1842

  

The desert is  blistering and vast. I find it relaxing. My black hair streamed in the harsh wind. My feet barely touch the ground but its over much too quickly. The storm had started picking up. Some believe the desert is barren but I'm surrounded by life, small and fast, large and majestic. All of which are scurrying to get away from the coming sandstorm. I brush my hand against the sword in my sheath, feeling the hum of  possessed metal. A comforting habit.

I have no need to seek shelter but I come across a village. I have my wings spread wide. I would have been startling to them so I hid them away. My daughter Twiller is doing bounty hunting and assassinations for eastern countries and has become very violent. It doesn't bother me much. I was the same her age, if not worse. I wave to one of the village children tending to the cattle and he runs inside. He comes out with who must be his father.

There is only twenty tents or so. it is one of the smallest I've come across so far. It may be that I was closer to the cities before. I arrive closer and some more children and men gather to greet me. " Do you speak Arabic?" asks the first man who came outside in English. "Yes, I do. My name is Dawn." I extend my hand and he shakes it. "My name is Muhammad, what brings you here?" I respond simply, " finding peace" Muhammad nods, probably sensing my unusualness. "I understand. Would you like some coffee? we've just traded so there's plenty to spare. Come in."

I glide past and we enter the largest tent. Some women sit me down and give me some strong black coffee. "Thank you." Most of the other men come in and sit in a circle with me. "I've nothing to repay your kindness at the moment Muhammad, but I am good at hunting." Some laugh at that. Muhammad puts his hand up to silence them. "I will gladly let you stay with no debts, however if you wish to pay, hunting with us is no problem." And so I stay over night as storm rages. I am out side the whole time enjoying it. The next day I go out early with the men after I thank the women for their hospitality.

One of the younger men, just out of boyhood, goes to hand me a spear and notices my sword. "Its fine, this blade hasn't seen battle for a long time," I say taking the spear. "What's your name?" I ask him. "Mustafa," he tells me. "Mustafa! Come here." Called an older man. "You'd best go." I see the desert stag long before anyone else could. I throw my spear, confusing the others. I run, but not inhumanly so, over to the stag and brought it back to them. It was very large. I carried it in one hand. "Is that enough for my stays payment?"

"That's enough for a week, maybe more!" Muhammad laughs incredulous. They all stare at me amazed. The doubters all nod at me respectfully. Four strong men each take a leg and carry it back to the village. The others soon follow having no reason to hunt anymore. Muhammad comes over to me. "I'm leaving now," I say "thank you Muhammad." "Return whenever you wish Dawn."

I smile my thanks and when he has left I spread my wings and fly up and home.


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