A Flame in The Wind

Chapter 2 - Nadia

As soon as I'd finished tying the twine onto the already carved piece of wood, a clattering sound came from my left.

Finally

Giving a good tug on the twine, I made my way over to the sound.

Pushing my hands through the thick bushes, my eyes landed upon a struggling rabbit caught in twine.

Every time I laid eyes on the rodents that were ensnared, I couldn't help the sadness wash over me.

To my surprise, my idea of placing nutshells in a cloth bag were very affective to making enough noise for me to hear from far away.

I gently grabbed the rabbit before using my knife to cut its throat, the way my brother had taught me.

Within seconds the animal's struggles ceased, and I mumbled a prayer of thanks to the hunting gods.

By the time the sun had started to set, my sack was full of rabbits, squirrels, and birds alike.

It was time to head home.

The forest was beginning its preparations for its evening spectacle. The cries of the crickets, and the rustling of eaves as critters made their way to their burrows. The stars would shine brightly to display their admiration for the music of the night.

An audible sigh of exhaustion left my lips as my steps receded from the trees.

The forest was both sanctuary and my distress. Yet out of the forest lay the valley.

The valley. My valley was silent, but for the hiss of the wind as it made its dance through the blades of grass to the mighty stone of the mountains beyond.

The candlelight from our tiny stone cottage shone brightly through the thin windows as if winning a battle against the setting sun. As I got closer and closer to my home, I could both hear and smell the smoke rising from the chimney, a sign my sister had not strayed from her chores.

But work was not done for me quite yet.

Grabbing a bucket and sitting on a wooden stump, I began gutting the animals before hanging them in the shed to drain. Tomorrow morning, I would have to take off the fur and feathers so my sister Isla could cure the meat. The thought alone of having to wake before dawn had me dreading the morrow. I shouldn't complain though, as I'm quite fortunate. Yes, the gods have been kind in regard to my kills.

Washing my hands and tools I made my way into the crowded house.

I was immediately greeted with cries and yells from my younger siblings as I stepped through the door.

The air was thick with heat and the smell of roasting meat and stew invaded my lungs with each breath I took.

"Play with us, Nadia! Play!" cried Catherina, my youngest sister, as she tugged on my trousers.

"Can we play after we eat?" I couldn't fathom even taking another step through the house.

Enthusiastically she nodded her head before taking her seat at the table where the rest of my family had begun to gather around.

Taking off my boots, I thanked my younger sister Isla for the slippers she'd handed me, eyeing the stew she'd made ravenously. The smell of herbs and vegetables alone made my mouth water. I'd have to thank my other sister Clara, who at only 15 was a master of our gardens and had nurtured the plethora of vegetables herself.

Looking back towards Isla, her blonde hair pined to the back of her head with many strands of hair sticking out as she wiped the back of her hand against her damp forehead. How could someone of her small stature make something so flavorful? I most definitely knew not the answer, as she had only been 7 when our mother had died leaving no-one to teach her the art of spices and such.