She was upon the porch that morning as the waning light touched the cobbled stones. In a lean of small form against one of the porch's support posts, she faced the waking road that ran before the Red Dragon.
But eyes had not truly seen the road or those moving along it. Humidity made the flesh of her arms and neck glisten. Hand lifted steal against one of her arms from shoulder to wrist with an absent pass of touch.
Sleep had not come to her easily the night before. And even then, it was a troubled and short-lived rest with the small one laying in the darkness of her room to stare at the ceiling above that she could not see.
It was a bitter-sweet thing that had happened the night before. Heart was within a worrisome place: between that sigh of relief that she was once again within someone's guiding and protective shadow.. and knowing that it was not of his ways to have done what he did. Reasons were not flagged upon the wind and waved about. And it had taken S'jira most of the night to truly realize them fully, even if she had only an inkling of it all in the beginning.
Her head turned to bring her cheek against the post of the porch. And closed her eyes with a breath drawn deep and slow into her lungs. Not his ways. She had tried to hide herself that one day to keep from him ill talk and reputation. What would now come of it for Panther in all of this? What damage was her presence possible of?
Had he not said that matters were better now? But for whom?
Fingers lingered at the nape of her neck where there was an ache. Heart was torn between caring and wanting to be at his side...and wanting to protect him. What protection could she offer?
Fingers slipped away from the back of her neck and lingered against the circle gem, that green stone that looked much like a cat's eye. It hung upon a length of black about her neck. Put there by him, with understanding from both.
There was certainty in one thing beyond it, she would do what was hers. Duties would be continued and the fisherwoman Thale would be helped. Perhaps, step by step, hearts and mind would ease. And, perhaps she would walk from what she was and grow to what she needed to be.
The scent of rain upon the air teased her yet again. It did not seem to want to fall and there was great need for it. A slight smile, ableit brief, touched her lips. As inexperienced as she was.. the thought came gently. If the gods allowed it to finally rain...she would dance for him.
She carried the thought within her breast, her heart easing a little as she gathered herself up. It was a near-soundless movement with the absence of those tiny bells. There was work to see to and the meat seasoned from the night before to cook as a favor to him.
There was no telling how this day would turn out. Any more than the day before...
But eyes had not truly seen the road or those moving along it. Humidity made the flesh of her arms and neck glisten. Hand lifted steal against one of her arms from shoulder to wrist with an absent pass of touch.
Sleep had not come to her easily the night before. And even then, it was a troubled and short-lived rest with the small one laying in the darkness of her room to stare at the ceiling above that she could not see.
It was a bitter-sweet thing that had happened the night before. Heart was within a worrisome place: between that sigh of relief that she was once again within someone's guiding and protective shadow.. and knowing that it was not of his ways to have done what he did. Reasons were not flagged upon the wind and waved about. And it had taken S'jira most of the night to truly realize them fully, even if she had only an inkling of it all in the beginning.
Her head turned to bring her cheek against the post of the porch. And closed her eyes with a breath drawn deep and slow into her lungs. Not his ways. She had tried to hide herself that one day to keep from him ill talk and reputation. What would now come of it for Panther in all of this? What damage was her presence possible of?
Had he not said that matters were better now? But for whom?
Fingers lingered at the nape of her neck where there was an ache. Heart was torn between caring and wanting to be at his side...and wanting to protect him. What protection could she offer?
Fingers slipped away from the back of her neck and lingered against the circle gem, that green stone that looked much like a cat's eye. It hung upon a length of black about her neck. Put there by him, with understanding from both.
There was certainty in one thing beyond it, she would do what was hers. Duties would be continued and the fisherwoman Thale would be helped. Perhaps, step by step, hearts and mind would ease. And, perhaps she would walk from what she was and grow to what she needed to be.
The scent of rain upon the air teased her yet again. It did not seem to want to fall and there was great need for it. A slight smile, ableit brief, touched her lips. As inexperienced as she was.. the thought came gently. If the gods allowed it to finally rain...she would dance for him.
She carried the thought within her breast, her heart easing a little as she gathered herself up. It was a near-soundless movement with the absence of those tiny bells. There was work to see to and the meat seasoned from the night before to cook as a favor to him.
There was no telling how this day would turn out. Any more than the day before...