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It was easy to find Engorge, with whistles in the mass of kaiila's, verr's and Bosk all over the lands. He was huge, as most War kaiila were, but was use to my call. I felt a weight when I didn't see Cure in the masses. I saw the smoke swallow him when he went down, but I half hoped he would have made it. Binding and saddling him up, I would cut some of my bosk I could pull out of the masses to be lead and Tori carried gear to either use them to pull a wagon we could salvage back, or just use them for carrying back anything worth saving.

What I saw, I prayed none of my future children would ever see. I prayed those young enough to forget, would. To hear the stories would be one thing, but the image and feel burned inside of you, was totally another. It was like a nightmare that causes men to wake in cold sweats, and check his woman, all his children and even his slaves to make sure they were all sound and breathing. It was a vision of death and devastation. There was some just weeping by charred wagons, some refusing to let go of bodies as Warriors were collecting those for pyres. It was the children who were found hiding under burned blankets or in chest like they were taught if the wagons were attacked, that seemed to layer the emotions on in a heavier coating. I brought an Axe I have had for many years, a trade from Merchants cause it amused me. I rarely used it, with the lack of many trees on the plains. Today I used it to break down bigger pieces of my wagon that was worthless to be saved as wood, but to make it smaller to blend in the earth that we would soon be shoving up, as we were hard working people. In days no one would think thousands of wagons once laid there like a vision of hellish agony where those who lacked to respect the Sky or the Bosk would go. It would be dirt and ash that would be grass, by the time we returned to these lands. Everything that could be saved, would. We would mourn when we had time. We were thanking the Sky now, for giving us mercy to have saved so many.

I spoke with the Ubar, watched Tarra cross my path, which didn't surprise me in the least, she soothing Cana who was having a hard time adjusting, and this also, was no surprise. There were many around doing the same as I. I couldn't save any of the four wagons, some I would leave for the wagon builders to collect wood to repair those that could be. I would let Tori finish sorting out what to take back, and I needed to go check on Mezoo, I gave the Ubar my word to care for her.

In the vast of what surrounded me, nothing prepared me for finding Hannah. All I could do was hold her for a few ehns to let it soak in. I was there when she was born, and she felt so much like a daughter to me. I knew she had many sisters and family to help her mate with Bull, but right now, I would wrap her in bits of burned blanket and lay her carefully on the cart that was collecting others.

I rode back feeling every stirring of emotion that one could feel. Natalia met me there, getting water and rep cloths for Mezoo telling me she had rubbed her down with mint oil like I wanted, and Mezoo had her family with her. The Elder woman, Oren was sitting on the platform when I walked up. I was polite, and didn't walk in until I got a nod of approval to do so. Walking in, the feel seemed to rush over me like a breeze being thrown by a storm. A shake of my head to clear it, as I spoke lightly with Mezoo's Mother who looked so much like her. I was checking her throat for swelling, and her pulse when fingers wrapped around mine, and she spoke. "Don't let go" seemed to have a power behind it, I wasn't sure of, but I grasped her hand and we helped her up to catch a breath and get out the haze that was sending her into coughing fits. I was trying to check her over, touching her chest as she breathed and I suddenly pulled my hand back, embarrassed I was acting like a boy grasping his first breast. Wanting to study, feel, learn, but that wasn't what I wanted to do, or was it? There was something intoxicating about the wagon that wasn't letting my head remain clear. Her face was so flawless, reminding me of glass dolls on merchant wagons with perfectly painted faces. The whole moment was like a whirl wind. Natalia trying to help her drink water, I touched her jaw, its outline, those small fingers in my hand. Words, people were talking to me, I told Takara to get us food, Astar started to ask me questions that were only returned with shielded answers, silly ones, why was I so nervous? Food, eat, no, others eat, telling Takara to make sure Astar and Oren were taken care of. She touched me, why? Did she not feel what she was doing to me? I was confused, then, another touch...Oh these wicked Enchantresses were attacking me. No, be calm mighty Ongel of the Tuchuks, they wanted to see your burns. Where was Takara? She was my base right now, I needed to feel in control, damn I sent her off to serve, talk Ongel, get control..Yes I had a baby at my wagons, seemed to capture both of their attention, I was safe, no more touching, yet, my hand, my hand was capturing hers. I was touching. She was touching back, fingers coiling in a perfect fit, her fingers so soft. Oh, they wanted to help, Takara? She was busy looking overly happy with the gesture. I was invited to take my meals at their wagons, I would send the girls, yes, I would, I would? They were attacking me again. Words. I touched her hand, held it, captured it. What was that look in her eyes? Those lips, parted slightly, I almost jumped. She was getting tired, and Astar, saved me. Thank you I wanted to say. Sending Takara out to have Tasha get the kids ready for bed, I would stop and speak to Oren, was she okay? I might as well had said, "hey pick up your skirt so I can take a peek" from the way she swatted me to move and just walked right in the wagon, leaving me high and dry.

I smiled. I still wasn't sure what just happened, but her warm fingers still felt cupped in my hand.