Joining the Atsigani

JP with Omni, Lorem and Winteroak

A tent was brought over to Voah and Gonyaul. It was not large, but big enough for two people to sleep or sit but not stand.

It was made of thinner material than they had seen before and immediately they realised its suitability for hotter climates.

The couple was invited to share a communal meal with the Atsigani; stew made of vegetables and lean pieces of meat probably rabbit or some other rodent.

Women and children gave them a wide berth and didn't look their way nor did they attempt to engage with them under the watchful eye of the men.

During the meal as they sat close to Zargani he asked.
"What made you decide leave your city behind and travel so far? This is a harsh land if you don't know the lay of it."

As the deal was struck, Voah couldn’t help but feel that a chapter of her life had turned anew, or perhaps an entire book was being closed.

The weight of her recent decisions was immense. They were her decisions. Did they disrupt the very fabric of fate… did she pull against the will of the Gods. Vastad maybe… or Zinheim, she had cheated the God of Death more times than she could count. It couldn’t be for nothing.

She graciously accepted the terms and smiled uncertainly to Gonyaul before his own smile turned hers to a more hopeful one.

The tent was their next small step toward home. Headed into a strange land with a hot climate, then who knew… maybe beyond.

Voah and Gonyaul joined the communal meal, noticing that the women and children avoided them, willfully or not. Voah hoped that it wouldn't be like this the entire journey. The traveler's made good stew with lean meat and root vegetables. It was heartening to know that they would probably have to worry less or at least not struggle to get nourishment. She would still continue to forage and hunt, or whatever the convoy needed. Thinking of that, she wondered how these travelers hunted or protected themselves, for she saw no weapons among them.

Zargari's question hit her with a slight tinge of shame. 'What made you decide leave your city behind...' She would have to be vague as far as her part in the whole thing, but it was obvious they were trying to distance themselves from the Helians. She found herself giving more than she meant to as her eyes drifted off into memory.