Title: yet I know, where I go, that there hath past away a glory from the earth
Disclaimer: not my characters; title from Wordsworth.
Warnings: character death
Pairings: none stated
Rating: PG
Wordcount: 220
Point of view: third
Prompt: Bible
"Hey, Preacher," Vin murmured, his voice barely heard over the rain.
"Yes, Vin?" Josiah responded, shifting closer.
"Tell me…" Vin paused to catch his breath, and Josiah gently grasped his hand. "A story…" Vin coughed and Josiah carefully wiped away the blood trickling over his lips.
"Once, there was a family," Josiah began quietly. "A woman and her husband, their sons and their sons' wives. Sickness suddenly struck their town and the menfolk died."
Vin choked, so Josiah turned him on his side till he caught his breath again. Josiah kept talking, calmly telling him, "The elder daughter-in-law left, to return to her own people, but the younger said, 'I will never leave you or forsake you.' And so she followed her mother-in-law back to her hometown and there she made a new life for herself."
Josiah placed a hand on Vin's chest, waiting—no breath stirred his young friend's body, so Josiah whispered, "Go with whatever god you believe in and find whatever peace you can, Vin Tanner." He bowed his head and prayed; over the rainstorm, he heard the sound of crows.
Retribution would be had, he knew, because Chris Larabee possessed no forgiving mood, and Josiah would exact vengeance for each labored breath Vin forced himself to take just to see his brothers again.
