Rifiuto: Non Miriena

A/N: Written: 2012. Rewritten: 2014. Found: 2018.- Licia

Town of Nest Hardings,

Munch Territory,

Thropp Household,

Day Six

Shell looked up from his book; the sound of hoof-beats alerting him to someone's arrival. Mama and Papa had gone into town; Shell had opted to stay home. Being the last Thropp child, with both his sisters gone, Shell felt it his duty to stay home now, mainly so his mother wouldn't have a complete meltdown when she returned home.

But as he stepped onto the porch in the mid-morning hours of what would have been the sixth day of his oldest sister's deal, he was surprised to find not his parents returning to town, but his oldest sister climbing down from a horse, still in her nightgown. He was confused, to say the least. "Ah... Elpha... Sopha... Fae?"

She started at the name, as did he, for he had no idea where it had come from. He'd been struggling to figure out what to call her; she'd insisted on being called by her tribal name, but Mama had implemented a rule that she was no longer to go by that name anymore, but to go by her birth name. And Shell, being all kinds of confused, couldn't keep up. So 'Fae' seemed to be the compromise between the two. "What are you doing back?"

The older girl didn't say a word as she took the horse into the stable, fed it and watered it and then returned to the house, Shell on her heels. He followed her up the stairs and into her bedroom, shutting the door behind them. "I thought you had gone back to your tribe."

In a series of stuttering, broken English, frantic Arjiki and wild hand gestures, she managed to tell him of what had occurred, and the boy slowly sank onto the bed. "Wait... Nessa's married? To the translator?" She nodded, taking a seat beside him. "But... I don't understand... why did you come back? All you want is to be with your tribe-" But he stopped, upon seeing the look on her face. "You're confused." She didn't respond, but her silence spoke volumes. "You don't know where you belong anymore, do you?" A slight shake of the head. "So you came back, because..." He stopped, trying to work it out in his head. "You came back because you thought it would be better to trade one daughter for another, right?"

She shrugged, not understanding. He sighed. "Nessa married into the tribe, and you came back here, so that Mama and Papa would at least have one daughter, instead of losing two." A moment passed, before she slowly nodded. "You won't be happy here, Fae. I can see it already. You aren't happy, it's evident. You can't stay. You'll die if you do."

She opened her mouth to speak, when a voice called out. "Shell?"

Quickly, the boy hurried out of the room, his sister hurrying after him. They staggered to a stop on the stairs, and Melena choked on a sob. "Sophelia?" She hurried to the girl; Shell moved out of the way as his mother hurriedly embraced her daughter. The girl's gaze locked on her brother, and Shell watched as part of her soul began to fade away, at the mere mention of her white name. He loved his mother, he really did, but he loved his sisters more, despite the seven years his oldest had spent in the grasslands, and watching part of her soul die in that one glance was the deciding factor for the teenager. He'd make sure he helped her get back to her tribe, one way or another.

Counting today, they had two days left before her deal went into effect. He'd have to work at it, but he'd get her out of this life as soon as he could, before nightfall on the seventh day, he swore it.

As Melena took the girl into the kitchen, and his father took the horses to the stable, Shell skulked upstairs, heading to Nessa's. He remembered that at the beginning of the week, that Nessa had taken her sister's dress and moccasins and hidden them in her room. Now, he searched for the items, knowing that that was part of what would help his sister get back her soul. After rummaging around for several minutes, he found the items in the bottom drawer of the dresser.

He took a deep breath, carefully lifting out the items, cradling them gently in his lap. The material was soft; a deep, beautiful dark brown buckskin that felt as soft and smooth as freshly churned butter, the moccasins were decorated in beautiful bead work, and tucked within the folds of the dress, were four beautiful, delicate dove grey feathers, two leather strands with brightly colored beads at the ends, and a beautiful necklace of wood and stone.

How can anyone say they are savages? This clothing is beautiful... and I'm sure it's even more beautiful on her than it is now.

He looked up at the sound of footsteps in the hall, and quickly stood, shutting the drawer and hurrying from the room, the items clutched to his chest. He found his sister in the hall, and hurried to her. "Fae?" She looked up, her dark eyes dulled. That her eyes could lose such spark in the matter of a few short hours scared him.

She's dying. We both know it. We can both sense it. She came back for Mama and Papa, and because she's confused. She doesn't know where she belongs anymore. But maybe... maybe if she sees these... maybe her things will help her...

Without a word, he held out her clothes, and she glanced at it, before turning and going into her room. Shell followed, to find her curled up on the bed, back to the door. "Fae?" She ignored him, and he rushed to the bed, setting her things gently on the nightstand before climbing onto the bed and leaning over her. She turned her head, looking up at him. A moment passed, before he lay down beside her, curling against her back and wrapping his arms around her waist, giving her his strength. Tears filled his eyes as he hugged his oldest sister.

He could feel her breathing start to slow, and feared the worst, only to discover she'd started to fall asleep. He kissed her shoulder, tears dripping down his cheeks. I won't let you die, Fae. I'll help you get home. You're my sister, and I love you. I won't let you give up like this.

"I'll make sure you get back to your tribe, Fae. I promise."

In her sleep, she reached down, taking his hand and squeezing gently in a silent thank you.