Basin

The parched, cracked earth of Unula stretched out before her. Only the low whisper of wind followed her journey, the ground had dried under the fierce summer sun, even now as the sun climbed the purple morning sky the horizon warped and shimmered with the approaching heat. Snow topped mountains danced ahead of her. It bothered her little, sighing she kept on her way. Dying grey bushes sprouted out sporadically from the vibrant brownish orange ground, occasionally a narled tree would spring out of the spider's web of earth. During the wet season the entire valley would flood, she was sure deep below the water still lingered. Enough to bring life after the wet death had passed for dry death. She was happy to have reach it so early. Crossing it during the rainy season would be near impossible, it would have cost her a few weeks skirting around the swollen bowl.

She had made excellent time already, he wouldn't escape her. Any tracks he left had vanished, but she knew where he was heading. She would find him there and finally with no place to run she would take back what was hers. The thoughts of revenge sent a cool shiver along her scars. They weren't real scars, no blade had cut nor fire had burned the wounds upon her. But she had awoken marked by his bastard act. He had failed. He did not know what hounded him and would not see it coming, or hear it. She grinned as images flittered through her mind. Bloody images of a man mangled beyond recognition, writhing in pain his life too stubborn to leave his smashed frame. She knew it would take more to kill him, but his suffering would be enough. Once she had reclaimed what was stolen from her she would give him a quick death. But she would let him know she chose to end his suffering.

She would make him pay. Tightening her hands into fists she shook with each step. rage boiled within her pumping out along her muscles, feeding them the ditemination to carry on. Her heart had climbed to her ears and pounding like her fists would as they ruined his face. The flustered heat of anger she brought matched the bold sun in the sky. She would burn all in her way. As quickly as it came it left, with both eyes closed she let out a breath she hadn't noticed she had held. Steadily the sound of the world around her returned, the drums fading away. She was getting ahead of herself, she knew it, but this anger came suddenly. Shaking her head she picked up her pace and began striding across the hard ground. Her feet bindings did little to absorb the heat, quickly she found herself sprinting across the vast stretch of dry lake bed.

Her long dark legs /lead/stalk/ across the clear landscape. A significant patch of mangled white wood was her destination, with the sun clear in the cloudless sky she could see it casting a wide patch of shade a few miles away. The sun caught the small lines of silvery scar tissue scattered across her legs. Gifts from her people, lessons and skills learned through experience, all painful. She tried to not think of them often but they would be with her even now alone . Memories would have to do/serfice?. Under the unrealting assault of the sun sweat poured from her. Her fast pace had given her enough of a breeze to not be too uncomfortable. But her cloak had become damper and damper while the small grove still sat quite a distance away. She complemented/thought about stripping it off and running naked, she was sure no one was around, the barren land gave little place to hide.

Under the summer blaze little trade would pass through the lake. Convincing herself enough she quickly unhooked the small latches within her cloak and slipped free of the wet cloth. Sweet coolness surrounded her naked body  sending goose bump along her dark skin. Quickly she rapped the damp thing around her arm before leaning into her sprint and speeding up. Cutting the air with arm and leg a grin spread across her lips as the steady wind felt amazing, the sun could not even hinder her progress. Harder she pushed and kicked the ground not because of it's awful heat but as punishment for looking upon her naked beauty. Powerful strikes lashed at the air in front of her, even it should have turned at the sight of her ungowned. She would have laughed, if she could. But that only fed to her assault on the barren place around her. She left more cracks on the beaten land, a reminder of the beauty it had seen and the cost of it.

 Her mother and aunts had always supported the exhibition but with only one rule don't be seen. Not by anything. Of course that wasnt possible and so with it came punishments for breaking it. While those seen would suffer the punishment of embareament/shame She could take reporations by delivering her shared pain onto those who caused. it. no one was expected girls to assault another woman, what could she havd that the girl didn't? But the mindset still did little to stop the envy. She couldnt help grinning broader embarrassed by the memories of jealously longing for growth. Absentminded she continued her /way/animal walk/ only stopping to rebind her feet. Eventually she reached the cool shade of the //// trees. Its long white arms reaching out towards the sun above. Pale crinkled leaves sat wide bathing in the blasted heat.

 She made her way to the closest trunk and fell into it, slowly sliding down the smooth dusty bark until she sat with her back resting against it. The heat hung in the air but the shade kissed her naked body. Standing she quickly ran to the lowest arm and hooked the damp cloak on, spreading it eveningly. Surveying the land she saw little. The small grove encompassed only about three of the/// but left plenty shade to wait out the harshesy of the suns gaze. She gave each tree a short tap for peaking on her. Only a gentle tap, she would punish them further by burrowing their water. Walking around the shady little grove she chose the tallest of them the pale bodies produced a type of poison in the arms to ward of eager animals. But the roots held pure water pulled from the wet depths below. Crouching on her hanches, she began picking at the flakey earth numerous bulging pale legs shattering the mosaic earth below.

 The tree had done all the work she just had to shift the loose earth until enough of a leg was reavled. The dusty ground easily spread to her trained hands. It didnt take long ti find a swollen root and twisted it loose, it's width making it snap easily. With her prize in hand she raises it too her lips and drank from the slow steady drip of cool water. Discarding the last of the roots onto of the small pile she wiped her mouth. Her sleep had gone uninterrupted, she thought herself bold, not many would sleep exposed in the middle of the day. But she had no options. The late day sun began to set as she slid into her dry cloak. The cold would chase her until the sun returned. But still she pressed on. Pulling up the hood on her woven cloak she began walking towards the burning mountain. It wasn't literally on fire but the amount of light generated by numerous lanterns and candles? Made it seems so, even the peak had a few pots alight. The chirps and shuffles of night life played around her as the nocturnal life began it's silver day the twins shone boldly giving her enough light to see easily. Her steps were tentative but steady, she had no urge to break an ankle in one the cracks but the ground was diceptive under the nights gloom. She had learned that the hard way as a girl, collecting / she had gone a miss quickly, with unclear eyes she had followed the wrong track for hours before she noticed / helm and realised how far from homr she had ventured chasing the glowing bugs, like living fire they spread and explores the black land. She had spent the rest of the night atop the helm watching the / dance I'm great swarms until the sun brought it's own light and eclipsed their feeble souls. She was young then only 11 summers had passed her by. She had not feared of preying / or ravaging /. She was fearful for the / and their lives off muted black only punctuated by the others of their kind, each desperately searching for something, constantly exploring with what time they had until the sun awrose and washed them away. The /.. Ghosts her mother called them. Nothing but the past. To unwilling to perish and move on, she could understand them. Would she go so easily when her time came? Countless passed through her and the helm no sign of their existence beyond what she could see. She had sung too them, she didn't have a beautiful voice, plenty of girls could sing better then she could dream of. But her humble songs would be all she could give the ghosts. They could sing but they couldn't keep up with her, she remember grinning to herself satisfied after her mornful solace. It was a wimper against the winds and songs of the night but it had found it's place within her. The twins had been resting close that night gold with the raining /// . tales spoke of them being noble and duty full spirits. She wasn't sure, they seemed as lost as she was. But she had known where she was, just to wreary to return. She would be the first to become / and her mother would be proud. She thought of singing to them further but did not, she had sung her song others had to song there's. She listened as the world waited it's turn. And with the searing glare of the rising sun they perished. She hadn't seen any since the //. They would avoid her, voiceless and scattered. The ghost of ghosts lingered within her, a vengeful spirit guided by rage. A burning sun too vibrant to approach. The moon within her  vanished with the moons she lost. Tears welled in her eyes as she marched towards the city of ///. It was still a ways away but it was another step closer. She would need clothes again, the last batch didn't last long. Her bindings would need changing too. The climb from the bowl was swift and back amongst the tall /. Trees left her comfortable, it wasn't like the southern plains but the great drying forest where calming. The dry leaves would give away any approach and act as a great hiding spot if she were to grow desperate. Little of . were so north. But she had heard the tell tale rumble too the south occasionally. The night passed uneventfully, steadily as the sun hatched into the sky like /// the further plains of // were clear. The old Forrest was gone and replaced by farms. Distant trees sat waiting their turn for clear age. Rows of crops sat for miles between the well worn paths and old tracks. Skirting the edge of the cleared land she continued not wanting to encounter an other being. It want long until she spotted a few maids running around carrying water and other farming tools. Men were toiling out in the fields. Black dark faces went about doing their days work uninterested in their surroundings. Only one noticed her, a small naked boy who was trying to escape his mother and a set of grey work clothes. The little scamp gave her a quick wave before rounding the mud cottage wall and headed towards more bunk houses. The woman barking in /// clothes under one arm and a cooking spoon suddenly in the other. No one else was around to see. The flapping of her glide was the only noise before her soft feet met wooden floor. The place was full of cots and make shift dressers and cabinets. A small fire sat in the far corner casting an orange glow to the dark cabin. Quickly she slid from dresser to dresser. Picking up a hemp bag she pulled out clothes from each, the size didn't matter to her the cloak wasn't enough. As quickly as she had entered she was kicking herself out of  the door and towards the woods her cloak rattling while she tried to keep her newly acquired clothes from escaping the bag. Back under the shade of the woods she wasted no time looking through her loot most were thin plain garments, great for the already building heat of the morning. Picking out a set of grey long sleeved tunic and riding breeches she undressed. The rustle of her cloak had hid the snaps of leaves, but with the it sitting around her feet she clearly heard the stuttered apology in ///ian. Twisting defensive she turned. A short girl eyed her sceptically, fierce orange eyes evaluating her body. The child wore brown clothes a strick contrast to her dull grey hair, long thick braids climbed down her scalp and dangles loosely held together by s bold red ribbon. A extremely long bow sat across her back. She seemed surprised yo see a naked woman in the forest. Standing next to her was a taller person with their back turned, considering the deepness of the apology he had seen her. He was wearing similar clothes to the girl but had the short start of clay like braids. They were //// he had spoken in ///. She quickly pulled the cloak back around her, anger and embarrassment flustering her. She only stood there glaring at them. The little one stared back before finally speaking. "Greetings" she said in broken ... With a short wave before nudging the man besides her. The pair looked about as lost as she was. She glared at them anger following the shot of embarrassment down into the pit of her empty stomach. "Apologies" the short girl stated firmly in her attempt at ///. She quickly took the man by the wrist and headed away from her. The bastard gave her a bashful grin as he was led like a donkey away, his eyes gave away more then embarrassment. The bastard was trying to catch another glimps. She wanted to shout at them. Quickly she picked up a old branch from the ground and lobbed it at the pair of leaving backs. The stick reached only half the distance. Throwing wasn't for her. The anger rose, she'd kick their asses but chasing him would be harder with arrows in her. So she closed her eyes and let it settle. The faint ghostal lights of that night danced in the night of her mind. "You could have asked child." A stern /./ voice spoke from behind her, shattering the peaceful memory. She was letting herself get distracted, it was going to cost her revenge eventually. Eye's pried open by the words she spun to face the woman. Middled aged and motherly her woven hair parted around her face. The woman seemed unimpressed by the girl. "Theft is punishable by death girl" the woman gestured to the bag. "Are you so willing to waste your life for worn clothes?" The woman chastised her stepping closer. She stepped back in response the distance would not be made. Her fierce eye's burned at the woman's wide shocked eye's. The shock fade and shifted into a distasteful examination. Moments passed in silence between the pair until the woman spoke. "Those marks on you, did someone hurt you?" Worry with a hint of anger or disgruntled understanding. Cursing herself she shifted her cloak to cover the white scars. Grinding her teeth she spoke her voiceless words. Mouth moving silently the woman was aghast but the bizzarness. The woman recoiled slightly as the silent words came out a torrent of emotions unleashed and unheard. Shock painted the woman's face. She only stammered trying to talk. Glaring at the woman she tore free her cloak too show the pale trails along her body. Unabashed she revealed it. White jagged cracks spiralled out from her body and spread a pale magniglant root deep within her, along her breasts and ribs they weaved a tangle of white reach too her womb where it ended in a frayed knot. White hot hate seared through the lines and burned her dark flesh. The woman only stumbled back desperate to escape the sight but unable to look away. Screaming she voicelessly spun and all power flowing to her legs as the instincly followed her commands. The white engulfed her legs as she kicked splitting a row of trees behind her. The woman stumbled of leaf hidden roots and stared in silent horror as the trees shattered and erupted into flames. Quickly the ground at her feet had burned a wicked glowing red, the ashes of leaves spun around her spreading the inferno. Silently she picked up the old bag delicately not to burn it with her rage. Heat and wind whipped around her an wild beast of  impromptu nature. He did not know what chased him. With the bag pressed against her chest she kicked off like and explosions she was air born the wind screaming as she passed. White legs cut the sky kicking propelling her forward like a black and white arrow arcing through the early morning sky. Away from those who had accosted her she erupted white heat spreading within her quickly it warped to grey as air boiled around her she was thrown a devastating cost of her might eyes closed the heat embraced her tentatively arms of gentle white flames, wings of blur burned around her. She flew a burn heart propelling herself onwards. Glimpses of / and / followed her in to the blackness. "Get up Mame! we'll be late" Yaa moaned nudging her in the ribs. Mame rolled away from the girls prods but the shifting head was already enough to awaken her, the girl just added to the annoyance. "Up up" yaa insisted hands pitching a pulling at Mame's delicate spots. The girl responded in kind, catching yaa's bold hand within the