not all who wander are lost; Michaelis, any

[Wayra]

Wayra felt her world shift into place, like the tumblers in a lock when fitted with the key. One by one the remnants of her loneliness began to ease. Her worry for her sister, her walk through the mist, even this feverishly burning tree seemed like one more thing she could handle. Each piece seemed like less of a burden.

Her dad was here now. Surely, if there was anything to worry about he would tell her so? If he wasn’t worried for Nebibi, then did she have any right to be? He didn’t seem to think the burning tree would fall down around them, so suddenly it seemed less likely that it would do so.

For a child on the brink of adulthood, it was a relief to put off some some of her concern. To be a little girl again, if only for a moment. With a happy sigh she leaned into his nuzzle. This, this is why she had come. She was glad he did not mind that she had followed him, and in truth, she had found it impossible to believe that he would. When faced with the full force of his fathering, Wayra felt guilty that she had ever doubted it.

She watched with wide eyes as he tried to school his face to sternness. Not wanting to take advantage of the warm welcome she had received, Wayra tried to assume a serious expression of her own. She wanted to be with her father, but she did not want him to think her incapable of being on her own, whether or not it was true. She wanted him to be proud of her, and apparently that meant making life decisions.

Wayra bit her lip. She had been prepared to look serious, but she was not sure she was prepared to answer the questions he posed to her. She had only thought about getting here, she had not given much thought to what happened next. Did she want to stay with her mother? No, she didn’t think she wanted that. She loved her mother, but being with Mom just reminded her that Nebibi was not. Her mother had always meant her, Nebibi and Wayra together. Where there had once been three she could not imagine two.

Did she want to stay here?

Wayra wasn’t sure about that either. But, with a flash of realization, she found she didn’t want to leave either. She didn’t want to leave Dad, certainly, but it was more than that. The boy she had met, Vercingetorix, she found she rather liked him. She knew only two people in the Chamber, him and her father. She liked them both. It wasn’t a lot, but it was something.

She wasn’t prepared to admit it, but there was something else as well. Something alluring about the tall, tall trees, and the black, black birds, accursed though they were.

Wayra sighed. Was she a fool? Staying here because of her father, a boy, and the alluring look of pine? Slowly, and with a great deal of consideration Wayra murmured.


“I won’t pretended to be a warrior…or a diplomat.” Wayra winced, she was making this every bit as hard as it needed to be.

“I won’t say that I’ll be of any use…but do you think I could stay here? At least for now?”
Would they even let her stay? If it was up to her father Wayra was pretty certain she wouldn’t be packed off, but there were a lot of other horses here, and they had very little reason to love her.

“I promise I won’t cause any trouble, and if it doesn’t work, I’ll leave.” She looked up at him hopefully. A little more time, she just needed a little more time. 

Wayra

not all who wander are lost