The Among

Chapter 7

If there was ever a time to feel a bit of remorse, now would be the time. Shilah looked at his home which lay in charred destruction. A sense of ambiguous disgust and utter shock churned in his stomach as he carefully entered the reservation, the land scorched with blackened ash. Many bodies that were once his only living relatives now lay in an eternal slumber. Homes decimated to oblivion. The smell of smoke and human flesh drifted in the breeze as the strong pungent odor filled Shilah's lungs which caused him to cough and gag at the horrible smell. Could this be punishment? He thought to himself, surely his ancestors were angry with him for going against their heritage, but was this really necessary? Thoughts like these drove him crazy with guilt as he walked on the burned grass still smoldering from the unpredictable wildfire. Homes and the like were completely destroyed by the blaze, even the tribe's wigwam which held generations of stories and meetings was completely gone. He sighed softly as he looked around, kicking away simmering ash with his foot. Uncovering the ash, he noticed something sticking out of the ground—something large and bird-like: a feather too large to be an eagle's feather, and too small to be normal size birds. It was large and exotic, white fringed feather with a blue tip.  Not only was it beautiful, but also a clue to help Shilah figure out what had happened to his family. It didn't make sense for a fire to just randomly ignite—there must be a motive behind the destruction of his home.

Many things ran through his mind as he surveyed the land before him, he took a moment to take in what was left of the reservation. Walking over to his parent's home was the hardest thing to do as he was filled with many questions as well as many emotions. Why didn't they flee? Why did they choose to perish He then remembered a law that was passed by the village chief throughout the tribe. "Those who have die on the land become part of the land, therefore, anyone who disturbs the final resting place of the deceased shall be forever cursed," It sounded silly to Shilah when he was younger, but now that he thought about it, the law made sense. The bodily vessels that lay scattered on the ground are preserving the land from people who may want to destroy its pristine beauty.
Shilah sighed as he turned his back towards the reservation, looking down at the bright white feather, dreading the fate that lay before him—now that was an orphan, he had no family to call his own—except two men who treated him horribly. Men of two different races that did not belong together, but chose to follow their evil ways for the corruptness of their own personal gain.

*****

The soft bubbles that once created a rich lather of rich and foamy texture now dispersed as the water turned from a relaxing hot to a mid-comfortable lukewarm. The water now turned a dingey grey from the dirt and grime as Flamour stirred softly awakening from hypnotic state, draining the water as she stood up in wrapping herself in a large and fluffy towel, before checking herself in the vanity mirror--still meek and pale as ever.
Hanging in the closet was a luxurious blue cotton bathrobe which lined with a silk trim around the border of the clothing. She sighed contently as she looked at herself in the mirror wrapping her wet hair in a bun with the towel that covered her naked body. She gave a soft sigh as she exited the bathroom, the one of the few places of comfort she had grown to enjoy.

Dinner was light and casual as silverware tapped lightly against ceramic plates. Very little was said over the course of the meal, but Syd made it a point to break the silence barrier.

"So what brings you all the way out here Flamour, something happen at home?"
Flamour wiped her mouth with her cloth napkin as she set a glass chalice to her lips drinking whatever liquid was in the glass.

"I was just sick of all the fighting. Dad is verbally abusive and mom as you know are conniving, wrench. Trying to put thoughts in my head that don't belong. I mean this constant battle between my parents is not fair to me, I just want a normal home with loving parents who won't degrade me for my depression a psychological disease I have no control of," she huffed a sigh and pushed her plate away.
"If you excuse me I would like a bit of fresh air," she said standing up from the large table.