Ashes by Stelmarta

Another week, another chapter. I don't have much in the way of notes, except that this chapter is for Tempest, for that neat little tidbit of trivia. See ya' next Saturday!

^_^Stelmarta

CHAPTER VII – The Journey



"Just concentrate on your breathing. Keep your mind clear. Be as quiet as you can, inside and out," said Crow's voice soothingly. She was teaching Laesha to meditate. Owl was off hunting or something, plainly a bit scornful of any pastime that consisted solely of sitting still for a long time.

It was the seventh night of their journey, and so far it had been extremely uneventful and monotonous. Wake up at dawn, walk till dusk, go to sleep, repeat. Laesha in particular was having an unpleasant time, being the shortest by far of the three, and thus not as fast a walker. Owl made a point of taking the rear, perhaps demonstrating his persistent unwillingness to this trip, while Crow unconsciously strode up front, not only the tallest, but also seemingly possessing an unquenchable fervor that drove her forward. Crow was like that, as Laesha had discovered over the past week, focused on her goal so utterly that the little things completely disappeared. She had not elaborated on her captivity, and every time she tried to ask, dying of curiosity as she was, Crow ignored the question completely.

Laesha growled under her breath and tried to clear her mind. If she weren't so damned uncomfortable, she would have fallen asleep hours ago. But by the gods, Laesha would get this meditation thing right if it killed her.

She had nearly made it when Crow broke the silence, "Okay, Laesha, that's enough for now."

What perfect timing, she grumbled to herself as she opened her hazel- green eyes. She unwound her stiff limbs from the half-lotus position she had managed to twist herself in, and stood up.

When she had sat down to meditate an hour or so ago, she had been looking rather sheepish. Literally. And was showing no signs of reverting to normal before sunset. But, somehow, she had completely changed back to a human, not a single woolen curl remained.

Crow was looking her over triumphantly, "I had guessed that that would happen,"

"What?"

The shaman gave Laesha an it's-so-obvious-look, "That meditation could help you control your transformations."

"Cool!" she exclaimed. Laesha had always wondered what life would have been like if she hadn't had to hide or lie, or worry that one day they would catch on. If she could control her changes….

Owl walked back into the camp, soundless as usual, with a few dead rabbits, presumably for supper.

Crow lit up, "Rabbit? I haven't had rabbit in ages! Not since the time Kite brought back a whole warren's worth and the whole clan feasted on it!"

Laesha thought that Owl would react as he usually did at the mention of the past and ignore it, but instead he laughed.

"And Swallow ate so much she passed out into her dessert," he laughed again, it was a whole new expression on him. It improved him greatly, making his habitually serious expression into something, well, happy.

They both launched into a string of obscure reminiscences (and cooked the rabbits) while Laesha sulked. She wasn't used to people ignoring her, and she was quite certain she didn't like it. She felt excluded, too, but that was hardly a new sensation. Only it was completely different when she had been excluded by people she actually liked. And she was upset that Owl had never laughed with her.

~*~



Laesha awoke the next morning feeling rather odd. It became apparent why as soon as she opened her eyes. She had become grotesquely frog-like overnight. Her arms and legs were bright green, slimy and had suction-cup tips. Her eyes were bulbous and bright yellow.

There was a terrible sinking sensation in her stomach. She did not want to be a frog. AT ALL. She hated amphibians, and she was sure as hell not going to be one. So Laesha decided to try something.

She closed her eyes and slowed her breathing, focusing on what it felt like to be human. After a long moment, concentrating as hard as she could, she opened her eyes again. They were hazel-green and normal-sized, the tips of her fingers were devoid of suckers, and the slimy green skin was gone! She could have cheered aloud.

She walked over to the fire with a spring in her step. Owl and Crow were already up and eating a cold breakfast of bread and dried fruit. Crow seemed to be half asleep, while Owl, as usual was wide-awake.

"Good morning, Laesha," he greeted without looking up, "What's the story this morning?"

"I was a frog, now I'm not." Laesha picked up some food and sat down on the ground near the fire, unable to keep from grinning like a madwoman.

"Oh, really?" Owl gave her one of his confused and worried looks. Crow looked up at her and smiled sleepily before going back to her breakfast.

Despite the rather mellow reception of her news, Laesha couldn't stop smiling. Today would be a good day.

~*~

They continued on their pilgrimage as soon as they had struck camp in early morning. It was twilight now, the two moons were just peeking out from the horizon; the three should reach Yasha by the next evening.

Owl shifted his pack and wiped his brow, he was in the rear while Crow strode up front. They had been walking for a long time and even Crow, energetic though she was, was beginning to sag a bit.

They rounded a bend in the Road and were given their first view of Yasha, the Ivory City. It practically glowed in the evening light, like an earthbound star. The temple dominated the cityscape, a huge white marble step pyramid that cast its shadow over the entire city. A shallow gully and a small expanse of trees were the only things blocking the way of the deceptively close city. The Road would lead them further forward, then take a turn back around to Yasha. Though it may have seemed like a roundabout way to get there, Owl knew it was a great deal safer than any other improvised route.

This was not Owl's first time in the Ivory City, but he doubted that the others had seen anything like it before. Crow seemed to be glowing as she gazed down, light reflecting off her silver hair and white clothing, but also from within. Laesha, on the other hand, was gaping like a fish at the vista before her, a wonderful contrast to the shaman's luminescence and composure. Judging by the younger girl's expression, she had come up with something.

Gods help us.

"Hey, I bet if we cut through those woods we'll be there in no time," she said, saffron-colored eyes gleaming.

Owl hated it when he was right. But before either he or Crow could protest she had begun scaling down the gully towards the forest.

"But Laesha –" he began.

"Come on, it's not like we'll get lost or anything," she called back, already down the hill.

They had no choice but to follow her now, she was out of earshot, and she would indeed get lost on her own. Crow shrugged and headed down, and after a moment of annoyance, Owl followed.

The sun crept below the horizon, leaving only the moons and the Ivory City to illuminate the rapidly darkening forest.