Timestamp: 87th Day of Summer, 516 AV
The rain made a rhythmic sound as it hit the pavilion. Normally, Terrin would be soothed by it. Rain was a good thing. It brought much needed water to the Sea of Grass, and with it, renewed life to his home. But today was different. His mind was deeply troubled by the events of the day.
His father had left on an errand early in the morning. And when he returned, he had brought a gift for his older brother with him. That "gift" was what troubled Terrin so deeply. It was a girl who looked to be just a couple of years older than Seirei. His father explained that new breeding programs had been set up in the hopes of replacing some of those who had been lost. The girl was part of those breeding programs, and his father had decided that it was time for their family to do their part.
As ankal, it was his right to make that decision. And judging by how eagerly his brother had dragged the girl into his pavilion to do his duty, Terrin knew that his brother was happy to comply. There had been no pleas for mercy. No words at all. But the girl's pained cries made it clear that she had not been a willing participant.
Terrin felt helpless. He couldn't believe that his older brother, a man he loved deeply, and had respected and admired for as long as he could remember would willingly rape a girl. Nor could he believe that his father would condone such a thing. Would he be required to breed a helpless captive, too? What would he do if he was? And what about the girl? Terrin wondered if Seirei had cried out like that when Lian raped her. No, probably not. The girl's cries had sounded...odd. They reminded Terrin of an aunt he'd been close to as a child. Her throat had been injured in a zith attack. And although she had survived her injuries, her throat had been ruined. From that point on, she was able to make sounds, but she couldn't speak. Did that mean that this girl was also unable to speak?
Terrin realized that he was focusing on the small details in an attempt to avoid thinking about what the bigger picture was. After a while, the girl's cries faded into ragged sobs. His brother emerged from the pavilion, looking well satisfied. He grinned smugly at his father, and thanked him for the gift.
When the two men left, Terrin remained behind. He knew that the girl wouldn't want to see another man just now, but he felt that he had to see if he could help her in some way. Help was relative, he knew, as he realized the only real help he could offer would be to help the girl to escape. And he couldn't do that. Even if he was willing to risk his ankal's wrath, what good would it do? The girl would only be caught, or perish out in the Sea of Grass if she managed to escape the city. But he could at least see if there was a way he could ease the girl's suffering.
Terrin entered the pavilion, and froze at the sight of the girl. The signs of rape were obvious, but Terrin barely noticed them. The girl's eyes were dazed with shock as she trembled with reaction. But they were Seirei's eyes. There were some other similarities as well in their coloring, and the shape of their facial features. Even the color of their hair was similar. Did Seirei have a sister? She had never told him about her if she did, and he thought they were close enough friends that she would tell him if she had a sister. But the resemblance was uncanny.
Her eyes widened in terror when Terrin moved close enough for her to sense his presence. For several chimes, all he could do was stare. But then the pain in the girl's wide, terrified eyes stirred him into action. He knew nothing of healing, but there were a few things he could do. Terrin left briefly, only to return with a bladder filled with warm water. It was his hope that the heat would soak into the girl's abused body, and ease her pain. Terrin demonstrated what it was for, and positioned it against the girl's abdomen so she could curl up around it. Her wrists and ankles were bound tightly. Terrin knew he couldn't release her, but he did loosen the bindings just enough that they wouldn't cut off her circulation. The girl watched him in wary silence, but after a while, she seemed to realize that he meant her no harm. Soon after she realized that, exhaustion took its toll, and her eyes drifted shut. Terrin watched her sleep for a few ticks. Then he strode out of the pavilion quietly so he wouldn't disturb her rest. He had a decision to make.
Seirei hummed softly as she carefully stripped the bark off of a willow branch. Four more branches were soon stripped as well. She wanted to make a batch of beads so she could begin building up a supply of them. With thoughts of opening a shop in mind, it would be easier for her to do so if she had a ready supply of goods to sell before hand. Then she could work on making more to replenish what was sold rather than starting from scratch once she opened her shop.
Once Seirei was finished stripping the willow branches of bark, she began cutting them into pieces so they could dry out before she shaped them. It would take longer for the beads to dry out if the rain didn't let up and allow her to let them dry in Syna's light, but she had plenty she could work on while she waited. Before long, her task was done. Seirei cleaned up the pile of bark strips so they could be used for kindling later. Then she lay the pieces of wood out on the floor of her pavilion where they would be out of the way while they dried. Once the children were awake, she would have to put them away so Lukar and Lira couldn't get into them. But they were taking a nap now, so with luck, she would have a couple of bells before she had to worry about that.
Seirei was about to start shaping some pieces of wood that were ready to be made into beads when she heard the sound of hoof beats approaching rapidly. Worried about what it might mean, Seirei signed for Taerin to remain with the children while she emerged from the pavilion to see what was happening. To her surprise, Terrin rode into camp at a gallop, coming to a stop just in front of her pavilion.
"Terrin, what...?" Seirei began in concern.
Terrin shook his head, instead, reaching his hand out to her.
"Get on. I have something I need to show you." he said urgently.
"But..."
Seirei glanced back at her pavilion uncertainly. From within, Taerin reassured her that she had things well in hand. Seirei considered finding Drelah, and riding him, but Terrin had sounded so urgent that she decided against it. So she took her friend's hand, and allowed him to pull her up into the yvas behind him. She barely had enough time to get settled, and warp her arms around his back before they were off.
.
.
.
The rain made a rhythmic sound as it hit the pavilion. Normally, Terrin would be soothed by it. Rain was a good thing. It brought much needed water to the Sea of Grass, and with it, renewed life to his home. But today was different. His mind was deeply troubled by the events of the day.
His father had left on an errand early in the morning. And when he returned, he had brought a gift for his older brother with him. That "gift" was what troubled Terrin so deeply. It was a girl who looked to be just a couple of years older than Seirei. His father explained that new breeding programs had been set up in the hopes of replacing some of those who had been lost. The girl was part of those breeding programs, and his father had decided that it was time for their family to do their part.
As ankal, it was his right to make that decision. And judging by how eagerly his brother had dragged the girl into his pavilion to do his duty, Terrin knew that his brother was happy to comply. There had been no pleas for mercy. No words at all. But the girl's pained cries made it clear that she had not been a willing participant.
Terrin felt helpless. He couldn't believe that his older brother, a man he loved deeply, and had respected and admired for as long as he could remember would willingly rape a girl. Nor could he believe that his father would condone such a thing. Would he be required to breed a helpless captive, too? What would he do if he was? And what about the girl? Terrin wondered if Seirei had cried out like that when Lian raped her. No, probably not. The girl's cries had sounded...odd. They reminded Terrin of an aunt he'd been close to as a child. Her throat had been injured in a zith attack. And although she had survived her injuries, her throat had been ruined. From that point on, she was able to make sounds, but she couldn't speak. Did that mean that this girl was also unable to speak?
Terrin realized that he was focusing on the small details in an attempt to avoid thinking about what the bigger picture was. After a while, the girl's cries faded into ragged sobs. His brother emerged from the pavilion, looking well satisfied. He grinned smugly at his father, and thanked him for the gift.
When the two men left, Terrin remained behind. He knew that the girl wouldn't want to see another man just now, but he felt that he had to see if he could help her in some way. Help was relative, he knew, as he realized the only real help he could offer would be to help the girl to escape. And he couldn't do that. Even if he was willing to risk his ankal's wrath, what good would it do? The girl would only be caught, or perish out in the Sea of Grass if she managed to escape the city. But he could at least see if there was a way he could ease the girl's suffering.
Terrin entered the pavilion, and froze at the sight of the girl. The signs of rape were obvious, but Terrin barely noticed them. The girl's eyes were dazed with shock as she trembled with reaction. But they were Seirei's eyes. There were some other similarities as well in their coloring, and the shape of their facial features. Even the color of their hair was similar. Did Seirei have a sister? She had never told him about her if she did, and he thought they were close enough friends that she would tell him if she had a sister. But the resemblance was uncanny.
Her eyes widened in terror when Terrin moved close enough for her to sense his presence. For several chimes, all he could do was stare. But then the pain in the girl's wide, terrified eyes stirred him into action. He knew nothing of healing, but there were a few things he could do. Terrin left briefly, only to return with a bladder filled with warm water. It was his hope that the heat would soak into the girl's abused body, and ease her pain. Terrin demonstrated what it was for, and positioned it against the girl's abdomen so she could curl up around it. Her wrists and ankles were bound tightly. Terrin knew he couldn't release her, but he did loosen the bindings just enough that they wouldn't cut off her circulation. The girl watched him in wary silence, but after a while, she seemed to realize that he meant her no harm. Soon after she realized that, exhaustion took its toll, and her eyes drifted shut. Terrin watched her sleep for a few ticks. Then he strode out of the pavilion quietly so he wouldn't disturb her rest. He had a decision to make.
******************************************************************************************
Seirei hummed softly as she carefully stripped the bark off of a willow branch. Four more branches were soon stripped as well. She wanted to make a batch of beads so she could begin building up a supply of them. With thoughts of opening a shop in mind, it would be easier for her to do so if she had a ready supply of goods to sell before hand. Then she could work on making more to replenish what was sold rather than starting from scratch once she opened her shop.
Once Seirei was finished stripping the willow branches of bark, she began cutting them into pieces so they could dry out before she shaped them. It would take longer for the beads to dry out if the rain didn't let up and allow her to let them dry in Syna's light, but she had plenty she could work on while she waited. Before long, her task was done. Seirei cleaned up the pile of bark strips so they could be used for kindling later. Then she lay the pieces of wood out on the floor of her pavilion where they would be out of the way while they dried. Once the children were awake, she would have to put them away so Lukar and Lira couldn't get into them. But they were taking a nap now, so with luck, she would have a couple of bells before she had to worry about that.
Seirei was about to start shaping some pieces of wood that were ready to be made into beads when she heard the sound of hoof beats approaching rapidly. Worried about what it might mean, Seirei signed for Taerin to remain with the children while she emerged from the pavilion to see what was happening. To her surprise, Terrin rode into camp at a gallop, coming to a stop just in front of her pavilion.
"Terrin, what...?" Seirei began in concern.
Terrin shook his head, instead, reaching his hand out to her.
"Get on. I have something I need to show you." he said urgently.
"But..."
Seirei glanced back at her pavilion uncertainly. From within, Taerin reassured her that she had things well in hand. Seirei considered finding Drelah, and riding him, but Terrin had sounded so urgent that she decided against it. So she took her friend's hand, and allowed him to pull her up into the yvas behind him. She barely had enough time to get settled, and warp her arms around his back before they were off.
.
.
.
