2010-02-06 16:54:14 UTC
Aklika's knees buckled underneath her at the realization of what she had done. Her beloved brother Thezia lay dead, or very close to death in front of her. His blood was spilled all over the Flowers that filled the small meadow. It was horrid. She clambered to her feet and used earthblood mixed with red ocher to make the death mark on his forehead. She tried to ignore the spirit hunter tattoo on his forehead.
A soft warm rain was falling around them. Aklika ran her hands through her dead brother's red hair. He had a slight smile on his face. Tenrek came and kneeled by Aklika. The large puckered scar on his leg showed.
"Aklika, I'm sorry. I know it was hard for you but-" Aklika cut him short. "But it was best for the clans. I know, but he was my brother! We are bound by the blood!" she whispered, nearly sobbing. "This place, we used to play here as kids. We were the only ones who knew about this."
Aklika's red hair was glued to her face by the rain. Her green eyes were filled with tears.
Tenrek lifted her head with one large hand. "Don't worry. His spirits will find their way to the tree of life and be reborn. Just don't worry," his voice trailed off.
"This isn't the first person I will have to kill," Aklika sobbed quietly. Hot tears were streaming down her face. "There are still nine left." Tenrek sighed. "Let's give him a proper burial, and then we can keep with the Wolf clan for awhile. Come now, don't cry." And with that, the two outcasts left, hand in hand, bound by the heart, and also by sadness.