Ani

Do not think for a moment I had forgotten the carnage. The deaths of my friend's family. But I was still intent on finding Ani. I prayed to the Sky she was still alive. Lar Torvis could be a killer out here even if she was not injured.
As I worked my way out I found the bodies of two men. They were as the three that rushed my hollow. Men ... though not scarred. They appeared perhaps from the Tahari or even Turia. I could not tell and I did not waste my time long over their bodies.
It was good that Juu did not die alone.

I began to call her name. Ani ... Ani ... over and over though I kept my tone low and soft. Perhaps it was more of a prayer for I did not expect her to answer me. My chest ached with concern. I felt like my breath was captured in a web and there was dread every time I looked over a clump of grass or a small rise in the sod. Would the men have taken her with them? Such a small child? I did not think so... that left death and I refused to think such. She had to be here .. she had to be here.
My heart jumped into my throat then .... I saw the marks ... I saw where she had crawled through the grass ... I stayed low and made my way as quickly as I could along the indistinct trail. More insistent I called .... Ani ... Ani .... Ani
I almost ran over her in my haste. She just sat there .. as usual only she didn't have her doll. I swept her up into my arms and I held her to my bloody sweaty chest and I wept. I knelt and I wept there upon the plains like I was no more than an unscarred unnamed boy. I whispered her name over and over again into her wispy hair with its scant little yellow beads. I must have crushed her small little body but she never made a sound ... though I felt her tiny fingers curl into the muscle of my chest and I just held her and dampened her hair with my tears.

Ani ... my Ani. How possessive of her I had become in such a short time. When my emotion was exhausted I wiped my tears from her forehead and I held her from me so that I could inspect her. Had she been hurt? She scrambled up my arms against my chest clawing my flesh with her tiny nails. It was the most I had ever seen out of her. But I did not refuse her. She did not appear to be hurt. I swung the bota around and I loosed the cork and I set it to her lips and she snuggled back against my chest and placed both chubby little palms on that bota and drank. I simply pressed my lips to her head and thanked the Sky she was alive.

I felt such a relief. But it was not over. I took her in my arm and keeping low to the ground I returned to the half burnt wagon. I set her down and though she protested I insisted. I did not go far from her sight though ... but this I had to do. I used the remains of the wagon, carefully positioning the heated coals and pieces of wood until I had a make shift pyre. I then gathered Juu and his family and I relit that wagon and I made sure they were sent to the next life as they should be. It was a risk ... I had no idea if the rest of the men were still in the area but I had no choice in my mind. I would expect him to do the same for me ... and mine.

I took Ani up then and I made my way back to Kree. He was a good kaiila. I stripped my gear from him and I set my saddle on one shoulder and I set Ani on the other and I set out for that stream. I could not stay here longer for I had lit a beacon to the plains that someone here was still alive. It was going to be a long walk. But oddly enough I did not feel the weight of my saddle, I did not feel the heat through my boots as I strode, I no longer felt the suffocating of Lar Torvis.

You see .... I had an angel on my shoulder.