Sirosa

Prologue V

2 more weeks, and Mac'hla was numb.
Vulcans were dropping everywhere.
The ground was swollen where the bodies had been hastily buried, the sand shifting and leaking the foul liquids of decomposition.
Mac'hla thought that she would finally escape the hurt. That finally numbness had swallowed her, and she would feel no more.
But then a familiar face appeared in the tent.
Her father.
He was weak and frail, not the strong man she knew.
T'Ra gently put him down on a bed, and Mac'hla ran up to him.
"Father?" she asked, "What is happening?"
Strivok entered the tent as well, quickly running over to Skaalken.
T'Gren approached slowly and solemnly, knowing what was happening.
Skaalken was shaking and breathless. He was reaching his end, and his final wish was to see his wife and daughter one last time.
T'Gren kneeled by his side and took his hand into her own.
"Beloved," she whispered, "Please..."
"It is my time, T'Gren," he said hoarsely.
Mac'hla was punched in the gut by the realization of what was happening.
She clung onto Strivok desperately.
"You... you all have been the lights of my life. The very reason I chose to wake up every morning." he whispered, "But now... now I must leave you."
T'Gren began to sob uncontrollably, clutching onto his hand like her life depended on it.
"Do... you remember when we met?" he asked her weakly.
She sobbed in response.
"I was 15. We were betrothed by our parents, and I remember that glimmer in your eyes. You were as beautiful then as you are now."
"Skaalken, please..." she cried.
"You were so brave... and I need you to stay that way. Stay that way for them."
His breathing became labored and he reached out to his children, who both held onto his hand.
"My lights... don't you ever dim."
His hands went weak and fell from T'Gren and his childrens'.
Strivok covered Mac'hla's face, but she had seen.
She saw life leave him.
T'Gren let out a shriek that echoed through the canyon. She clung to his body, wailing and out of control.
Strivok held Mac'hla tightly, covering her ears and trying to protect her from the pain around her.
But Mac'hla had already seen all of the pain. She was completely, and utterly numb.
She stared into the black fabric of Strivok's robe, feeling nothing.