[i]

“What are you doing?”

Darin looked over at her mother. This was the first Talia had spoken to her daughter since it was determined that Martin wasn’t coming back. Darin wasn’t sure what to make of that. Her mother had become withdrawn and quiet; trapped in both heartbreak and memories. Most days the woman drifted about in a sort of daze. She would stat one simple task before drifting to another without finishing the first. Darin would come home to find dozens of things that needed completing. Those were the good days. Other days Talia wouldn’t leave her bed or would just move to the rocking chair.

Darin spoke softly, “I’m getting ready to go work in the wheat field. I need to finish weeding from yesterday and I’ll need to water. After that I have to take care of the vegetable garden. I’ve already feed the pig and the chickens. I’ll be back a little after sundown to finish dinner.”

Darin had already put a pot over the hearth fire to allow the stew to simmer. It was an easy dish to make and it was easy for Darin to help Talia eat it. Though maybe, now that she was interacting with the world again, Talia would be able to eat on her own. Darin wasn’t sure. She just didn’t want to push her mother too quickly. Still it had been months, almost a year, and Darin was running herself ragged trying to do all the work the farm required. It would be nice to receive some help; especially the against the elders. They were still trying to take the farm away from Darin and her mother.

Talia seemed surprised, “You’ve been taking care of the farm for the past couple of weeks?”

Darin bit her lower lips as she slowly correct, “Almost a year. But yes. I have been taking care of the farm.”

[/i]

Darin groggily blinked as she heard a yelp pf pain. It didn’t take much for her to realize that it was Ridahne. It appeared the warrior was awake and was trying to move when she shouldn’t. Darin almost said something, but Talyn beat her too it. Darin listened to the conversation with a groan. Did that have to be the first thing Ridahne brought up every time they meet someone new? It was getting kind of irksome, and Darin had a feeling that it was going to get worse. They were heading closer to Azurei, and they everyone would know just by looking at the warrior’s face. That was the problem with putting life events on your face. Everyone thought they knew you just by looking at you. Darin resolved not to say anything about it yet. But she might if Ridahne kept starting her introductions with, “Why yes. I did kill a Sol,” without add, “She was a monster, so she needed to die.”

Darin did groggily say, “If you move before you are supposed to, I will ask Mitaja to lay down on top of you.” Darin turned over to her stomach and pushed herself up into a kneeling position, “You aren’t going to heal if you don’t do as the healer orders.” She rubbed at her eyes as she stood up, “I’m going to go check on the horse. They both have no manners whatsoever.” She pointed a finger as she glared at Ridahne, “Healing first. Moving second.” As she exited the hut, she gave one last order, “Watch her Mitaja. Make sure she doesn’t hurt herself further.”

The locked door gave Darin some trouble for a minute, but soon she was outside and headed towards the stable. She was still exhausted. Ridahne moving had woke her up long before she was ready to wake up. However, since she was awake the human figured she better check on Talbot, Tsura, and Taja. It wouldn’t do to leave the other members of their party out just because they were sleeping somewhere else. Darin figured she could crawl up next to Talbot and get some rest that way when she was done checking on them. She wasn’t sure could sleep in the medic’s home while Ridahne was being restless.

As she walked Darin softly swung her arms. They were sore and stiff. She blamed grabbing that branch from Talbot’s back. She was still surprised that she managed to do that. In fact, she was surprised that she had managed to do anything she managed to do last night. She was careful not to tear her stiches. She had a feeling Konie wouldn’t like that at all. Darin softly whistled as she walked as well. She was taking her time to get the stable. She didn’t want to admit, but she was scanning for the other Azurei warriors. She wanted to see if she could take a report back to RIdahne. Then again, she didn’t want Ridahne to leave the bed yet. So she might not.