His steadiness soothed her. She had not had someone so genuinely gentle so close to her in what felt like decades to her weary soul. When he pulled back and told her that she'd have to pick a name for their new village she couldn't help but let out a half laugh as she wiped her face with her sleeve.

Sniffing but smiling, oh how readily he made her smile, she started standing with him and shaking her head. How could she think of a name just on the top her head so soon! Huffing out some more gentle mirth she dusted off her shirt and pants.
"Oh Agar, I'm sure there will be plenty of time to come up with a name." She had danced with names for places before, as a woman does with names for children. She felt like she'd have to see a place and give it a name that was fitting. Much like how you wait and get to know a child after it is born before you name it.

She took some steadying breaths and found his abandoned bowl as he took stock of the items in her cottage. She handed him back his meal as he offered to help her pack. She looked around for a moment, her heart full, a gentle easy smile danced on her lips. For the first time in a long time it was like the light of the central fire reached into the darkest corner. She clutched the pinecone and acorn, carefully carrying them to her bag and placing them in a small satchel and then tucking the satchel into a small pocket that would be easy to access while they traveled.

"We have no idea where we're settling. I would rather pack light and come back with a team to move everything properly, maybe use a sled. I'm used to traveling light for a couple weeks gathering." She took an easy breath and ran her hand affectionately over her work table, dusty and full with tinctures, a mortar and pestle, a few stray leaves and dried berries scattered about.

"I'll take what we'll need, but mostly I'll gather as we go. For now, I need to prepare it for leaving. I'll need to cleanse the cottage and refresh..." She glanced at him, not knowing if she should share her ritual of leaving, "I'll need to be alone tonight. I have a ritual to guard it from scavengers. It's worked so far. I can meet you in the morning, at the brook. Where we first met. From there, its onward." She glanced at an intricate design on her inner arm after she spoke. Studying the marks that were still healing. She would be alone for one last night. She should work more on her tattoo, it was only half finished. This part anyway. That was a ritual in and of itself, one that would one day help her defeat her demons.

She breathed in gratefulness. She couldn't remember the last time her requests for space from someone else had been respected, she took a breath and smiled her thank you.

She laughed as he took his cup, "Have some more!" She said refilling his cup before he left. "I'll meet you there! Goodnight!" She said waving as he left.

As she turned from the doorway she couldn't stop smiling, it was broad and toothy. She practically danced from each corner of the room, gathering a stone. She twirled and took a bough of strong smelling cedar hanging from the rafters. Lightly she placed each stone in a wide square on the floor. She grabbed a small box full of precious oil and gathered a bowl with water, throwing a small pinch of salt in it. She set them down in the circle then grabbed a quill and her ink. Then she faced the fire and sat in the middle of the ring of stones, humming a tone low and throaty. She threw a log on the fire and began to sing, lighting the cedar enough to smoke and fill the cottage with the heady smell. She brought out the box of oil and anointed each stone, drawing a symbol on each. While she sang she brought up the bowl to her chin and sang into it, swirling the water in a circular motion. She dipped her fingers into the water then and ran her wet fingers over her ankles where her tattoos had been marked. She dipped again and ran her fingers over the marks on her wrist, trying to sing through the sting as it touched the wounds. She switched hands and washed similarly the wrist that had yet to be untouched by her needle.

Then she continued her work.

She worked until her fire had died down too low to see and she grew tired. The cedar had ceased burning and she felt she was done for the night. Before moving she grabbed her salt water again and washed each point again, hissing this time as the water stung her new work. Then took the oil and rubbed it into her skin, especially on her new marks. Then took her salt water again and flicked her fingers in each direction over the stones, got up and put the last of the coals out with the bowl. But not before it glowed ominously at her.

She placed the stones in each corner of the cottage again and went to bed.





In the morning as she packed her emerald eyes rove over the crumbling dusty stones that lined the walls. At the ragged hide, patched too many times already, covering the door. She filled two water bladders, one with water, the other with Agar's flavor of beer. She had always tried to do something nice for Neo back then, but it was like... he had never noticed. She patted the beer bladder with a faint smile, thinking how the man would light up when she presented it to him.

She grabbed her cloak, grabbed her bag and took a deep breath. She stood at the doorway looking back at the small room she had called her lonely home for so long. Bittersweet to let it go, but feeling ready for newer things.

...
"Who was that."