The Titan's Gifts

Chapter Forty-Five

After watching Aziza and her people walk through the portal to Earth, the entire area shifted back to what is it in the present.

Nothing was left of the village that would've helped us as what remained was a barren snowy landscape that no trees or plant life dare grow in. I couldn't stop the tears flowing down my face as I stayed on the ground.

My mind was in a complete panic as I learned the whole truth about my family and why they were sent away from their home. Every lesson my babushka taught was starting to make so much sense especially when I explored the forest back at the house. How I knew which plants were carnivorous or how to approach wild animals with both confidence and caution. She knew all along and so did папа when he would play his violin.

I remember a faint memory just before the accident.

~Flash Back: Noceda Household~

It was Friday evening and I did not have a good day at daycare. 

Mami had to pick me up early because I got into trouble with another kid. They were being mean to someone else I told him to stop but instead of listening to me, they punched me and we got into a fight. Mami got into a screaming match with the other kid's parents saying that they shouldn't even be physically hurting others or being mean because they were bored.

I love my mami but all the yelling and blaming each other became too much as I started having a meltdown from all the loud noise and my sensitive ears were ringing so badly. We quickly went home and I immediately went to my room for the rest of the evening. 

Папа found me curled up in a ball on top of my bed surrounded by my Azura plushies. Mami must've told him and he quietly came over to me 

"Маленький свет, что случилось?" (Little light, what's wrong?)

I loved hearing my папа speak in Russian, his rough yet soothing voice always calmed me down.

"Я подрался в детском саду, и мама кричала на другую маму...."(I got into a fight at daycare and mama was yelling at the other mama...)

He chuckles softly and instead of asking more questions, he gently takes me into his strong arms and sways a bit as I heard his wonderful voice sing my favorite lullaby.

The more I heard him sing, the more my body started to relax as I felt something wrap around my body. It was so warm and loving that I couldn't help but reach out for it. I snuggled closer to папа and sigh softly in his arms as he and the mysterious warmth lulled me to sleep...

~Flash Back End~

I didn't know how long I was on the ground or when momma picked me up into her arms but by the time I snapped out of my trance, She and Amity set up camp for the night since it was too dangerous for us to travel from the Knee while King and I sat by the fire.

King held onto my hand tightly and rested his head on my arm as he sniffed quietly, fearing if he didn't have an actual physical grip on me. I would disappear forever and he would lose his big sister. I love my little brother and gently pulled him onto my lap as we watch the fire burn together.

"...Luz?"

I hum softly in acknowledgment towards my brother as he continued," C-Can you sing me a song, please? I-I wanna hear your voice."

I gave him a gentle smile and nod softly," Do you want me to play my guitar?"

He nods and grips my winter tunic tighter as I went over to my guitar that was resting on side of the tent. I could feel the eyes of momma and Amity as I grab my instrument and went back to my seat by the fire. I was never bothered by the cold while growing up not even when it was wintertime back in the states. Russia was always much colder and unforgiving during its winter but even with the limited times I visited to see my babushka, I always felt at home with jack frost nipping at my ears and nose.

King was shivering from the cold and hugging his favorite bunny close to him, trying to get more warmth from it and the fire. I quietly took off my winter tunic, leaving me in a thin tank top but I did not mind as I wrapped it around him with a loving smile.

"Now what song do you want your big sister to sing for you?"

He giggles in his now warm bundle and thinks for a moment," I wanna hear you sing in that weird language I think is called Russian?"

My eyes widen a bit and I smile at him as I position my guitar correctly, knowing exactly which song to sing to him. I look up at the slowly darkening sky and start to gently play my guitar

Sleep, my beautiful baby,
Bayushki-bayu.
The clear moon looks quietly
Into your cradle.
I will tell fairy tales, I will
sing a song;
Well, you dozed off, closing your eyes,
Bayushki-bay.

I felt my magic reacting to the lullaby as I played the gentle yet sad song. King gently leans his small skull head onto my arm and hums gently as the familiar warmth and love was covering us and the small camp. I watch as my bard magic began to cover my little brother in its gentle golden glow as he fights to keep his eyes open.

The Terek flows over the stones,
A muddy wave splashes;
An evil Chechen crawls ashore,
Sharpens his dagger;
But your father is an old warrior,
Hardened in battle:
Sleep, little one, be calm,
Bayushki-bayu.

By now Amity and momma joined us by the fire and were watching us in silent awe as I sang this old family lullaby. They weren't affected by the sleeping factor of my band magic but I knew they could feel the warmth and love I poured into the song as Amity and momma were taking off their winter caps. Momma already had her phone out taking some pictures and what I guess was live streaming my small little performance on penstagram.

You will know for yourself, there will be time,
Violent life;
Feel free to put your foot in the stirrup
And take a gun.
I will sew a military
saddle with Silk...
Sleep, my dear child,
Bayushki-bai.

You will be a hero in appearance
And a Cossack in soul.
I will go out to see you off -
You will wave your hand ...
How many bitter tears furtively
I will shed that night!.
Sleep, my angel, quietly, sweetly,
Bayushki-bai.

I smile down at my little brother lovingly and watch as with each verse I sang, his little boney head would keep fighting sleep. Momma watches us with pure love and pride as my fingers gently play the melody. Amity too was smiling with a small blush on her face as she listens to my voice.

I will languish in anguish,
Wait inconsolably;
I will pray all day long,
guess at night;
I will begin to think that you are bored.
You are in a foreign land ...
Sleep well, until you know the worries,
Bayushki-bai.

I will give you a holy icon for the road :
You, praying to God,
Put it in front of you;
Yes, getting ready for a dangerous battle,
Remember your mother...
Sleep, my beautiful baby,
Bayushki-bai.

By the end of the song, King finally lost his battler with sleep and was snoring away with his small arms around my mine, his favorite bunny friend sitting next to him forgotten. I let out a quiet chuckle and pick him up into my arms and carried him inside the tent and made sure I grabbed Francios since he never went to sleep without him.

I gently tuck him into the smallest camping cot that momma sat up just for him and kiss his forehead softly, "Пусть твои мечты будут чистыми и полными любви, братишка.  (May your dreams be pure and full of love, little brother)

After making sure he was nice and warm with Francios in his arms and my winter tunic tucked under his head, I silently went back to the others knowing that tonight I couldn't keep my past from them any longer after what we all witnessed.