Aran’s Compassion, A Mother’s Love — Part 3

With the help of elves, Funi, Kason, and Delea have tracked Forvitni’s origins to the village of Stavir. Here they hope to find Forvitni’s true name…

As the three women walked along the cart path, the tall prairie grasses soon gave way to taller stalks of wheat. The not quite ripe, the wheat rippled in the slight breeze, giving the illusion of a great green and yellow sea.

When the women were close enough to Stavir to make out the people, they noticed four women, dressed in the greens and browns of the Aranians, among the villagers. They seemed to be trading with the villagers, as one of them would gesture towards various sacks and baskets on the ground near the center of the village. One woman in the village spied Funi and her companions. She pointed to them and said something to the Aranians, which ceased their negotiations.

As Funi, Kason and Delea entered Stavir, the woman and the Aranian, who Funi now recognized as another Ma’hal, approached them.

“This should be a fine day. Two Ma’hals to grace our village. I am Aysel and I bid you welcome,” the villager said in the local language of Guician. Unlike most of the other village women, she was almost as short as an elf, and heavyset, with a blue dress draped over a light blue top.

The other Ma’hal reached out to embrace Funi and said, “I am Ma’hal Indira and I am pleased to greet you, sister. I am nearly done negotiating with Aysel, so you shouldn’t have long to wait to trade.” Indira was a little taller than Fuin and about the same age. A warm smile lit up her face.

When Funi and Indira separated, Funi shook her head and said, “I am Ma’hal Funi and we did not come to trade, so you need not hurry. We came here seeking an answer to a question.”

“What question would bring a Ma’hal here for an answer?” asked Aysel as she tilted her head and drew it back some.

Funi reached into her satchel and drew out Forvitni’s blanket and dress. “We seek the name of the child who these belong to.” She then presented them to Aysel and Indira.

Aysel took the dress and looked at it, turning it over several times. Finally, she turned to the mill house and called out, “Pertev. Pertev, come here, please.”

Soon, a woman in her late twenties came out. The white of fresh ground flour stained her face and dress, which she tried to clean off as she approached Aysel and the others.

“You called for me, Aysel?”

“Yes, Pertev. Ma’hal Funi brought us this dress and wanted to know the child’s name. Is this not Takwin’s dress and blanket? And where is Takwin? I have not seen her or seen you leave to tend to her.”

Pertev’s eyes avoided everyone as she turned her head to look away from the blanket and dress. “Yes, it is Takwin’s. But didn’t my husband tell you her name when he took her to you yesterday?” Tears traced her face as she asked the question.

Funi nodded her head slowly before saying, “So, Forvitni’s true name is Takwin. Thank you.” She then turned to Aysel and Indira and bowed slightly. “I now have the answer I sought. Thank you for…”

“What in the hells is going on?” a man bellowed, cutting Funi off. The four women looked in the direction of the mill house where the sound came from. Striding towards them was a man about Pertev’s age, also covered in flour. “What have you done to my wife?”

“Ledbic, they came to ask what Takwin’s name was. That is all,” Pertev said. When he reached the group, she wrapped her arms around him and put her head on his chest.

“Stupid witches, can’t remember a simple name and have to come here and make a scene.” His voice had an edge to it, as if he was trying to belittle Funi.

Funi’s tanned face flushed red. “You did not leave your Takwin with us. You left her in Aran, off the known paths swaddled and hidden under a bush. There was no attempt to leave her with us. Had I not heard Takwin crying, she would have died there.” A righteous fire burned in Funi’s eyes as she confronted the man who had abandoned Takwin.

Hearing this, Pertev and Aysel looked first and Funi and then Ledbic. His wide eyes spoke volumes to them. He responded by saying, “I left Takwin with a woman. She said she was an Aranian and would take her.”

“There was no woman. There was only one set of tracks to where I found her. A man’s.”

In Nerian, Indira asked Funi, “Are you sure?”

“Yes. A pair of aelves can confirm,” Funi responded in Nerian.

“A Ma’hal would only speak full truth in such a case,” Indira said to the group in Guician. This caused Pertev to release Ledbic and run off.

Ledbic reached out to grab his wife, saying, “Pertev. Pertev, wait.”

“Someone, go with her,” Aysel called out to the other villagers.

Seeing his wife run into one of the buildings of the village, Ledbic spun back on Funi, who was still glaring at him. He drew his hand back to hit Funi, but found the knob end of Indira’s atlatl in his chest.

“You would strike a Ma’hal whose ire you’ve incurred and earn the wrath of a second Ma’hal?” Indira said to Ledbic. Winter winds were warmer than the voice she used towards him. The other Aranians quickly came to the two Ma’hals’ aid. By this point, the spectacle in the village center had drawn several onlookers. Ledbic looked around, but saw no one coming to his aid, so he lowered his hand slowly.

“What say you, Ma’hal Funi?” Indira asked, her voice now more normal than a moment ago.

Turning around, Funi said, “We are through here.” She then began walking out of the village, followed by Indira and the other Aranians.

“What about our trade?” Aysel asked.

Indira repeated, “We are through here.”

The seven Aranians walked in silence along the cart path by the wheat fields. The last sounds of the commotion from the village had faded when Indira walked beside Funi and said, “I will not openly go against another Ma’hal in front of outsiders, but I would like to know your mind, Funi. Are you forsaking the village?”

Funi took a couple of deep breaths. “I am sorry for spoiling your trade. You may do as you wish. You do not need to follow me. I wish no ill will on the villagers, nor will I forsake them if they are in need. Save for Ledbic.” Funi spit after saying his name.

“And what of Pertev and her daughters?”

Funi looked at Indira. “Daughters? No matter. I believe they and Pertev had no more hand in Takwin’s abandonment than the others. I will not abandon them.”

Indira made a slight smile. “Then we are of a like mind. I have long wanted to abandon Ledbic, and now I have cause too.” She, too, stopped to spit when she said his name. “He is a brute, that one, and forgive me, it was good to see him shamed that way.”

“But answer me this: if Pertev seeks us, would you accept her?”

Funi stopped walking and looked at Indira. “You question my duties as a Ma’hal?”

“No. Takwin is of your tribe. If Pertev wished to join any tribe but yours, would you acknowledge it? And what of Takwin?”

After a heavy sigh, Funi said, “Damn our ways at times. Takwin is of my tribe and there she will be until she is sixteen, unless the Coven overrules me. If Takwin was old enough to move freely with the other children, I would ask that Pertev join my tribe. Mother and child should be together, but I cannot ask a mother, even a surrogate, to give up a child. So, for that reason, I hope Pertev does not wish to join my tribe.” Funi then resumed walking.

Indira closed her eyes and nodded. “Yes, our duties sometimes bind us too tightly. I would like to see Pertev be reunited with Takwin if Pertev joins us. But I, like you, don’t see a path to that end without straying from the path that we have walked for centuries. It may be time for some of us to do like Skarah, Azyn and the first of us and set our own paths.”

“Maybe we don’t see the path yet. Or both. Ultimately, we will endure as Skarah and Azyn did when they fled Urosa to come here. They faced more than we do and gave rise to us.”

“Full truth sister.”

Once the two Ma’hals had begun talking, the other women in their party made introductions to one another and talked amongst themselves. Their chatter made for a scene of close friends renewing old relationships. Their banter lightened the mood as they walked back to the crossroad.

Meorise and Rolim were there to greet them. “Indira, this is Meorise and Rolim, the aelves I spoke of. Meorise and Rolim, this is Ma’hal Indira. She and her party were in town trading when we arrived.”

The three exchanged proper greetings before Meorise asked eagerly, “Were you able to discover Forvitni’s true name?”

After the events in the village, Meorise’s eagerness caused both Funi and Indira to laugh. It took them a moment to regain composure enough to respond.

“Yes. Forvitni’s real name is Takwin. Though I would have liked to have gotten more information about her from her mother, but other things prevented that,” Funi said.

“Meorise, Rolim, and Funi, you must excuse us, but since we did not complete our trading in Stavir, we must return home. Farewell to you all, and you, my sister. If you need council, we are camped near Three Ponds.”

“Farewell to you, Indira. I welcome you to come visit the Twisted Tree where we are camped,” Funi responded as she reached out to embrace Indira. The rest said their farewells before the two groups went their separate ways.

As Funi and the others head back to their home in Aran, she explained to the elves what had transpired. Short of Ledbic threatening to hit Funi, the elves reacted little to what had transpired.

Rolim expressed his concern for Funi by asking, “Do you think Takwin’s father will try anything since you humiliated him in public like that? I know some humans would do such a thing. Your own history with Neria shows that.”

Delea’s eyes widened when she heard Rolim’s question. “Mother, do you? What are you going to do if he does?”

Kason put her hand on Delea’s shoulder. “Have confidence in your mother, Delea. She is not one to take unnecessary risks or ignore dangers. That is why she is Ma’hal.”

“Be a bit more observant, child,” Funi said. “When he threatened to hit me, you, Indira, and the others moved to intercede on my behalf. No one interceded for him, so he backed down. He lacks the courage to face me head on. If he tries anything, it will be in secret. To defeat that, I only must be aware. I refuse to give in to him by cowering.”

“But tell me, daughter, why did you not tell me you figured out combining cattail and resin made for a good fire starter?”

Delea’s eyes darted around as she bit her lower lip. It was when her mother turned to look back at her she finally answered. “I thought you might chastise me for it because no one else knew of it. By saying I learned it from someone, I knew you would let me continue.”

“Child, have confidence in yourself. Had you told me you had done it before, or explained how it was supposed to work, I would have let you proceed. I might be skeptical and question whether it would work, but you proved it would.” While she was talking to Delea, Funi had reached into her satchel and produced the two cattails she had picked that morning and showed them to Delea. “I am delighted my youngest has something to teach me. Now tell me, have you tried adding birch bark to the resin or other combinations?”

“I have not, only because I didn’t see the need,” Delea said, looking directly at her mother. She had a slight smile on her face from teaching her mother something. “I have thought of making a batch large enough for several fires, but haven’t figured out a good way to carry it. Resin spreads out so easily in a wrap. I don’t think that way will work.”

When the group reached the entrance to Aran, Funi stopped for a moment to look at the sky. It was now late afternoon and dark clouds were gathering in the east. The air was getting heavy.

“Tonight we will camp where we found Takwin. It will be easier than trying to beat the storm, and it won’t take us long to get home in the morning,” she said before entering Aran.

Not long after they had entered the forest, the air lightened, but the forest was eerily silent. The only sound heard was the light wind in the trees and the occasional crunch of a twig on the path being stepped on.

When the group reached the fork where Meorise had rejoined them this morning, the elves stopped. “Rolim, now we have discovered Takwin’s real name, I think we should go prepare to meet the pilgrims.”

Rolim turned to Funi, saying, “Unless you need our help more, Ma’hal, we will take our leave now.”

Funi nodded slightly. “Go and tend to your duties. We appreciate your help and we will ensure that Takwin knows the role you played in saving her name.”

The elves bowed, first to Funi, then to Kason and Delea. “We are glad to have been of help and honored we will be remembered that way. Farewell,” Meorise said.

“Farewell to you Meorise and Rolim. If events permit, please come by the Twisted Tree with the pilgrims, so we can welcome them, too.”

“It is custom we escort them directly to Imneral, but we will extend your offer,” Meorise said before bowing. “Again, farewell.” From there, the elves and the Aranians went their separate ways.

It was mid-evening when the Aranians reached the camp they had used the night before. The clouds Funi had seen earlier made the forest look much darker and later than it really was.

They quickly stowed their gear and made the camp ready for use again. All the while, the wind would howl in the treetops.

Not long after they had eaten and had the fire going good, the rains came.

At first, the rain was light and barely made it through the canopy of the forest. Then a thunderclap roared, and with it came a torrent that threatened to douse the fire. The women quickly used some branches from their bedding to shield the fire from the rain and move some of the collected firewood underneath their shelter.

Through the night, they took turns keeping watch and tending the fire. As the night wore on, the storm finally passed and through the small breaks in the tops of the trees, they could see the stars.

The next morning, Funi and the others smothered the fire after having a small breakfast. After breaking down their camp, they set off for home.

The trail home was now slick with mud from the rains the night before. Not so much to make the journey treacherous, but it slowed down their pace some. Because of this, it was late morning when they arrived at the camp.

When they arrived, a few of the women took much notice of their arrival other than to say welcome. The children, who were out playing, swarmed Funi and the others. They were eager to hear about what transpired with the elves and if they would come to visit them at the camp. It disheartened most when Funi only answered by saying that she would tell them all that evening.

Brothya and Lina approached Funi after the children had dispersed. “I hope you met with success, Ma’hal,” Brothya asked.

“We did,” Funi replied as she made her way to her yurt. “Where are Chana and Forvitni?”

“I have not seen them this morning, so I presume they are in Chana’s yurt. Have you seen them, Lina?”

“I have not. There was much commotion yesterday when she arrived with Forvitni. I think Chana withdrew to find peace for the child. I will fetch them once you tell us Forvitni’s real name, Ma’hal.”

Funi shook her head while a smile came across her lips. “No. I will go to her and tell her myself. I am sure Chana will have questions. You can come with me to see if Chana will see you as well.”

At Funi’s yurt, she set her basket of berries by the entrance and placed her satchel inside. “I’m going to give Chana the good news now,” she said as she started towards Chana’s yurt, followed by Brothya and Lina.

Chana had just stepped outside when Funi arrived. “Ma’hal, you’re back. Do you have news?”

“I do. Along with two curious sisters who wish to know.”

Chana covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes alight with excitement. When she lowered her hands, she asked eagerly, “Forvitni is asleep right now, but tell me her true name.”

Grinning, Funi said, “Her mother calls her Takwin, and she is from Stavir. I learned little else about her, other than she has sisters. We discovered her father, Ledbic, lied and threatened to strike me.” As she had done the day before, Funi spit when she spoke Ledbic’s name.

This revelation caused varied looks from the three other women. Brothya’s eyes widened and her mouth hung open while Lina just stared at Funi. Chana covered her mouth, shaking her head.

Lina was the first to recover. “Ma’hal, I told Brothya that we should have all stayed with you when Takwin was found. Had we all gone, he would not have tried such a thing.”

Funi, her jaw cocked, spun on Lina. “Had you all stayed, we may not have found the tracks that lead back to Stavir. We were fortunate that two aelves heard Kason’s message and offered to help, but they had some hardship finding them.”

“And we met with some fortune in Stavir, as another Ma’hal was there trading.” Funi’s expression and her explanation caused Lina to lower her gaze.

“But I will tell you everything this evening after I recant our exploits with the aelves to the children.”

She turned back to Chana. “Now tell me, how is Takwin?”

Chana lowered her hand. “She is well. I would tell you more, but I have some things to do while she sleeps. If you care to walk with me, I could tell you.”

Funi furrowed her brow some. “I have berries that need to be preserved, but I can spend a few minutes to hear how Takwin is.”

“Ma’hal, I will preserve your berries for you. Would give you more time to spend with Chana,” Lina said.

With a slight chuckle, Brothya said, “I’ll go and see about getting more firewood for this evening since you are going to tell the children a grand story this evening, Ma’hal.”

“I thank you both, but that is unnecessary. I can preserve my own berries and I do not plan on regaling the children with some grand story like some bard,” Funi said, shaking her head while a slight smile crossed her lips.

Brothya put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes slightly at Funi. “We know you and your stories to the children. You will make something common like weaving a basket seem like some grand affair and enspell the children. And you enjoy it.” Lina nodded in agreement with Brothya while Chana covered her mouth to suppress a giggle at this.

Again, though, Funi shook her head before saying, “Not this time. There are things I must contemplate and only have my own counsel to rely on.”

“All the more reason I should preserve your berries for you,” Lina said as she turned to leave, cutting off any further debate.

Before Funi could say more, Brothya also turned and left, saying, “Now I must get more wood.”

“Ma’hal, I think you have a small rebellion on your head.”

Funi stood for a moment with a half smile on her lips and her eyes slightly narrowed. “Aye. But one partially founded on full truth. Come, let us go so you can finish your tasks.”

The two women made their rounds through the camp and its outskirts.

As they walked, Chana explained that Takwin’s arrival had caused more than the normal commotion in the camp as it had been several years since a child so young had arrived there. Only the oldest of the Aranians in the camp could remember the last time someone had abandoned a child like Takwin.

Because of this, quite a few of the women in the camp came by to see Takwin and wish her good tidings. All this attention caused Takwin to be fretty and restless most of the day.

“So I stayed inside today to avoid the others for Takwin’s sake,” Chana said.

While Chana had recounted the events with Takwin from yesterday, Funi said little and often nodded in agreement. When Chana had finished, Funi let out a slight groan. “I would have thought that the others would have shown more respect to you and Takwin. Especially the elders. But tell me, how did your son do with her?”

“Other than wanting to sleep in the cradle with her, he took little notice of her.”

“And he is how old?”

“He will be three come spring.”

Chana took a deep breath and looked Funi straight in the eye. “Tell me, Ma’hal, may I raise her as my own?”

Funi met Chana’s gaze with her own and placed her hand on her shoulder as she said, “You are not my first choice, as you are young, only twenty-two. You lack experience and wisdom. But, you answered my request when we found Takwin and withdrawing to your yurt today was not a bad idea. Still, I have not decided who should raise Takwin yet. Come join me this evening when I tell the children how the aelves helped us rescue Takwin’s name.”

The two were about to resume their walk when someone called out to Chana. “Chana. I hear Forvitni stirring.”

“I must go Ma’hal.”

“Yes go. We will speak later,” Funi said as she pulled Chana to hug her. When they released, they returned to their respective yurts. Funi took a roundabout path so she could observe the others in the camp. Throughout the camp, the women were busy with various tasks. Some were preserving foods for the coming winter, while others were weaving or making clothes. As Funi walked by, many would briefly stop what they were doing to acknowledge Funi. Finally, she reached her yurt and went inside and sat down to think over things.

Outside the normal sounds of the camp, Funi was left undisturbed until she emerged that evening.

When she came out, she discovered that some women who had gone hunting that day felled two bucks that were skinned and partially butchered. Around a large fire pit, most of the children and several women had gathered. In the pit was a stack of wood in preparation for the tale Funi would tell later.

Funi joined the others, who were standing in line to get something to eat. A few asked what Takwin’s real name was, to which Funi responded it would spoil the story for the children. Funi also took the opportunity to ask the other women to let Chana and the child be for a few days while the little girl got used to her new home. “Let her approach you,” was what she said to them.

Funi went to a log near the fire pit to sit and eat. Several Aranians had named it ‘the throne’ as Funi like to sit there when told stories to the children or on rare occasions that she had important things to discuss with the others. An older woman joined Funi, and they reminisced about their days when they were younger and Funi had just become a mother for the first time.

Twilight had started to fall when the two had finished eating. The other woman got up slowly, saying, “If you excuse me, Funi, I need more sleep than when we were younger. I think it is because of the sleep I didn’t get because of my children.”

Funi laughed at this. “Yes, they deprived us of sleep, but it was a small price to pay for the joy they have brought us. But before you retire, would you have someone light the fire for us and have Delea join me?”

“Of course,” the other woman said as she slowly made her way out of the throng of children.

Soon, Delea approached the assembly with a torch in her hand. As she reached the center, she thrust it into the campfire to set it alight. The wood within soon caught and, showing it was lit to her satisfaction, Delea released the torch into the fire before joining her mother.

“You sent for me, mother?”

“I did. Have you seen Chana and Takwin? I have been talking with Estar and have not seen them,” Funi said in a whisper as she leaned toward her daughter.

“I have. They are on the outer edge of the children. Do you wish me to bring them here?”

Nodding with a smile. “Yes, as it is almost time.”

Delea left her mother and soon returned with Chana, Takwin, and Chana’s son.

Once they arrived, Funi asked them to sit as she stood up and said in a raised, commanding voice, “I understand some of you expressed an interest in how Forvitni came to join us and how we recovered her name.” She paused as a silence fell over those assembled. “It is my pleasure to tell you that tale…”

If magic was real, or if the Aranians were true witches, it was on display as Funi told the tale. She mimicked the actions that had occurred over the last two days as she walked around the firepit.

While telling her tale, she changed some details to make the tale more dramatic, or to shift the focus of some events from her.

In her story, it was her daughter who first heard Forvitni and found her. Kason was the one who had convinced Funi to send for aid and search for Forvitni’s name. It was Lina who suggested that the others return to camp to prevent destroying any trace that might lead them to Forvitni’s home.

The women and older children knew Funi was embellishing and altering the facts some, but it did not matter. The true story would have been boring. Funi’s version was far better. It drew everyone in and kept them enthralled. Only when Funi finished her tale, without mentioning Takwin was Forvitni’s real name, did anyone speak.

“Ma’hal, excuse me,” a boy of about nine said, “but was is Forvitni’s real name?”

Facing the boy, she stood with her shoulders thrown back and her hands on her hips. “Did I not just tell you that?”

A few other children shook their heads as the boy said, “No, Ma’hal. What is Forvitni’s real name?”

In a dramatic fashion, Funi slumped her shoulders, put her hand to her mouth and tapped her fingers on her lips. “Oh. Oh my. All this excitement has addled my mind and I don’t seem to remember Forvitni’s name. Chana, I do hope I told you before I forgot her name.”

Chana closed her eyes and smiled as she shook her head. She then stood up and said, “Yes, Ma’hal, you told me her real name was Takwin.”

“Takwin. That is it,” Funi said as she folded her arms across her chest. “How could I have forgotten?” She walked over to where Chana was standing and turned back to the assembled crowd. In a quiet voice, she said, “Takwin has had some uncertain days and is easily upset. But let us softly welcome her.” She turned to Chana and Takwin, saying, “We welcome you, Takwin.”

“We welcome you,” came as a whisper from the crowd.

It was twilight when Funi had started her tale, now night had come. Turning back to those assembled, “Now, for some of you, it is time to go to sleep. The others, I’m sure, have some things left to do before you sleep tonight.”

Funi watched as her audience got up to leave. Some of the younger children had already fallen asleep, and either had to be carried to their beds or rustled to return to their yurt. Chana’s son had fallen asleep and was lying partially in Delea’s lap. When Funi turned to summon them to her yurt, she couldn’t help but smile, watching her daughter stroke the boy’s hair.

“Please, come with me,” Funi said. “Delea, see if you can carry Eurus without waking him.”

“Yes, mother.”

Delea was able to sit the boy up so she could stand and then hoisted him onto her shoulder. In the shuffling, the boy didn’t move or make a sound. Once Delea had him settled, the three women went to Funi’s yurt and went inside.

Once inside, Funi asked them to sit on her cot as she took a seat opposite them on Delea’s cot. Funi waited for Chana and Delea to sit before she spoke.

“I have made my decision about who should raise Takwin, Chana. As I told you earlier, you are inexperienced and lack wisdom. Still, you take advice well and can figure some things out on your own. But I don’t think you are ready to tend to two children on your own.”

“And I can say the same about you, Delea. There is much that you have yet to learn and I can not readily teach you. You need to learn to tend to children.”

Chana’s shoulders sagged and her head drooped some, while Delea’s mouth opened slightly before her mother continued.

“So, it is my decision that Takwin will stay with you, Chana, as your daughter, with Delea’s help.”

“Delea, you will stay with Chana to help and learn from her. That is, if you agree to this.”

Chana sat up straight and adjusted the sling Takwin had been resting in. “I would welcome Delea to my home and her help. More importantly, I am grateful you are allowing Takwin to stay with me.”

Delea’s eyes darted between her mother and Chana as her mouth quivered. “But… but mother, are you sure? Both Eurus and Takwin are so young. There are those who are better suited to…”

Funi held her hand up to cut her daughter off. “Yes, there are others, but most are already mothers in their own right or grandmothers. You need to start learning about raising children for the day you make me a grandmother again.”

Putting her hand on Delea’s shoulder, she said, “Ma’hal is right. I was about your age when my mother advised me to offer to be a nanny. I refused and found I had much to learn with Eurus when he was born. It is better to learn some now than all later. Besides, you’ve already taken the first steps and Eurus seems to be comfortable with you.” She nodded at her son, who had not stirred since he fell asleep on Delea.

After a deep sigh, Delea lowered her head some. “Very well, mother. I will go with Chana, though the prospect of being a nanny scares me.”

“One day, you will find that fear is nothing compared to the terror of being a mother. Learn now so you can better enjoy the great joy motherhood brings,” Funi said. “Now, I think it is time for you two to get the little ones to bed. Chana, do you have space for Delea in your yurt?”

“Yes, I have an extra cot there.”

“Good. Then Delea, stay there tonight and you can come back for your possessions.”

The three women stood up and Funi embraced the other two. First Chana and then Delea, whose eyes had begun to water. She then led them to the entrance to her yurt and watched them as they departed.

Funi went back inside and laid down on her cot after she watched them enter Chana’s yurt.

For the first time in over a quarter-century, she slept alone in her yurt.

Patrick S. Smith is a retired vet venturing into the world of poetry and short stories on Medium. If you like or dislike it, please feel free to leave a comment. I can be followed at The Writings of Patrick S. Smith