The following morning was cooler then the others of the past since the move. I could taste its chill melt against the warmth of my tongue. It lingered always a crispness of a first drink of stream water after a great melt. I liked it, and yet, with every breath of rich swirl did it make my lungs feel heavy. Standing on the platform I watched the start of wagons moving ahead, the long Hith of wheels, canvases and wood of so many hues one would think it real. Just making its way along the valley of the plains. There was rich grass still green near the stretch no more then a few ahns from the city of Turia. We were moving closer before turning fully. Rumors would say this trip would be the longest in the records but the Omens were not something to be reckoned with. I felt almost sad the rain had stopped. Its chilled splash would instantaneously warm once it rolled along my skin. For now, it was just cold, with a bitter bite that would breeze its way across us like the surface of water during a storm. I felt a fear of thought cross my mind at how the fury of water waves melt away even the most solid of ground, as I looked around the wagons before us. I almost felt that fear start to tingle its dance from my toes along my body in a shiver when I was snapped out of this sudden feeling with a delicate fall of an ebony feather before me.
It was then, did my fingers curl against it, so warm, strangely heated in my touch, forcing my eyes away from each little strand that was embedded into the shaft. I saw the whirled flight, and the whisper of "Poe" long and drawn out at my ear. There was no point in watching the sky, the bird again was gone, leaving me only the trace of its shadow that stayed against the glossed frost laden ground. I would saddle Ulita, letting my satchel hang off the other end with a cross of my legs, and a single boot in the stirrup we were off. Not ahead like the rest, but down, I saw the shadow of the bird on the ground lead me down. I felt the glances as I rode against the grain of motion, past the other riders and guards. The tease of children saying I wouldn't be able to catch up to my own wagon if I go to far.
I saw many wagons, one caught my eye, the way the colors just seemed to melt into each other, and the pattern that would make me think of water's lifted dance of love with the breeze, in a gentle ripple of caress and not the rage of passionate fury that storms bring. Looking up with the whisper of name again did I see that black bird on the totem of design over the vent of one wagon.
"Don't stop to rest now Bird of Blue, How am I to find a Shadow when its disappeared from the ground?"
I didn't even hear the kaiila come up beside Ulita. It was a voice that spoke that finally made me look.
"One doesn't just seek Shadows they find them, or they are found by Shadow, either one"
Blushing I looked at the Warrior who had a grand black Kaiila beside mine. He was just looking at me, couldn't be more then a hand full of years older then me, was my guess. Before daring a question.
"How am I suppose to see a Shadow when its gone?"
The Warrior seemed amused by this, a chuckle rolling from his chest as he spoke.
"You don't, for I have found you"
It was then, did my fingers curl against it, so warm, strangely heated in my touch, forcing my eyes away from each little strand that was embedded into the shaft. I saw the whirled flight, and the whisper of "Poe" long and drawn out at my ear. There was no point in watching the sky, the bird again was gone, leaving me only the trace of its shadow that stayed against the glossed frost laden ground. I would saddle Ulita, letting my satchel hang off the other end with a cross of my legs, and a single boot in the stirrup we were off. Not ahead like the rest, but down, I saw the shadow of the bird on the ground lead me down. I felt the glances as I rode against the grain of motion, past the other riders and guards. The tease of children saying I wouldn't be able to catch up to my own wagon if I go to far.
I saw many wagons, one caught my eye, the way the colors just seemed to melt into each other, and the pattern that would make me think of water's lifted dance of love with the breeze, in a gentle ripple of caress and not the rage of passionate fury that storms bring. Looking up with the whisper of name again did I see that black bird on the totem of design over the vent of one wagon.
"Don't stop to rest now Bird of Blue, How am I to find a Shadow when its disappeared from the ground?"
I didn't even hear the kaiila come up beside Ulita. It was a voice that spoke that finally made me look.
"One doesn't just seek Shadows they find them, or they are found by Shadow, either one"
Blushing I looked at the Warrior who had a grand black Kaiila beside mine. He was just looking at me, couldn't be more then a hand full of years older then me, was my guess. Before daring a question.
"How am I suppose to see a Shadow when its gone?"
The Warrior seemed amused by this, a chuckle rolling from his chest as he spoke.
"You don't, for I have found you"