The Gentle Giant

Book One ~ Chapter Twelve

Morga was fixing Muriel's hair again when Emir finally arrived back at camp. She was grumbling about how he "messed it up with his emotions". "Ah, Emir, you're back," said Erik with a small smile.

Morga wasted no time. She cleared her throat and stood to address Muriel and Emir, "I won't apologize for what has been said or done. You both need to learn how to fight the proper way. Sparring is part of that. Running away won't change a thing."

"I... I know," Muriel spoke with a small sigh, "We talked about that. No daggers. We'll spar hand to hand or with sticks."

"Fine. If that's the best I can expect from you, it will have to do." Something changed in Morga's expression. A quick flash of something Emir couldn't recognize.

"Wait..." Emir paused in thought, "We've been traveling with Morga and Erik for weeks now but we barely know anything about either of them. I mean- I know we're chasing after their family member, but... I wonder..." Emir turned to Erik, "Hey, just out of curiosity, what happened with you guys and Lucio?"

Morga looked down at him, the anger in her eyes sharp and sudden, "What happened? My failure is what happened."

"Your failure..?"

Morga scoffed and threw a few more logs onto the campfire, staring into the flames. It took a long moment before she spoke again, "I was the leader of my tribe. It was my job to keep everyone alive. To lead them to glory. On and off the battlefield. As my son, it was Montag's job to continue that legacy. To lead our people. But he was weak. He thought only of himself. He thought he was above contributing to the tribe because of his status."

"Sounds like him," said Muriel.

"I tried many times to teach him that nothing would be given to him simply because of the circumstance of his birth. Erik understood that much. To this day, I don't understand why he could never grasp the concept. His entitlement only grew. And I... fed it." Shame coated Morga's words. Erik grit her teeth, a look of anger and sadness spreading across her features. "It was my job to make him strong. Instead, I rescued him when he fell. I cleaned up his messes. As did Erik. She was given the same luxuries, yet turned out to be a fine warrior." That fact seemed to enrage Morga even more. "I failed him. I failed my tribe. I failed myself. So I will rid his soul from this world. That's my responsibility. It is the only way to pay for what I have done."

Emir paused in thought, "Isn't what she just explained what a mother is supposed to do? Protect? But then again.. they had a much different life than some common family in a town. So in that kind of environment, I don't think there could've been a way around it." Emir's expression hardened slightly, "I'll help you." To his surprise, Morga reared her head back and let out a rough bark of laughter.

"The pup has fangs! I have no doubt you will, Emir. That power you possess... That strength... You would have made a fine chief one day."

"Just.." muttered Muriel, "Don't get yourself hurt."

"Pain reminds you that you're alive. You can't run from it forever. Emotional or not." Morga then sighed, "Now, get to bed. We leave at dawn." She then left without another word, turning away from the fire to go to her distant bedroll. Erik helped Emir and Muriel clean up, then did the same as her mother.

The two men got to work on setting up their own bedding. Emir was pleasantly surprised when he saw Muriel setting his bedding up close to him. "I can move if you want..." he mumbled.

Emir shook his head and smiled reassuringly, "You don't have to." Muriel nodded curtly and settled down inches from Emir. Inanna climbed over the both of them and wedged herself in the middle, her tail wagging. Together, they all curled up and drifted off to sleep.