Chapter 2 Outcasts vengeance
Roshan couldn't sleep that night, not when she knew that 'they' would come at any moment. During the seemingly endless night, Roshan spied one of Atkas men trying to get a glimpse of Ulma, 'Atka's probably wondering why Ulma hasn't turned up for the morning ritual for the spirits and now they know that she's severely weakened' Roshan thought after she chased Atkas informer away. Knowing that Atka will definitely now know of Ulmas condition, Roshan understood why her friend told her to arm herself, that's why Roshan had earlier gone out to the woods to collect all of the fairly large- sized stones she could find, and was now putting the final touches on her second dagger as she sat just at the entrance to Ulmas' cave.
As she chiselled away, she decided that she would wake Ulma at dawn so that the old spiritual leader could eat and be bathed so that she could sleep for the rest of the day. After putting the finishing touches on her second dagger, she held it in front of her eyes to check if it was straight and sharp, sometime in the night, she had took one of her own deep maroon coloured pelts and made them into pants, only the men in her village wore pants so that when they went to hunt, their legs would not be restrained, if Roshan was banished from her clan she would have to hunt her own food.
Roshan slipped both daggers behind straps that she had sewed on the sides of her pants, "thank the spirits they fit", she half sighed. 'I can't remember my parents at all, but... why can I remember those three animals' but before she could ponder any more, the suns light broke out from behind the snowy mountains in front of her, temporarily blinding her eyes. After her eyes adjusted Roshan silently stood, wearing her brand new pants and calmly walked into the cave.
Roshan knelt beside Ulmas' sleeping form, placing her hand gently on the old woman's shoulder "Ulma, it's dawn, I caught you some food" Roshan gently shook the old womans shoulder, she did not stir "Ulma?" Roshan placed both her hands on each of the womans' shoulders and shook them both lightly, still no response Roshan ceased her actions and placed her right hand on Ulmas cheek, 'she's cold! Why would she be cold, she has all those blankets? Unless..." Roshan pressed her head against the womans chest, nothing, no movement, just... silence. "Oh god! Please, no," Roshan screamed as the sudden realisation hit "ULMA!" Roshan started to fall backwards in shock.
She felt as though a huge force had just knocked her feet out from under her and was pushing all its' weight directly upon her chest, crushing her and making it impossible to breathe. She merely sat there, her face void of emotion and staring at her now dead friend, guardian and mother. She gently swayed back and forth as tears began to flow. Tears of mourning.
...
It was sunset now. Roshan didn't move, didn't sleep, eat or make a single sound, all she did was stare. She could not think or feel, her mind was frozen in a state of shock. She had always considered Ulma her family, her mother, and now she was gone forever.
...
The loud calls of a bird made it through Roshans mental walls, snapping her out of the dark unfeeling abyss of her greif, slowly she moved her blood-shot eyes around to the mouth of the cave and noticed the sky, "Sunset, hmph, Ulmas favourite part of the day" her voice was lifeless, just like Ulma.
The thought of Ulma brought up what the old woman had told her a night ago, and Roshan knew what she needed to do. After a couple of minutes she had pilled all the wood that she had recently collected into a huge pile outside the entrance of Ulmas' cave and gently placed Ulmas body on top of the heap. Roshan quickly started a small flame on some small dried out grass, she carefully picked up the small mound of grass and threw it at the pile of wood before her and setting it aflame.
As it burned, Roshans' expression never changed, the others would see the flames and would guess what had occurred and they would surely come to drive her away. 'I will not go peacefully' she thought while she absentmindedly stroked one of her daggers that was sitting on her hips.
Eventually, day surrendered to night and Roshans' eyes spotted the glow from several torches ascending the small mountain, it was Atka and about three of his comrades, there distant shouting reached Roshans' ears.
The fire had died down now and was just ash and embers. The men reached the top of the mountain, they stood together with the light of their torches making their faces a deep orange colour. After a moment of silence, the 'Chief' spoke "The wise woman, is sh...? Roshan rudely cut him off "She has moved on", her voice was firm. Her intense eyes were focused on the leader of the small possy, 'Atka', that is the name of her target.
Atka continued to speak "If the elder is truly gone, then you are no longer under her protection" he smirked. Roshan calmly responded, "That may be true, Atka, but I am still under the protection and guidance of our ancestors and the sacred animal spirits". Roshan had complete confidence in her words as she half smirked at the man standing in front of her. Atka was furious "How dare you talk to me witch! The animal spirits? Protection of our ancestors? That's bullshit! Just a bunch of lies an old woman said as she went on one of her delusional rants" Atka smirked as he taunted Roshan.
She would not let Atka insult Ulma, Roshan took a defiant step forward and nearly screamed "You're the only bullshit around here atka! You murdered my father!" Atka stood shocked, in desperation he gave an order "Leave now witch!" She was beyond furious. She was numb as she yelled her next words "I am no witch! I am Chief Lokas' daughter and he was the best leader our clan has ever had!"
Atka was astounded at the insult, his face started to screw up into an ugly scowl as he retorted "Your father had it coming to him!", he looked directly into Roshans' hate filled eyes, "Leave now" he demanded, but she just stood there laughing slightly as she shook her head. "If you will not go of your own accord, then I will drag you out of here myself!" At that threat, Atka suddenly lunged forward and managed to grasp Roshan's left arm before a sudden pressure appeared under his ribcage.
"ARRRRRRRRGH!" Atka bellowed as immense pain shot through his body. Roshan had pierced his skin with one of her long, sharp daggers, and as he bent forward in pain, her fur covered foot connected with his head, knocking him flat on his face. 'He always did belong at my feet' Roshan thought as she turned and ran full speed at the other men, knocking them to the ground as she made her way down the small mountain towards the village.
Roshan darted left to right as she avoided the oncoming tents of the villagers before coming to the clearing that stationed the huge central bonfire that the village used every night to warm the surrounding air. Exhausted, she collapsed on to her knees, completely out of breath, as her burgundy- auburn hair gently swept across her face. 'I have to get out of here' she thought to herself. After drawing a couple deep breathes, tears of grief and anger rolled down her face, suddenly she heard the sound of shuffling feet, and she knew something was approaching...
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