Time



The sound of the gentle breeze swished in her ears, blowing wisps of her long blond hair around her face as she stood gazing out over the pastures.  On this, her last evening at home she drank it all in, memorizing every sound, the vision of the horses, the grasses swaying in the wind, and the pinks in the horizon that blended into purples and then blues as the sun threatened to disappear.  Her hand idly reached for the bow strapped to her back. Now she could hardly think of a time when it wasn’t there, almost an extension of herself.  She briefly considered one last round of target practice.  Then firmly put that thought aside.  She needed to be present in the moment.

Time seemed to both stand still and rush by.  It seemed a fickle thing that could change in an instant.  She still didn’t belong, she likely never would, but she had been content during this time with her family.  She had a role to play, surrounded by people who loved her, even though most of the time they couldn’t truly see or understand her.  But the pull was getting stronger and stronger.  What would she find ahead? There was no way to know, but it was certain that she must go.  Something in that place called to her in a way that she could not ignore, and could no longer postpone.  The time had come.

The next morning she rose early and took Bansil out for one last ride.  His gait was slower now, a limp in his leg.  He had saved her life more than once, but he had never fully recovered.  Perhaps she would return to see him again, but just in case she whispered a long thank you and goodbye in his ears before she unsaddled him and rubbed him down one last time.

She saddled Firesong and firmly attached her pack to the back of the saddle.  Then turned to her family.  They waited there by the stables to say goodbye.  Never much one for touching, she gave each of them a brief, fierce hug. As she began to pull away from her grandmother she felt a cold at her throat and lifted her hand to feel the pendant of her grandmother’s necklace.  Emmawynn’s favorite.  She pulled away to the words.  “It belongs with you now, child.”  She nodded once in acceptance. The lump in her throat kept her from speaking, but as always with her grandmother words weren’t really needed. She searched the old woman’s face one last time before turning to swing into the saddle.

Firesong whinnied, but seemed to feel the mood as Emmawynn sat for a moment, before lifting her hand in a wave and urging the horse forward.  The caravan would not wait.  It was time to go.