for those few moments as I bent to push the rounded ball back into place and wrap a new tether around it to hold it tight. I whispered a way to handle the bothersome sibling and she was off again as if she had no care in the world. My strides soon followed hers but I realized there was a touch of smile at the edge of my lips. It was for the reverie of laughter that I had felt, so refreshing and more than needed. It was for the friendships here and it was for the bright rays of innocence that sheds light on our lives.