Out Of Her Hands

The laughter from the young girl and the sight of the paradisal fertile land where there really should just be more sand, brought a smile to the young woman's lips.

A welcome reprieve, especially being Islana needed to rest a while. The call did seen to allow breaks but only for a time. It wouldn't be long but maybe, at least, a night.

Of course, the first thing, once the area was deemed safe, was to take advantage of the water. Islana, Madaya and Kaithak drank their fill. Their waterskins weren't empty, thanks to the the young girl's magik, but it still made sense to replenish them. It was after all of that, they took the opportunity to wash themselves off, in the clear liquid. Islana told Madaya to go first, while she stood watch.

There was a great deal of laughter, splashing and overall fun had by the girl in the water, then the young huntress had her chance.

Islana really hadn't gotten out of her robes since the pilgrimage began. While the lost weight was a given, just how thin the woman had become, didn't really register until she got a decent look at herself. Granted she had been able to eat better the past few days but still, the weight lost was apparent. It might be a while before her body got back to how it should be.

The water was cool and refreshing. So much so, it almost didn't matter that the same beaten up robes would have to continue to be worn. Islana enjoyed her time in the small pond but didn't stay in too long before getting out.

The two gathered supplies for a fire. Then Islana sat down, while Madaya got a better look at the plants and trees.

Islana had been learning a lot from the girl. She now knew a lot more Ozanine and many more of the names of plants native to the desert and what they could be used for. All useful things but Islana always felt like she needed to know more before they reached the city.

While, the diplomatic caravan had been polite to her and Madaya was more than accepting of Islana, she was concerned about the reception she would get from other Ozanines. Flaming hair, green eyes, fair skin - if that didn't scream foreigner, she didn't know what did.

The young witch had thought about what might happen if she wasn't the Prophetess but what if she was? How would that society accept the knowledge that someone who wasn't Ozanine had been given that honor?

By blood or birth, that's what Viher had said. Maybe, she wasn't really so much a foreigner. The Twin Gods, the Ozanine people, the desert, the creatures, plants, oases, even the language was new to her but didn't feel foreign.

In the village in Fang, she felt very much like a foreigner. In Helias and Ostiarium, except with a select few people, she had always felt, somewhat, out of place. Here though, in the desert, it felt more like the young witch was finding the place that she should have been all along. It was difficult to think that the people at Gra'akast would not accept her, when Islana felt so much of a connection with everything about those people, but the possibility was very strong.

Madaya made her way back with some berries to eat, and some leaves to help with Islana's aches and sunburn.

Neither of them mentioned that they were getting closer to Gra'akast or that neither had found Yther, yet. What would happen wasn't really up to them and both witches knew it.