Mala Mooncrow

[MitzaVolchenko]

Mala watched the motley group gather as she sat cross legged above the mines entrance. Seeing her children had reminded her of how few of the new folk she knew. A game had come to mind, and now there was no backing out.
Letting her mind wander the island the items for her little game floated before her.

First item: A deadly gift from the heavens.

Second item: The stuff of life's sustenance.

Third item: Snatched from death's maw.

Fourth item: An imprisoned soul's last word.

Fifth item: Love's greatest symbol.

She watched with wry amusement as the group raced off arguing about what best fit the clues. Their answers would tell her much about who they were. These would be the people that her children would know, and it seemed wise to know something of them.

***

The soft confident response of the young celestial to her first clue amused her. The woman merely said, "Me."
That one would warrant some watching.

A chuckle escaped her when the mage answered, "Ale," and drained a flagon. Mala thought fondly of Pesti and quietly wished the dwarf well. She missed his humor, and wondered if perhaps Gloilin who had been asleep on one of her couches might not be the Pesti for the new age.

The third clue, a bit obvious really brought the expected teeth of the bodak and essence of the Parameus lich. No surprises there, really.

In truth, she had thought of her old friend Thrant with the fourth clue. She had not visited him in ages and felt immediately sorry for her neglect of old friends. Recognition of Androg's plight pleased her, and she made a mental note to go help Androg spirit out and about more often.

The final answers brought a sigh to her soul. In truth, she had expected lighter answers from them. Perhaps the young had more depth than she had realized. She touched the dried forget me not in her belt pouch smiling sadly, and marriage vows, which oathbound a couple for all time. But the last, self sacrifice...loyalty unto and beyond death, betrayal, or abandonment...

Into each hand she pressed a small green-gold ring and looked into each set of eyes.

"Good luck and remember that to every riddle there are infinite answers."

She couldn't stand to look at the young ones any longer, and with a parting smile set off for home.

[MitzaVolchenko]

The grim set of her features, told Li it was best to let Mala alone. Her sister was not in a mood to hear anything from anyone. A glance over her shoulder told her that Ziya and Raella were asleep with Arcala and Gierdo was poring over a book pretending not to watch his mother as she carefully unfolded her leathers from a trunk.

"Li, you know the drill. They remain here until I clear them to leave. Nobody comes in without my express leave except Frost, Vugor, or Ore," Mala spoke in a flat tone that allowed no argument and no questions.

"Send Jael to me if anything happens here. I am taking Verrin with me. I expect to be gone for at least a moon. If you must, take the children to Elith's under cover of night and spell shrouds.

"Under no circumstances are you to come seeking me. If news comes of my death or worse, wait two moons, then burn the packet before Jotham's feet," practiced fingers buckled the last buckle and slid weapons home into their sheaths.

The flare of the starbursts before being slid into place, made Li shudder slightly. A premonition of impending disaster swept through her, but she held her peace. Mala was not one to alter her course once she had chosen it.

Her goodbyes to the children already said, Mala glanced around her home and slipped a pack over her shoulders. Favoring her sister with a tight smile, "If the worst case scenario comes to pass...well you know what has to happen."

Li nodded mutely watching her sister slip out into the desert night. She wondered if it would be for the last time but said nothing in answer to Gierdo's look of questioning concern.

[MitzaVolchenko]

Mala came instantly awake and alert listening tothe sounds and taking in all of the information her senses could feed her.
Water falling heavily toward the sea which made a quieter echo matched to the slight vibrations in the wood planking beneath the bear skin rug she was laying on. Muscles sore, but not torn. A low glow meant a torch in the hall. No footsteps, no breathing, no whispers of wings...home, but not hers.
Willing her body to transparent lightness, she tensed and relaxed each muscle without moving until they felt loose and warm. Rolling to her feet, she stepped soundlessly to the door and listened again. Still no foreign noises...a dream then. A dream of ghosts and old memories.
With a sigh, she pushed the door open to admit light from the hall torch and struck the flint and steel on the dresser to her own torch.
A quick splash of water from her wash basin and a check of her packs revealed another puzzle. If it were a dream how has she gotten mud on everything she owned?
"darn it all," she swore softly and settled to the task of cleaning her equipment. One did not abuse things that could mean the difference between survival and death.

[MitzaVolchenko]

Standing with quiet respect the twins watched their mother light the pyre. The blaze from the heights could be seen all along the coast, but on a night of such fierce weather, there was slim chance any would come to see.

"The Gods are forging their swords tonight," whispered Ziya to Gierdo.

Gierdo nodded silently and carried the last of his books forward to add to the pyre. Mala didn't even seem to notice.

For hours she stood in the full glare of the blaze as the inky smoke enveloped her in swirling clouds before whipping off to the heavens. At some point the twins sat and dozed fitfully leaning on one another to wake at dawn when Mala finally moved to the heart of the still smoldering pile where she carefully gathered the remains reduced to fragments of bone and ash within their clay coffin.

Sealing the urn, Mala turned dirty and smoke stained to face her children and gave a simple nod before turning and making her way swiftly from the heights. The twins watched in mute horror and resigned acceptance then rose together to make their way slowly home.