Secret Fire

Chapter The Seventh

Nia raised her head slowly and the blank look in her eyes was as if she had been in a long and deep sleep and had only now awoken. Tracer was bending over her with a concerned look on his countenance. Nia moaned with the sudden headache throbbing in her temples. She was laying on her back, again. She sat up and rubbed the side of her nose. "I seem to be spending a lot of time on the ground lately." Tracer arched his eyebrows at her. "You certainly are." He reached out his hand to help her up, but Nia ignored it and rose unsteadily. "I need her-" Nia choked, then took a long breath and continued in a steadier tone. "I need her body. It would be wrong to leave it there. And Rueben's also." Tracer looked at his boots and scuffed at the ground. "Umm... I looked for them before and they aren't there." Tracer trailed off and wouldn't look at Nia's eyes. Nia looked repulsed and disgusted. "Do you think they took the bodies?" She asked, horrified and angry. "I don't think so," Hesitated Tracer, twisting the fur on his vest. "They uh... burned them?" Nia didn't react. She couldn't find words to describe what she felt. She was like a compass with no needle now, no direction, no life, no purpose or drive. Tracer seemed to sense this somehow. He slowly lowered himself down to sit beside her. "What am I going to do now Tracer?" Her voice was hollow, her eyes looked dead and flat. "Tracer inclined his head in a sort of nod. "Well now. That's a right good question. But, I have to wonder, why not just come home with me? I mean, our place is a good place to start over again eh?" Nia looked at him and mulled this over. "I think that, as of now, is my only choice." Tracer brought out his pack from the underbrush nearby and squatted down to undo the straps. "I have here a map that will help I think." Nia leaned over to get a closer view of what he was now flattening over his knee. It was a crude drawing, made on soft, tan leather of some kind. He pointed at a small blob, labeled 'Ruins of the Lost'. "That's where we are now." Nia, having spent some time studying Cobalta's far superior map, could now make out what this simple sketch was, and what it all depicted. "Well," Said Nia, "It would be fastest to cut across the 'Plains of Ice', take the 'River Of' to the 'Black River' and then we would be at the 'Grey Forest'." Tracer glanced at her. He knew that Cobalta's route was truly the fastest, and knew Nia also understood this. But for her sake he didn't mention it. Nia leaned back against a tree. She was ready to start again. She was afraid to stop, to let her thoughts be taken back to that place where she couldn't breathe. She hefted her pack onto her shoulder. Tracer looked up in surprise, but was silent. He stuffed the map back into his bag and laced the straps quickly. He had to trot to catch up with Nia, who was walking with brisk, slightly hurried steps. They walked in silence for a while, getting slower and slower until they continued at an almost leisurely pace. Nia broke the silence first, "What am I going to do to earn a living in your village Tracer?" "Well there are hunters, farmers, gatherers, and those who tend the young. There are of course the elders, who keep things running smoothly. But other than that not much. Just help where you can and we will keep you. There are a few who sew, but for the entire tribe. You can earn money by selling skins, most women sell them to buy cloth which weavers make to earn their living. The laws are simple and easy to follow for most. We do have a few warriors, but not many as all of our people can fight and protect themselves for the most part." "And if someone attacked you?" "As I said, we can all bear arms in time of need. Once roused, out little village could be an army." Nia pondered this in silence for a while. "I think I would like to ne a gatherer." She finally said. "Not a warrior? Or hunter?" "No. I think not." Tracer nodded, understanding her. "Nia, my village is a good place to heal." Tracer ventured. Nia breathed in a ragged breath. "I know Tracer. But it's going to- it's going to take a long time for me to heal. This trip back, I'm going to have a lot or time to think... and heal. Hopefully."

"Is there anything I can do?"

"I don't think so. There are some trips you can't be there for me Tracer."