This is just a semi-quick joiner chapter, hope you like it! REVIEW PLEASE! LET ME KNOW YOU'RE OUT THERE:)
Chapter 24
Their strategizing went on long into the afternoon till the blood red sun was setting in the sky. Larka's head was swarming with battle moves, tactics, and commands but yet her thoughts made sense of it all. WhisperWing and Liam were preparing dinner for all of them in WhisperWing's hut and Larka had gone outside for some air. She walked to the boarders of the tribe, a soft breeze tousling her long silver hair as she stood silently contemplating what she was about to do.
Larka knew that in a few moments Taka would be joining her, Taka would become antsy and agitated sitting in the hut watching people cook and she would wander outside, spotting Larka's footprints in the ash and following them. It amazed Larka how well she had come to know these people, and sure enough soon she could hear Taka's distinct way of walking and rhythm of breathing behind her. The lithe Bosmer came to stand beside her and the two friends stood silently for a while before Larka spoke.
"Did you ever want to go back?" she asked quietly.
"How do you mean?" Taka asked.
"Back to the cities and towns, see the Bitter Coast or the lakes of the Ascadian Isles again, to walk through the crowded streets of Vivec or to have dinner in a Tavern in Balmora. To go back to the life we left." Larka replied, facing Taka.
"Sometimes yes, I'd think that someday I'd want to return, just to experience it all again. But I realized that while I may have been born into the life I left, this tribe is now my home. I wouldn't want anything more." She said sadly. "Krillan and I always dreamed of having children here, raising them on Ashlander customs and lore, but also telling them stories of our cities and legends of Almalexia and Vivec. We dreamt of having a family here…" she said, tears escaping her eyes as she looked away. Larka squeezed her hand softly in comfort and gazed ahead with a mournful expression on her face.
"But I think that if I'd had time, I would have wanted to return, to visit." Taka continued.
"I want you to go back." Larka said.
"What?" Taka asked, her head whipping around to face her.
"I want you to return…I need you to go back…" Larka said quietly.
"You mean…you mean stay out of the battle, run away? Does Liam know what you are asking of me?" Taka asked in disbelief, eyes wide with confusion.
"No, he knows nothing, but I know he will agree with me on this. I want you to take Tyrade away; I want you to take her back to the cities and towns. I want you to take care of her till you can book her passage to the Mainland and find her a good home there." Larka said.
"Larka, I love Tyrade, but surly you can't expect me to just desert our tribe, to walk away knowing that my sword could have added more to the body count of the enemy. I can't do it." Taka said firmly.
"I need you to!" Larka said fiercely. "I need someone strong to survive and to tell our tale! Who better than an Anazimabrah commander who is also an accepted race in our civilization? It has to be you Taka, there is no other, and I know that when my daughter comes back home, to our island, that you will find her and watch over her." Larka said earnestly.
"How can you know, how can you know she'll return?" Taka asked desperately.
"I can feel it, she will return one day, an Ashlander chief's daughter raised as a member of society. She will grow up to do great things and surpass me in skill and strength, and Liam in kindness and devotion. And when she returns home I want you to be there watching over her, and protecting her till she does not need it any longer. Please do this for me Taka, please." Larka pleaded taking her hands.
"I will, but I won't leave until I absolutely have to, I will see this through till it's my time to leave forever." Taka said with a sad smile.
"Thank you my dear friend, I know that you will look after my daughter well, may Azura bless your path." Larka said lovingly, giving Taka a short hug.
"We should return, dinner will be ready soon, and we must tell WhisperWing and Liam what we have decided." Taka said, giving Larka's shoulder a squeeze in reassurance before the two of them turned and walked back into the tribe as the last rays of the sunrise descended behind the hills.
